The winding back alleys of Jakku were perfect for someone of Stains skill set.

They were uneven and split off into multiple different alleys throughout the city, making it easy for the hero killer to slip away and strike quickly.

So maybe that's why he didn't notice the man sharing the rooftop with him until he cleared his throat.

"I'm almost disappointed." The masked man drawled as he stood unafraid of Stains Katana, "you didn't notice me until I announced myself."

"Ronin." Stain growled out, slowly pulling his Katana part way out.

"Peace, Stain." Ronin said, holding a hand up, "I didn't come here to fight."

"Then why are you here?" Stain questioned.

"I simply wanted to meet the man who is dedicated to the same thing I am." He said simply, "for, in our own ways, we keep balance, do we not?"

"I hunt false heroes."

"And I kill those who stray from the path of light." Ronin walked to the edge of the building, looking out over the cityscape, "your reasons for targeting the heroes you do is sound, many you've culled were involved in less than savory business; but the ones who are simply in it for the money, why kill them?"

"They're false." Stain sneered, "in it for personal gain and glory, a hero is a hero for the people."

"But don't these glory hounds still serve the populous?" He questioned, "they're still taking down villains."

"Taking down villains doesn't equal serving society as a whole." Stain muttered, moving to stand beside the dark warrior, noting that he had the height advantage, "especially when their glory hounding ends up causing more destruction, more injuries."

Ronin nodded slowly, "you cull them before they can harm others." He noted, "but you also kill them before they can change for the better."

"A man's heart can not change so easily!" Stain snapped.

"And yet it can still change." Ronin rebutted, "I am not faulting your logic, stain, and I will not stop you from targeting them, however; I believe that your crusade requires some…direction."

"Direction?" Stain questioned.

"Indeed,' Ronin held up a USB stick, "this contains the names, quirks, support equipment and crimes of several dozen heroes from here to Hosu, ones who especially require culling. I've also included the best ways to kill them."

"And what do you require of me for this information?" Stain asked, his eyes sharpening in interest.

"Simply that you do so in the name of balance." Ronin said, tossing the data to him, and then reaching into his robes and pulling a long, slim box out, "I also bring with me, a gift, something to…level the playing field, as it were." he presented the case to the man, who opened it and found a beautifully crafted Katana.

"Exquisite craftsmanship." Staine breathed, carefully lifting the sword out from its velvet box, pulling the blade free from its sheath.

"Beskar,' Ronin intoned, admiring the glinting blade and its Damascus-esque surface, "one of the only metals to match a lightsaber like mine."

"Heh, right." Stain scoffed,

Pssssht-*CRACK*

Stain gasped as Ronin struck at him, the red blade sparking and glinting against the blade. "Believe me now?" Ronin asked, deactivating the blade.

"Why give me this?" Stain asked, mystified as he returned the blade to it's sheath, "Surely you wouldn't give me a weapon that can stand up on its own?"

"There are others who carry a lightsaber," Ronin warned, "and they want nothing but death and destruction, I fear you may encounter them soon."

Stain watched the man in front of him carefully, "but why?" He asked.

Ronin looked up at the sky, for a moment all was silent save the gentle blowing of the wind, "the Red Blades are not just my enemy." Hr Said quietly, "they are a brutal cult who want chaos and destruction to reign Supreme, they are a putrid corruption of the Force and so seek out to destroy everything…" he looked at Stain, "these monsters will no doubt begin wrecking havoc, and while I know you owe me no allegiance, I hope my gifts tonight have, at the very least, gained me a friend."

"You seek an alliance?" Stain questioned.

"If it is agreeable to you. Intelligence and possibly more weapons of this quality, and in return you will Endeavor to help me against the Red Blades, should you so choose.'

"Is that all?" Stain asked dryly, then looked to the Katana in contemplation, "and if I refuse."

"Then I only ask that you do not join the Red Blades against me."

Stain slowly nodded, tying the Katana to his side, "I will help you should you call, but make no mistake: this doesn't make you the boss of me."

"I never Said it did." Ronin chuckled as his wrist communicator beeped, "he calls already?" He questioned, turning the communicator on, "Aizawa, if this is an attempt to track me-"

"-the Red Blades struck." Aizawa said, cutting him off swiftly, "they attacked a family living in a Tokyo penthouse, a business owner named Yatsuhashi Botan, is dead, along with his wife Aiko, their daughter, Hana, is missing."

Ronin and Stain shared a look, "clear the crime scene, I want to view it myself." he said to Aizawa, turning the communicator off, "if it's too soon, I won't ask you to come along." he muttered, looking at Stain.

The older vigilante scoffed, "a child's in danger," he said, "let's get moving."

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Glass crackled underfoot as Izuku and Stain stepped into the ransacked apartment, scorch marks covered the walls and floor and furniture was overturned and tossed about; a grayish blue liquid was splattered on the far wall.

Ronin took all of this in, hand hovering over the scorch marks.

cold hatred, a focused mind set on the task at hand. "hand over the girl and no one gets hurt."

Fear, confusion, pain, courage, coiling and knotting in his stomach"Stay away from my daughter!"

Crack!

"NO!"

HANA RUN!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH"

Ronin pulled his hand away from the wall, "they were after the girl." He said softly,

"They captured her?" Stain questioned as Ronin approached a hallway, more scorch marks littered the walls leading to a broken door with a pink nameplate spelling out the name "Hana" in fanciful script, the room was likewise ransacked.

anger, rage, confusion, all warring inside a being of pure darkness, "where did she go?"

"We need to leave, the heroes are on their way.

"No, she escaped somehow…" izuku muttered, looking at the windows, his eyes narrowing on the bedside window, carefully he opened it and looked out, "fire escape, she must've run."

"But why go after a child?" Stain asked, stepping to the side to let Ronin passed, "why-"

Click.

The two men tensed, Ronin holding a hand up, "see if you can't find a trail." He whispered, heading down the hall, lightsaber in hand, Stain slipped out the window, sparing only a single glance back before he disappeared.

Ronin stepped out into the living room, "erasurehead," he greeted coolly, regarding the underground hero with caution, "I thought I said I wanted the crime scene clear."

"I'm the only one here." Aizawa sighed, holding his hands up in peace, "figured talking face to face was easier than a call…or is it helmet to face?"

"You're taking a risk Aizawa." Ronin droned, clipping his lightsaber back to his belt, "should the police find out your involvement with me."

"They already know," Aizawa shot back, "at least a few I can trust to not go behind my back to try and set up an ambush."

"Surprising," Ronin muttered.

"I saw you halt a punch from All-Might," he said dryly, "until I know for sure we can take you down, I won't put peoples lives in danger, now. What have you found?"

For a few moments Ronin was stock still, then he grunted and walked into the center of the room, "not one, but two red blades came in here this evening," he muttered, "they were after the child that lived here, for what? I don't know yet, but I have reason to believe she escaped them."

"Her parents must have given her time to escape." Aizawa said, "we'll need to drum up some search parties-"

"-I will handle tracking her down," Ronin interrupted, "the Sith are dangerous, even more so if they're willing to try and abduct a child from her home, not only that but I'm the only one who can counter their weapons."

"I don't like it…but you're right." Aizawa grumbled, 'however, you need to contact me as soon as you find her.'

"Maybe," he said, a tug in the force distracting him, "it all depends on…why…" he trailed off, his head turning towards something lying on the floor, hidden by the overturned couch, "why…why are you here?" He questioned softly, kneeling down and picking up the object.

"Is that-" Aizawa began.

"A lightsaber." Ronin confirmed, looking over the sleek, he turned it on, watching the teal blade extend, "I believe, we just found a motive."

"Its blue." Aizawa said as Ronin deactivated it.

"Affiliated with the Jedi no doubt." Ronin said, looking down at the weapon, "he could only grab it, he couldn't even turn it on before the red blades cut him down…animals, the lot of them." he muttered, clipping it to his belt, "It's imperative that we find the girl, now more than ever."

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Hana didn't know what was going on, or why these people were chasing after her. All she knew was her parents were dead, and she'd probably be too if they caught her.

She hid in a nearby empty warehouse, breathing heavily as she looked about, the seven small bells her mother had put in her braids tinkling cheerfully despite the situation.

"We know you're here, little youngling."

The deep, cold voice sent a shiver down her spine, urging her to keep running, climbing into an empty crate and hugging her legs, head bowed in a silent prayer that they wouldn't find her.

"I can sense you little Terran." A feminine voice cooed, and Hana froze. Hands going over her mouth to try and quiet her breathing, "your fear, sadness, rage. It's like a beacon to us!"

A sound like none she'd ever heard before filled the air, she looked up in horror and fear as the dark clad woman stood over her, the red blade of her lightsaber bathing everything around them.

"Found you." she sneered, raising a hand to bring the girl towards her.

A whirl of steel slammed into her blade, sending her skidding back towards her hulking reptilian team mate.

Hana stared at the unique individual in front of her, covered in more knives than was strictly necessary, and a red scarf wrapped around his neck, a white cloth mask covering his eyes, in his hands he held a beautiful blade, gleaming dimly in the red light.

"This girl is under the protection of Ronin." he sneered, bringing his blade in front of him in a ready stance, his other hand going behind him to grab three knives, "to get to her, you'll have to go through me!" he lunged forward as he said this, knives flying through the air towards the two stunned Sith, the woman was able to cut two in half while the third slammed into her partner's shoulder with a thud and a roar of pain.

And then stain was on them, a cyclone of destruction who's Beskar blade easily slapped the lightsabers of his adversaries away easily, he ducked under the lizard's arm and dragged his tongue across the wound, surprised to find that instead of collapsing to the ground paralyzed, his enemies movements only seemed to lag. He rolled out of the way of an overhead strike from the woman, dragging a knife across her stomach as he blitzed past her, his eyes narrowed at the blue blood that coated the blade, "interesting." he said, licking the blade and flipping over the two, his Katana sparking against their lightsabers as he once again spun through them.

"Enough!"

An unknown force suddenly lifted Stain off the ground, he gasped as he felt an extreme pressure close around his throat, forcing him to drop his sword as he clawed at his neck.

"You use his name," the woman hissed, her hand held in front of her as if she was gripping something, "you've sealed your fate!" she charged at his floating body, lightsaber raising for a deadly strike.

Only to be blocked by a blue blade, a red one stopping her partners at the last second as he too tried to blitz their enemies.

"A trandoshan." Ronin mused, staring at the red eyed lizard before turning his lightsabers off and slamming his palm into the ground, sending the two crashing into nearby crates while Stain fell to his knees, gasping for breath, "and a Zabrak." he scoffed as the womans shawl and hood fell away, revealing tan skin and a bald head. Small horns poking out amongst lined tattoos, "you're both a bit far from home."

"Again you step in our master's way." THe Zabrak snarled, "I don't care if we end up killing that little brat, you've breathed your last today!"

The Trandoshan growled low in his throat, "Sssssounds like a plan." he hissed, re-igniting his lightsaber.

Stain got back to his feet, "my quirk only slows them down a bit." he said, gripping the hilt of his Katana.

"Good, we'll need every advantage." Ronin droned, igniting his lightsabers as the two sith charged, they met in the middle of the warehouse, Lightsabers sparking of Lightsabers and Beskar; Ronin was at the center, parrying and blocking strikes from both sith as the two also fended off hit and run attacks from Stain, who dodged between crates and old machinery before exploding out to deliver a biting strike that would knock one off guard, or to throw a knife that left deep lacerations in limbs.

Hana watched this all from her hiding spot, in awe of the skill being showcased in front of her.

It reminded her of her father.

Ronin locked blades with the Zabrak, "who is your master?" He demanded to know,barely able to dodge the Trandoshans attack and relocate to Stains side before she gave a mocking laugh.

"He is of no concern to the likes of you." she sneered, "but seeing as this is our second meeting, I shall give you the honor of knowing who kills you." she gave a mocking bow, "I am Darth Fos,"

"And I am Darth Umreth." The Trandoshan grunted, "be proud that you die by the hands of true sith warriors."

"Three sith?" Ronin questioned, "I'm guessing the rule of two is out the window."

"Where have you been?" Fos scoffed lazily, twirling her lightsaber in her hand, "we are free to do as we please now that the emperor is dead!" with a mighty roar she thrust her free hand out, the force push sending Stain crashing out of a nearby window with Umreth following hot on his heels, Ronin tried to strike at him as he ran passed, but had to spin about and block Fos' attack, trying to swing low with his free lightsaber was met with a block from a second blade sprouting from a second emitter on the sith's lightsaber.

'You're not the only one who can switch forms." she snarled, twirling the double bladed saber as she pressed her advantage.

Outside Stain was jumping between the buildings in the alley, barely escaping the deadly blade of the Sith's lightsaber by a hair each time, his Katana was higher up, embedded in a wall after he was thrown out of the warehouse.

"You chose the wrong sssssside little villain!" Umreth cackled, stomping his foot and shaking the entire alley, causing Stain's foot to slip. Sending him tumbling in the way of Umreth's next strike.

But Stain's Katana slammed into the red blade a split second before a familiar capture scarf wrapped around the sith warrior and slammed him into the wall.

"What a surprise." Stain wheezed, slowly pushing himself to his feet as he stared at Aizawa, the Beskar Katana in one hand, his capture scarf pulled taut in the other.

"Catch," Aizawa droned, tossing the blade to Stain before the sith cut through the binding, lunging for Aizawa and stopped by Stain.

"Let's see how you fare when I can fight back!" The villain roared, his strikes becoming heavier and faster, Umreth barely able to keep up as Aizawa ran into the warehouse, sliding short as he watched Ronin and Fos trade blows.

Ronin turned his head slightly as they once again locked blades, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!" Ronin shouted at Aizawa, who's eyes immediately zeroed in on the little girl watching the fight in the far corner. As fast as he could he crossed the warehouse, scooping the little girl up before he was throwing himself out the window.

"NO!" Fos cried out, as she watched them run, the distraction giving Ronin the chance to slice her lightsaber in half and score a harsh hit across the left side of her face, sending her screaming to the ground as she clutched the new wound.

Another scream outside was cut short, a few moments passed before Stain walked back in, covered in scrapes and bruises, but otherwise okay, behind him, Umreth lay in the middle of the alley, cut in half.

"Last chance," Ronin said, leveling the red lightsaber at Fos' throat, "who is your master?"

Fos glared at him,her hand coming up slowly, "you think you've won?" she sneered, eyes catching her slain partner's lightsaber slowly rising from his cold hand. "How naive."

"I won't ask again." Ronin warned.

"Save your breath." she hissed as the lightsaber suddenly activated and flew at Ronin, who deflected it and turned, bringing his blade down and through Fos who barely had a chance to gasp before she was falling back to the ground, eyes going dark.

"Damn it," Ronin swore, turning away from the dead body, "our only lead, dead."

"She wasn't going to tell you anyways." Stain grunted, kicking the body over, as he followed Ronin, scooping up the discarded lightsaber as he went, "I've seen the look in her eyes before, she was going to take it to her grave, one way or the other." Stain tensed when the lightsaber was pulled from his hand by a wave of Ronins hand, the man caught the lightsaber and looked at it, "you taking that with you?" Stain asked, an edge to his voice.

"No…but before you can take it, I must purify it, or the blade will corrupt you." Ronin said, jumping to the roof as they entered the alley, Stain following a few moments behind, slowing to a stop when he found Ronin on the roof in a lotus position, the lightsaber set softly on the ground, slowly, the weapon floated into the air, coming apart fluidly until it revealed a glowing red crystal.

"Kyber crystal." Ronin explained to Stain as the man settled behind him, "it's what makes a lightsaber work, and this ones seen…so many horrors." Ronin raised his hand and concentrated, slowly the crystal began to glow brightly, the red deepening for a few moments until its harsh red softened into a burnt orange. "It's not entirely pure," Ronin explained as the lightsaber reassembled itself, "but in your line of business, I doubt a completely purified crystal would do either of our bidding…this one should be more lenient." he stood and snatched the lightsaber out of the air, handing it over to Stain, who ignited the blade, now glowing orange, "it's…heavy…heavier than I thought." Stain muttered, turning it off.

"And it will get heavier," Ronin warned, "until you've attuned yourself to the crystal."

"It's sentient." he guessed.

"In a manner of speaking." Ronin chuckled, looking to the streets as police sirens and lights filled the night, "thank you for your help tonight Stain, but don't think this is over…it's obvious there's more."

"How many more, is the question now." Stain agreed, clipping the lightsaber to his belt, "until next time, Ronin."

The two disappeared into the night, the only traces left for the police to find were two dead bodies and a destroyed warehouse and alleyway.

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A few days later.

Hana watched with empty eyes as they lowered her parents into the grave, around her, a few friends of the family stood, silently mourning alongside her.

It'd been hard, since her parents deaths, and her rescue by Erasurehead and the Vigilante Ronin, after the whirlwind of a night she was faced with the hard reality that she would no longer see her parents, no longer live with them in an apartment that was too big for her alone.

Her mothers best friend had become her guardian, Ichika Tatsumaki, a fair haired beauty who'd met her mother during some photoshoot or other. The woman was standing beside her, glaring down at the graves like they'd personally offended her. Much too angry to offer much comfort to the girl who'd lost everything.

As the priest finished the last rites, people began to slowly leave, many stopping by to offer their condolences, until there was only her and Rumi left.

"Do you want to go back to the apartment?" Ichika asked her young ward, finally sparing her a sympathetic glance.

"No…" she mumbled mutely, still staring at the graves as the grave digger began to shovel dirt in, "I want to stay here."

"Okay…don't stay out too late." she said, before walking away.

Hana sighed as she slowly knelt down by her parents grave, watching the grave digger work, eyes scanning over the thin gray cloak he wore, the hood up, he seemed to be old, back stooped over with age, but his hands were unwithered, and what little she could see of his face was smooth and youthful, with just a smattering of freckles.

"Why were they after me?" she asked softly, taking a chance, the bells in her braid tinkling as a soft breeze picked up.

The caretaker paused for a moment, then continued working as he spoke, "your father wasn't who he said he was. Though he wasn't lying; to the world at large he was Yatsuhashi Botan, owner of several small businesses around Mustafu…but he held a secret, one he's held for nigh on twenty three years now." he carefully packed the dirt on the grave down before he leaned against the shovel, 'his real name, was Tarash Quizan, he was a jedi Master, once upon a time."

"Jedi?" she questioned.

The man slowly nodded, "an order of monks tasked with keeping peace in the galaxy, not many left these days, most were killed during the last great Jedi Purge, he was able to escape, and crash landed here. With the help of your mother-who found him injured in the wilderness-he was able to make a living for himself, forget the galaxy at large…sadly the galaxy didn't forget him."

The man picked the shovel up and began walking, using it as a walking stick, Hana scurried to follow, bells clinking all the way. "The red blades were searching for powerful beings, young ones that they could corrupt and train; you were a prime candidate."

"I'm quirkless though." she said, looking down, "They killed them for nothing."

"Not for nothing."

Hana looked up, surprised to find the man looking at her, vibrant green eyes glowing under his hood, "the force is strong with you, stronger than I've seen in others."

"The force?" she asked as they stopped under a tree, "'what's that?"

"The force is an energy field," he explained, "It binds the galaxy together, every living thing is connected to the force, and in some beings it manifests strongly," he held his hand up and a few small rocks floated into the air and into his hand, circling a few inches above the palm, "those who can use it, tend to fall to two different factions, the Jedi, who use the light side of the force, and the Sith, who use the corrupted dark side, they were the ones to attack your family."

"But why?" she asked, frustration bleeding into her voice as she angrily wiped tears away, "what was the point?"

"Power,' he said simply, "to control the future younglings and force users is to control vast power, creating stronger sith and a better empire, at least that's what they believe."

"I hate them," She said darkly, "I hate them, and I hope they die!"

*CRACK!*

Hana jumped and whirled around, staring in shock at the tree behind her who's trunk had partially shattered, allowing the tree to slowly fall.

"No quirk indeed." he said dryly.

"I…I didn't…that couldn't have been me." Hana whispered faintly.

"I wish that were true." he muttered, "in another life, another time, none of this would matter to you; you'd wake up tomorrow, go to school, play with friends, and continue life in a boring, mundane existence. That is not the case anymore." he reached behind him and pulled something out, something he placed into her hand, "your fathers lightsaber." he said as Hana raised it up to look at it better, simple, plain, words people had used to describe her father once, "it rightfully belongs to you."

She clenched the lightsaber in her hand, "You're Ronin, aren't you?"

"Indeed," he nodded.

"Are you here to kill me too?" she asked, "cause I'll use this thing!"

Ronin laughed, a full, deep bellied laugh, "I have no interest in killing you, little flower. I simply came to explain what I could, so you were no longer in the dark.``He set the shovel against the tree, "and to return what is rightfully yours, what you do with it is your business." he began to walk away, heading deeper into the woods.

"Wait!"

He paused, glancing back to see her staring at him with determined grey eyes, "Teach me, please."

"Teach you?" He asked, "I am neither Jedi, nor Sith. Light, or dark."

"Sounds like you're the perfect person to teach me." she sassed, "or are you scared?"

He scoffed, "your tactics are childish." He said, "What I have to teach isn't for twelve year old girls."

"Losing your parents isn't for twelve year old girls either!" she shot back, holding the lightsaber up, "and I don't know how to use this…I want…I want to be able to protect people if something like this happens again…so no one else has to go through what I did… "

Ronin stared at her, then nodded, "return here in a week's time, when you do be prepared to leave everything and everyone behind, save the clothes on your back and that lightsaber…if you don't show up I'll assume you changed your mind." with that he continued into the forest, leaving Hana alone to ponder his words.

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High in earth's orbit, just outside of satellite range, a medium sized ship flew through the darkness of space, on its bridge, a man sat cross-legged in front of the view port, eyes closed, legs crossed, rune tattoos covered his muscular torso and arms like bloody bands.

Behind him, a sliding door opened with a hiss, and another man walked in, this one clothed in armor, the T-shaped visor giving nothing away, his gloved hands resting on twin blasters holstered at his side. He didn't speak, simply waited patiently until the man opened his eyes, burning yellow, "Fos and Umreth are dead." he stated, standing up in a single fluid motion and turning to the armored individual, "it seems you were right, Mandalorian, they weren't ready."

"Ronin isn't one to take lightly." Mando said, "had you not sent Zourr off world with Tholdic and Khollear, I'd have gone down there myself and rid us of that particular problem."

"And probably killed the youngling while at it." the dark lord scoffed, "mind your thoughts and feelings, Mandalorian, you are only here because of my generosity."

"Your generosity means nothing if it doesn't get me any closer to killing him."

"Patience my friend, patience." he turned once more to stare at earth through the viewport, "recall Kholear, and send for the fifteenth Brother, those two should be more than a match for our dear Ronin, you of course will join them."

"As you command, Lord Eagron." the mando turned and left, leaving Eagron to his musings.

"Soon this world will be ours," he murmured, "and a new Sith empire shall rise…we only need to squash our enemy."

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Far below on the planet's surface, an old man opened his eyes, staring at the area in front of the large Oak tree he had been meditating under.

"Master Olec?"

Olec turned his soft blue eyes to the blonde teen beside him, the young girl with short blonde hair and a padawan braid was looking at her master worriedly, "what's wrong?"

"A disturbance in the force, young Padawan." he said, "we must make haste to Japan, it seems an ancient enemy has made themselves known.