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Suggested Listening: In the End (Mellen Gi Remix) Feat. Fleurie & Jung Youth as Produced by Tommee Profitt
Contradiction
Aizawa struggled to lift himself on his forearms. His body still felt as if it were being pulled apart. Every muscle ached and stretched in a way that was unnatural. So this was the true power of Chisaki's quirk.
Overhaul.
The ability to deconstruct and reconstruct anything he touched.
It was both powerful and terrifying.
Dark eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Kagome's silhouette next to Chisaki's beyond the wall of crystals that'd separated them.
She'd protected him.
She'd saved him.
Yet here he was barely able to pull himself up off the ground.
His teeth gnashed together in frustration.
"Don't go!" Aizawa tried to call out to her. "You can't…!"
Another spasm shot through him as his body continued to piece itself back together.
Shit, he had to move!
Kagome was right there.
He couldn't fail her.
Not again!
His vision began to fade out as he watched their silhouettes slowly disappear.
She was gone again except this time he knew where to look.
The Shie Hassaikai.
He would bring them down.
Dabi glowered at the other male.
Eri tightened her grip around his neck as she tucked herself into him.
"Would you shut it already, you're scaring the kid." His growl was met by Twice's sharp turn of personality.
The other man's voice lightened as he gestured towards the girl, "Who's the kid and why're you here!? I thought Shigaraki said that we're supposed to be laying low!"
Dabi carefully set the child onto her feet, "Who gives a rat's ass what Shigaraki said? I've still got a job to do so I need you to watch the kid for a few days."
Eri's hands curled against the fabric of his pant legs tightly as she attempted to hide herself behind him.
He knew that it would be difficult to explain her presence. Especially with Kurogiri still hanging around, however he'd just have to buy a little bit of time. He just needed enough to move the child somewhere outside of Shigaraki's range. Then he would bring Kagome there next.
"Dabi," Kurogiri's voice cut through the tension. "What are you doing?"
He knew what he was really trying to ask.
Their world was no place for children. It would've been best to simply drop her off somewhere else. Like a police station or an orphanage.
He knew that and yet Kagome had given her to him specifically.
She had entrusted this child to him. Which meant that the girl would be the key he needed to keep the woman at his side once this was all over with.
For now, he just needed something convincing to get the other's off of his back. Something that they wouldn't question. An idea struck him as he peered down at the girl.
The man straightened his back, "She's my kid."
The lie escaped as quickly as the truth. It was a hard sell given their opposing physical appearance but that was easy enough to excuse. He could simply say that she took after her mother than himself. Besides, his hair was white beneath the dye he put it in every day.
"Her mom ain't around anymore so I'm counting on you watch her while I'm finishing up my recruitment mission." He used a tone that brooked no room for dissent.
Twice glanced between them, his mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish.
"You've got a kid!?" His incredulousness was shared by Kurogiri. Both men could only stare at him at this 'revelation'.
Eri's grip on his pant legs tightened as she tucked herself even further behind him.
At this point it longer matter what was true and what wasn't. Kagome offered him this child so he'd do her the favor and take her in. What came afterwards was going to be the most important part of this deal.
"Twice, make sure she gets food. Kid's probably starving by now," Azure eyes slanted towards the other male. "I'll be back to take her off your hands soon enough. I can't exactly trust Shigaraki or Toga with her."
A brief look of realization flickered across the other male's face.
Ah yes, Compress likely would've been the best option for this task however he wasn't too keen on getting the man involved in this one. He could be a too sharp for his own good. Twice wasn't as much of a threat.
Dabi cocked his head over his shoulder towards the girl, "Eri, just do as Twice tells you. I'll be back later."
A flash of fear went across her features as she trembled against his legs.
"Do you have to go?" Her voice was faint but he still heard it all the same.
It reminded him of a time long ago. Back when he was still in his youth and his own siblings clung to him in a similar manner.
He lowered his palm to the crown of her head, "I'll be back."
For now, he had work to do.
The world was still blurry.
He hardly blinked before crisp white curtains fell into view.
Was he… at a hospital?
"Ah, you're finally awake." A familiar voice broke through the silence, "Recovery Girl said that you sustained a pretty nasty injury. I didn't think you gain consciousness so soon."
Aizawa took a moment to gather his bearings.
Beside him was All Might. His form had shrunken, and his cheeks had become gaunt. The man's clothes hung over his body loosely. He'd only seen this form a handful of times before this. The fact that he was here now must've meant that he'd been the one to find him at the Higure Shrine.
Aizawa paused. That was right! The shrine!
The man shot up, "Where's Higurashi?"
His head swiveled from side to side, surveying the room as quickly as he could.
She'd been with him. She'd been right there.
"Hold on, you're saying that you saw Higurashi?" All Might's brows furrowed as he peered down at him.
"It was only briefly but she'd escaped." His brows furrowed as he recalled the horror in her expression, "She hadn't known that her home had been destroyed. She was…" his voice trailed off.
That very scream of horror had been what'd drawn him to her.
He'd seen the realization flicker across her face. He'd seen the shock and horror of understanding that everything she once called 'home' was gone.
At that moment, she truly felt as if she had nothing.
Which was exactly what Chisaki had wanted.
Aizawa lifted his head, "She's with the Shie Hassaikai."
The sun was already starting to set. He'd known that his contact wasn't all that great at keeping track of time but this was getting ridiculous.
Dabi's brows furrowed as he glowered at the sky.
What was taking him so long?
His hand dipped into his pocket. He trailed the tip of his finger along the fine leather of the journal Shinigami had left behind.
He'd gotten through most of the entries the other night but that still left a small section near the end that he hadn't finished just yet.
It wouldn't do any harm to finish it off while he was waiting for the others to arrive.
Dabi swiftly withdrew the book and flipped open to the section near the back.
After all, he still needed answers of his own and this was the best way to get them.
January 5
Three months. That's how long we have left. Even now I'm still surprised when I think about it.
A child.
We're actually having a child.
Momo said from the very start that it was a girl but I still have my doubts. We haven't gone to the clinic as her father is very much against the use of modern medicine. Such a strange old man but he believes that descending the shrine will bring about a horrible curse. I didn't really get to ask him much about it before he rambled off about how pickles were divine punishment from the gods.
I still wonder how it is Momo survived her youth with such an eccentric father. It sometimes makes me wonder how I'll do as well. Does becoming a father somehow change the way a man thinks? I tried asking her but all she did was laugh at me.
Nevertheless, I still have things to take care of.
Tomorrow we have to make a few preparations but it shouldn't be too difficult. So long as the shrine remains active, we're set.
That's all I can ask for.
Dabi paused as there was a brief split between the entries. His gaze scanned through the pages until he found the next one a short distance over.
January 12
The old man was rambling about a demon this morning. He kept saying something about how the forest was being haunted by the great spirit that once guarded the Shikon. I had to tell him that there was no such thing and that even if there was, it wouldn't be in our forest. Neither spirits nor sacred jewels dwell on our estate.
I'm worried that he's beginning to lose his good senses. Momo was concerned as well. If the man weren't so stubborn then we'd have already gone down and gotten him checked out at the clinic. Still he refuses to leave the shrine. He's clinging to an old legend of a curse that's passed through the ages.
Should the chosen guardian abandon the shrine then all those they love will perish; or something like that.
The shrine is so full of ancient myths and legends that it's hard to keep track of them all. There's even an old story of a priestess who once used the dried up well to travel through time itself in an era where quirks were just born into existence.
Can't say that any of it is true but it's interesting to say the least.
At least more interesting than that of a tea harvester whose quirk turned foul.
The writing pittered off as the story left unsaid remained in the back of his mind.
Thus far there wasn't much going on besides the myths he, admittedly, did not familiarize himself with before he'd destroyed the shrine. It was possible some trace amounts of their existence remained somewhere but for now, those stories were now lost to the sands of time.
Dabi shook his head as he continued on.
There had to be something here. Something that he could use.
February 8
I knew it was coming.
Visitors had been few and far between these days. Those that do come rarely offer more than a prayer before they leave. The merchandise Momo and the old man sell haven't made a cent in these last few weeks. If this keeps up then we won't have any other choice.
Momo already mentioned that she was willing to sell a shard or two to make ends meet but I'm still concerned.
Do we really need to resort to such lengths?
Is there truly nothing I can offer this family?
I need to find a solution.
It's a risk but as long as Momo doesn't find out then it'll be fine. This option would be better than the financial ruin that awaits us now.
For her and our child, I'll have to do it.
Just once more I'll don the name Shinigami…
Dabi paused.
Now that was news to him. Shinigami had returned to killing prior to his daughter's birth? As far as he knew the man had remained inactive during the years he'd been with Momo. There'd been many speculations ranging from him being arrested or having passed away all the way to him starting a family of his own and wanting to settle down. He never knew the truth himself until Kagome's lineage had been revealed. Until then it was simply believed that he possibly grew weary of the life of a killer.
Was it possible he returned to killing for hire as a means of earning quick cash?
He continued reading.
February 17
It didn't work.
I tried.
I tried so hard but at the last second I wasn't able to do it.
Why now is it that my quirk decides to not do as I wish? Is it because of the doubt I still feel? Or is it because I still want to be the man Momo thinks me to be?
I don't know.
All I know is that I failed.
I had a target within my grasp. The only thing that stopped me from sparing my family from eviction was his pathetic life.
He wasn't even someone worth saving.
Just a low life thug who'd attacked an innocent person in broad daylight. The price for his head was steep so the one he'd assaulted had deeper pockets than even the man himself realized. If the idiot had known that when he'd attacked the guy, he probably would've killed him and taken every last bit of cash from his account before the body would've been found.
Ah, there it goes again. That old habit.
Still, I had him right in front of me but then I thought about Momo and our child. What would they say if they knew? What would they think of me?
I couldn't do it.
I still can't.
I don't want to be that person.
Not anymore.
Dabi snorted through his nose at that, "Still doesn't fix your bind."
Because of Shinigami's decision to not kill the man, the family was left in dire straights. He had once choice that could've spared them but he hadn't taken it. Was that the power Momo had held over him or had it been something else?
He pushed on.
March 2
Momo said she found a broker.
I never heard of him before so he's probably small time. Apparently he promised her a good deal on her shard so long as she sells through him exclusively. I tried to talk her out of it but she didn't listen. She mentioned over and over again that they needed something to pay for the child that we're expecting. More than that, her father is also beginning to go senile.
Whether he likes it or not, he'll need a doctor soon. He can't be left alone for long. That last time we went on a short errand he'd managed to escape out the back of the house and get himself lost in the forest. I tried asking him what he was doing but all he'd say was that the spirit had called him. That it was pleading with him to protect the soul that now rests within his daughter.
I don't really understand what he meant. All I know is that he needs help and fast.
I don't want Momo to sell her shards but do we even have a choice?
The only thing I can do now is wait and stand watch over her until the danger passes.
He shook his head.
He nearly wanted to wrangle Shinigami's neck himself. An unknown broker demanding full rights to the shards that his wife produced? Now that was a short deal and the man should've known far better than to let her get involved with them.
His gaze slid across the page. There were only a few entries left. By the time he finished the others would likely arrive.
"Better hurry this up," He commented to no one in particular.
March 18
I was so stupid.
So damn stupid.
Momo sold her shards through the dealer but the cost had nearly been too great to bear. Someone had found out about her quirk boosting. She admitted once that she was really only skilled at using her healing ability with them and not much else. Her own mother before her was even less knowledgeable in all the avenues that their power worked. So the women of the family often tried to live their lives as if they didn't have a quirk. The old man mentioned that part of the curse on the shrine meant that they had to keep their powers hidden as the chosen inheritors of the great priestess' abilities.
The original woman had not wanted her quirk to be used for evil, so she made her daughter swear that she and all of her future children were to never use it for ill. That and they should avoid exposing its existence to anyone around them as much as they could.
It was a foolish decision in my opinion. The amount of knowledge passed down from mother to child has withered through the generations. Even now Momo is still uncertain of everything her shards can do. So when the broker came back with a few friends and a demand that she make more of them; I knew I couldn't keep hidden anymore.
I had to kill them.
It was the first time Momo had ever seen me use my quirk. I never told her about it but she also never asked. It was one of the unspoken agreements between us. I suppose that I was just too afraid of her rejection to ever admit my own actions to her.
She'd been the only person who hadn't spurned me. Yet the moment those men went down she didn't flee. She didn't gasp in horror or revile me.
She'd smiled.
It was the saddest smile I'd ever seen on her.
In that moment she knew who I was. What sort of monstrous person I truly am. Yet she still smiled, wrapped her arms around me and held me; as if saying that she could still accept me as I was.
I've never known before now but what happened in her life to make her so… welcoming.
This person who knew nothing of my existence before, who had cherished life so vibrantly, yet still accepted me and the dreadful sins I no doubtedly cast upon her family by taking her surname in our marriage.
She is… so different.
So very different.
Dabi paused.
The memory of the fever-weakened smile Kagome had given him back in the Basue Bar had flashed in his mind. If he remembered correctly, she'd spent the first six years of her life with her family in tact. Which meant that she likely had a few vague memories of her mother still. Was it possible that Momo's personality was what Kagome had idolized and taken after most? Was that the reason why she was so open towards him, her enemy?
His brows furrowed at the thought.
At the very least it answered a few of his questions.
There was no doubt that Kagome took after her mother in more ways than one. Crystallize wasn't the only thing she'd inherited from the woman.
He glanced at the final entry in the journal.
This was it.
March 25
Kagome.
That was the name Momo had chosen for our daughter.
Her instinct had been right on this one.
I thought it was a strange name at first. To be named after a children's song? The poor child would be taunted before she'd have a chance to hit puberty. Still Momo insisted on it. She claimed to see something reflecting within her in the first few moments after she was born. It was brief but she almost saw what looked like a jewel. Personally I believe it's simply Crystallize taking a physical manifestation within her. Momo disagrees though. So our daughter's name is now Higurashi Kagome.
The old man was beside himself in tears after she was born. His ramblings about the jewel's spirit having been reborn have only increased and I know that it's nearly time to have him visit the doctor.
I told Momo not to sell her shards anymore but she wouldn't hear of it. Instead she found another broker and is insisting on going through them. Although she did amend that she will not be doing business without me being there.
I despise feeling so helpless in this situation, but as it stands I cannot kill in this current state. I doubt my body would even be able to hold up against the miasma should I try to use it now.
It'll take some time and practice to get back into the shape I was before. Until then, we'll rely on her shards to make ends meet.
It's the only thing I can do for my family now.
When the time comes I'll return to my previous title of Shinigami. When Kagome gets a little older and things are a bit more secure, I'll return to the world which I belong. Even if it means sullying my hands in blood once more, it'll be worth it. So that Momo will never have to go through that experience again.
Now with Kagome here, I won't allow her to suffer the same either.
So long as I live neither of them will be used for their shards by another.
Not ever again.
His lips pressed into a thin line at that.
"A bit late on that, aren't you old man?" Dabi pressed the pad of his thumb beneath his eye.
So he'd wanted to protect his wife and child from being used, huh?
It seemed as if the curse really did exist for both Momo and their unborn second child passed away while she gave birth, Norio had died many years later from illness and Kagome had been left abandoned by her own father.
His gaze shifted towards the fading light of twilight above him.
"You really screwed up, didn't you?"
Endeavor swept a heavy palm over his face in exasperation.
Things were moving too slow. There had to be something they could do. Canvassing the neighborhood had turned up nothing. Even though they had the name of the man and subsequent organization responsible for Kagome's abduction, they couldn't make their move just yet.
"Damn it!" He threw his arm across his desk, scattering the array of paperwork across the floor. "We need to go in there already!"
"Sir?" A tiny voice interrupted his moment of fury. "Detective Tsukauchi with the police department is on the line." His secretary poked her head into his office. Her eyes scanned the mess before glancing up at him once more. She was soft spoken in nature but she was efficient. That was all that'd mattered.
"Patch him through." Endeavor retorted quickly.
If they were lucky then they were about to be given the green light to launch a counterattack.
He picked his phone off from the ground and swiftly pulled the object from its cradle.
"This better be good news," He growled.
The other man sighed, "Well it's both. As you know we've discovered who's been holding her. We were in the process of locating their main base. However she was spotted the other day at the Higure Shrine."
Endeavor paused, "Spotted?"
Did that mean that she'd escaped her captor?
"Eraser was surveying the area when he came across her. He tried taking her to U.A. but Chisaki managed to track them down." He listened as Tsukauchi pushed forward. "Eraser is recovering from his injuries but he was able to give us some insight. Higurashi left with Chisaki of her own volition but we believe the reason for that is because she feels isolated. She needs someone she can trust."
There was a short silence in the conversation. He knew what the man was insinuating. He knew what he needed to do next.
"I'll take point on the rescue mission," Endeavor's brows furrowed. "You fools need to hurry up and find their base. Since she's been spotted Chisaki will likely try to move to a safer location. Somewhere he'll have more control over her."
If he was able to move her into a safe house then the chances of saving her would dwindle into almost nothing.
"Actually we have a good idea of where they're hiding. Sir Nighteye is finishing up some surveillance missions but once we have confirmation from him the rescue operation will be green lit." The detective continued, "It shouldn't take too much longer. So try to bear with us until then."
"Tell that to her." Endeavor snorted before he hung up.
This was taking too long.
The man glanced at his phone once more.
He still had one last call to make. Dialing out, he waited until he reached the familiar voicemail of his son's cellphone.
"Shouto, we need to talk."
Kagome curled into herself upon the bed Chisaki had given her. He'd brought her back to the same room as before but this time a guard was stationed out front twenty-four-seven.
She was no longer going to be left to her own devices.
He hadn't trusted her in a while but now he knew that she wasn't above using sex as a means of control. The young woman bit into her bottom lip. These next few days would be the most dangerous. Either he'd want revenge for destroying his ultimate plan or he'd settle on a new idea. One that would involve the selling of quirk boosting shards.
She swallowed thickly at the thought.
It'd only been by chance that she hadn't been forced to make any yet. With Eri gone, Chisaki was bound to make his demands.
She felt her hands tremble in spite of herself.
Even now she could still smell the heavy scent of blood on her clothes. No matter how many times she washed them or bathed, it clung to her like a second layer of skin. The stench had been so heavy and what remained of the shrine had been covered in it. The image of Aizawa's body being torn apart kept repeating on loop in her mind.
Ripped to shreds.
Was that Chisaki had done to her when they'd met? Was there now a horrific blood splatter in the shape of her body left behind in that little alleyway?
A wave of nausea hit her.
Kagome pressed her palm to her mouth and tried to force down the thought.
She couldn't think like that. She had to keep moving forward.
Again the image of her teacher's dismembered body flashed in her mind. That time she couldn't hold back the wave of illness that struck her.
Kagome shot towards the small bathroom tucked in the corner of the room. She bent over the toilet and waited as the rest of her stomach finished its volatile expulsion.
She hated this.
This fear, illness and dread of the unknown.
The young woman shivered as she tried to calm her nerves.
Chisaki wouldn't kill her yet but that didn't mean she was safe. The only comfort she had now was the fact that Eri wassafe.
Black browns pinched together at the thought.
"Please," She began through clenched teeth, "Take care of her."
It was her only hope at this point.
His fingers flexed.
"So you're saying that you're not any closer to extracting her?" Azure eyes thinned sharply at the blond before him.
"It's a little complicated," Hawks flashed him a placating grin, "Besides what we do know is that she's safe. At least for now. She got out for a short time and was nearly rescued by Eraser." Golden eyes narrowed at him, "Speaking of which. You wouldn't happen to know why he was by the Shrine that day, would you?"
Seiichi folded his arms over his chest, "How should I know? That fool was always exceptionally negligent." Especially where Kagome's well being was concerned. He'd heard the man's degradation of his daughter's character that night when she'd been taken by the League. It was the entire reason he'd even gotten back into his old habits.
His lips thinned at the thought.
It was more surprising to him that Eraser went so far as to search the grounds again. Maybe the man did have a subtle change of heart after their little 'discussion'. Although whether that was out of fear or a genuine sense of concern, he wasn't too sure.
His brows furrowed.
"She won't be safe for long now that Overhaul knows she is capable of escaping." That notion alone was enough to cause the hair on the back of his neck to rise.
It didn't matter how long it'd been since he'd spoken to his child. She was still his flesh and blood. He was still her father. Above all else it was his duty to protect her. The only reason why he'd kept away for so long was to avoid dragging her into the mess that was his life. She didn't need anyone casting suspicion onto her. Staying away had been the best option.
Now he knew that he should've kept just a tad bit closer eye on her.
Just like her mother before her, Kagome always did seem to attract chaos wherever she went.
Hawks pressed a palm to the back of his neck, "About that, we know he's going to be moving locations soon. We actually plan on arranging a raid strike when he makes the attempt."
The way the other man spoke said more than he currently was.
Seiichi folded his arms over his chest, "You don't expect it to go well."
"No," Golden eyes thinned at him. "Chisaki's too good at strategy. Plus there's the possibility that he's already broken her down both mentally and emotionally. Eraser mentioned that she was on shaky legs before all of this. Seeing him destroyed has probably left her traumatized." The hero pushed onwards in his explanation, "Originally they wanted me to watch the black market for her shards but they recently asked me to take point on this raid. If it all goes south then there's one last plan we can try."
His fingers flexed.
He didn't like the sound of this 'plan'.
"There's someone that's interested in getting her away from Chisaki. Someone that does have the power to keep her hidden, even from society itself." The blond spoke calmly.
Azure eyes hardened, "You speak of the League."
He'd already had enough difficulty keeping Shigaraki in line. Bringing them in to rescue her would be a recipe for disaster.
Hawks shook his head, "Not all of them. Just a handful. One guy in particular has been intent on finding her."
Seiichi fought protective growl that rose at the back of his throat, "If you tell me that it's Shigaraki then I'll melt you down here and now." He flexed his hands as a show of intimidation.
The other male gave a hearty laugh at the threat, "Whoa now, I'm not that stupid. If you play your cards right, this guy will become a good ally. Besides, he holds no loyalty to Shigaraki or the League. He's in this for his own gain."
He was getting tired of this.
"Out with it, Hawks. Who are you talking about?" He would not accept blind help. Especially not when his daughter's safety was on the line.
The blond threw him a wry smirk, "I'm talking about Dabi."
He glowered at the night-darkened sky above.
They were late.
After dropping Eri off on Twice temporarily, he still had to make time to meet up with his contact. Kurogiri had attempted to ask him about the girl he'd now found himself in charge of, but he kept his answer as clipped as possible.
The less Shigaraki knew about the kid, the better. At least until he could figure out how she was connected to Kagome in all of this. For better or worse, the woman had sent him the child on a silver platter, practically begging him to take her as far away from there as possible. More than anything, removing Eri from that location would've freed Kagome's own movements as she now would only have herself to worry about.
Which meant that the woman would be attempting to flee soon enough.
Dabi shifted on the ball of his hell, "The hell took you so damn long?"
The blond cast him a friendly grin, "Hey don't be like that. Besides, I brought the guy just like you asked." Hawks threw a look over his shoulder at the figure lurking behind him.
Dabi tipped his chin up curiously.
It was odd seeing the myth in person like this. After all the stories of his exploits in the underworld, he'd expected something a bit more… terrifying. What he found instead was a regular man. His hair was dark like Kagome's and he bore the same eyes. It seemed as if Kagome had inherited most of her father's traits in her appearance. The resemblance between them was nearly uncanny.
The one thing he couldn't deny was the thick air that surrounded the other man. Were it not for the hint of danger that enveloped him, he would've assumed the stranger to be a normal man.
He paused as a faint pulse of power emanated from his pocket. He knew that feeling. He'd already sensed it once before earlier that afternoon.
"You've got a shard, don't you old timer?" His question was met with the sharpening of the other male's gaze.
It'd stand to reason that Shinigami would have a shard. Kagome's mother also bore the Crystallize quirk. As such she likely would've given one to her husband.
Even now he could feel the fleeting pulse of power emanating from the fragment tucked securely in his pocket. It was so faint and weak that whatever power remained in the shard Shinigami bore was nearly depleted. The last vestiges of Higurashi Momo's power was just about extinguished.
"And I assume you stole one from my shrine before you burned it to the ground," The viciousness in the older man's voice was palpable.
Ah yes, how could he have forgotten?
He did destroy the Higure Shrine, didn't he?
Dabi's lips curved into a smirk, "A necessary casualty. What, you saying you wanted the heroes to keep burying the kid's disappearance? I did you a favor by exposing their hypocrisy."
This was not how he imagined their great first meeting to go. However it was all in the line of his work. Some connections panned out while others didn't. It was the nature of their current world. It didn't matter if Shinigami was Kagome's father or not. They were clearly not suited to work with one another.
"Hey, cool it you two," Hawks broke the tension quickly as he posed himself between them. "I wanted to talk to you both today. We know that there'll be a raid strike when Chisaki makes his move, but we need to plan for what happens after that." The blond's brows furrowed sharply, "There's a possibility that the raid will fail. When that happens, we'll have to be ready to grab her before Chisaki can get her to another safe house. If he disappears again then it'll be impossible to track him."
Dabi relaxed his stance as he listened.
The hero was correct in that line of thinking.
What little drive Kagome had to keep attending U.A. was quickly dwindling. Which meant that she'd be reaching out to any avenue of escape she could grasp onto. Including himself.
"So you want us on back up when things go down," He quickly surmised.
It wasn't too hard to follow his logic.
When the heroes inevitably failed, they would be waiting in the flanks to launch a secondary attack. Chisaki would be weakened from his fight and wouldn't have enough strength to stave them off. It'd be easier to use Kurogiri's warping quirk to simply snatch her and escape, but that notion left a sour taste in his mouth.
Letting Shigaraki near Kagome was something he wasn't keen on.
An instinct he couldn't quite ignore kept screaming in the back of his mind, warning him of the possibilities that could occur.
"I'm only bringing a small team to this," Dabi commented. "The less people involved, the better."
It'd be difficult but he had a few in mind that he could use for this mission.
Shinigami cast him a cool glance, "How do I know you won't just bring her back to your leader once you secure her? You've already taken my daughter once, I won't allow you to use her again."
The paternal protectiveness emanating from the man was overwhelming. He was almost envious of the desire Shinigami bore to protect his own flesh and blood. His own father had hardly spared him a glance in his youth. The contrast between the two was so striking that it was nearly comical. A villain that was willing to do anything to save his child and a hero that did just about everything he could to destroy every child he ever had.
This world really had become rotten at its core.
"Save your breath," Dabi swiftly pulled a black-bound journal from his coat. "I already read what'd happened before."
The last few days he'd spent scouring for Kagome and reading through Shinigami's journal. Most of the entries had been generic enough—just the daily life of a man who'd been taken in by a kind family. However there were a few that stuck out to him. Most particularly, the ones that involved Momo's first pregnancy with Kagome.
"Don't lecture me, old man." He tossed it him roughly, "Your wife sold her shards once and that damn near got all of you killed."
That was right.
The real reason why Shinigami feared his daughter's disappearance. It wasn't just for her safety, but rather a deeply etched terror of a history he did not wish to repeat.
Shinigami peered at the journal. His jaw clenched as he scanned through familiar characters of his own writing.
"So you stole this as well?" The man's voice trembled with barely contained rage.
Dabi tipped his chin up, "A friend of mine found it. I just read through it to figure more out about you." The shard in his pocket gave another faint pulse of power. "I ain't selling the kid off to Shigaraki. As far as I'm concerned, it's not her shards that I'm after."
It never really was the reason why they'd wanted her in the first place. The shards themselves were just an additional bonus to their situation.
"Then why…?"
Dabi continued, "Because of you, old timer."
His lips curled into a sneer, "You've only got yourself to blame for what happened to her. It's the same thing that'd happened to your wife all those years ago. It was Kagome's connection to you that made us interested. If you really wanted to protect that kid, you would've stayed with her even if it meant her never becoming a hero in the first place."
Had Shinigami raised Kagome on his own, then she would've been insulated from further attacks by villains such as themselves. His very presence would've been all the deterrence anyone would've needed to steer clear of her. Instead, she was left in the public view to face society's hatred and rage towards the sins he'd committed. Thus, she was also left exposed to their temptation.
The memory of her fever-weakened smile flashed in the back of his mind.
That night, she'd burned herself into his very psyche. At least now he could return the favor somewhat.
Shinigami breathed through his nose, "What exactly do you want from me?"
"A truce," Dabi shot back just as quickly. "Agree to stop interfering with the League and I'll lend all my support for this mission. That way I can tell Shigaraki that you were the one who took Kagome while we take her somewhere safe."
Hawks took the moment to interject, "So you're saying that you're the one who's going to move her?" His incredulousness was shared with Shinigami as well. They'd both probably assumed that, as her father, he would've been the one to take point on this mission. However he would not take that risk. Not yet.
"Shinigami might be her father but who's to say he won't just take off once he gets her back? We need her somewhere only the three of us can access. No one else." It was the only way this would work.
He didn't give a damn about the League.
All he cared about was revenge.
Both against Endeavor and this society that had bred people like Kagome into existence. They were both pariahs in their own right.
He would not compromise on this.
Not ever.
Azure eyes flicked towards Shinigami sharply, "We got a deal?"
He would not hand her over to anyone else.
Not until he got the answers he wanted.
Kagome convulsed as her body heaved yet again.
That was the third time tonight.
Her hands trembled as she fought the urge to throw herself over the lip of the toilet. Ever since they'd returned from the shrine, she couldn't shake the image of Aizawa's shredded corpse out of her mind. It played over and over again; forcing her into a state of illness nearly once an hour.
Sweat formed over her brow.
She couldn't take this.
The guilt. The horror. The absolute disgust.
It couldn't be real.
None of this could be real.
A faint knock rapped at her door.
She knew from the start that it wasn't Chisaki. The man wouldn't have bothered with such pleasantries. If anything, her self-appointed guards had heard her projectile expulsing every last bit of her stomach's contents over the last few hours and reported it to one of Chisaki's men. This, if anything, was probably just a necessary visit to ensure that she hadn't caught some deadly disease during her grand escape.
Her nails dug into the hard porcelain of the toilet's seat.
She hated this.
"I'm coming in," Kurono's voice carried over the otherwise silent room. She felt his gaze scan her form in a contemplative manner. He didn't speak but she could sense the man's growing concern. It wasn't that he was worried about her, but rather if she could perform the job they brought her into the organization for. If she fell ill now then all of their plans would fall to ruin.
"Overhaul told me what'd happened earlier," Kurono spoke after a long moment of silence. "I've brought some anti-nausea medicine with me. It'll help for the time being but I'll see what I can do about the rest."
There was no point in asking why he was helping. She already knew that answer.
Azure eyes narrowed at the male, "I'll be just fine."
Her words came out far sharper than she'd intended.
In truth she wasn't in the mood to deal with him or Chisaki. In that moment, when Aizawa had been ripped apart and Chisaki nearly took hold of his shredded body, she'd made a choice. Foolish though it may be, she'd decided to return to this place. Had she not then Aizawa surely would've suffered the same fate as herself.
Her brows twitched at the thought.
She couldn't let that happen.
Not ever.
She would not allow someone else to lose their freedom because of her own foolish mistake. Besides, she wasn't completely out of hope. She still had some faith left.
You're not weak.
Those words resounded in her head more than ever.
She just had to hold out a little longer.
Midoriya, Bakugou, Tamaki and Todoroki had never been the type of people who gave up. It may take some time but eventually someone would come. She'd just have to have faith in them until then.
The trembling in her body began to subside.
Just a little longer.
Bakugou glowered at the text in front of him.
He couldn't focus worth a damn.
Their teacher had been noticeably absent the past several days and the other staff were completely silent on the matter. Even All Might hadn't dared to explain the man's sudden disappearance.
His brows furrowed at the thought.
That could only mean one thing.
It had something to do with Kagome.
That was the only reasonable explanation he could come up with. One way or another, their teacher probably found a lead on her whereabouts. Not only that but Todoroki had been oddly silent as well.
He cast his peer a short glance.
The teen's expression was in its usually frown but there was an edge to him that seemed sharper than usual. As if he were on the brink of making an extreme choice.
Bakugou kicked his legs out.
He'd get his answers one way or another.
Something had happened to Aizawa and Todoroki knew.
The other teen lifted his head. Their eyes met and a decision swiftly flashed in them. The two-toned male offered a short nod of his head—a silent acknowledgement of the question he had yet to ask.
The time between their classes had spread slowly through the day. Bakugou waited impatiently as the clocked ticked until the final ring. His mind was too far gone to think of anything else.
The only thing he could focus on was the feeling of restlessness that'd settled in the pit of his stomach.
He wanted to do something, not sit here and pretend as if everything was normal.
Scarlet eyes tipped towards the empty seat at the back of the classroom. He could still see the vague silhouette of Kagome's figure sitting there. He'd gotten so used to being around her that not seeing her or hearing her voice had sunk beneath his skin.
He had to act.
"Bakugou," Todoroki called to him, "You too Midoriya, I want to talk to you two."
The teen behind him nodded sternly.
Whatever he had to say, he knew it wouldn't be good.
They followed him in silence out of the main school building and towards and empty courtyard. It was rarely used by the students as it was tucked behind the Support Course's building, but that was neither here nor there.
"This should be far enough," Todoroki began quietly.
Midoriya's brows pinched together in concern as he stepped towards his friend, "What is it? It's not like you to call us out like this unless…" His voice dropped away as the beginning of worry spread across his features like an open book.
Todoroki lifted his head to meet their gaze, "I heard from my father the other day. Apparently Mr. Aizawa ran into Kagome at the Higure Shrine the day he stopped coming to school. He said that he'd sustained a massive injury but Recovery Girl was able to heal him."
The blond stepped forward, "And? What about her? Where is she?"
Had she already been rescued?
If so, was that why Aizawa hadn't come back yet? Was he with her right now?
Somehow that thought felt too hopeful even to himself.
Todoroki's expression sharpened, "She was with the leader of a yakuza group called the Shie Hassaikai. According to my father, she chose to leave with him again." He glanced at his clenched fist, "They think she was trying to save Mr. Aizawa from the guy she was with. His quirk is unlike one we've ever encountered before."
Midoriya's face paled, "You think she offered herself as sacrifice?"
The teen's face said more than his words ever could.
Bakugou gnashed his teeth in frustration.
That was exactly the sort of thing she'd do. Hell she'd already done it once before when she threw herself in front of his attack just to give him a shard. A shard that he'd since handed over to the police.
Damn it!
"So what the hell are you saying? That you're just giving up on her now?" His bit out in a sharp growl, "You know as well as I do that she can't stay there. If she sacrificed herself then that means she's counting on us to help her."
Keep fighting.
Those were the words she'd whispered to him that night they fought their way out of the Basue Bar in Kamino Ward. She'd clung to his back and aided him as best as she could. Even so, she had full faith in him and his abilities.
He wouldn't give up on her now.
"That's not it," Todoroki quickly interrupted him. "It's just that I also heard that we're nearly ready to make our move as well."
Mismatched eyes shifted to meet theirs, "I don't know when exactly but soon a joint force of heroes including my father will raid the Shie Hassaikai's base." His back straightened, "Their number one goal is to rescue Kagome."
Midoriya paused, "Wait if you're father is going then does that mean…?"
Bakugou snapped towards him, "Mean what? Spit it out already!"
What was he getting at here?
"I wanted to tell you that my father asked me to join the raid as an intern," Todoroki answered. "I don't have my provisional license but I can still go so long as he acts as supervisor. He said that it'd be best to have as many people as possible on board that she'd be comfortable with. That way she'd be more willing to reach out when the time came."
Bakugou felt his stomach knot.
Todoroki was going on the raid?
His fingers curled into a tight fist.
No, he had to be there too. He couldn't just sit back and do nothing!
"I felt that you two had the right to know. Both about the raid and that I would be there," The other teen's voice lowered. "I know how much is riding on this mission so I'll do everything I can. I owe her a lot."
Midoriya was silent for a long moment. Dark bangs shadowed his eyes before he lifted his head. A smile spread across the boy's face but through he could still see the frustration they both felt.
"We're counting you," He offered him a clenched fist. "Bring her home."
Todoroki's features sharpened, "I will."
A sickening feeling coiled in Bakugou's stomach.
He couldn't accept this.
They were so close to saving her. He could just be expected to sit back and let someone else do the work for him.
"Don't get cocky," The blond tipped his chin up. "We've got our licensing exam tomorrow. We pass that and we'll be able to wedge our way on that raid team as well. So you can bet your ass that you won't be the only one going into that mission!"
He wasn't going to lose.
Not to Todoroki nor Midoriya.
He owed it to Kagome to do this.
He would save her.
Until that time came, he would not rest. He would keep getting stronger. He would keep fighting.
He wouldn't stop until the day she was home safe.
Chisaki lowered his head onto the back of his hands.
They needed to move headquarters.
Despite the fortified walls and extensive labyrinth beneath their main building, it was clear that the heroes would now have a good idea of where they were located. He needed to move fast to keep them from raiding this base. If that happened then they would risk losing everything.
Golden eyes thinned at that thought.
He hadn't broken down Kagome's spirit enough to fully choose him just yet.
"She still needs more work," The man swept his palm over his face.
Last time she'd made a choice out of pure instinct. A desire to protect someone in need. Just as all those that came before her, she was inherently designed to be a hero based on her actions alone. The woman was more than willing to sacrifice herself over and over again if it meant sparing someone else. She'd done it with Eri and now, she'd done it for Aizawa as well.
Truly, it was stunning to him that she'd have so much determination housed within her. Using sex as a method of distraction then offering herself as sacrifice to spare her teacher from the very fate Eri had suffered before.
It was little wonder as to why the League had such a vested interest in her. Loyalty like that was not something that could be bought out easily. Had Shigaraki secured her in his grasp then she would've become a formidable foe to his own cause.
"Sir," Kurono's voice broke through his thoughts. "I believe that you should tend to her soon. She's been sick off and on since you've both returned. At this point she can't even hold down water despite the medicine we gave her."
Chisaki sighed through his nose, "That's to be expected."
It was the rather unfortunate drawback of having to fight Aizawa in front of her.
Death was never pleasant.
The death of someone so close to her was even more unpleasant. The only positive going at the moment was the fact that her teacher would live to see another day. He'd seen to that much at least. Still, the image of him being broken down must've left its mark on her psyche.
His brows furrowed at the thought.
For Crystallize to work, she would need to be in absolute control over her emotions. She needed to feel secure.
"Sir," Kurono began again, "I think you should speak with her."
He already knew that.
Chisaki slung his coat over his shoulders as he made his way down the corridor and towards the room that was to be hers.
The men he'd stationed out front were still on guard. It was a precaution he had to take since returning. Until he could trust her again, he could not leave her unattended. She'd already proven once that she wasn't afraid of using her body as a method of control. Not to mention the subsequent chaos her distraction had caused for his men.
"You can leave," Chisaki ordered quickly.
The others hardly spared him a swift nod of acknowledgement before they rounded the corner and left.
He would call for their return when he was done, for now he had more important matters to deal with. Matters that he'd rather not have anyone overhear.
He didn't bother with a knock before sliding the door open. As expected, he found Kagome curled beneath the covers of the bed he'd provided her. He could spy the faint trembling of her form and the paleness of her features despite the darkness that'd settled in the room.
"I heard that you've been ill for the past few days," Chisaki carefully pulled the gloves from his hands.
If he were to do this then he could not use them. She was the only person's whose touch did not afflict him with those unsightly hives. The illness that struck her now was not one that was contagious either. It was an illness of the heart. To cure it, she would require the warmth of human touch. He would have to fill the cracks that'd formed in her mental and emotional state.
His brows furrowed at that.
It was a task that he was ill prepared to perform but he would do his best.
"Go away," Kagome groused from beneath the sheets of the bed. "You've done enough for one day."
Ah, she was back to her feisty attitude once more.
Even sex hadn't been enough to break through her wall of determination. He found himself somewhat envious of her sense of drive—the purpose that'd led her to him in the first place.
Chisaki slid into the spot beside her upon the mattress, "No."
He kept his answer simple as he curled one arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest.
"I cannot help what you saw a few days ago but I did promise you that you would have a place here." He had to keep pushing. He had to keep tearing down her barriers until there was nothing left other than the desire to remain right where she was. To do that, he would have to shred any last hope she had of a rescue. Then and only then would she fully accept him. Chisaki pushed onward, "I stand by that now. Even though Eri is gone there is still a purpose for you."
Azure eyes flashed as she shifted within his hold, "Is that all anyone is to you, Kai?" She referred to his given name just as she had before. "Objects to be used and tossed aside like they're nothing?"
No one wants to follow a demon with no heart.
The old man's words rang in his head at that moment.
He'd known what he meant by that. He'd understood fully that his vision was not one most people would want to follow. He was ruthless, methodical and, most of all, willing to use anything to meet his ultimate goal.
The Shie Hassaikai was far greater than any simple-minded fool that crossed his path. Therefore he would take whatever advantage he had. Kagome included.
"Yet you still chose to come back here," His grip on her tightened. "You've known from the very start what I am. Isn't that why you chose me?" His gaze narrowed as her shoulders twitched, "You wanted to feel as if you had a purpose. You wanted somewhere to belong. Even if it meant turning yourself into a disposable tool in the process."
She thrashed in his hold but he held firm.
"You vile..!" Kagome seethed through clenched teeth.
"I am not hiding myself from you," Chisaki lowered his voice. "It would've been easier to lie and feed you a false sense of security just so you'd cooperate. However I won't do that. You want the truth and this is it. I need your power."
It was the absolute truth.
He would not lie to her.
Not anymore.
"You once asked what it was that I wanted to accomplish. Now I think it's time that I tell you," He shifted his hand to cover her own within his palm. It was so deceitfully frail contrast to his own. Tiny and soft; whereas he knew the damage she could inflict upon him. Should she crave it, his very hand would be shredded this second. There was power yet within her body despite her weakened state.
"We need the power of your shards to bring the organization out of the pathetic state we've found ourselves in. Yakuza have long since been driven to the brink of extinction thanks to heroes like All Might. Now that he's retired and All for One is gone, both sides need a leader."
His fingers curled over hers tightly, "Eri's quirk was vital in manipulating both sides against one another. However with that gone we can still use your shards. By boosting the abilities of both heroes and villains, your shards will give us a monopoly. That is what I need."
The young woman was silent for a long moment.
"I knew that but still," Her voice trailed off. "What did you do to Eri? Why did you need her in the first place?"
His jaw clamped shut.
It was the one answer he didn't want to give.
To Kagome, the experiments he'd put that girl through would've been hellish. It'd always been a necessary evil to accomplish his goals but she would never see it as such. She was far too soft to understand.
"Kai," She shifted to pin him with a sharp stare, "I want you to tell me everything."
The threat was clear.
If he did not then she would no longer work with him. He could easily kill her and be done with this farce; however he still had many things he needed to use her shards for. If he could salvage even a tiny speck of desire from her then that was all he'd need.
"Quirk erasure," The man finally answered after a long moment. "We needed her quirk to create a drug that would permanently destroy someone's ability."
Horror flashed across her features.
"Is that why you wanted me to train her? Just so that it'd draw out her power more efficiently when you extracted it!?" He felt her body shift and her palms pushed at his chest; as if trying to put physical distance between him and herself.
Chisaki held firm.
"You knew that to be the case. You even agreed to help," He shifted his palm to grip her wrist. The man quickly pinned her hand beside her head as he straddled her hips between his knees. "You might have gone into this labyrinth ignorant of my goals but along the way you figured things out. That was why you submitted yourself to me." He lowered his mouth to the base of her neck, "That was why you gave yourself to someone like me. Your desire to protect the girl surpassed any moral obligation you had toward your own body. Now it's only a matter of time before even that will dissolve."
Her jaw set into a sharp line, "Do you really think that I'll be that easy to win over? I gave you what you wanted out of necessity. Nothing else. Hell you might as well do us both a favor and kill me now." Her hand flexed reactively against his hold, "We both know that this is a stalemate. You want my power and I want nothing to do with you. End of story." Azure eyes flicked towards him, "You won't get your way a second time."
It was faint but he could still see it.
The vague flicker of interest.
Despite her strong words, Kagome was not impervious to the connection that sex brought.
"That's where you're wrong," Chisaki gripped her other hand within his free palm. "You crave death just so that you won't have to admit to yourself that you also have a secondary desire." He shifted his knee between her legs and held still, "The reason you crave me and this hopeless situation is so that you will maintain a feeling of purpose. The heroes could never grant you that."
He leaned over her carefully, "You've been spat on, attacked and defamed by all those who you wish to protect. You've sacrificed yourself over and over again but for what cause? What purpose does emptying your heart until it's little more than a blank vessel serve you?" His gaze narrowed as he felt her stiffen beneath him, "You chose this because beneath that shiny veneer of a hero you so protect yourself with, you want to be needed to some degree. So let me give you that."
Kagome stilled in her thrashing.
"…Why?"
In her eyes he could see the reflection of the question she truly wished to ask.
It was small but he was starting to break through. It'd only take a little bit more before she'd crumble completely.
"This entire time you've spent alone. You've been abandoned by your father, your friends and even the heroes who so claim your protection as their duty. Isolation would've been your ultimate death had I left you alone the day we met." He spoke only the truth at that moment.
Kagome had been dying a slow and painful death. One of solitude and misfortune. She'd been cursed with the bloodline of a man so feared by society itself that it rejected her on instinct. Only villains desired her and even then there was no guarantee that they too wouldn't cast her aside once her usefulness came to an end.
He was no different.
Still, there was one thing he could offer her. One option he could give her that no one else would.
"I'm not asking you to accept my goals. I need your power but so long as I do you will not suffer that solitude anymore. That pang of loneliness won't be an issue you'll ever have to deal with again." The words came much easier than he'd expected. Emotional matters weren't something that came easily for him. Asserting them to someone else was even more difficult.
Kagome tipped her chin up, "You'll still throw me away."
There was a finality in her voice that brooked no room for him to argue her point.
"Once this monopoly ends, and it will, you'll have no more use for me." The quiet despair that wrote itself across her features was as plain for him to see as day.
That was the one thing Kagome feared the most.
Being abandoned.
"When the day comes that you've run out of usefulness, you will not bear a future of solitude." He lowered his mouth next to her ear, "That day your life will end at my hand. Regardless, I will hold my promise. Whether it be tomorrow or twenty years from now, you will either be useful or die. In both situations you will not be alone."
It was the one reassurance he could promise her.
Her future would be bleak but not completely hopeless.
Companionship was the only thing she craved and even now she still desired him to some small extent. She loathed him but she wanted him more than she did solitude.
He was her only saving grace from that end.
A sigh of defeat passed through her lips, "So it's either make shards or die, is that it?"
His gaze thinned at her, "You've known that from the start."
He felt her body relax against his hold as she gave in to him once more.
"I still can't forget," Kagome's words brought him back to their current dilemma. "That day, it's still there. I can't…"
Her expression dropped as the memory of Aizawa's body crumbling before her surely flashed in her mind.
"I don't expect you to," After all, it was she who called him heartless first. This was little more than the confirmation of that reality. "I still need to know who you gave Eri to."
He would make one last try.
It was a long shot but he would still make the attempt.
The woman's lips curved upwards as the fog of defeat lifted from her features and a vague flicker of victory danced in her gaze.
The words she spoke next were what he'd dreaded most.
"She is beyond your reach."
Kagome leaned her head back, allowing him full access to her neck once more. It was the only sign he needed to continue.
She would not give up Eri's location but she would offer herself in submission to his will. Sex, this time, was not just a mere distraction but a pact. A completion of their deal. He would remain by her side so long as she remained useful. Then when the day came that her shards stopped serving their purpose, he would take her life with his very hands.
It was a future only someone as hopeless as her could take any comfort in.
Chisaki sat up to tug at the cloth of his tie.
Come morning, he would have to move locations and begin the process of networking with the League of Villains. That way there would be no room for error—no margin of doubt to exist within Kagome's mind that the place she truly belonged was here.
She would be his and that was the only truth that would remain.
A/n: Whooo this took a while to get moving but it came out a lot better than expected! Originally I wanted to end this chapter at the conclusion of the raid but there ended up being a lot of side arcs that I need to not only begin but use this time to flesh out as well. So next chapter will be all about the raid and the consequences of that as well. Endeavor will definitely be taking a leading role in this next section. Although I can definitely say that we're on the final stretch of this part of the story! So yay! Originally Contradiction was supposed to be around sixteen chapters but with the side plots that I need to add in, it'll probably get pushed out to no more than twenty chapters. I just have to keep the momentum going for now. I'm not sure how its subsequent sequel(s) will be length wise, but probably roughly the same amount if not a bit shorter. The main thing is that I had to split this story into three main parts. Contradiction, Retrospection and finally Counteraction. The major difference between this story and Retrospection will be a subtle change in pairing along with an arc that ties up most of the issues currently happening right now. Counteraction will be the final solution that involves a character that'll likely be introduced either at the end of this story or at the introduction of Retrospection. It'll just depend on how things flow for the ending.
In any case, I did decide to add in a few hints for the overall theme of all three parts in the journal entries listed for Shinigami. It's something that I hadn't originally planned on but the more I developed the storyline and the characters, particularly Dabi, the more it became incorporated into the final ending of Counteraction. So I'm eager to see how you guys pick it apart. XD
In any case sorry for the long wait guys! I'm just excited to finally get back up from having my tonsils taken out and eager to get this story rolling again. You've all been so amazing, I really appreciate all the support you've given me so far! You're the best!