Justice Across Space and Time

Chapter 37

Its time for more of the shift to the dorms. As well as paying off a few pieces I set in motion earlier in the story. And giving Itsuka some ideas on how she can still be a hero, in the warped world of quirks they all live in. With a few set ups to go along with that. So on with the show.

(No POV)

"You sure this is a good idea?" "You got a better one John?" Saphentite says as the two head for the Kendo family residence. Which was apparently a dojo. Jotaro had talked a big game to Toshinori, but he was uneasy about going to Itsuka's home for a few reasons. The least of which was what the girl had said and done to him before she passed out from pain and blood loss.

But the bigger issue to him was that it wasn't just Itsuka's parents who had pulled the girl from UA. The martial artist girl had put in a request to transfer out of UA. Though Saphentite had surreptitiously stopped that. "If we can get inside, we can talk to her and try to convince Itsuka to come back. And prove that she is a hero for more than just her power." "Okay… but you'd be better at that part than I would. I've got too many issues as is." Jotaro says while blowing out some air with pursed lips. Saphentite nods and rings the doorbell to the residence side of the dojo.

"Yes?" the woman who opens the door has orange hair and appeared to be about the same height as her daughter. She was wearing a blue sweater and blue jeans….. not that Jotaro knew this. He cleared his throat before saying, "Hello. You're Itsuka's mother, yes? We….. ah, okay you know what I'm just gonna rip the band aid off. My names Jotaro and this is Saphentite. We're Itsuka's classmates at UA. And" "Don't bother finishing that sentence young man." Itsuka's mother says with a stern and angry frown.

One that is matched by her husband who had just come from the dojo. He is a bit taller, coming about equal with Jotaro's nose. He has a gi on, and his longer black hair tied back in a short ponytail. His jaw is a bit chiseled, akin to that of Endeavor or Vlad King. And the man looks about ready for a fight, as he increases the size of his arms a bit at seeing the two hero students. "So, you're the one. The one my daughter went to find and save. And almost died doing it. Let alone losing everything about herself." "You're wrong if you think that she's lost everything." Jotaro argues back with anger in his voice.

Saphentite is also angered by the way the two were talking about what happened. Itsuka's father speaks up again with, "You want to convince my girl to go back and try to be a hero. When she doesn't have a quirk anymore?! She won't be able to protect herself or fight back!" "Are you serious right now? She proved she doesn't need a quirk to fight and beat those with quirks! Or did you miss that during the Sports Festival!" Saphentite argued back fiercely.

But the Kendo parents would hear none of what the two were saying. They quickly slammed the door on the two teens and lock it. Both teens were angry themselves with Jotaro trying to calm down. Especially because he could sense Itsuka in her room looking down toward them. And though he couldn't read her mind, he could tell she was trying to reach out.

"I think it's time you play into what you were named for John. Mister "Quiet Man". Our red head needs to be talked to." Saphentite says with smirk that shows she's scheming. Jotaro smiles before saying, "you talk to her Sahirah. I'll keep them busy."

And he proceeds to heel kick the door in. When the father takes a swing at the teen, Jotaro catches the man's arm and throws him perfectly toward the dojo. While Saphentite quickly creates a portal under Itsuka's mother and sends her to the dojo as well. Jotaro then heads that way while saying, "bring her the soothing light she needs right now. Mine's a bit too bright." Saphentite nods before floating up the stairs of the house.

"Quite the entrance you two made." Itsuka says while she is sitting on her bed by the window. Saphentite could tell the girl had barely left her room after she had come home. Her hair was greasy and a bit matted, she had a somewhat dead look in her eyes, and with a few tear streaks being seen under her eyes.

Saphentite sighed before grabbing the chair by the desk. She looked around a bit, noticing the motorcycle posters and magazines. As well as some pamphlets for other schools. Though those were crumpled up. And the workbooks from UA were still on her desk. Saphentite tries to go slow with, "they said you had put in to transfer. But that's not the whole truth, is it?"

Itsuka looks down at her hands before looking like she was straining to do something. In this case activating her quirk. The tears started to flow again as she choked out, "its gone….. my quirk….. I can't feel it. I can't feel the same thing I always did before." "Can you feel anything else?" Saphentite asks with a calm look. While ignoring the crashing sounds from dojo as Jotaro kept the parents busy.

"What? What do you?" "I'm just asking if you can feel any other differences. And not the part that you are used to." Saphentite says before contemplating a bit. She then asks Itsuka to think about how to get into the warehouse they saved Jotaro. Not just with using her quirk or other powers. "Can you think of ways that you could get into that warehouse as you are now?"

Itsuka is confused as to where Saphentite is going with this. But she has nothing else to do, so she plays along. While her first instinct was to use her quirk, she remembered Saphentite's stipulation. 'No powers…. And I need to get inside. So… Okay the doors are locked as are the lower windows….. but not the upper ones. At least they likely wouldn't be. No one knew about that place so….' Itsuka starts to see a path form for how to enter. As well as new ways to get Jotaro out before that villain could attack them.

And she could clearly visualize a variety of plans and bigger series of strategies. This wasn't much, but it brought a bit of life back into her eyes. "Why is it easier to see these or plan these types of things? Do I" "No you don't have a true meta power. Your mind was healed a bit when you got restored. While it's true most of the side effects when quirks go active aren't obvious, one of the big ones has to do with a loss of cognition… sort of." Saphentite explained that Jotaro had noticed that the main neurons lost when quirks went active were cognitive focused. Especially in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Itsuka puts together a few other pieces with what that implies before saying, "which might be part of why we get so wrapped up in them! Quirks take part of our thoughts, our minds and maybe personalities as they develop that we see them as integral. And no one else can or is willing to see it….. not even my parents." With that said, Itsuka looks down again. Saphentite agrees with the girl and notes that she has to make her own choice in this matter.

"Your parents mean well, but they are still to focused on the quirks and what they believe defines a hero. But you've already shown more heart and will than most who call themselves heroes now. And you can show more people what that truly means." Saphentite says after standing from the chair and putting her hands on Itsuka's shoulders. She then gently wraps Itsuka in a hug, while whispering she can do what she believes she can do.

Itsuka had been hugged many times in the two days since she was returned home. Each time her parents were apologizing and wishing things could be better or different. With her mom bringing in the pamphlets for different schools, or her dad asking her to be an instructor at the dojo. Saying she could take it over when she was old enough.

But that wasn't what Itsuka wanted. She wanted to show what she could do as a hero. That martial arts still had a place in a world with crazy powers. And she knew that the powers could be just as much of a crutch as they were a weapon. With her eyes tightening, she wrapped her arms around Saphentite. Quietly saying thank you to her.

Saphentite nodded before saying, "we might want to head down and stop the fight Jotaro is in." Itsuka laughs before asking if she could wait for her to get changed. Saphentite rolled her eyes before snapping her fingers and dressing Itsuka. "Didn't know you could do that." "I don't like to brag."

The two head downstairs and see Itsuka's parents panting on the tatami of the dojo. Jotaro is of course not even phased, and he gives Itsuka a smile as she walks in the room. "Feeling better?" "More than I realized. Thanks for coming. For more than one reason." Itsuka says before getting on her tiptoes and kissing Jotaro's cheek. Which shocks everyone in the room.

Before her parents can address that, Itsuka stops them. Saying, "I'm not quitting the hero course or UA. I know you and most everyone thinks that you need a quirk to be a hero. But I can be a hero without it holding me back. I can save lives and stop villains. All with the skills you and Jotaro taught me dad. I am not… going to let this stop me or let anyone else tell me I can't be a hero. Because I don't have something I now realize I don't need."

This speech shocks her parents. With the father being curious on what Jotaro had trained his daughter in. Her mother attempted to convince Itsuka to not go on with the madness of being a hero. To try and find something else that wouldn't risk her life. Itsuka smiled before coming up to her mother and says, "I'm not just doing this to prove I can still be a hero. I don't want to lose anyone or let anyone else lose someone they care about. I'll find a way to protect as many lives as I can. With good friends and allies I know I can trust." Itsuka looks back to Jotaro and Saphentite as she says this.

She still has a determined look as her parents try to come up with arguments for her to stop going down the hero's path. But when they see she won't be swayed, the reluctantly agree. "One condition Itsi-chan. You come home at least once every two weeks. I'm afraid for you and…. I want to spend whatever time I can….. in case." "The worst won't come to pass again ma'am. I've got my head on straight again. And I'll help her however I can." "As will I." With those promises, and the determined looks and statements from all the teens gatherd, the Kendo parents feel a bit more at ease. And approve of Itsuka remaining at UA and moving to the dorms. Though Saphentite and Jotaro get a kick out of the pet name Itsuka's mother has for her.

In other parts of the world, with the reports of the Forgotten and the League of Villains attacks, many more start to take notice of what the awakening of true metas could mean for this age of heroes. At I-Island, Melissa looks at the reports and images of All Might's last battle. She hums a bit, noting that her uncle seemed almost too relaxed as the vigilante Judgement was explaining things.

So, she went to her father. "You know something about what is going on with Uncle Might, don't you Papa?" David was currently under house arrest and had his development license revoked. Thus, he was stuck with nothing to do other than read up on what his daughter was working on.

But when she came to him with this, he was unsure of the best way to respond. "If I tell you… would it be enough for you to step back from your idea of becoming a frontline hero?" David asked with a nervous look. But the look on his daughter's face told him there was no way she would back down from the new path she had started for herself. And with a sigh he divulged what he knew.

"Toshi had been planning something for a while. Someone he met… they discovered that he had the potential for something. Something that I wasn't sure the world was ready to accept. With what happened in this recent battle… I'd be willing to bet this was his and his friend's plan… well maybe." Melissa nods before asking what it was that her uncle was planning. All David was willing to tell her for the time being, was that he was planning to be a different kind of hero from now on.

Frustrated at the none answer, Melissa turned back to go to her lab. "What are you planning?" "To be a hero dad. And not just one like you. Kibou and the others need help. As do others in Japan and the rest of the world. So, I'm going there." Melissa says with determination that David could only compare with All Might in his prime. He smiles a bit as his researcher daughter walks off. Quietly he says, "go Melissa. Be the hero I failed to be. Help to set the stage for this new age of heroes."

In Rio De Janeiro, the father of the church and orphanage in Sao Cristovao was kneeling to pray before the alter. Suddenly two of the children bursts in and happily hugs the man from behind. He is wearing a priest's cassock, has dark skin and hair with chocolate brown eyes. When the priest turns back to the boy and girl who hugged him, he smile warmly and gently. "Boas crianças da tarde. What have you two been up to today?" he says while placing hand on both children's shoulders.

The two had been abandoned due to their quirkless nature like many at the orphanage. Including the father himself. But the church had been far more inviting and warmer than anywhere else in the current age. In fact, many Catholic priests in the current age were those who were quirkless. Showing far more acceptance than many other religions and the beliefs of those who were focused on quirks.

The two before him were Carmen and Ernesto. Both had dark hair, but Ernesto had a paler tone to his skin compared to Carmen. While not perfect, the children were content with their lives for the most part. Especially once a new set of representatives for their district took office with the city. There had been a time that the orphanage and others who were quirkless were often attacked by villains with quirks. Or even those who were allied with the Liberation Armies around the world. Some of that started to change with the new leadership a few years prior. And even the number one hero of Brazil, the storm hero Turbilhão, had taken it upon herself to help protect the north zone of Rio.

This had been one start to the changes. But another occurred recently. After an attack against the shopping district of the area, the father had awakened a true meta power of his own. When a villain threatened some of the children under his charge, the man stood in front of the monster and said he would not harm them. When the villains laughed and taunted the man for believing in something most viewed as worthless, the father did not flinch. He stood his ground before taking out his rosary and praying.

When the villain struck out with his enlarged arms, the father continued to pray. Refusing to bow or fear a person who viewed his faith as something that should have died out long ago. And it seemed as though the man's prayers were answered. Right as the fist struck the father, a glowing blue barrier appeared in the shape of a cross. Though as the father concentrated more on his prayer, he and others saw that the barrier was not just a cross. But an aura that surrounded the man in a field comparable to that of the damaged Christ the Redeemer statue (it had been attacked by those who reveled in their quirks and saw the belief the city was founded on as something to be destroyed (about like many do now, given the hate toward Catholic or Christian beliefs)). The aura grew to be bigger than the villain, and the father quickly defeated the villain. While protecting the area and all others with barriers that seemed to be linked to his will and belief.

He took no name hero name for himself. Choosing instead to focus on protecting and caring for the orphans. As the previous father had done for him. But now he had a different thought. The children had brought the father to a restaurant where the news was playing the battle of All Might and Judgement vs AFO. While shocked at the spectacle, it wasn't what drew the focus of the man.

Instead, it was of what or who had appeared earlier in the fight. "It has been years….. and this is where your life led you. I've never been to Japan…. But I know I need to go. To try and bring you back to the light. Irmão." The father of the orphanage is the elder brother to Luiz Lima. Pedro Lima. And he knows that the vengeance his brother likely craves, will not set right all the wrongs. And it would not bring their parents back.

So he makes plans to fly to Mustafa City. Asking for aid in getting there from both the cardinal and from Turbilhão. "I see. I understand why you need to do this. And I will watch over your home to the best of my abilities." The pro hero says before putting a comforting hand on Pedro's shoulder. She even offers to pay for tickets for Carmen and Ernesto. Noting that the two were especially close to him. "And they may have potential beyond what we all know. That one at UA seems to know what it takes." "Perhaps so. And if anything, it will give them an experience they may never get again."

With his plans set and saying goodbye to a few of the other children and believers, Pedro boards a plane to Japan. To face off with and hopefully save his younger brother. "Please Luiz. Do not fall deeper into the darkness." Pedro says while in his seat on the plane. Before he tries to get some sleep, he takes out his rosary again and recites the Lord's prayer.

The week after the dorms had been established, all of the classes are excited for the potential in the dorms and what it would mean to be living at the school full time. Aizawa though wanted to warn the students that they should have informed the pros on what they had in mind. "Your plans almost got one of our own killed. Not only that, but she's also lost her quirk. If you had left it to us, that likely wouldn't have happened."

"You aren't wrong Aizawa. But you can't change the fact that they were there. And lest we not forget that the laws don't apply to us the same way. Not to mention, if they hadn't been there. It is very likely that many of the other pros, might have died. Many of them would hav been injured even before the Forgotten showed up. So I'm thinking it was a lucky thing they were there." Jotaro says with a raised eyebrow directed to his teacher. Who does agree with the young man, but notes that they should still have some faith in them for down the line. And that most of the students had lost his trust. "You'll have to earn it back. And prove to me you know what it means to be heroes."

As each group was moving in, Jotaro and Izuku were personally aiding in the efforts. "You guys don't have to help. We can handle our stuff." Kirishima said as they were helping him move his weights and dumbbells to his room. "We wanted to help out a bit. Besides this works as training for me too. I doubt you've noticed but I've had Full Cowling active this whole time." "Seriously!? You're using this as training?! That's awesome man!" Kirishima said with an excited look. He started taking what he was doing more seriously, even copying the fact that Izuku had been subtly doing exercises to improve his strength as they were helping everyone move.

Jotaro just chuckled at the exchange while helping move some of the other items. Namely a massive bed that Momo had brought. "Um why exactly do you have this? It's gonna be too big for the rooms." "Really? Its just a normal bed." "Yeah, maybe for you. But not us!" Jotaro quips while taking in the large item. He says much the same for the dresser he brings in as well.

He also notes the instruments that Jiro brought with her as well. Taking a moment to appreciate her Les Paul. "This is a well-maintained piece. You play a lot?" "Kinda. It's more of a family thing. Dad's a composer, and mom had talent. Seemed natural to be around it." Jiro said with a small blush. Jotaro just smiled before gently putting the instrument on it's stand.

He then notes the keyboard and plays a bit. It surprises Jiro, especially the dexterity of his fingers as he plays a piece. She notes that it was Jazz he was playing and starts to feel herself relax into the music. "You've got way too many skills you know that?" "There's a lot of ways to cope with things that you may struggle to understand. Music was one I used for quite a while." Jiro smiles at that and ask her brickhouse classmate for some privacy. He nods and heads to his own room.

Or he would. Except a commotion downstairs and one other factor draw his attention. The first being, Itsuka showing up at their dorms. "Hey Jotaro. You got a minute?" "Sure. What's up?" "Not here. Let's talk outside." Jotaro follows the class rep of 1-B out onto the lawn to discuss a matter that had been bothering her.

"About what happened….. when we were trapped in the rubble… At the time, I thought I was going to die. I was for sure of it. But I'm alive, and." "You're not sure where we take….. our relationship from here, right?" Jotaro finished for the orange haired teen. Who just nodded before turning and tapping her fingers together.

Jotaro just sighed before saying, "what….. does your heart say? This isn't something you can just rationalize. What do you really feel?" Itsuka looks back to the teen who had been her savior, teacher, friend, and likely colleague when they graduate from UA. While she tries to rationalize it in her mind, she knows he is right. So, she follows her gut.

And goes over to Jotaro to throw her arms around his neck. And kiss the large teen again. "I'm not sure for now….. But I do know I want to be closer to you. To see if this is really love or just a crush." Jotaro has barely reacted during this whole matter. Only closing his eyes, a bit as Itsuka kissed him. He smiles slightly before wrapping his arms gently around the girl. And saying he'd like to see where this could go as well.

Saphentite meanwhile has been watching from around the corner of the dorm building. She smiles as well before saying to herself, "well now. This could be fun Itsuka. Game on." With that she quietly goes back into her dorm to set up her lab in her personal space.

I know this is a massive dump of info from all kinds. But I wanted to pay off some set ups from earlier chapters. And show where I'm going for most heroes and teams moving forward. Please review