Chapter Six:
Yoichi woke up to darkness. On instinct, he thrashed. Blankets tangled with his legs. The ground under him felt too hard, and his back ached. Moaning, he sat up and pushed his hair out of his eyes.
A light flickered on. Hisashi stood looking down at his twin. The dim bulb hanging from the ceiling by a cord cast shadows on his face that made him resemble a monster from a horror film.
Yoichi hissed and recoiled. "What the hell?" Now there was a little light, he could see that he sat on a thin blue futon. This was the only piece of furniture inside the dark room, except for the composting toilet in the corner. "What the hell, you seriously kidnapped me, are you out of your mind?" Yoichi had known his twin would react poorly to him leaving, but he'd assumed Hisashi would have to deal with it because what else could he do?
Apparently, Hisashi could knock someone unconscious and then lock them in what appeared to be a metal box. The walls were made of steel and the square door in the middle looked vaguely familiar. A ventilator whirred from the ceiling. Yoichi frowned. "This is my bank vault?! It was supposed to store comic books! Where are my comic books, anyway?"
"You left me," Hisashi hissed. Even though he did not appear to be using All for One, his eyes had taken on a red glow. His fingers clenched like claws.
"You can't keep me in here," Yoichi said.
"You can't leave me. You promised never to leave me." Hisashi sounded like a betrayed child, unable to believe their kindergarten oath had been broken.
"Let me out," Yoichi demanded. He stood up. "Come on, let's go to the living room and talk about this." As his voice echoed around the metal box, he heard a strange note of anxiety. That made no sense, because Yoichi could not imagine ever seriously fearing his twin. Hisashi was the one person in the universe who would never, ever hurt him.
"I saw the message you sent to those pesky vigilantes. You betrayed me."
"You lied to me first! I'd do it again! Don't you dare talk about betrayal—you started this."
"Everything I ever did was all for you, my brother. But you've started prioritizing yourself over me. You left me." Hisashi stared down at Yoichi with a foreign expression. The twins had argued and gotten angry at each other before, but never anything like this. Hisashi looked…malevolent. As if he truly wished his twin harm. That was unthinkable.
Fear clawed at the recesses of Yoichi's mind, demanding to be let out. Yoichi did not want to fear his own twin brother, so he kept denying it. "What's your plan, huh?" he demanded with false bluster. "Are you just going to keep me here in a metal box forever? Of course you're not going to. I'll only get angrier with you the longer it takes for you to let me out."
Robotically or as if reciting from a script, Hisashi said, "You'll stay here until you're ready to join me again."
"You can't—!" Yoichi swallowed. In a softer voice, he said, "Brother, please. You're scaring me." The admission hurt, but he also felt a welling of relief, because surely now Hisashi would listen and stop.
Hisashi held out his hand, lowering it to face-level so Yoichi could easily place his cheek against the palm. "If you want to make me, then share your will with me."
Yoichi leapt backward as if burned. "I told you, I don't want to do that any longer!"
Hisashi tilted his head as if observing something interesting. "Then you'll stay here until you're ready to become one with me again."
Fury overwhelming his fear, Yoichi lunged at his brother. He wasn't sure if he wanted to grab the silk collar or maybe punch that indifferent face. But he never made contact. Hisashi easily redirected his brother's arm with a wave of air, then picked Yoichi up and tucked him back under the covers. By the time Yoichi squirmed free, Hisashi had gone to the door and opened it.
"Wait!" Yoichi screamed. "You can't do this to me, you can't. If this is a joke, it's not funny. Please, brother. This doesn't make any sense. I know you wouldn't do this to me."
Hisashi didn't even turn around. The light went out when the vault door closed.
Alone in the darkness, Yoichi placed his hands over his face and wept. His entire body shook. His mind still had not accepted that this was happening. Surely there must be cameras in the vault. Hisashi always had cameras. When he saw Yoichi crying, he would come to let him out.
But no one came.
Hisashi sat in his office chair and took deep breaths, trying to calm down. He stared at the camera feed on his computer, showing his twin curled up on the futon and sniffling. The last time he'd tried to get up from his chair, he'd been unable to make it to the door before he turned around and went back to look at the cameras again.
He did not dare take his eyes off Yoichi. His twin might disappear. The physical separation was agonizing. Hisashi wanted to be back in the vault with Yoichi, but that would ruin the plan.
Since Hisashi could not imagine torturing his precious twin, he'd picked a harmless, nonviolent method. Solitary confinement in the darkness could break even the strongest of minds. When Yoichi collapsed, his will would be subsumed by Hisashi's again. Then everything would go back to normal. It wouldn't take long now.
It had better not take long. Hisashi burned with fury and betrayal that Yoichi had actually dared walk away from him. Maybe Hisashi had made mistakes. He'd stolen his twin's metapower, and he'd expected anger for that. He'd told some lies, well-intentioned but it was still expected for Yoichi to be upset. But to actually try to leave, to reject the sharing bond that made them brothers, that was crossing the line. Nothing Hisashi had done to Yoichi could ever be as bad as what Yoichi had done in return. Hisashi would have forgiven Yoichi anything, any lie or betrayal. His love would never change. But Yoichi couldn't do the same. That was the truly unforgiveable betrayal. (No matter how he looked at it, Yoichi didn't deserve to be the older brother any longer. Had never been the older brother.)
Yoichi must be sick. That was the only possible explanation. Outsiders had influenced him. Yoichi had always been the weaker and more fragile of the two. Hisashi would purge Yoichi of any foreign influences, then assert his own mind. They would once again become one and the same.
In his distraction, Hisashi had yet to make a move against the vigilantes and the defecting government agents. He'd barely even done damage control over the treacherous email. The vigilantes were not important, not compared to fixing his brother. If Hisashi had understood how much Yoichi cared about that silly little group, then he wouldn't have gone behind his twin's back to murder them. Therefore, it was all Yoichi's fault for not sharing his emotions well enough.
Hisashi raised a hand to the computer screen, miming brushing a tear off his twin's face. And he waited.
Based on meals, Yoichi counted out that three days had passed. He could not be sure, because he didn't know if mealtime was regular. Food was delivered straight through the wall, using a metapower. Hisashi did not enter the vault. He never came to visit. Yoichi had ripped apart the vault looking for the hidden cameras, because if he destroyed them, then his brother would have to come. But he had no luck. They were probably on the ceiling.
On the fourth day, Yoichi stopped eating.
After three meals had been dumped down the composting toilet, Hisashi opened the vault door. The light came on, making Yoichi drop to the ground and cover his eyes. "Brother, I brought your favorite katsudon." He placed down a plate with a steaming hot pork cutlet, next to the empty dishes.
I got you to come, Yoichi thought vindictively. The smell ate into his stomach. One hand shielding his eyes, he sat up. "Let me out."
"The world is too dangerous for you when you're unwell." Hisashi smiled, sharklike.
"My back aches. The light hurts my eyes. I can't fall asleep. I'm hungry." Yoichi gazed up at his taller twin, willing him to feel his hunger. Surely these words must lead to his release. Ever since they'd been small, Hisashi had rushed to sooth every cut and bruise on Yoichi. Hisashi had been his protector and his most cherished loved one. Yet even though Hisashi's brow furrowed, he did not open the door. Yoichi screamed, "You're my brother! How could you do this to me?"
For the first time, Hisashi flinched. "You changed first."
"What does that mean?" Yoichi threw up his hands. "You won't listen to me unless I play our silly childish game? Fine, then. I'll share how terrible I feel, if you can handle it." Yoichi reached out and grabbed his brother's chin.
In the dim light, their eyes met. Yoichi said, "I'm suffering. This is a torture box. You need to let me out. We need some time apart. I won't feel well again until I'm away from you."
"No!" Hisashi jerked free from the hand. "That's not true. You need me to survive. Besides, you're fine."
"Fine?" Yoichi shrieked. "I've been pulling out my hair! I've bitten my lips until they bled." He gestured at his face. "How could you share my emotions and think that I'm fine? It…didn't work." Yoichi was genuinely stunned. He'd refused the sharing last time because he'd been entirely too convinced that it would work, that he'd be forced back onto the same wavelength as his twin. Yet this time, he'd felt nothing. He'd just been shouting at his brother-turned-enemy in the darkness like an idiot. The magic had vanished.
Hisashi growled, "It failed because you fought me. You tried to force your will on me. You still want to leave!"
"Oh, like how you've used the sharing to make me do what you wanted all the time?" Yoichi snapped.
"You're rewriting history. We always reached a consensus. I never lied to you or forced you."
"Never lied like all those times you said you were the older brother?"
"I've always been the older one. You've gotten very sick. You're getting our memories confused. Don't you remember how I looked after you, foolish little brother?" Hisashi's bloodshot gaze burned.
To his horror, Yoichi realized Hisashi actually believed what he was saying. His twin had always taken their sharing a level more seriously. When had Hisashi stopped being able to distinguish between their memories or see them as different people? Or had it always been like this? Was Yoichi the fool who hadn't noticed, the one who was remembering their childhood wrong? Yoichi stepped backward, away from the terrifying possessiveness in his twin's eyes.
"Don't you dare walk away from me." Hisashi moved in a blur, pinning Yoichi to the wall with his arms against his side. "You still want to leave. You'll never be able to leave me. You're me, and I'm you."
"I won't eat until you let me out of here." Yoichi gazed into his brother's eyes, letting his determination shine through. His weak body could barely struggle, but he still had his willpower.
"You'll do what I tell you to." Hisashi's teeth bared in a snarl. Controlling his voice to a very volatile gentleness, he patted his twin's head. "You're sick. You have to eat to keep up your strength."
"I told you, I'll eat outside the vault. If you care about me then you'll let me leave—umph!" Yoichi stopped being able to speak when a large chunk of pork got shoved into his mouth. The dish floated in the air under his brother's control.
"Stop saying 'leave,'" Hisashi growled, no pretend gentleness now, a maniac snarl contorting his face. He forced Yoichi's jaws shut around the food.
Yoichi struggled, legs kicking. He tried not to swallow but there was too much in his mouth, and he was too hungry. A few breadcrumbs mixed with saliva trickled down his throat. Yoichi moaned and gagged.
"Eat it!" Hisashi screamed, his eyes blazing red and energy pulsing from his hands. He squeezed Yoichi's cheeks, forcing the food deeper.
Yoichi's throat burned. Tears poured down his face. I'm choking! Help! He silently begged for respite.
But none came. "You won't choke," Hisashi hissed, a terrifying promise. "I'll do what's best for you and look after you like always. Since you're too stupid to eat, I'm making the decision for you." The energy coming from his hands broke down the food particles as they went down. It also burned like molten lava pouring down Yoichi's throat. His body danced like a fish on a line. His screams beat against his brother's hand over his mouth.
When darkness finally came, Yoichi sagged into it, a welcome relief. Only for energy to spark from Hisashi's hands, jolting him awake again.
Maniac resolve burned in Hisashi's eyes. "You can't fall asleep until you've eaten everything, little brother. We have to keep our body healthy."
Hisashi left the vault with a good feeling. Yoichi was finally eating again. True, Hisashi had to help the process along, but that was nothing new. When they'd been children, he'd spoon-fed his sickly little brother many times. It was just like the old days. Hisashi could even confess a private enjoyment at being able to take care of Yoichi again.
As even better news, his people had finally found someone with a stockpiling metapower.
Hisashi could mostly just ignore Yoichi's whining, but he still had a lingering guilt over the ability he'd stolen from his twin as a child. No matter how many complicated justifications he came up with—and he'd certainly tried—he could not shake his certainty that having his own power stolen as a child would have been the worst thing to ever happen to him. Of course in Yoichi's case it was different! Yoichi's ability was totally useless alone. Besides, they were twins so it had basically been Hisashi's power all along. But even so…Hisashi would be able to shake this last uncomfortable uncertainty about the righteousness of his own actions once he gave his twin a new power. Hopefully with his only legitimate grievance gone, Yoichi would become more reasonable.
As Hisashi opened the door, Yoichi flinched away and cowered in the corner. Through a sore throat, he muttered, "I'll never forgive you."
Hisashi felt a pang of hurt, but he reminded himself his twin was only acting like this to manipulate him. It was the same as the hunger strike. Yoichi knew just which buttons to push to upset Hisashi. But no matter what, Yoichi would never be able to hate his other half. Hisashi might have to force it a little, but his twin would come back to him in the end.
"Even so, I love you, my twin, my other half." In his exuberance, Hisashi lifted his brother up and spun him in a circle. Yoichi was too frail to resist, his head lolling sideways. "That's why I found a meta ability that even someone as feeble and starving as you can use."
Yoichi's eyes widened. As expected, he still craved a power. But then he demanded, "How did you get this metapower, huh? Did you steal it?"
Hisashi shrugged. "I'm going to get it soon. I'm striking a deal."
"I bet you'll take the power off someone you murder."
"You never had a particular problem with it before."
Guilt flashed across Yoichi's face. "You lied to me. I thought we were saving metahumans—"
"But we are saving people!" Hisashi cried. "Japan has fallen into chaos, and I'm the only person who can restore order."
"I can't believe anything you say anymore. I never should have let you convince me to bend my principles." Yoichi looked away. He tried to jerk his hands free, but he was too weak.
Hisashi scowled. "Back when I wanted to cautiously build up my power base, you were the one convincing me to do even more, saying that we had to take down the military faster. You're rewriting history again."
"That's rich, coming from you." Yoichi coughed so hard his entire body shook.
Brow furrowed, Hisashi lowered his twin to the ground and checked him over. A thin trickle of blood ran from Yoichi's nose. Although Hisashi had no regrets about the vault, he did worry about his brother's health. The stockpiling ability would help with that, if Yoichi would just stop being so stubborn.
"Oh, fine. I'll let you watch the swap, so you'll see it's a fair trade." When Yoichi's eyes lit up a bit too fast, Hisashi quickly added, "I'll bring the swap here." Like hell would he let Yoichi out of the vault. This place was safe, secure, and perfect for watching him at all times.
…And also, Yoichi had yet to give in. Funny how that had been Hisashi's second thought.
The two men were desperate, enough that they didn't hesitate to meet Hisashi in his underground laboratory or question why they had to stand just out of sight of an open bank vault door. Gigantomachia stood guard in front of the door, since Hisashi refused to let his rebellious twin take one step outside. Yoichi could watch from the doorway, hidden behind the strong steel door.
Gigantomachia was a bristling mass of fury, fingering the weapons strapped to his belt. Hisashi felt pleased at how upset Gigantomachia had gotten on his behalf upon learning about Yoichi's betrayal. It was good to know that someone else understood the depths of this offense. If only there was a way Hisashi could transfer a bit of Gigantomachia's unconditional loyalty to his foolish little brother.
Two men dressed in casual clothing stood side-by-side in the hallway, both with nervous expressions. Neither of them would meet his eyes, and the bald man was eying the exit. They were afraid of him, which was understandable. Since Hisashi needed this show to go well, he decided to begin before someone bolted.
Loudly, for his audience, Hisashi gestured at the man with spikes on his face. "You took care of your aging parents, but they chased you out upon discovering you had a metapower, correct?"
The metahuman nodded. Hisashi felt embarrassed to belong to the same group as a weakling like this. Shouldn't he kill his parents for rejecting him, not worry about how he could get back to them? Fortunately, Hisashi would soon be kicking this loser out of the metahuman pool.
Turning to the bald man, Hisashi stated, "You have no ability, and you've suffered several attacks from meta gangs. Carrying a taser for self-defense proved useless. You want power." Now there was a motive that Hisashi could respect.
The bald man nodded. "Please make it quick."
Hisashi placed a hand on both men's heads. Off to the side, he heard his brother coughing again. Time to get this over with before Yoichi overstrained himself. Hisashi moved the ability to manifest spikes over to the bald man. At the same time, he took the bald man's original power: a minor strength stockpiling ability.
Hisashi could respect wanting to get stronger, but not the moron who'd never even noticed or developed his own meta ability. Oh, well. He'd wanted a more deadly ability, so he'd get one. Hisashi was being generous to arrange this swap, a nod to his brother's scruples. Normally if he met a fool who hadn't even noticed their own meta power, he just took it.
The man with a newly smooth face burst into tears of happy relief. Meanwhile, the bald man manifested spikes all over his body with a triumphant laugh.
"If I ever find myself in need, then you two will help me, yes?" Hisashi grinned. "You owe me a favor."
They fell all over themselves thanking him. As soon as they were out of sight, Hisashi turned to the vault door. His brother was crouched on the floor, blood trickling from his mouth to flow between his fingers. Gigantomachia stood still and looked forward, ignoring his distress.
"Oh, you poor thing." Hisashi walked over, preparing powers that had soothed his brother's illness in the past.
But Yoichi stood up on his own and growled, "The bald man had the stockpiling power, didn't he?"
"Of course." No one was born with two metapowers, so logically if Hisashi had said he would be taking a stockpiling power from this exchange then it must have come from the bald man. What point was Yoichi making?
"He didn't know he had a power! You stole from him! If he'd known he already had a power, then he might not have wanted the swap or he might have struck a different bargain."
"I made both of them happy. By denying me, you deny the joy I brought them." Hisashi chuckled, pleased at his own trick. Gigantomachia watched the argument in silence. Like all efficient bodyguards, he knew how to blend into the wall.
Yoichi growled, "I won't take a metapower you stole."
The smile dropped off Hisashi's face. "I obtained it in a trade."
"On false premises." Yoichi's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of bad trades, you think you can compensate for stealing the power I was born with merely by giving me the weakest one you can find?"
"As I told you before, you had a power you could never use. It was worthless to you, but I'm replacing it with something of value. Isn't that fair?"
"Fair by your own standards, as usual." Yoichi sneered. "Since the power of All for One is half mine, I want control every time you use it. You can't keep using my power for unethical purposes without my permission!"
"That's absurd," Hisashi snarled.
"It's a fair deal, unlike the ones that you keep offering." Yoichi was flushed, partly from rage and partly from his illness. "You don't get to steal my power, then set your own price on the compensation. I won't be shafted off with a power you don't even want. I refuse to take that measly stockpiling power and let you pretend your conscience is clear!"
Coldly, Hisashi asked, "Why should I give you a choice?"
With an incoherent screech, Yoichi lunged. His fist raised to punch his twin in the face. But he never connected. Gigantomachia shot forward, knocking Yoichi to the floor and pinning his arms behind his back.
"Whoa, there! Be gentle. He's fragile." Hisashi smirked, secretly pleased to show off how Gigantomachia had completely taken his side. Everything that Yoichi had ever possessed, had all been because his twin graciously granted it to him. Without Hisashi, Yoichi wouldn't have power or money or even the ability to survive. It was about time that Yoichi recognized it.
Tears streaming down his face, Gigantomachia hissed, "You're a weakling! Even worse than I thought when we first met, weak in the body and mind. A betrayer!"
Yoichi cried, "I tried to leave, is that a betrayal?"
"Of course it is!" Gigantomachia bellowed. "The master trusted you above all others! He relied on you. He let you act in his stead. And you left him when he needed you. Even if he's so gracious as to spare you because you're his family, I'll never forget or forgive." He ground down harder, making Yoichi scream in pain.
This time, Hisashi felt a little worried. "That's enough. Leave us."
Bowing his head, Gigantomachia departed. He looked like he had more to say, but he understood his master's moods and obeyed.
Crouching down, Hisashi picked Yoichi up and carried him back into the vault. Yoichi stirred, trying to fight as he was placed down on the futon.
Mopping the blood off his brother's face with a handkerchief, Hisashi crooned, "See? You need me to protect you."
"From your own people?" Yoichi spat.
Hisashi tutted his tongue. "Think of how many times you would have died without me. You never could have survived your childhood illnesses without my constant nursing. I saved you when the riots first broke out. I provided for us and built a safe haven. People like you, with visible mutations but no powers, are the lowest of low on the streets. You'd never be able to get a job if you couldn't afford hair dye and contact lenses, but no meta gang would take you because you have no ability. You couldn't last a week without my protection."
When Hisashi had spoken of their past, guilt had briefly shown in Yoichi's eyes. But at his last words, it shifted to defiance. "I'd be prepared to try."
Those words woke up something ugly and angry inside Hisashi's heart. His other half truly hated and rejected him to the extent of preferring death? No longer would Hisashi let his brother self-destruct. "Someone as weak as you needs a power just to keep your body in functional shape." Hisashi sneered. "So you'll stay in here until you accept my gracious gift and your place by my side." Having obtained the last word, Hisashi swept out of the vault.
Yoichi lay with his head resting against the steel wall, reciting every word he knew in both Japanese and English inside his head. It was the only way he could stay sane.
More time had passed. Yoichi wasn't sure how much. But his hair had reached his shoulders. That was a bad sign. Ironically, Yoichi had once dearly wanted long hair, but he had to keep it short in order to pretend to be his twin. Funny, he had his wish but he'd never get to find out if he looked better with long hair styles because there was no mirror down here. Actually it wasn't funny at all.
By this point, Yoichi would have given in and taken the damn metapower, no matter how guilty he felt about its origins. He would have pretended to rejoin his brother's organization just long enough to get out of the vault and run. But every time he visited, Hisashi kept demanding their sharing, and Yoichi could no longer make the connection work. Not even when he sincerely tried to give in. Something had been severed. Yoichi had also tried to lie in order to get out of the vault, but Hisashi hadn't fallen for it. Hisashi had always been able to see through Yoichi's lies. What a shame it hadn't worked in the other direction.
When the vault door opened, Yoichi could barely move.
Cheerfully, Hisashi called, "Are you still refusing to eat? You'll waste away, little brother. How sad." But there was a note of glee in his voice. Yoichi had realized that Hisashi enjoyed the force-feeding sessions. He liked the baths and changing clothing too, as if he was playing with a doll. Twisted bastard. Even after having so long to accept reality, it hurt Yoichi to see his brother's indifference to his suffering. What had happened to the days when they'd been everything to each other?
Yoichi's lack of reaction provoked Hisashi to kneel down and push back his bangs. Vermillion eyes gleamed in the dim light. "I have wonderful news! Because of your foolish defiance, I've been too busy to deal with those pesky vigilantes you so adored."
"I was more important to your organization than you ever admitted, huh?" Yoichi muttered, a bit vindicated. He had contacts and an information network his brother had probably been able to use in his absence, but Hisashi had never been gifted in the art of obtaining information. He preferred using force too much. People talked to Yoichi because he made them feel comfortable (and because, as an ambassador and a vigilante could attest, he could kiss anyone's lips open.) "Why are you so cheerful then?"
"Because that's not the good news." Hisashi's grin widened. "Some friends who owed me favors heard about how those vigilantes dared defy me and shelter traitors to all metahumans. So their central base was bombed to ashes. Not on my orders, mind you. My friends just respect me that much. They truly want me to restore order to Japan. It's thrilling!"
Against his will, Yoichi flinched. In his darkest moments, he'd been able to comfort himself that at least he'd sent that email to help the vigilantes. At least all his suffering hadn't been all for nothing, all because he'd stupidly believed his twin wouldn't hurt him when he should have run off in secret. Now his last comfort was gone.
Hisashi chuckled, pleased at having finally gotten a reaction. "Everything will fall under my power. The world, and you."
"I'll never give in!" Yoichi shouted, then coughed.
"If you refuse to submit, then I'll rewrite reality." Hisashi's hand shot out and grabbed Yoichi's face. "I love you, so I'll give you a metapower for your own good."
After all his twin's big talk about him inevitably giving in, he'd gotten impatient and decided to force it. Yoichi felt a flash of fear. The metapower transfer had always looked painful, especially when his brother did it to people against their wills. "Stop, no!"
Then the agony hit him, and he could no longer think. Lightning jolted every part of his body, crackling down his bones and igniting the blood in his veins. Mercifully, he passed out.
As the darkness rushed up on him, for the first time, Yoichi hated Hisashi from the bottom of his heart.
Hisashi caught his little brother as he fell. Yoichi fit perfectly against his chest, just like when they'd been children and Hisashi had carried his weaker twin around after his return from the hospital. Hisashi knew he ought to be worried about the weight loss but it felt wonderful to be able to carry Yoichi so easily. Maybe he could look into a weight-reducing power for after the stockpiling ability improved Yoichi's health.
Currently, Yoichi was in quite a messy state. His hair was greasy. Blood stained his collar from too much coughing. His ribs and collarbones jutted at sharp angles. He'd bitten his nails to stubs. It was almost lovely to see him so frail. A week had been generous—clearly Yoichi wouldn't survive a day without his brother's care. Yet he still foolishly persisted in defiance. Hisashi had given up on sharing emotions. He had to protect himself from being influenced by his idiot twin. Besides, it was far more important to possess Yoichi.
Humming to himself, Hisashi carried in a basin of warm water and a cloth from the hallway. Then he stripped his unconscious brother. This would be faster and easier if he could take his twin upstairs, but Hisashi had found that he liked it when Yoichi stayed in a safe space.
Hisashi would swear the nameless minion who'd brought down the tub had looked at him a little funny. How ridiculous. Why shouldn't Hisashi bathe his own brother? They were twins. Yoichi didn't have anything that Hisashi didn't see in the mirror. Except for Yoichi being more fragile, they might as well have had the same body. Maybe Hisashi should have killed that fool but he'd been too focused on tending to his twin.
Dipping the cloth into the water, Hisashi carefully cleaned the grime off Yoichi's body. He did a thorough job, like a good brother. Then he tilted his brother's head backward into the tub, washing his hair. Yoichi sighed softly at the scalp massage, which just proved that he was enjoying this no matter how much he'd fuss about it when he was awake.
Hisashi used the same shampoo he'd put on himself this morning, with a rich coconut and apricot scent. They had the same hair, so of course the same shampoo would suit them. This way they would smell the same, too. Hisashi frowned to realize how long his brother's hair had gotten. He would need to trim that later so those cute locks would curl again.
In the beginning, Hisashi had never intended to leave his twin in the vault this long—or to enjoy it so much. Hisashi adored sponge-bathing and dressing Yoichi. When he controlled his twin's body, it felt like they'd become one again. Except even more completely and perfectly than before. Hisashi had total control over everything Yoichi did, wore, and ate. Despite his coaxing for Yoichi to eat, Hisashi secretly enjoyed the force-feeding. When he made his twin swallow, it was the closest he could come to truly taking over his body. It felt like a more perfect merging between them. However, Hisashi did realize this was damaging Yoichi's body. His twin had lost weight. That was no good. (They wouldn't look alike!) Hisashi would settle for spoon-feeding as soon as his silly little brother stopped struggling and gave in.
After drying him off, Hisashi changed Yoichi into new clothing and placed him down on a fresh futon. Then Hisashi lay down too, tucking Yoichi's head under his chin and closing his eyes.
Ah, this felt good. Hisashi had purchased a body pillow, but he still had a lot of trouble sleeping when not sharing a bed with his twin. He'd missed that the most since the vault. Why, he'd missed the co-sleeping far more than plotting together with Yoichi or hearing his twin's voice.
When this had first started, Hisashi had been desperate to restore his previous partnership with his twin. But now he realized the vault had been a far more wonderful idea than he'd originally known. It was simply wonderful to constantly know where his other half was at all times. Often, Yoichi's insistence on going out to meetings with dangerous people disguised as All for One had been a source of stress. In the past Hisashi had tolerated it, even though he'd gnawed on his nails, because he'd known Yoichi did a very important service for his expanding empire. Now Hisashi was powerful enough that he'd calculated he could do without his body double. Hisashi had mostly gotten his way whenever the twins disagreed on a business action, but Yoichi had indisputably been an influence, often guiding them to a more merciful course. It would be preferrable for Hisashi to make all the decisions from now on. Especially since poor, foolish Yoichi had proven that he couldn't be trusted with free will.
With Yoichi locked up, whenever Hisashi felt a pang of concern about his twin, he could check his camera feed and be reassured that Yoichi was safe. It had soothed a wound he'd never noticed. As the twins had grown older, Yoichi had wanted to help with the family business, which of course was appreciated, but also kept him away more. No longer had Yoichi been free and available whenever Hisashi wanted to spend time with him. It had not been worth the price. Hisashi should have kept his precious twin locked away at home where no one else could see him. Freedom had been bad for Yoichi. It had only put distance between them and let Yoichi be corrupted by outside parties. Yoichi only needed to look at and be influenced by his loving twin brother. Just like the old days when sickly little Yoichi never left the house.
Hisashi was entitled to keep his precious twin in the palm of his hand. He'd spent his entire childhood looking after Yoichi, raising and protecting a child the same age as himself. Even now, he was still taking care of his twin. Yoichi never would have lived to adulthood without him. They could not live without each other.
In Captain Hero, the twins' favorite childhood comic, the Demon King had removed his own heart from his chest and locked it away in a secret location so he couldn't die. As the one who would become the ruler of the new world, Hisashi should do the same. Then and there, Hisashi made up his mind. It didn't matter if Yoichi gave in or not. Hisashi would never again let his twin out of his room.
It would be a nicer room, of course. Hisashi wouldn't keep his beloved brother in such a dank, dark place forever. Also, they absolutely must sleep together and Hisashi himself had no intention of sleeping on a futon on a steel floor for the rest of his life.
Hisashi's mind raced, already forming designs for Yoichi's new room. It would be like their old bedroom, except proofed for escape and self-harm. There would be comic books and hair care products and all of Yoichi's favorite snacks. Beautiful decorations and luxurious surroundings would ensure that Yoichi would come to accept his new home. There would still be a ventilator. The room needed to be completely closed off and capable of surviving even a bombing. Hisashi could add beautiful pictures of the outdoors to make up for the lack of windows. Maybe in the beginning, Yoichi would need to be drugged or restrained to prevent him from attacking Hisashi in his sleep. But if given time and total isolation, Hisashi had confidence that he could bring his other half back into harmony with his own mind.
They would become one again, and the world would return to how it was supposed to be.
Tomorrow, Hisashi would leave to set up Yoichi's new room. It would require a more isolated location. Too many people knew about his main headquarters. Hisashi smiled and stroked his brother's wet hair, filled with rapturous joy at having finally found the solution to all of his problems.
Kaiji had charred ashes on his back and the blood of a dead friend staining his sleeves. Since his base had been blown up, he hadn't time to clean himself off, much less rest.
All for One had done it. Kaiji knew it in his bones. The attackers had been a fringe terrorist group who believed that metahumans should rule the world and all "lesser, unevolved humans" should die to make way. Outwardly All for One had no affiliation with them, but Kaiji knew the villain secretly gave them encouragement and weapons, then aimed them at targets.
The vigilantes had taken down the terrorist cell, but the cost had been too high. They'd lost a third of their numbers. Civilians had died. The battle had dragged in the street kids who sheltered with them. The only winner today had been All for One. Ultimately All for One would be just as happy about the dead terrorists—they were too irrational to work for his organization. All for One had no intention of wiping out the majority of humanity. He was evil, not crazy. He'd set up this fight so he would win either way.
Kaiji wasn't having it. Instead of heading to his designated fallback base, he'd taken a small team to attack All for One's headquarters. Now would be when All for One least expected an attack, with the terrorists crushed and both the military and the vigilantes reeling from recent losses. Even more importantly, an informant had spotted All for One heading out of town. Sanzou had accused Kaiji of being reckless and obsessed. But Kaiji knew an opportunity when he saw one.
…Gods, to think that Kaiji had kissed a man responsible for the deaths of children under his care. What had started as an embarrassment had turned into a deep shame and rage. Intellectually Kaiji knew that one kiss and a phone whose data had been erased remotely as soon as he'd noticed had made no practical difference to the horrors of the day, but he could not forgive himself.
Upstairs, the vigilantes trashed the laboratory. Kaiji had a more important mission in mind. According to his informants, All for One had been frequently visiting something locked inside a bank vault in the basement. No one knew what was there—at least no one outside All for One's inner circle. Rumors had been flying: it was a secret weapon, a database of information, or even an All for One clone. Kaiji aimed to destroy it.
"We should get out of here. All for One's people will have sounded the alarm by now," Sanzou muttered as they ran down the stairs. The lighting was poor in this place, so both of them gripped the wall. The air kept getting colder. Explosions could be heard above.
Kaiji spoke into a communication device on his collar. "Team Vengeance, pull a full retreat." He muted. "Happy?"
Sanzou glared. "You know I meant the two of us should leave too."
It was on the tip of Kaiji's tongue to say that Sanzou could leave, but that would be taken as an insult and rightfully so. "Look, I just…I have a strong feeling that this is important."
"I've learned not to distrust your feelings." Sanzou sighed, then ran faster.
The lights automatically went on in the hallway, gleaming off baren linoleum floors. The vault door shone silver, seeming to beckon him with its secrets.
Kaiji asked, "Do you have a charge left?"
"Yes." Sanzou set the explosive, then they both retreated down the hallway. Kaiji plugged his ears before the boom echoed.
When the smoke cleared, the door was still standing.
Sanzou said, "I think we should take that as a sign we should retreat."
Growling, Kaiji ran forward and kicked the door.
It must have been barely hanging on, because it fell with a crash. A small movement inside the darkness made Kaiji spin and point his gauntlets, ready to fire bullets.
Catlike green eyes stared out of the blackness. A skinny white-haired man crouched on the floor, his lips peeled back in a feral snarl.
"All for One?" Sanzou gasped. "The crazy clone conspiracy theory was real?"
"No," the stranger said in a raspy voice. "I'm more the natural type of clone."
"You're—you mean you're twins. Hot damn. I've never heard of All for One having a brother." Kaiji's eyes narrowed. "But I've heard of his uncanny ability to appear in more than one place at once. You're on his team."
"Not any longer, as you can see." All for One's brother gestured at the vault. "I regret my past actions, but you still have the right to hate me. If you're going to kill me, then please do it quickly. Before he returns." He stared down the barrel without fear or hope. There was little emotion on his face.
"You want to die?" Kaiji asked, his arm wavering.
All for One's brother laughed bitterly. "You see my living conditions. Death would be preferable. I would like to escape, but you have no reason to help me."
Something about the stupid bastard's words really pissed Kaiji off. How dare he just give up on life like that, when so many people who'd wanted to live had died today? Lowering his weapon, Kaiji extended his hand. "If you want to escape, then let's go."
Sanzou hissed, "Are you sure about this? He could be lying."
"I'll definitely be a burden. My brother will come after me." All for One's brother looked at the extended hand like a man afraid to feel hope. Damn, those green eyes of his were intoxicating. They held a fay quality. If cloning was out, then Kaiji would nearly believe this man to be a changeling. Ugh, how dare anyone look so hot while starved and halfdead? Some people got a disproportionate share of the good genes. The universe was unfair.
Kaiji said, "He could be a useful source of information." Meeting the prisoner's eyes, he asked, "Are you willing to help us if we get you out of this hellhole?"
"Y-yes, I'll do anything. Thank you." All for One's brother grabbed the outstretched hand and stood up. As soon as he tried to take a step forward, he stumbled.
Kaiji turned around. "Get on my back. I'll carry you." Despite his long-term imprisonment, the man even smelled nice, like apricots. How was that even freaking possible? Truly, the universe was unfair.
"I-I'm sorry for the inconvenience." The prisoner climbed on. His limbs shook. Sanzou helped lift him up.
Kaiji met his partner's eyes, silently asking, Are you good with doing this?
Sanzou shrugged slightly, meaning, Not much choice. Their gaze sharing a mutual agreement: that neither of them could bring themselves to leave this thin, tortured prisoner behind even if this choice turned out to be the wrong one.
As Kaiji sprinted for the door, the prisoner clung on. "If he comes, you have to leave me," All for One's brother said fretfully. "I'm not worth you risking your lives. I don't deserve your mercy."
"We all have sins, those of us surviving in these times," Kaiji said. He'd killed before, because vigilantes couldn't send people to jail and these days prison might be the crueler option especially for metahumans. "Getting what you deserve is called justice. Mercy is when you get a free pass, so no one can possibly deserve mercy, idiot."
The prisoner chuckled into the back of Kaiji's neck, then went silent as they ran.
OMAKE TIME!
Omake: Sales Pitch
Hisashi: Are you never able to get the last word in arguments with your sibling? I recommend a bank vault! Lock them inside and let them scream futilely at the steel walls. Ventilator not included.
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Omake: Solitary Confinement—the Wrong Way to Grow Out Your Hair
Hisashi: We made decisions together back when we shared our emotions.
Yoichi: You wouldn't even let me pick our hair length! And now that I finally have long hair, I'm scared to look in the mirror for fear of the dreadful split ends.
#
Omake: None so Blind as Those Who Will Not See
Hisashi: I don't understand why I'm not as good at gathering information as Yoichi given that he blew his entire intel budget on clothing and hair care products. And all his so-called business meetings were at expensive restaurants, theatres, and amusement parks.
#
Omake: Canon Reacts
Regular All for One: Join me, little brother, as a villain!
Twin All for One: Join with me because we're the same person.
Regular All for One: That guy creeps even me out. It must be because he's—ew—a younger brother. Yup, that's definitely the real problem here. Let's not invite him to the All for Ones Club.
Author's Note: I'm not even going to bother to stick to the canon flashback dialogue because I've been through this scene twice before. Hopefully showing the quirk transfer from Hisashi's viewpoint at least spiced it up a bit. This time the forced quirk takes on a new meaning because it's all about Yoichi's stolen power. It doesn't make sense for Villain Yoichi to be as upset about "using metapowers for personal gain" so instead he's more upset that he doesn't get equal say in how their joint power gets used. In this AU, let's say Yoichi deliberately edited the scene he showed Izuku in the Void so I don't have to follow canon dialogue. Thus I can justify this prologue as theoretically canon-compliant even though I doubt Villain Yoichi is canon. It sure would be fun though!
Neither of the brothers is a reliable narrator. Siblings always remember their childhood differently in places. Yoichi doesn't remember quite how intense their codependency used to be. That's a fairly normal degree of divergence. Hisashi can't distinguish between his memories and Yoichi's stories, and has come to sincerely believe that he's the older brother. That is not normal.