Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: Lonely by Illenium (Feat. Chandler Leighton with Prelude).
Contradiction
He didn't understand her.
He didn't understand her goals. He didn't understand her desire. He didn't understand anything about her. She'd fought him so hard yet here she was, smiling and acting as if he was something more than just a villain who'd kidnapped her.
"You know it's useless, don't you?" It was too strange for him to comprehend.
The young woman's face became placid. She folded her hands over her lap as she closed her eyes—almost as if she expected such a reaction from him.
"Why are you fighting so hard for a society that spits on you?" He cocked his head towards the television set up in the far corner of the room he'd brought her to. They'd all seen the media firestorm that surrounded the girl's life. She couldn't so much as blink in the wrong direction without some reporter going off about her contemplating the idea of joining a villain group.
That was one of the things that made them notice her, but there was something more about her. Something that Stain acknowledged. There was a charisma to the young woman that couldn't be denied. It drew in the worst of society and simultaneously pushed the heroes further down the path of condemnation.
Even now her own teacher was on screen, reproaching the soft nature she possessed as a weakness.
Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't, however he knew that it would serve as the one key to getting her to drop her guard.
She was tired.
He could see it in her face. He could hear it in her voice. Even now he could spy the slight downturn of her lips and dark sags beneath her eyes—as if she hadn't rested in ages.
Her expression softened behind closed eyes, "Because I'm not doing it for society."
He blinked.
If not society, then what for?
He didn't get it. He didn't understand a single thing.
The young woman opened her eyes. Her smile turned soft as she met his gaze. In that moment, for just a single second, he wanted to know.
Dabi woke with a start.
It hadn't been all that long since that night. Yet it kept swirling around in his damn head.
That smile.
Her response.
His utter confusion.
He pressed his palm to his face. They still didn't have much of a clue as to who'd taken her. Kurogiri's little intel mission still hadn't netted them any results yet. At least not that he'd been informed of.
His lips dipped at the thought.
He hadn't lied to Shigaraki. The longer the girl was stuck under another's thumb, the easier it'd be for them to inflict her with Stockholm. If they were successful then it'd be over for the League. They needed her on their side. It wasn't just about the money or power anymore. There was an ideology that the girl represented. Whether she knew it or not, she'd earned Stain's recognition and unwittingly carried on his will after his arrest. Where his acknowledgement of Midoriya Izuku meant that the boy represented his ideal of a hero in this day and age, his recognition of Kagome's sheer tenacity and odd charisma was an endorsement of a different kind.
Dabi was beginning to see what it was that Stain saw in her.
Clearly, someone else did too.
He sat up.
Compress had given him Shinigami's journal back. Shigaraki had practically thrown it at them—claiming that there was nothing of use in it. Perhaps to someone as brash as him it'd be useless, but Dabi knew that there'd be something that could help them.
To understand the power behind that girl, he knew that he'd first have to understand the people that brought her into this world.
His fingers flexed.
The man reached over. He grasped onto the journal and flipped to the first page. Just touching it now, he could see where the girl had read through each line. The paper was worn and the corners dog-eared multiple times. She'd probably poured over every word trying to understand the man who'd sired her—and the reason why he'd turned to killing in the first place.
Dabi buried himself within the journal.
If he couldn't get his answers directly then he would do the next best thing. Until he knew what it was that drove her on, he would keep searching.
He wanted to know.
White.
Everything was white.
Then a flicker of yellow entered his vision.
Tamaki blinked.
What was that?
"Looks like you're finally awake!" Mirio leaned over him. That same, familiar smile flashed across his friend's features. "You know, I got really worried when you didn't answer your phone. Then Detective Tsukauchi called to let us know what you did." The blond's smile grew empathetic, "You were really amazing Tamaki. I don't think anyone else could've dove into that fire and lived to tell the tale."
No.
He wasn't amazing.
Far from it.
If he were truly amazing, then he would've been able to save Kagome. He would've been there when she'd been captured in the first place.
Tamaki lowered his head, "You know that's not true."
He was such a failure. Every good thing in his life always slipped through his fingers. His friends were charging so far ahead of him and now Kagome wasn't even there to support him anymore.
He curled his fingers in towards his palms.
A hand clapped to his shoulder, "Come on, keep that chin up." Mirio's smile grew even brighter, "I actually came here bearing good news."
He peered up at him.
Good news?
When the world was collapsing all around them?
What could be so 'good' at a time like this?
"We believe we know who's taken her." His friend's grip tightened, "Sir has already amassed a huge network of heroes to partake in the reconnaissance mission." Bright eyes sharpened with determination. "Fat Gum's Agency will be in on this too."
Tamaki lifted his head, "You guys found a lead?"
Could it really have been this easy? Did they already have the answer they were looking for? It almost seemed too good to be true. Still he wanted to hope.
"Suneater," Mirio referred to his hero name. "Will you help us save her?"
He swallowed thickly, "Who has her?"
He needed to know.
He needed to know who'd taken the first person who'd ever looked at him and saw potential. She'd been his first friend. His first of many things.
"The young head of the Shie Hassaikai, Overhaul." Mirio pushed forward, "We found a couple of witnesses that described him chasing after a girl up to the shrine. Plus we received word from Endeavor that the security footage of a convenience store nearby had them on film together. So it's safe to assume that he likely had a run in with her and decided to take her when he had the chance."
Tamaki felt ill.
His stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought of her being held captive in such a place.
"Do we know why he took her?" There were so many reasons why a villain would want her so badly as to kidnap her. He could only hope that it was for the least serious of them all.
Mirio's features hardened, "Sir believes that Overhaul saw Kagome's quirk in action that morning. One of them was injured so it's safe to assume that he knows about her healing ability." His friend continued, "Plus the Shie Hassaikai is part of the Yakuza. They don't get many investors knocking on their doors anymore, so I suspect that Overhaul wants to use her shards to fund their operation."
The feeling in his gut grew worse.
"Hawks is monitoring the blackmarket just in case her shards start showing up. We'll all be in real trouble though if her quirk boosting shards hit the public sphere."
That was something they couldn't afford.
Mirio's grip grew tight, "Tamaki will you join us?"
He didn't even need to think about his answer.
For once, all the doubt in his mind cleared.
He knew what he needed to do.
"Yes."
"It's your fault! They're dead because of you!" The sharp condemnation caught his attention.
Bakugou peered around the corner. He kept his hands tucked in his pockets as he surveyed the scene before him.
A student he didn't recognize bowed his chest. The guy was probably a second or third year. If he had to guess, then he'd say that he was probably a student in one of the general studies courses. There was nothing about him that was immediately intimidating. About the only thing he had going for him was height. His facial features were unremarkable and his physique was thin and scrawny.
Bakugou's brows furrowed.
What the hell was he on about anyways?
"Why don't you just admit it already? You're the same as that rat bastard father of yours." A fist slammed against the wall behind Kagome. "If you really want to make a difference then why don't you go ahead and put an end to it all." His voice sharpened, "The only way we'll get closure is if Shinigami suffers the same as we have."
Shinigami?
Shit.
He'd almost forgotten about that.
Everyone had made such a damn fuss about her old man. He could tell that she'd gotten tired of it all. Even the other students of his class had pestered her when they first realized who she was. He had to admit, it had to be downright annoying to have to deal with that day in and day out.
Bakugou stepped forward. He could see Kagome's still form. Her expression was a perfect image of stoicism. She hardly blinked as the other student pushed closer to her.
"You're the same as him. Your very existence is a curse!" A spittle of saliva sprayed out from the corner of his mouth.
She made no move to argue with him or fight back.
"Just kill yourself already!"
He paused. The words he'd spat at Midoriya came rushing back to the forefront of his mind.
If you really want to be hero, then why don't you take a swan dive off the roof? Pray that you'll be born with an amazing quirk in your next life.
His fingers twitched at the thought.
Why?
Why was he even thinking about that right now?
"What, you've got nothing to say? Filthy villain." The other teen leaned forward. "You'll end up just like him. You can't escape it. So you might as well end it now. At least while you still have some semblance of good in you."
Fury raged through Bakugou's veins.
"Is that so?" He really wanted to kick something right now. "Sounds to me that you've got your own shit to sort out." He roughly pushed himself between the two, placing Kagome firmly behind his back as he squared up to the other male. "Takes a real coward to go after a girl like that. I'd say that you're closer to Shinigami than she is at this point."
The teen clicked his tongue, "What, don't tell me you're actually friends with her." He spat the word as if it were an impossibility. "Mark my words, that girl you're so dead set on protecting is just going to stab you in the back. She's done it before."
Kagome stiffened behind him.
Bakugou withdrew his hand from his pocket, "I'll take that chance if it means I get to kick the shit out of your arrogant ass." A vicious smirk spread across his lips. Fire sparked within the palm of his hand in a threatening gesture, "Come on. Just give me an excuse. We'll see which one of us is stronger."
He hated this.
He hated everything about this situation.
This bastard.
His own feelings of frustration.
Her lack of action.
All of it.
This girl was going to be the death of him.
The teen turned on the ball of his heel, "I'll leave things at that but heed my warning Bakugou Katsuki. You're both on a downward trend. Won't be long before villains target you."
He lunged forward. However a pair of arms curled around his middle and held him back. He froze as the fingers that clutched at his shirt trembled and gripped him even harder.
Bakugou could only watch as the stranger wandered off.
He wanted to kick his ass.
He wanted to charge after him and teach him a lesson he'd never forget.
Still, there was one more thing he had to do here.
The blond cocked his head over his shoulder, "Hey you." He addressed Kagome directly, "Why the hell are you letting these bastards say whatever the fuck they want? Why don't you take a damn stand for yourself? I know you can fight. So why not do it?"
The trembling in her hands grew more severe.
"Because," Kagome's voice was soft as she started to speak. "They have every right to be angry. My father stole something precious from them. Something that they can never get back." It was the first time she ever talked about it directly. Usually when someone asked about her father, she'd simply shut down and change the subject as subtly as she could. This was the first time she'd ever said anything regarding the matter. The young woman continued, "If being angry at me keeps them from drowning in their feelings of resentment, then that's fine. I'll accept that." He felt her press her forehead at the space between his shoulder blades. "Those feelings were what drove my father to commit so many sins in the first place. So I'd rather they have an outlet than let them build up over the years. So it's fine. I can handle it."
His lips pressed into a thin line.
This wasn't right.
None of this was alright.
"You say that," He lifted his hand to grip her own between his fingers. "But you're shaking like a leaf." It was in that moment that he realized something important. This girl had been bearing the brunt of the anger people felt for her father for so many years. She bore the blame, the guilt and the fury as if she were the one who'd committed those crimes. Yet she wasn't the one responsible for their pain. She wasn't responsible for their suffering. In her own way, Kagome was trying to help them. Even if they didn't understand it at all.
She was too similar to Midoriya in that way. They were practically mirrors of each other in personality. Yet there was something different about Kagome. There was something about her that was simultaneously strong yet fragile. As if she fought only to keep herself from completely breaking apart.
Bakugou glanced down at their interlaced hands, "It's okay to let it out every now and then. You shouldn't have to keep that anger bottled up either." He sucked a breath through his nose at that. "You're suffering too."
It was such a simple thing.
Obviously she'd be suffering from her father's disappearance. People had gotten so caught up in the horrific crimes that he'd committed that not one of them stopped to consider the girl he'd left behind. No one stopped to think about the child that was now forced to bear the sins of his burden without him.
Bakugou closed his eyes, "Let it out. I won't say a damn word."
Kagome began to shake and silent sobs wracked her body.
He'd give her this much.
It was the least he could do.
Bakugou shot up.
His breath came in quick pants as sweat beaded his brow.
That'd been shortly after Kagome returned from Hosu. She'd gone with Iida to keep an eye on him, but instead she'd gotten caught up in a fight with the Hero Killer himself.
Bakugou pressed a palm to his face.
That'd been the moment when he realized his own feelings for her. What he had wasn't just a simple crush. It was something more. Something that ate away at him every day he knew she was being held captive somewhere else.
Was she hurt?
Was she fighting for her very life at this moment?
Was she being coerced into something she didn't want to do?
A sickening feeling twisted in his stomach.
He wasn't an idiot. He'd seen the way that patchwork guy had been eyeballing her back during their fight in Kamino Ward. When they'd been captured, the League had immediately separated Kagome from him. She'd been burning so hot with a fever that they rushed her upstairs to cool her down. Supposedly they brought a doctor in to see her but he never saw anyone else drop by. They probably didn't get the chance to.
His fingers twitched at the thought.
She'd been alone with patchwork for over a day. He couldn't hear a damn thing that'd been going on up there, but all he knew was that something had changed between them. Kagome had seemed as if she were on the cusp of making a decision, and patchwork wasn't letting her get away from him that easily. She'd been forced to jump out in front of one of his own attacks just to get near him again.
Bakugou glanced down at his palm.
It'd been his fault that they'd gotten captured. He'd been so weak that he couldn't keep the only girl he loved safe. She'd tried to protect him and that was something he could never forgive himself for.
The teen sat up fully.
"Stupid, so damn stupid." He pressed his head against his clutched fists.
He'd been weak and useless. Just someone she had to protect. If he'd been stronger then maybe she'd still be with them.
Maybe she'd be safe.
His stomach gave another uncomfortable coil.
Even if the League didn't take her, it wouldn't be hard to imagine what she'd be forced to do just to survive. Kagome was attractive on both a physical and emotional level. She was, in many ways, a difficult person to resist. The charisma she possessed seemed to sway even the harshest of villains.
That was why Stain acknowledged her.
Not because she was some ideal of a hero.
Not because of her father.
Nor because of the power of her quirk.
It was because Kagome herself possessed the ability to spark change in their society.
He'd seen it over and over again. First with their fight against Shigaraki at the USJ attack, then again with Stain in Hosu, then finally Dabi during the Summer Camp.
No matter who she went up against, Kagome always sparked an evolution in those she faced. She was a source of inspiration. That was what society was so afraid of. Not because of who she was related to, but because her very existence seemed to cause the villains she encountered to evolve into something more. Something much stronger.
Bakugou knew one thing for certain.
Whoever had taken her wouldn't be impervious to the charisma she possessed.
Eventually they would let their guard down. There would be a single moment where she would pierce through every last defense they'd had. When that moment came he'd be waiting.
He would take the bastard down and bring her home.
If Kagome was fighting then the least he could do was save her.
He loved her.
Regardless of how she felt about him, he'd at least make sure she'd be given the choice. He refused to let anyone take that from her.
Not ever.
Chisaki glanced at his hand.
He'd underestimated her.
It'd been a few hours since their argument. Truthfully he just wanted to give the woman some time to cool off before he tried speaking to her a second time. He couldn't let this go. Not without securing something from her.
It wasn't that Kagome was submitting to his will. The truth was far from it. She had merely granted him permission to draw so near to her. She'd allowed herself to be vulnerable with him. However she just proved that she could take that power away should he displease her. She was not an opponent he could take lightly anymore. Especially not with Eri involved. Kagome's own sense of determination seemed to triple whenever the child was involved.
Both of the girls were at the crux of his plan. If he wanted Kagome's cooperation then he would first have to earn her trust.
Trust that he'd shattered earlier.
Chisaki scratched at his chin thoughtfully.
It'd be easier if he could take her out of the compound for short periods of time. He'd be able to regain her trust more easily if she no longer felt like a captive and more akin to a guest. However the heroes were starting to zero in on them. He'd seen a few hanging near the compound. Sir Nighteye had gotten especially bold as of late. Not to mention the League of Villains were becoming more active as well.
He supposed that he could use Kagome as a bargaining chip to gain favor with the League. They clearly were interested in gaining her as a member. She'd declined them but the interest still remained. If he could forge an alliance with the League then it'd be much easier to bring her out into the open. Their shared forces would ensure that she would be protected from the heroes at all times. Not to mention the added benefit of using their name would do to their financing. Kagome herself hadn't given them any of her shards, but that would change soon enough.
The real issue was if he could keep the League from stealing her.
Chisaki approached her door.
Kagome was bound to still be furious with him. She offered her cooperation but little else. It'd take a great deal longer to be able to get back to where they were before in their 'relationship'.
His lips thinned at the thought.
Kurono had been correct in his caution in letting Kagome near Eri. She'd be determined to protect the child from anything she deemed to be a threat to her safety and happiness. He could no longer be so careless.
He'd let his guard down.
A muffled voice suddenly came from the other side of the door, "You can come in, you know."
Chisaki sighed through his nose.
Of course she already knew that he was there. She always seemed to know when he was coming. He wasn't sure if that was a secondary ability of her quirk or if she was simply that good at detecting other people's presence naturally. Either way, there would be no slipping past her defenses easily.
He entered the threshold to her temporary room. It was bare save for the necessities. He kept her in here for observation but perhaps it'd be best to move her somewhere less plain. At the very least giving her the option to choose a location within the compound for herself would be a good step in earning her trust.
The man blinked as he took in her placid expression. He'd expected her to be furious. To be spitting at him furiously and launching yet another attack. Yet there was something oddly subdued about how she was behaving right now. His brows furrowed.
"You wanted to talk?" Kagome folded her hands over her lap. "You only seem to drop by when you want to discus something." She glanced down at her hands, "After what happened earlier, I assume that there are some things that you want to get sorted out."
She wasn't wrong.
He did want to talk to her about the new position he'd be establishing for her. Yet there was something else that was still bothering him.
"You could've attacked before this, so why did you wait?" He needed to know. "You put yourself beneath me and made yourself vulnerable. If you were going to attack, you should've done it then."
The young woman met his gaze, "Because at that time I didn't know what I was fighting for. When I saw Eri and finally figured out just how bad things were for her here, I couldn't just sit back and watch any longer." Azure eyes slid towards his. A flicker of pride and determination lit behind that gaze. "I may never become a hero, but I will at least spare that girl from the same sort of suffering I'd gone through. I won't apologize for that, Chisaki."
He settled into a seat across from her.
This was the obvious conclusion he'd foreseen.
Kagome would help, but at the cost of their fragile trust in one another. Now, it was his turn to begin twisting the perspective she had of the situation. Kagome was naïve but she wasn't a complete fool. She'd sniff him out if he fed her anything too obvious.
Chisaki removed the plague mask that covered his face. If he was going to speak to her, then it'd have to be while they were at the same level. She would never trust him if he did not show her his face.
"I wasn't going to ask for an apology," He clarified as he dropped the mask onto the nightstand next to him. "I came here because I wanted to talk to you about something more important." Her features hardened as she eyed him warily. This was the first time he'd truly seen her determination shine through. It was inspiring on some level. The moment she'd encased his hand in her crystals had been a shock. In a single second, she'd threatened his only method of exercising his quirk. It was a surprisingly vicious move on her part.
She hadn't been acknowledged by Stain and scouted by the League for nothing.
There was a ferociousness to her personality that was beginning to emerge. The only question would be if she focused that righteous fury onto him, or the heroes who had abandoned her.
Truthfully, it'd been thrilling to see her so willing to fight. He wanted to see more of what she could do. He wanted to drive her to the brink before having her submit herself to him. He wanted to establish himself over her. To have her willingly lie beneath him as she did before—only this time there would be no stopping what was started.
Chisaki met her gaze intently, "I will drop by first thing in the morning tomorrow so that you can start caring for Eri directly. However I will need a list of things you'll need." He threaded his fingers together as he continued to speak, "You were displeased with our method of caring for her so I'll need to know what you'll require to meet those standards."
Kagome blinked at him.
"Chisaki, do you even hear yourself?" The incredulousness in her tone was one that he'd expected. "She's a human being. That poor girl didn't even know what a puzzle was." She leaned forward as her brows furrowed sharply, "You mentioned that her quirk is dangerous but Chisaki," Kagome paused as her tone took on a pleading note. "You can't keep her sealed up in here. Quirks like ours require a lot of mental and emotional fortitude to control. In order for her ability to become stable she must first know what it is to experience familial love. She needs to feel secure and supported."
The young woman sighed, "She won't ever achieve that here if she feels like she's being imprisoned. Humans were never meant to live their lives in a cage with no access to the outside world."
Her words struck a chord with him.
A cage.
It was so simple but it explained what course of action he needed to take next. Both with Kagome and Eri.
"So you're saying that we were too harsh." He rubbed his thumb and index finger over his chin, "I've never been all that skilled at handling children so this is new territory for me." He'd drop small bits of information that was true. He wasn't good with kids. "There are many things that are happening right now, however I will take your words into consideration. When the time is right, I will permit the two of you to leave the compound under strict supervision."
If they wilted within the confines of a cage, then he would simple have to alter his method of keeping control over them. Changing them over to the metaphorical leash would be his next step. Giving them the chance to believe that they held some semblance of freedom would go a long way in establishing himself in their lives. Particularly with Kagome.
His eyes surveyed her relaxed posture.
She was no longer coiled and ready to strike. This time she was calmer—almost as if she'd accepted some truth to this situation in the hours he'd given her to cool down.
Still there was a fierceness to her that wasn't present before. It lurked beneath the placid expression and reflected within the sharpness of her gaze.
If eyes alone had the power to burn people, he'd be nothing but mere cinders where he stood. Despite that, there was another fire that seared in that glance. It wasn't fury. It was something much more dangerous.
Desire.
Chisaki slid closer towards her.
Even if she rejected him right at this moment, there was one thing he still needed to try.
The man took her jaw between his index finger and thumb. He'd already done this before. Each time she submitted to him. However he knew that he could not let his guard down. Not when things were still so rough for them.
He lowered his mouth next to her ear, "I will give you what you want."
His double meaning wasn't missed either.
What the heroes could never give her.
What the League had missed.
He would be the one to grant her what she really wanted out of this world.
Even if Kagome never said it herself, he could sense the change occurring within her. No longer was she looking at him with the eyes of a naïve child. There was something more to the way she glanced at him. Something that was more akin to hunger.
It was a fundamental need that everyone fell prey to.
He was no exception to that rule.
Neither was she for that matter.
However he would ensure one thing.
Before this was over, Kagome would irrevocably become his.
She swallowed thickly.
It'd been difficult.
Too difficult.
The emotions she felt kept crashing and swirling within herself. All the guilt and, admittedly, sexual tension that'd built up within the last few days had nearly spilled over.
She'd wanted to lean away from his touch. To slap his hand and put as much space between them. Yet she held firm. She stood her ground and allowed him to think he'd ensnared her.
Kagome sucked a shaky breath through her nose.
Chisaki had left shortly after his little declaration.
It'd stirred something in her. Like a shock to her system, she recalled Dabi's words over again.
Why are you fighting so hard for a society that spits on you?
Ever since that night she found herself unable forget. Then when Chisaki leaned in close to her, they resounded in her head again.
Both Chisaki and Dabi had echoed the same sentiment. Society as a whole had shunned her. They'd snubbed their noses at a villain's daughter trying to right the sins her sire had committed. It'd been stupid of her, but she'd wanted to make a difference on some level. While she wasn't fighting for society as a whole, she had been fighting for something much deeper than that. Something that she could no longer justify.
Chisaki and Dabi both had picked up on it.
Kagome closed her eyes.
"Looks like I'll have to try harder." She'd made the first crack in the man's defenses. It was small, but it was necessary. Still that moment had served as a reminder that she wasn't impervious to him either.
She would have to tread carefully.
The young woman curled her fingers in towards her fist.
"I can do this."
She had to.