08/07/2023

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 85 - Hearing the Truth

Izuku flexed his fingers as he looked down at his hand. He'd taken a lot of quirks recently and while that made it easier to avoid absorbing them, he felt oddly bereft now that he'd given up some of them. The Doctor had made him a holder and he was looking at the tank holding the flesh. He'd shoved Yaoyorozu's, Kaminari's, Iida's and Bakugou's into it. He was keeping Kirishima's and would have to give back Todoroki's. At least that was probable. If it didn't happen the quirk was useful and relatively easy to use. For the moment though Izuku had two concerns. He had far more than that, but two were immediate.

He'd left All For One with the Doctor earlier but he had to be sure it was safe. If he didn't absorb quirks, he'd have kept it but… All For One belonged with his father and he would give it back but… He had to keep it safe. If there was any hint that his father no longer had his original quirk then Izuku knew the Heroes would hunt relentlessly for the person who now had it.

So he had been considering what he could do. He could give it to someone but… he didn't trust anyone enough. Which meant that the storage creation had to be guarded. And there were risks with that. If the Heroes found it, then… They wouldn't expect it to have a quirk and would put the mass of flesh down and think it mercy.

He could store it in Pocket but he had to be sure that he could retrieve it without incident. That did seem to be the best option, except he'd need to practice.

Izuku looked at the Doctor. "Can you make another storage and give me a quirk for it?" he asked.

"What for?" Doctor Garaki asked.

"For Dad's quirk I left it here but I think it would be best stored in Pocket. Though, I have to be sure that's not going to damage anything," Izuku explained. The Doctor understood.

"The Nomu will protect it with their lives," the Doctor pointed out.

Izuku didn't like the thought of leaving it, but without practicing with Pocket he couldn't take it with him at the moment. Not now. He nodded to indicate he agreed with the suggestion. "I still want that storage to practice with."

"What do you want to do with the others?" Kyudai asked, gesturing to the storage.

He signed. "I don't know," Izuku admitted.

"You won't give them back?" the Doctor asked.

"They'll never agree to my price," Izuku replied. "Oh, they might say they'd agree but they wouldn't."

"The price?"

"There is only one price," Izuku shrugged, without bothering to explain what the price would be. The Doctor should know.

Kyudai nodded. "And," Izuku continued, "they all have a weakness."

"Weakness?"

"Yaoyorozu's requires body fat and a large degree of understanding. Kaminari's needs a more delicate touch than I realised, Iida's relies on his mutation and Bakugou's-" Izuku shook his head.

"What is it?" The Doctor pressed.

"It's a very powerful quirk but it's difficult."

"Can I use them?"

Izuku thought about the request for a few moments. It would be tempting to say yes, but it would also be too easy. "I think I can come up with some alternatives," he announced. He could imagine what would go through society when some quirkless people showed up with those quirks. Everyone would know who had given them but… That was petty but it was also an attractive thought.

And there was always the possibility that one of them would pay his price.

Kyudai gave him a look but eventually nodded. While Izuku cared about that storage, he could afford to lose it. If the heroes destroyed it then he'd simply laugh as he told them what they'd done.

Though thinking about quirk storage brought him to his other concern. "Do you have a copy of regeneration?"

"Not handy," Garaki told him.

"Can you get one?"

"Not quickly."

"What do you mean?" Izuku demanded. The answers weren't what he expected from the Doctor.

"Yakuni takes care of most of the quirk creation," Doctor Garaki told him.

"And he's where?" It had been kind of surprising that he hadn't seen Yakuni but Izuku figured it was just that the young man was too busy. Making quirks for Kyudai's creations was a full time job.

"He's investigating the Shie Hassaikai."

"Who are they?" Izuku had never heard of them.

"They are Yakuza," the Doctor told him.

That was an explanation but- "Why was Yakuni sent?" Izuku shook his head. That bit made no sense.

"They wanted some scientific help."

"And we are giving it to them?" Izuku was incredulous. Why would his Dad be helping this group?

""There is no agreement," Kurogiri said from the darkened spot on the wall where he had been waiting.

"So why is Yakuni with them?" Izuku asked, looking at the misty man. He saw Kurogiri shrug and gesture towards the Doctor.

Izuku looked back at the older man. Kyudai sighed. "They have kidnapped him," he admitted.

"They what?"

"Originally, they wanted some information, and appeared to be offering an alliance. Sending Yakuni was the best option at the time but-"

Izuku clenched his teeth and took a deep breath. This was another problem. He took a second deep breath. "Well, I'll have to show them why they should have just agreed to serve Dad," he said. "But that is for tomorrow. I need another regeneration quirk," Izuku said, glaring at Kyudai. What else had the Doctor neglected to mention? He had a feeling there were other things but Izuku also had the feeling that unless he asked the right questions, he'd never get clear answers.

"I can make one, but it will take a while," the Doctor told him.

"I need one," Izuku pressed.

"You want to give it to your friend?" Garaki guessed.

"You told me two quirks won't usually break someone," Izuku replied but didn't deny it.

He heard the huff from Kyudai but before he could say anything, the Doctor nodded. "I'll see what I can do," he said.

It wasn't a promise but Izuku knew it was the best he'd get from the other man for now. "Are there any quirks available?" Izuku asked. Surely the Doctor couldn't have just ignored all of Yakuni's work.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing yet," Izuku said. "Just that there are always uses for them." He didn't want to tell the Doctor his plans. He didn't want to tell anyone yet, because he was still thinking about them and he didn't yet have all the information. He'd been talking with the villains that had been gathered for Tomura and while they had useful quirks, they each had weaknesses. While it would take very specific quirks to counter those weaknesses, it could be done.

He wanted to explore those possibilities. Izuku was sure that their quirks, like his own, were known and the best way of countering that was to either learn to do something new with your quirk or be able to use it in a way they did not think you could.

It was a thought for another day.

"Guard both of the storages," Izuku instructed. He didn't need to say what the consequences would be if All For One was lost. "But I still want to practice with Pocket," he added before taking a deep breath. "Have you done anything with Tomura?"

He heard Kurogiri stir at the question.

The Doctor gave him a look and then nodded towards one of the illuminated tubes. Izuku picked his way over the floor, avoiding stepping on any of the tubes that were lying there. He looked up at Tomura. Through the liquid, it appeared as if he was sleeping and Izuku couldn't even see any discolouration around his throat or lips.

"What are you doing with him?" he asked. He remembered thinking that Dad might be able to use Tomura's corpse to take over but the Doctor said it wouldn't work. Izuku still didn't understand exactly why.

"I thought about your suggestion," Kyudai said.

Izuku waited.

"It might work," the Doctor continued. "There's a special type of Nomu which I didn't tell you about," he said. "They are made from very fresh corpses, and essentially re-animate the person at the point of death."

Izuku felt his eyes widen. "With their quirk?"

"If it hadn't been taken, yes," the Doctor said. "I've only made this type twice before. The first had additional modifications to be functional. The second is fully functional as the person they were at the point of death."

For a moment, Izuku toyed with the idea of asking who had been made into those special Nomu but he realised he didn't want to know. "So Tomura will be one of those?"

"Yes, but I'm taking a bit of time with him."

"Will he obey me?" Izuku asked. While he was going to take over from Tomura, it would be interesting if the other teen was around.

"He will be Nomu, so yes."

"Wait! If this works, and Dad can then take over, will that mean Dad has to obey me?"

From the Doctor's silence, Izuku realised he didn't know. "That would be something I'd need to investigate," he said after a pause that confirmed Izuku's thoughts.

"Obedience is only if I give orders," Izuku murmured. "So if taking over Tomura heals him…" He trailed off. That might not be too bad but it is something his Father would have to consider.

Tentatively, Izuku activated one of the quirks he'd gotten from Tomura. The one called Radio Waves. His perception of the world changed. It was kind of like using Dragon's Hoard and he could feel the Nomu around him, including Tomura. He couldn't exactly feel them further away from him but he could somehow sense there were other places where the Nomu were.

He gave Tomura one last look and then picked his way back across the floor to Kurogiri. "Please make me that other storage with a quirk and the regeneration one. I want that," he ordered.

The Doctor nodded.

"And see if you can get in contact with Yakuni. I need to know how badly the Shie Hissaikai need to be punished," he added.

He could see the Doctor was a bit surprised about that and sensed that Kurogiri was as well. It was probably that he was stepping into his father's shoes. It wasn't that. Not exactly. Yakuni was his friend. While the young man didn't have a scale, he was a good friend and Izuku knew he didn't have that many that he could afford to lose any. He might be stepping into his father's shoes a bit with this, but that was secondary. He'd do his best to ensure his father's empire remained but that was secondary to his other plans. Though it was possible the goals would align.

Time would tell.

-ted-

"Oh my god, you were fantastic!" Gatarui gushed as he walked down the steps of the court house. While his case had involved Katsuki Bakugou, one of the UA students who'd had their quirk stolen, his new lawyer, named Shunin, had managed to get the time of his case moved on short notice. That meant the only media here were those who were assigned to the Court. They were the juniors and easy enough to scare off. Most of them were no doubt trying to write up a story they thought might be their big break.

Gatarui would have laughed at them but he was far more impressed with his lawyer.

"I was paid to take your case," Shunin replied absently.

Gatarui frowned. His parents wouldn't have done that. They thought he was being stupid when he decided he was going to pursue vengeance on Izuku… whatever his name was. They called it childish and petulant. And Tsuku wouldn't have bothered. The broker made it clear that if you were caught then it was up to you to get yourself off. That was especially true if you were caught on some job for yourself.

"Who paid you?" He asked as they moved on to the street and began walking.

"That makes sense now," Shunin murmured before he stopped and turned to look at Gatarui. "Your case was pretty simple. The Police were reaching with the situation to include you in the charges."

"What do you mean?"

Shunin gave him a slightly disbelieving look but shrugged. "I'm still on the clock," he said to himself. "Your friend, Nobasu, and Katsuki both indicated you didn't attack Bakugou," Shunin explained.

"Yeah, 'cos I didn't," Gatarui shrugged.

"So why were you included in the assault charges?" Shunin questioned. "The Police were reaching. The fame of the case means they have to be seen to be doing something. They could have charged you with being an accessory but they decided to make you equally culpable. That's why I could get you off. Anyone could have."

"Yeah but you made that judge look like he was going to shit himself!" Gatarui laughed. Both the judge and the prosecution counsel looked like they were afraid of Shunin.

The man shrugged. He'd acted as if everything was exactly how it was meant to be. "As I said, I was hired to get you off," Shunin told him. "And one other thing."

"Something else?" Gatarui frowned. What else could the lawyer do?

Shunin gave him a smile. Gatarui was shocked at how he felt. There was something in the way the lawyer looked that screamed danger to his mind. He fought to avoid taking a step back. Shunin was on his side! "I was instructed to tell you that while Izuku was disappointed to find that you had not attacked Katsuki, he is eager to see what else you can do."

Because of his quirk mutation, Gatarui's eyes couldn't open wide. He had the compound eyes of a spider but that didn't mean he didn't feel and express surprise in a completely unknown way. He jerked back from the lawyer, who gave him another smile and nodded at him, as if they'd just said goodbye after the case before he walked off.

That wasn't what had happened. Gatarui was feeling as if he'd been punched in the gut. He couldn't move and could barely breathe. He convulsed slightly as he forced air into his lungs.

Izuku.

He knew that name.

The world knew that name.

He'd known him as Izuku Chui but that was just an alias. Others called him Izuku Midoriya, or even Mitei Chui and while he had seemed to be just a good student at UA, an up and coming management student he was now known as a villain. But not just any villain. He was known as one who had a pedigree in villainy and the quirk to rule the underworld.

He'd heard Tsuku, the entire house had heard Tsuku complain that Izuku's father, and presumably Izuku predominantly dealt with Giran, another broker. Tsuku saw the income he was missing out on. Gatarui hadn't really understood what it meant at the time. Now he knew. Izuku had entered villainy at a level he was going to be hard pressed to reach in his lifetime.

No, that wasn't right. He knew in his heart he'd never get to that level. Not without- No. He wasn't going to ever be-

Maybe his parents were right. Maybe he should just enroll in High School and do something. Maybe he should stop chasing whatever it was he was chasing.

But then, what would that mean? Had Izuku let him know about this to get a favour later, or just to show off? Gatarui clicked his mandibles as he realised he'd never know but there was only one way to find out. If he wanted to know, he had to stay with Tsuku. If he put it all behind him and went on with his life then he should walk away now.

His father had told him that life was a series of choices, and that he'd made the wrong one when he went to work for Tsuku. There was a chance to make what his father would consider the right choice now…

He just didn't know if he could.

-ted-

Well, Izuku now knows that Yakuni isn't doing as well as he was lead to believe and knows that the Doctor, while supporting him, doesn't necessarily support him without question. That will be something to follow. And he's given away most of the UA quirks :D Quirks are 'magic' and while having Izuku hang on to them all would be fun, I think there are better uses for them, out in the wild. Even if it's just the heroes capture the Doctor, or the 'quirk holder' imagine what Izuku could do if the heroes destroy the quirk holder, thinking they are giving the poor thing mercy, and Izuku tells the heroes exactly which quirks they wiped out? So lots of potential.

And Spider-boy makes a short return, mostly to be trolled by Izuku. Since Gatarui just watched the attack on Bakugou, sure there's some things he can be charged with but they aren't as bad as the actual assailant so it wasn't a hard job to get him out with a slap on the wrist. Of course, Gatarui now knows the kid he used to pick fights with, the kid he thought was a weakling and couldn't figure out how he always won was and is a villain far more powerful than he's ever going to be, so maybe he now needs a new motivation. We'll see if he gets it.

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-

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