Hello readers and thank you for Following/Favoriting Arrowtotheknee2011 and aisouno50283 As always, I appreciate all of your feedback – shout out to Arrowtotheknee2011, Psy-kick, Villainfans101, and cxmgamingKR2 for your amazing reviews!
Chapter 13 True North
Mandalay picked up Eri swiftly. Once the man disappeared from off the edge, without his onslaught, the clones were attempting to redouble. He just leaves like that?! She couldn't understand what kind of person would drop a child off in the middle of a battlefield while there were still threats in the area.
But the question on whoever he was would have to wait. Mandalay dodged a clone's knife, bringing Eri closely to her chest to avoid her getting harmed.
"Maybe we should do what he said and find safety." Eri mumbled gazing towards the edge Overhaul had jumped from. He really let me go… I can choose who I want to be. The reality to no longer be an accomplice to more murders and that her past would not be returning was finally hitting her.
Mandalay nodded, and looked over to the other heroes and hero-course students, "Cover us!" They ran forward with the cover from long distanced quirks that kept the repopulating clones at bay. They made it through the heart of U.A.'s fortress where the Support, General Ed, and Management course students were keeping the security and floating system alive. Many of the students ran to and from different locations to repair the necessary systems that were down from the initial assault from Shigaraki and the clones. Here, Eri would be safe for the time being until everyone outside the building could subdue the clones before they could overrun the whole fortress.
Overhaul ran his hand down the metal leg as he slowed his fall to the ground. He had told Kurono to wait at the harbor for three hours and he wasn't going to miss that deadline. He didn't waste time to move forward, he held up his end – Eri was in the safe hands of a hero and he gave the hero enough breathing room from danger to get the kid somewhere safe. Pops can be assured that Eri had safely crossed to the heroes with minimum problems.
He gritted his teeth as he furthered the distance between him and the kid. From the very beginning the girl had been adamant to return to the heroes, even after her grandfather was restored, she couldn't let it go. He was aware his presence created the frictions and it stacked the odds against the old man from being able to keep his granddaughter. But the girl always wanted an out – he attempted to bury the hatchet with her by softening his attitude and approach to her. Perhaps the old man might hold him accountable for Eri leaving, and he wouldn't blame the old man for holding that against him… But there was some merit that Pops thought Eri should get out of the Yakuza life.
Overhaul was still baffled by how selfless Pops was, he would entrust his blood relative to strangers for her wellbeing – due to his own men failing to do so. To him, he believed the old man's final decision came down to whether this life was suitable for the kid. Eri didn't have the stomach for it, she hardly could handle seeing people getting hurt. Every member of the Yakuza had experience of the ugly side of society, hardened from experience, becoming cunning and indifferent. Eri didn't have that, only childhood trauma that turned her fully away from the life, and Pops realized that.
He sighed; the old man made the right decision. The downfall all started with her anyway – the request to look into her quirk, him becoming too obsessed on her quirk to reshape and rebuild the Yakuza… It was probably better that they were starting off new without any strings attached.
Hope the kid got enough life lessons so she can live long enough to reach her twenties. Reaching adulthood in an inhumane world of superhumans was taxing, some people don't have the determination to survive and adapt to their surroundings. Perhaps a kid from a Yakuza clan can survive off from her short-lived experience within the life and adapt a more realistic ideology on people rather blindly thinking everyone is redeemable and good – the true flaw with the heroes' thought process. Overhaul figured that down the road Eri would get old enough and might come around to ask questions. Pops was sentimental, he wouldn't be surprised if the old man would find a way to reach out to her.
Overhaul made progress through the demolished coastline, focusing solely on the harbor and expecting Kurono to have the ship ready to depart. The fighting was still underway and he was planning to leave this country under the camouflage of heavy rainfall and war.
It was reassuring that the harbor was still standing, Kurono pulled the SUV up to one of the yachts that was still in the marina. He remembered Chisaki had specifically kept Pops' assets untouched from his criminal operations to keep them clean and unknown to the authorities.
"I am pleased at least one thing is still here." The Boss remarked, gazing out to the ship that held many memories from his youth.
Kurono smiled uneasily, not wanting to dive into that fresh wound topic. The rain was starting to get worse, "Sir, I can get everything on the ship while you stay out of the rain."
Pops gazed towards the marina, wondering if his old colleagues were still managing it since the yacht looked like it was taken care of. "The marina staff?"
"Most likely evacuated sir… I understand you have captained a ship before, if you are willing to teach me or Chisaki, we can take over so you can unwind." Kurono suggested nervously.
Pops hummed gazing towards the fifty-foot yacht, "It's been almost a decade since the last time I sailed and the sea looks choppy, I will need both of you to run this ship for it to reach the safety of open water."
"Understood sir." Kurono nodded, he opened the door to start working on getting the important stuff out the back of the trunk and onto the ship. Pops got out as well, opening his umbrella as Kurono went to and from the vehicle and ship to make sure the delicate things didn't get water damage.
Kurono thanked the Boss as he kept him mostly dry as they finished securing everything from the vehicle. The younger man moved the SUV into one of the storage hangers at the marina, covering their tracks of not leaving anything out in the open or obvious. Kurono nervously glanced at his watch, noticing it was a little over two hours since Chisaki left them and he had about an hour until the deadline of their need to depart before they brought attention to themselves.
Pops checked the yacht's mechanisms of the water tank pumps, engine controls, and fuel levels to ensure they could reach the distance they wanted to head to. His gaze glanced to the clock then to the distance of where fires and destruction was heard. Did I make the mistake to let him take her to the heroes? Kai was an escaped convict; he may even be more well known amongst the heroes and could have been apprehended – but Kai was strong and responsible for this type of job and he could ensure she made it there. Kurono was reliable to get things accomplished, but the intensity to get Eri to the heroes through many obstacles wasn't something he believed Kurono could handle efficiently. Kai had shown his ability to fight and his devotion to follow every order he was given so far – and perhaps Pops had overlooked the dire position he had put on Kai.
Boy, I need you to come back. Pops' concern deepened as the three-hour mark was closing in with no sign of the younger man. The old man glanced away from the direction of the battle as Kurono came inside and shook his head solemnly.
"Should we wait a little longer?" Kurono asked, the distance between the harbor and battlefield may have been further to travel from then what was anticipated.
Pops frowned, knowing why there was a deadline for leaving, "Yes, we will give him another hour."
Overhaul cursed in annoyance, he was drenched head to toe with thunder and lightning overhead. How much further is that damn harbor?!
He caved to use his feet and had overhauled his footing to maximize the distance he was covering, luckily, he didn't have to deal with people getting in his way. There was enough destruction and flamboyant areas that made him practically unnoticed by the swarming authorities that were flooding the location where fighting had been taken to the ground away from the floating fortress.
Overhaul ignored his muscles that were aching and his ragged breath – he needed to make the deadline to the harbor. This was his chance to be with Pops again, to reestablish what was broken, he can't miss that.
His gold gaze took in the coastline, noticing docks and boats in the distance. He took a deep breath and pushed forward, worrying he must have missed the yacht by now – he didn't have the stomach to look at the clock, but he knew it had to be past three hours. If he did miss it, he was sure he could find a way to man a boat and get to the destination.
His eyes flickered around the marina; his eyes widened noticing the yacht was still there. No way… He took shuttered breaths; the unguarded shock allowed the rain to affect him and he began to shiver. Overhaul rushed to the ship, jumping on the deck and was met by Kurono and Pops.
"I thought I told you to leave in three hours." Overhaul remarked, bending down slightly to catch his breath.
Kurono grinned, "We couldn't leave without you."
"I told you the Boss' safety is the top priority." Overhaul stood up straight scowling at Kurono. He didn't want to express the relief he had felt because he didn't deserve it, they had every right to leave.
"It was my decision." Pops answered.
Overhaul lowered his gaze and nodded, "Sorry for delaying you, sir."
"Chisaki, don't apologize. Now, let's depart before the wind shifts and picks up again." Pops continued on, making both of the younger men follow suit in finishing the preparations to disembark from the harbor.
With the destroyed coastline behind them, the open ocean met them with the occasional choppy waves and lightning that brightened the dark skies. Pops focused on sailing as old instincts kicked in as he monitored the navigation system and heading. Kurono and Chisaki were checking to make sure the staterooms had clothing and linen.
The old man peered up to the sound of the cabin door opening, Chisaki came in with dry attire, a tray of cups, and a kettle. The younger man set the tray down on the desk next to the helm, and proceeded to pour the old man a cup.
"Tea for the cold?" He asked lowering his gaze to not meet Pops' grey.
The old man nodded, "Thank you." He was given the cup and silence fell on both of them. "Are you going to tell me if my granddaughter is in safe hands?" He noticed Chisaki stiffened from the mention of it.
Chisaki avoided eye contact, "The heroes were getting bombarded and I gave them an opening to take the initiative to deal with the villains. I handed Eri off to a woman hero that can get Eri to a safer location in their floating fortress…" He glanced up slightly meeting Pops' eyes, before looking back down at the tea feeling dread, "I understand why you allowed her to leave… I know it was due to my treatment of her that caused her to feel uncomfortable – I've taken everything from you."
Pops soberly stared at Chisaki as the younger man closed his eyes with a strained expression upon his face. "Yes, it had troubled me by how dire things must have been for her when you were in charge of her care. But her feelings reminded me on the many reasons as to why I wanted my own daughter out of this life. Danger comes hand to hand with this occupation, even outside these past few days, we couldn't get by in going into civilian shelters with our backgrounds." The old man took a sip of his tea with a sad smile, "What's getting me by is the hope of her having more opportunities for her future."
Overhaul silently watched the old man's sad faraway gaze. This man has been through hell and back, but somehow, he still saw light in situations. That's what made him a good Boss, he was sensible but still able to inflict his authority that earned respect amongst his men, he rarely resorted to violence to get a point across – something Overhaul never understood. Just doing little subtle things, the old man had brought so much out of people and earned the title oyabun.
"Have you found yourself again?" Pops asked, going back to the helm as Chisaki kept the silence. Pops was no fool, he had seen what had become of Kai – the emotional guilt stricken and brokenness that was evident in his eyes. This was something the boy he had raised would have never showed… the emotional weakness. At the moment, Kai was attempting to school his expressions, trying to be his old indifferent self by not reacting straight to an emotion off the bat.
Chisaki glanced down, the great Overhaul was basically no more, for he had no more ambitions nor the strength to think for himself anymore, "I am but a shell of what I once was."
"What makes you say that?" The old man questioned, figuring Chisaki was lingering around to talk. Pops was aware that emotion wasn't Chisaki's strong suit and perhaps talking it out would get the boy to control this destructive downwards spiral to become nothing more than a hollow puppet that solely followed orders. Pops was relieved Chisaki felt responsible for what happened, that he was actually capable of remorse, but this obsession to be a soulless soldier worried the old man.
Overhaul stared at the hands that held the cup, "I've become haunted from analyzing everything that had happened, that I became disconnected from my surroundings." A man that couldn't live with the failure and opted out to becoming a worthless husk. "I've experienced terror for the first time in my life when the clan fell under my lack of leadership and my hands were taken from me… Just the thought of forever damning you to limbo and having to live with the fact that I destroyed the one person who I cared about, broke me. The fact that I had to resort in using your granddaughter again, ruined your chance with her, it's like I took another thing from you. I took your title, clan, Eri – your livelihood, just I don't know what to think. I don't want to think anymore."
"You would disregard the guilt?" Pops questioned, wondering if Kai's thought process led his attempt to be a mindless soldier to ignore his guilt.
Chisaki frowned, "I don't want to achieve your forgiveness, I am aware of what I've done and I'm not aiming for that. In prison, I thought about what happened for months, nothing else… Over and over again on ways I could have done better, to prevent my failure to protect the clan. Then the feeling of desperation of leaving you broken and completely destroying everything you've built in my attempts to try to do better…I just want to atone and give everything I have left within me to you."
Pops studied Kai, seeing him clutch his chest as though he was in pain.
Kai looked up at him with pain and disgust, "I wanted to commit my whole life to the Hassaikai, to prioritize it above everything else, but I was the cancer to the clan – I don't deserve these tattoos, I don't deserve to be under you." He breathed shakily, gripping his chest tightly as though he was about to heave. From the moment Pops brought him home to the Shie Hassaikai, he wanted to better the clan – to give himself fully to the cause so the old man would be pleased to have him in the ranks. That the old man made the right choice by bringing in a deprived boy from the streets because one day that boy would repay him for that kindness.
Pops moved forward putting his hand on top of Kai's head in attempts to seize his panic attack. Swiftly, the old man put another hand around Kai's wrist to prevent him from mutilating himself as his quirk was about to eat away at his skin where the tattoos were. "Stop."
Kai's frantic breaths slowed feeling Pops' hands resting on him. He closed his eyes hating himself for greedily wanting that comfort that he didn't deserve. Gold eyes opened to stare at the calm grey, "I will make up for it by being your weapon – let me reclaim your stature, if the other organizations disrespect you, you know how suitable I am at destroying organizations –."
"Chisaki." Pops scowled, hearing the younger man's bitter tone.
Gold eyes lowered; he could feel Pops' hands staying where they were as if knowing he would disperse in a panic attack. Kai resorted, "Sir, I really did try to make the Hassaikai stronger… You were right about my arrogance, I thought we could reclaim our standing and just disregard all the sacrifices because in the end I knew I could achieve it and everything fell to ruin just like that. I just wanted a world where quirks were a second thought, something that could be profitable, where underground organizations ran society. But all of that was at the cost of the clan and your standing, that's why I want to be a body at your disposal – use me discriminately for I've done that to you, Boss."
Pops sighed, "Kai."
Kai stared at the old man wide eyed, rarely hearing his first name from Pops.
"I am not asking for a pawn nor am I asking for a sacrificial token to be thrown at my enemies. All I want is loyalty. You do not have to degrade yourself further into this mess, destroying your mentality isn't my gain for some type of atonement. You had dishonored me and the clan and you will have to live with that truth, but do not crumble from your offenses, conquer them for better restraint."
Kai lowered his eyes feeling regret, Pops was too caring for his own good and it pained him that he had done this man so much wrong. The younger man wished he could go back to prevent all of this from happening, prevent himself from forcefully taking Pops' title as the Head of the clan. If he had never done that then Pops would still have subordinates, still have his dignity, still have his home – still have his family.
"Yes sir." Kai rasped out, no longer feeling the energy to talk anymore.
Pops recognized Kai's demeanor; he dropped his hand from Kai's wrist. Before he went back to the helm, he patted the other's head on old habit. The old man didn't miss the depressed expression that flashed in the gold eyes before it was clouded over with a neutral one. The cabin fell into a subtle silence, respecting the conclusion that settled the differences amongst them.
There you have it; hope you like it! What do you all think of this chapter and the dynamic between characters? Let me know ! Also, we are heading closer to the conclusion, thank you for enjoying!