Butei Heroes and Returns

Chapter 4

Now for some more history and details. So, this chapter will be more exposition than anything. But I believe it is fitting given the situation I set up earlier. We'll get some backstory and mixing of elements from the ASA series. Namely pulling from the novels. Also this if for Solo, if he gets here: Claramente eres un idiota, así que deja de asumir que sabes cómo funcionan los poderes y que los que no tienen no pueden hacer nada. Imbécil. So on with the show.

(No POV)

Izuku and Ayame sit in the hidden room to wait for their teacher to awaken. "How do you think he ended up like this?" Ayame questioned while resting her head on her hands. Izuku sighs before saying, "he probably got into a fight that was more extreme than we could imagine. Though that doesn't explain other details."

The learning ninja raised an eyebrow at that. While she wanted to ask what he meant, she chose to wait. 'I'll follow his lead on this. He's the one who investigated more and even questioned what was going on. Guess that's something Earp-sensei saw in him,' she thinks with a smile while looking back at the teacher.

The students have to wait at least an hour before William starts to awaken. He doesn't get up, but the man does start stirring and opens his eyes to see the two waiting for him. "What the? Izuku? Ayame? What you doing here?"

"We followed you. A number of things seemed odd when we arrived, and they started to add up as time went on." Izuku said while looking at the man with concern. Remembering the number of scars his teacher's back had. Earp put his face back into the pillow he was laying on with a groan.

Once that was done he just asked, "how much do you know? And what all do you want to know?" Ayame looked at Izuku and could see some gears turning in the boy's mind. But she interrupted and noted that they knew he was much older than he looked. "Or at the very least someone who looks remarkably like you. Anything you'd like to say?"

William chuckled before asking if they could help him to get more comfortable. Izuku partially suspected that he was avoiding the question, but Ayame was inclined to helping. And adjusted where the pillows were situated. With a few grunts and sighs, Earp started some of his story.

"You are correct that I'm much older than I look. The truth is….. Well you better buckle up." Earp says before noting that he had been a teacher at the school for a long time. Since it's founding over 60 years ago. "How is that possible?! You don't have a quirk that extends your life! And I'm pretty sure whatever that magic gun you used doesn't extend your lifespan either!" Izuku exclaimed in confusion.

The old gunman smiled and said his story goes back to about when quirks were first unleashed by IU. "I was a young teenager when society started to break down due to the chaos of quirks. We Butei tried to help the police keep the peace, but more and more quirked beings grew to resent us. And it came to a head when I first started teaching at the old Butei High."

Izuku and Ayame's jaws dropped at that and asked if the man was serious. "That happened 80 years ago! How is it you still look this young?!" Ayame exclaimed with her eyes swirling. "You know, it is easier to explain when I can finish my story without interruptions."

The two blush and cough before taking a seat. Izuku asks the man if he can continue. "Anyway, it was around that time the MLA was really getting started. Destro's words inspired enough of the dumb animals that they were up for attacking any government organization hoping to protect the peace and people. And we were a major target."

He described the proclamation of making more generations of "oppressors" at Butei High and that they should all be killed to make way for the true masters of the world. "We had expected it, but it was still a heavy blow when they attacked. We lost so many good people and students that day."

"I remember the teachers noting there were hundreds of students and a number of full-time professionals at the school. How many were there and how many attacked you all?" Izuku queried while considering the scope of the attack.

"There were about 500 of us Butei if you counted the students. Of that, a little under half were adults like myself. And they hit us with 3,000 quirk users at the time." The scope of the attack shocked the teens and the weren't surprised the school fell. But the man surprised them by saying, "who said we lost?" His smirk conveyed there was more to the story and they waited for him to continue.

He explained that they had been anticipating the attack and with the various technology and some of the skills of SSR, they were able to do some major damage right away and cut their forces down. "Didn't stop them though. They still rushed us. Using the handful of mutant types that broke down the barriers we had put up. And even with the firepower we put out, it didn't stop them."

The villains continued to attack and take more lives as the battle raged. Until Destro and his lieutenants took to the field. "The bastard was pissed that this wasn't an easy fight like he assumed. That we'd just fold to the monsters that they all had become. So he started up his quirk to attack." Earp said before asking if one of the kids could bring him some water.

After drinking, he continued the story. "His quirk was linked to his anger. Causing him to transform into the true monster he always was. He bulked up and charged in himself and started killing whoever was in arms length. Still got shot a lot though."

Earp frowned while remembering the sight and sounds. How he seemed to enjoy killing the students he viewed as "oppressing" them. When in truth he was just giving in to the monster he was infected with. Same as all of those who followed him. And it fell to William to try and take the animal down.

"I'd already disabled or killed a number of quirk users in protecting our weapon stores. But after I heard the screams of a few, I left my post to intercept. And saw the beast looking like Cu Culhain in a warp spasm state. Holding a few he had killed and laughing at their weakness."

Izuku and Ayame gripped their fists and grew angry frowns upon hearing that. Remembering it was the same thing many had told them over the years. "So, how did you stop him?" Ayame said while wiping some angry tears from her eyes.

William looked to his right hand before sighing and saying it was a hard fight. "He was about to go after some others who were protecting others. When I pulled my guns and started blasting away. My rounds did a bit more since they were heavier caliber, but it wasn't quite enough," he said while flashing back to that day.

(Flashback)

Earp quickly drew his pistols and unloaded his .357 round into Destro. Causing the man to bleed in a few places. "You devolved animal!" Destro roared before charging the gunman. "Who's the animal here! The one attacking students and teachers!? Or the one's protecting their charges and friends?!" William sparred back while sliding under the villain's charge.

He quickly reloaded his guns and kept firing at the monstrous man and evading his attacks. But when Destro shrunk down a bit, Earp took his chance to engage up close and brutalize how he could with gun kata. Though this ended up being counterproductive.

As it fueled Destro's anger, and he grew larger than before. And Earp was swatted away and into a wall. The monster tried to attack and finish him, but the American wouldn't go down easily. Quickly taking some shots at his foe's face. And damaging one of his eyes.

While Destro recoiled in pain from that, Earp removed himself from the wall. 'Crap. Think he might have broken a few things. But I can't stop,' he thought before taking a few shots. And noticing that certain areas hit did more to the man.

"You really think these are the next step? When you now have more obvious sensitive areas!" he shouted before blasting the sensitive joints and even the groin of his foe. Making Destro collapse even as his anger made him grow more.

But a problem soon came when a few students arrived to help. The villain saw his chance and attacked the children when he had recovered slightly. William saw this and leapt in front of his students. Taking another powerful strike from Destro that launched him into the wall.

Before he could recover, he struck Earp again and again. Before picking up the man in his enlarged hand. Squeezing to break his bones. Primarily, finishing in breaking Earp's back. The gunman let out a cry of pain as his back and right arm were crushed. But that wasn't enough to stop him.

"You should all just die! We and our quirks are the next stage and step! We will cull the weakness that is the quirkless!" Destro roared while holding up Earp. "What makes you think I'm done fighting? And what makes you assume you've won?" William choked out while moving his left gun up a bit.

The villain laughed cruelly before saying, "it wouldn't matter if you did get that gun up. You're out of bullets. While my quirk is still running strong. That's why we're the betters." William wasn't going down, but he smirked. "It shows how stupid you and those who think powers are the absolute are. You didn't even notice an important factor."

As he brought the Queen of Clubs up, he flipped a special switch on the side. "This gun has two barrels." Earp said as the mechanisms shifted. Destro's eyes widened as William pulled the trigger to fire the bullet in special .44 magnum barrel of the gun. One that impacted on the villain's head. And turned it into red mist.

(Flashback end)

"So that's some of how I wound up like this." The teens' eyes were wide after the tale of his fight with the first leader of the MLA. Izuku shook out of his stupor first and said, "okay… that does explain some of the injury. But not how you're still alive."

Earp rolled his eyes and said he was getting to that. "After the attack a number of us were called back home or went into hiding while society was trying to rebuild. I uh…. I honestly assumed I was going to have to live out my life as a vegetable after what happened. But there were others who had different plans."

Apparently, the remnants of the US government, Armed Detective organizations, and military agreed he was too valuable of an asset to lose. "So they used a very dangerous surgery on me to repair and replace my broken spine. As well as making sure I'd be able to fight back more when needed."

"How? What could have given you these regenerative powers?" Ayame asked in stunned amazement. "Irokane, or Colored Metals. It's also known as the Metals of the Gods. The USA had found a few pieces of it after a time, as well as making their own variation of it." Earp said while remembering the surgery.

They had to cut his back and arm open to insert a few pieces of the various metals to allow him to get any capability to move again. "As you can tell, it worked. But with a lot of side effects. Least of which is my aging has been slowed to a crawl. And apparently thanks to it, I have other capabilities. Not that I've taken the time to learn them."

"Why not?" Izuku asked with some confusion. William looked at the boy with some annoyance. But finally relented by saying, "it's because it's a cheat. I didn't earn this; I didn't exactly ask for all of this. But I'm stuck with it. And I refuse to be controlled or let it consume me like all of those with quirks."

He grunted a bit as some of the pain in his back started acting up. Ayame then went to find Romano to check on the man. "Just suppose you were to use the powers. Any ideas on what you could do?" Izuku asked, both fascinated and worried for his mentor.

Who growled before listing off the few Irokane that had been implanted in his back. Namely a Reverse Irokane that the USA had developed. And was capable of negating the powers of supernatural beings. A lapis-colored metal that could give him an omnipresent sight on a battlefield. And lazurite metal that would let him teleport long distances if used.

"I also have a bit of the Scarlet metal in my back. It's got a few known powers since a possible family member of yours used to have it." Izuku stopped at that and asked what he meant. Earp said the story could wait till a little later. "Right now, I think I need some more help," he said while gripping the sides of his bed in pain. Romano returned and told the students to leave. "I'll take care of my teacher. You have classes to worry about."

Izuku wanted to know more, but Ayame grabbed his arm. "He's not in a condition to talk right now. Let it be Izuku." Ayame said. Her tone firm as was the look on her face. He sighed and said they'd have more questions later.

Once they left though, both needed to process what he'd told them. "To think there's items that can do all of that. What else don't we know about the world?" Izuku said while walking back to the dorms. "There could be even more than you know. I've seen some odd things and people in the SSR section." Ayame said while remembering a few students who kept their appearances hidden. And yet she still saw things she only believed were from quirks or fairy tales.

The next day, Earp was back and teaching as usual. Even beating Ayame and Izuku senseless during an Assault training session. "How is it he can go from barely able to move and back to kicking ass in less than a day?" Izuku said while nursing a black eye. The ninja girl groaned that is was probably a perk of the metal in his back.

But this was also the time that Izuku could ask about what he and a few other teachers had been saying about him. "You keep name dropping Holmes and saying I'm his descendent. But I have no idea what you're going on about." Izuku says while catching the man after classes.

Earp thinks about it for a moment before agreeing to explain more to the boy. "So, back in the day you had a relative who was very close to some very powerful people. The lead of whom was Kinji. He was the partner, and later romantic partner, of Aria Holmes Kanzaki. Also known as Holmes the fourth."

He noted that the girl had forced herself into being partners with the Tohyama teen, becoming akin to the Watson for Aria. "Which is why you keep referring to Ayame as that?" Izuku asked with a confused gaze. William shrugs and says, "yeah more or less. Though as much as I'd like to say that is who you are descended from, I'm not 100%."

The gunman explained what he knew of Kanzaki's group that worked to clear her framed mother's name. Team Baskerville. "Among the members, there were some very notable names aside from Holmes. For example, you could be related to that young lady." Earp said before nodding to a young woman with long red hair.

"See she's got an interesting mixed history. Her name's Hasaki Kiruka. But we've come to know her as the latest Lupin. In other words, the latest descendent of Arsene Lupin. Thanks to that family being exposed to so much blue Irokane over the years, it's manifested in what she assumed was just a quirk. One she could barely control. But I showed her she wasn't what she assumed and she could have a different life to lead."

"Okay.. that still doesn't explain how we could be related." Izuku said while wide eyed at the woman before him. Earp noted he was getting to that and it had to do with the fourth Lupin being on Team Baskerville. "And let's just say she was…. Quite the flirt and very open about her sexuality. To the point it honestly wouldn't surprise me if she did do it with Kinji at some time."

Izuku blushed at this and asked if there were more. "Yep. Let's see aside from an actual Watson being falling for him…. Ah yes! There was the lead maiden of Hotogi shrine. From all accounts she was crazy obsessed with him. I don't think you want to know just how far that went. So, you might have the potential of kirojutsu."

The last one mentioned was a descendant of Genghis Khan himself. "She was one of many girl that follow the will of the lapis metal. Helped to give her insane sniping capabilities. Even firing along an animal's spine to temporarily paralyze them." Earp said before noting that Kinji had been kidnapped by the girl as part of a strange marriage custom. But later fell for him normally as they worked as a team.

The teen's face was blue, and he wondered aloud, "so am I going to attract a harem or something?" The man shrugged and said, "who can say kid. But it would work for you in the long run. In the meantime, I think you should get something of a reward for piecing together my secrets. You and Ayame." Earp said he'd be willing to make them some weapons with his Amdo skills.

Izuku hummed for a few minutes before asking if he could make him a pistol. "Similar but different to yours. Namely, it can fire .357 rounds. But I want to be able to shoot ten of them when needed." Earp whistled and noted that the gun would be a tall order. "But I think I can make something. How about you go check with Ayame and see what she wants?"

The young man agreed and ran off. While William looked over to Hasaki again. Remembering how he found her with the greater proof of how evil quirks could be. A villain who believed himself a god because of his power and the ability to change the weather.

But Earp had given the man and most of his team a harsh lesson in hubris. When the fool tried to electrocute him with lightning, the gunman shut it down with the various tools of a Butei. Before rushing him while using the Peacemaker and a few other tools.

Using the portals created to close the gap and get behind the villain. Shoving his Jack of Diamonds knife through the villain's lungs and a few other organs. And when the fool tried to brag himself up again, Earp blew his brains out with his gun.

Then crippling the monstrous villain with him thanks to some gas grenades and using a .44 magnum hollow point round through the monster's chest. That left the other two at his mercy, more or less. And he proved something to the girl who called herself Slice because of her "quirk".

After defeating her mummy ally, she tried to cut him down as well. Only to be shocked when he grabbed her, and she could no longer use her power. Because it wasn't a quirk. But a result of the blue Irokane her family was exposed to, and thus something the reverse Irokane in his back could negate. He knocked her out after that and brought her back NBH to learn more about who she was.

'It took a few years, but she was willing to believe. And stuck around, if only so she could get revenge on the one who killed her friends. But that's fine. Now then,' Earp thought before checking an email he got from some government allies.

They had a job they wanted him to take care of and it involved trouble that could be coming for all of Japan. "Looks like I'm hunting some rats again. Sorry Izuku. That gun might have to wait." William said before heading to leave the school grounds.

There we go. So, I wanted to set up that Izuku could be any number of the descendants of the various girls from the Hidan no Aria series. While Holmes might make the most sense given his analytical mind, he also has some cunning and crazy moments that we've seen. As well as painfully stoic ones in the latest arcs of the show. So, who knows which girl is his ancestor.

As for Hasaki, I just thought it fit for a different reason and could show what else Earp has the potential for. Including killing a few who kind of needed to die. Nine being the best example. And yeah her powers being from Irokane exposure isn't too far off given it is shown by the other Lupin and how mysterious the metals are. Please review!