13/05/2023

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 72 - Ambition Can Be Dangerous

Kai watched the recording again. He'd already seen it several times and his initial reaction was one of jealousy. Those students, the ones who were now quirkless, were, for the first time in their lives, healthy. The infection that was a quirk was gone. And yet, everyone seemed to believe there was something wrong with them. There had been lamenting over the past few days on how terrible their lives would now be.

The world just did not understand.

What was concerning to him was not the loss of the quirk, but the one who had taken it. Mitei Chui, Izuku Midoriya… The son of All For One. And that was the problem.

There was a power vacuum in the underworld at the moment. While the Shie Hassaikai had never sworn allegiance to All For One they had respected his power. Kai could still remember asking the Boss why they didn't challenge All For One. They had the means, after all. The Boss had given him a very direct look. He knew now that the look had meant the man was judging if he was ready to hear the explanation and felt thankful that the Boss had decided he was.

We could take him on. We could fight him, the Boss had admitted. It would even be considered a public service and there are some heroes who would help us.

At the time, that had seemed too good to be true and Kai had narrowed his eyes, waiting to hear about the catch. The Boss had recognised the look and had nodded at him, silently approving of his skepticism. The Shie Hissaikai could have challenged All For One. They might even have won, but it would have cost them everything they had. And while they were weakened, the heroes would have pounced, or some other rival in the underworld.

And in the event that they lost… The Boss had just shaken his head and explained that he doubted they'd have achieved even a pyrrhic victory in that case.

So they had respected All For One, even worked occasionally with his operatives but the Shie Hissaikai had mostly kept to themselves.

But there was an opportunity now. All For One was gone, taken out by All Might and in Tartarus. His heirs were inexperienced. They could be guided. They could be ruled. The Shei Hissakai could be the rulers of the underworld. But they would have to move quickly and decisively.

Kai nodded to himself and thought about what he knew about All For One's heirs. The older one, Tomura Shigaraki was the one most well known though Kai did not know that much. The kid was just starting out, and while he had access to All For One's resources he could be dangerous. He wasn't interested in that one. It was All For One's second heir, his son, who interested Kai. From the evidence, the boy had the same quirk as his father. It didn't matter if it wasn't the same, it seemed to be functionally the same and that was all that was important.

And since the son had publicly taken those quirks, his name was now well known. In the underworld, that sort of name recognition was required. And if the boy had a copy of his Father's quirk, then his Father's underlings would be comforted by that. Those underlings had a lot of power in the underworld.

He took a deep breath as he thought. He could control Tomura. From what he knew the boy was tempestuous and impulsive. The younger boy was just too much like his father. His quirk was truly dangerous. If he was younger then- Kai shook his head. There was no point in thinking of what might have been. He'd make an overture to Tomura, and dominate him and…

Kai had no idea what the relationship between the two was, but if there was any friction then that would suit him. He'd be able to work with that. The younger boy would- There was no reason to kill him. In fact, killing him might put All For One's followers offside. The depth of their loyalty was unknown. But he could still deal with the boy.

He had the means. Well not quite yet but he would soon have the means. The project was going well and the new man was proving his worth. While blood couldn't be cloned, or at least not properly cloned, the young man had been able to refine their extraction techniques. While the volume of material they got from each harvest of Eri was the same, the concentration was stronger. Kai liked to call the extract quirk factor, but he knew it wasn't. It was a mix of various blood components that carried Eri's quirk factor.

The young man was now working on making sure that extract was activated. He was also trying to copy the extract. While the original plan never called for mass production, he was not against it. Kai was more than aware that if you hit the right person you could control them. But… if they could make more bullets then… that opened more possibilities.

For now though, he needed one bullet and it had to be permanent. The quirk All For One could not be allowed to continue in the world. After they shot All For One's son… then…

No, Kai decided. There was no need to make a decision now. It would only work out in two ways anyway. He'd be able to make a deal with Tomura and the boy, and they would work for the Shei Hissakai. That would be the best outcome since it would give him the resources of All For One and control of the underworld. Or the boy would be stupid, and would not see how he was now cured. Then… There was still Tomura.

So first he needed that bullet, and then he'd need a chance to meet with All For One's heirs. That shouldn't be too hard. With the upheaval in the underworld, new allegiances would be made. So he could simply make some overtures.

Then…

Then the Shei Hissakai could take their rightful place as the rulers of the underworld. He'd decide once he had All For One's heirs under control if he let the world know who held the reigns. Until then…

Step one.

-ted-

Nishita Omimi had worked at Cafe Chaya for years. She liked working there because of its proximity to UA. Some of the students who drank coffee liked to stop here before school and get their caffeine fix, while others just liked to hang out in the afternoon. It wasn't often the hero students, usually they were too busy but the gossip of the other courses was great. If it wasn't about class work, then it was normally about the Hero students, so that was almost as good as having them here.

And when they did some here, well, she made sure they got all the attention they deserved. They were the future after all! Future heroes. Those who would stand against the dark villains and keep society safe. They deserved a little pampering here.

Nishita was a Hero Fan. She happily admitted it. But since she had to work, she didn't have the chance to really chase heroes like some of the other fan community did. She did her best. On her days off, she usually shadowed some of the heroes on their patrols and cheered them on when they took the villains in. But because she couldn't do that as much as she wanted, she focused on the heroes she could reach, the students.

Among the Hero Fan community she was rather chuffed to know that she was considered one of the best sources of information about UA's up and coming heroes. It might not be quite the place she wanted, but it made her feel good to know she could go on to most hero forums, chat groups and all that and have her name recognised. People took her opinions seriously there. That felt nice.

What didn't feel nice was what was going on at the moment. While Nishita paid the most attention to the Third Years, when villains attacked the First Years, you bet she started paying attention. First there was the incident at USJ, and then one weird Sports Festival. She'd watched the Third Years, as usual, admiring all the beefcakes that were there. Mirio was one built dude and Tamaki… both of them could come rescue her any day. She did pay attention to the ladies but there was nothing wrong with admiring the eye candy on display. Then she'd watched a recording of the First years.

She'd kind of regretted not watching them live. The antics of the management student were fun, but what she'd really watched was the final battles. She wasn't a Shota-con because it wasn't Shota when they were teens, was it? Bakugou was ruggedly handsome and Nishita could… well, she'd be happy to teach him a thing or two… if he didn't teach her! He was bound to have some other special skills.

And Todoroki… the scar was a bit off putting but his quirk… She wondered if the half hot, half cold applied to his whole body… Everywhere and then if it did, what would that feel like? Kirishima was just great, in a wild way. He'd be super fun to play with and those teeth… There were lots of possibilities there. Iida, Nishita wondered if his speed was just in his legs or other places and Hanta could tie her up any time. Kaminari was a curiosity for her. She wondered if he'd be able to use his quirk on her. When she wanted that, how would it feel to have a charge going through her and what would Shoji or Tokoyami be capable of…

The list could go on for quite some time. Suffice to say, she was very interested in the hero students, and paid close attention to their development.

Which was why it was concerning now. The Yaoyorozu's had made it clear what happened. Some villain, who was actually that management student, had somehow stolen their quirks. Since the interview the internet had exploded. Everyone knew the names of the hero students and everyone knew their quirks.

Katsuki Bakugou, Explosion. Shouto Todoroki, Half Cold Half Hot. Momo Yaoyorozu, Creation. Denki Kaminari, Electrification. Eijiro Kirishima, Hardening. Tenya Iida, Engine. And the two who hadn't had their quirks taken. Mezo Shoji, Dupli-Arms and Juzo Honenuki, Softening.

And the person who the Yaoyorozu's said had taken the quirks. Mitei Chui, quirk… well, it was meant to be something called Facet. It wasn't a quirk name as much as a description which claimed that he had small facets of multiple quirks from his ancestors. The current theory was that Mitei had claimed facet to cover the fact that he had multiple quirks. His real quirk… no one had settled on a name but Take seemed to be at least something to call it.

She was meant to be the expert on UA students but… Nishita didn't want to admit she didn't know anything and thankfully, after today, she might not have to. There were a couple of UA students having coffee now. They had taken a table which couldn't be seen from the street and were talking softly. They had some disguises but Nishita knew who they were.

She felt vaguely sorry for them. They were quirkless now and there was no way they could be heroes. It was a pity because this group was some of the most charismatic of the first year hero students. From the coffee machine she could hear them talking and Nishita was listening hard.

From what Nishita could see, there were four of the group here. She was surprised that Momo Yaoyorozu was there, but with her was Kaminari, Kirishima and Bakugou. There was no way Nishita could have missed Bakugou.

"Has anyone-?" That was Kamimari. He didn't finish his question.

The other three shook their heads with Bakugou slamming his hand on to the small table. "I'll kill that bastard," he growled.

"How?" Kirishima asked sensibly. "No one knows where he is," he pointed out.

Nishita had to admit that he had a point and Momo was nodding her agreement. With the interview, there were a lot of people looking for Mitei Chui or Izuku Midoriya as he might be. That was a bit of a sad story but not enough to excuse his actions.

"It's just a matter of time," Bakugou replied.

"How?" Momo asked. "You saw what he did last time," she pointed out.

Bakugou's arm was plastered so it was obvious what she was referring to and Nishita remembered vaguely that the news had reported his arm had been broken. "I'll be ready for him this time," he announced.

The little group just looked at Bakugou and Nishita knew what they were thinking. How could he possibly win when even with his quirk Mitei had broken his arm and taken his quirk? No one had ever said how the battle between them had gone but Nishita didn't really need to know. Sure taking their quirks was cheating but Mitei was a villain, they couldn't expect him to fight fair.

"I'll be ready for him," Bakugou insisted. "Besides, we'll have information because if they don't question that bitch Uraraka, I will!"

The name was familiar. Nishita realised she'd seen it online. Ochaco Uraraka had been a UA heroic's student. She'd fought Katsuki Bakugou at the Sport's Festival. She'd done well but Bakugou had simply been too strong. The more important point was that she'd been expelled because she knew a villain. Why the hell had she gone to UA if she was a villain lover?

"She might not know anything," Kaminari said tentatively.

"Bullshit! The bitch is his best friend. She knows something," Bakugou snarled.

Nishita agreed with him. Uraraka had to know something and she hadn't heard that the girl had been questioned. It didn't mean she hadn't, sometimes the police and heroes kept this stuff quiet but she knew she could find out tonight.

"Have your parents said anything?" Kirishima asked, ignoring Bakugou's vitriol.

Momo shook her head.

Nishita wasn't sure what to feel about that. It just reinforced the pity she felt for them but… there was now a spark of anger. Nishita could well understand why Bakugou was enraged. Who wouldn't be at the loss of his quirk? But beyond that, why hadn't this Uraraka been questioned? If she knew something then it was her duty to tell the police. She would definitely have to find out if she'd been questioned. And then the villain himself… He might be 16 but he was still a villain.

And she had seen him. She knew she had because she could recall seeing Uraraka and Chui where on the day that she had been expelled. It was something Nishita had only realised in hindsight when the pictures had come out.

"What are we going to do?" Momo asked softly. The question was almost too soft for Nishita to hear. The teen sounded broken.

Kirishima reached out and put his arm over her shoulders.

"I'm gonna kill the fucker," Bakugou growled.

"Are you going to continue?" Kaminari asked.

Nishita didn't understand the question but it obviously meant something to the group. Momo and Kirishima looked uncomfortable. Bakugou's expression didn't change. "Of course I am!" he growled.

"I've got to talk to my parents," Momo said.

"I'll…" Kirishima replied but the single word wasn't sure. "I think so," he said finally. "You?" he asked Kaminari.

"I don't know. I'm not…"

"You don't let that fucker win!" Bakugou growled.

"Then I'll see," Kaminari said. "Has anyone heard from Shouto and Tenya?"

"Endeavor still hasn't let Shouto talk to anyone and I'm not sure how Tenya is going."

Nishita knew exactly what they were talking about. The Iida's were a Pro-Hero family but their two sons had both been attacked within months of each other. It was a tragedy! People online weren't sure what the family was going to do. Nishita thought the family weren't sure either. Their empire relied on having heirs. Tsunagari would hopefully be covering that angle for the Hero Fan community.

She'd be reporting on the others 'cos she was going to report what she'd found and… she'd ask the community if Uraraka had been questioned, and if she hadn't… Well, that would have to change.

Public decency demanded it. The fight against villainy demanded that she tell the Heroes everything she knew. And honestly, if she wanted to make amends then she should be used to trap her so called friend. No one could be friends with a villain. They were just… They should be wiped from the face of the planet. And anyone who supported them… Well, they were practically a villain anyway. Just because they hadn't done anything, they were accomplices and… The world didn't need them.

Nishita couldn't do anything herself but she could make sure the online community knew who was to blame. She wasn't a hero but it was her public duty. And she couldn't call herself a hero fan if she wasn't prepared to help out in even the small ways that she could.

-ted-

I always wondered what Kai would think of All For One's ability to take a quirk, given that he thinks they are a disease. I can see him thinking that All For One is sick but the people who's quirks he takes are healed and healthy but it's an interesting thought.

And Nishita is a cafe worker... does anyone remember the name of the Cafe Izuku and Ochaco spoke at..? Hint, it was this one. So she does get to hear some interesting conversations from some interesting points of view. Her side hobby may cause an issue though.

My discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!