This is also posted on AO3. As always thank you very much for taking the time to read this.

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Failed Interrogation

To say Hawks was just curious about the lime-haired woman sitting in the room would be a great understatement. She most definitely wasn't the first person to capture his interest, but with the normal lifestyle of the Yakuza in this day and age, meeting one out in the open was difficult. The Koryumiya was the dominant Yakuza family in Kyoto and one of the biggest in Japan. What was she doing here? The Princess of the Koryumiya.

"You won't be able to keep her here, Hawks. As much as you want to."

The young Hero glanced to his left where Hansha stood with his arms crossed. "Because she's the granddaughter right?"

"Yeah. You have the Safety Commission to thank for that. Anyone who is directly related to Ryuhasu can't be kept for more than a few hours. Any other members of the Koryumiya we can keep until their bond is paid."

"Madam President sure does like to make deals when it benefits her. Have anything else on Kitakaze?"

Hansha handed over a folder without looking at him. Hawks took it, a bit disappointed it was so small. There was only one piece of paper with her mugshot in the right corner. She looked a few years younger and her hair was shorter. She was glancing away from the camera like a rebellious teen. The cut on the side of her mouth was fresh. She was twenty now, born on the thirteenth of May. She acted older than she actually was. He skimmed through what little detail there was, stopping at her Quirk.

"Why does it say 'Unknown' for her Quirk?"

"That's the information we were given. It's some sort of air manipulation type but we have no record to cross-check what it actually is. There are no known people, living or dead, with the surname of Kitakaze."

Hawks let out a hum. "Really? A mutation perhaps?"

"If it is, that's a severe case of genetics going haywire. It definitely isn't the first time for something like this yet as far as we know, she doesn't have any abilities of the Ryuhasu."

The Winged Hero went quiet as he handed back to folder to Hansha. He watched Kitakaze Nagisa stare blankly at the one-way window well she swirled the now-empty cup just above her palm in a little tornado. The two police officers were still railing on her, trying so desperately to get anything from her. She didn't even flinch when the big lady officer slammed her fist on the table and made a huge dent in the metal.

"You're really testing our patience," she stated angrily as she grabbed Kitakaze by the collar with her other hand. The mini tornado stopped and the cup fell to the floor. "Think if we rough her up a bit she'll talk?"

"As long as we don't kill her, it should be fine."

"Is that really any way an officer of the law should be talking?"

Her two interrogators looked like they had just been slapped. The woman let her go, being a bit rough as she shoved Kitakaze back against the chair. She straightened herself up, tearing her eyes away from the window to glare daggers between the two.

"You want the full truth even though there's nothing you'll be able to do?"

The two officers looked at each other, unsure of how to reply.

"The man that I killed, Hisaguchi Tachi, was a defector. He was running a trafficking ring by giving drugs to teens and children, some of them eventually forced into toys for the highest bidder."

Even though she spoke calmly, Hawks noticed her eyes grew darker like an incoming thunderstorm.

"The Koryumiya never deal with human trafficking. So I and my two accomplices did you a favor."

The police officers really wanted to do something yet they couldn't bring themselves to. Maybe they knew their job would be on the line or they could potentially start an unwanted war with Ryuhasu Tatsumu. Hansha let out an airy chuckle.

"That is the truth. Each person who was dead at the warehouse were former criminals. From petty thieves to murderers."

Hawks shrugged. "What she did was still illegal. Well, according to the Heroes anyway. I'm sure my superiors would welcome her with open arms."

"It would make their job easier wouldn't it? Anyway, I should let those two know they have to let her go. She might end up killing them."

Hansha left with a heavy sigh. He left the room, leaving Hawks alone to contemplate. If she was let go, she'd go right back into the gutters. He couldn't let that happen. Not when he has questions for her.

"What?! That's bullshit!"

Hawks watched as the young Yakuza stood, ignoring the pissed-off shouting from the two officers. Hansha was trying to de-escalate the yelling with his arms raised and standing in front of the door as Kitakaze left. The detective went after her to escort her safely outside. Hawks left as well, going through one of the back doors and flew up to the roof near the front entrance. He perched on the edge and waited.

"If you want your two men, you'll have to pay for their bond," Hawks heard Hansha tell the woman when they reached outside. He was stopped on the top step while she continued down. "They'll be interrogated too but I can't guarantee they'll have an easy time like you."

"I know"

"Your weapon will also stay confiscated at the station and won't be getting it back."

The woman didn't say anything more and Hansha took that as his cue to leave. Hawks was expecting her to start walking away but she didn't. He watched as her shoulders rose then dropped when she sighed. He didn't realize until now how tired she looked in the natural light of the morning sun. Was it a drawback of her Quirk? She didn't show any signs of weakness while being questioned.

When she started to head toward the crosswalk, he finally called out to her. "How'd someone like you end up as a Villain?"

The lime-haired woman halted but didn't face him right away. She took a couple of seconds before she looked at him over her shoulder, her indigo gaze still cold. "I was born into it and didn't have much of a choice."

"That's just a cowardly answer don't you think?" He hopped off the building roof and floated down in front of her. He noticed she was shorter than him by a few inches. "You didn't act like a Villain when you saved your men back there."

"They're my subordinates and my responsibility. I'm not entirely heartless."

Hawks cocked his head to the right. "Unless you have to deal with defectors right?"

"What I did and have done was to protect your precious society from the dregs living in the gutters. I don't see how different it is from what you Heroes claim to do." She turned away from him, shoving her hands in her pockets. "I suggest you keep your nose out of the darker side of society. Wouldn't want your pretty wings stained."

'Oh if you only knew.'

He just watched her with his chin resting on his knuckles. Then a question popped into his head. "Have you ever thought about being a Hero?"

She stopped dead. The stillness that fell over the two was deafening for a brief moment before the ambiance of everyday life broke it. She turned to face him, locking her eyes with him. He saw a pained flash in her dark gaze, a silent plea for help. It flickered like a dying star as her eyes went back to a cold and harsh stare.

"I...can't," she finally replied in a soft voice. "I've been in the shadows for far too long. Even if I tried, I'd be hunted down and killed. It's best to just leave things as they are."

"Then why'd you save your men?"

She opened to mouth to speak but quickly closed it and looked down. Her brows furrowed. Hawks studied her while she tried to think of an answer. Her pulled-back hair swayed with the breeze and the strands not tied back framed her face. The best way to describe her features were like a cat mixed with some sort of fairy.

"I don't know," Kitakaze spoke, keeping her head down. "It just happened."

There it was. Hawks knew exactly what he needed to do. It'll most likely piss off a lot of people but if he doesn't act quickly, she'll be gone forever.

"I'll give you a week. Meet me in Ohori Park with your answer."

He took to the skies before he could hear her complain.

/ᐠ - ˕ -マ

Ryuhasu Tatsumu sat on the veranda of his home with a steaming cup of tea and a small plate of freshly made mitarashi dango next to him. Clouds had rolled in and the Kyoto morning was quite chilly. He hadn't heard any news of his granddaughter yet he wasn't worried. His only concern at the moment was his son. During the meeting with the Shie Hassaikai yesterday, Ryuma kept questioning the young leader's every word. Maybe it was time for Tatsumu to make his decision.

He took a sip from his tea just as he heard a low hum to his left. There was a sudden flash and a man appeared kneeling. His blond hair glowed softly against the dull light of the morning.

"I have news from Kyushu," he told his superior as he raised his head. His eyes were pure white. "Nagisa-sama completed her mission. Unfortunately, she and her two subordinates were taken into custody after surrendering to the Number Three Hero."

"She'll know what to do. Is Ushimura still living in Fukuoka, Eidolon?"

"He is."

"Contact him. Let him know Nagisa is there."

"Is it time?"

The Koryumiya leader nodded.

"Understood."

Another low hum and a flash and he was gone. Eidolon was Tatsumu's personal attendant and has been for decades. Well before he had taken over the Koryumiya from his father. His teleportation Quirk was immensely helpful with relaying messages across the country and keeping tabs on other members or other Yakuza families. He was one of the very few that Tatsumu fully trusted. The other was Ushimura even though he wasn't a member of the Koryumiya anymore. Nagisa was going to be the last he could fully trust.

He finished the tea and dango, allowing one of the maids to take the dishes away. His attention was captured by the sound of distant thunder and he looked up. The dark clouds writhed slowly like several serpents tangling themselves. He stood with his hands in the yukata sleeves and took a stroll through the garden.

He paused on the larger bridge over the koi pond, taking a moment to gaze into the waters. The colorful fish gracefully swam among the stems of the water lilies without a care in the world. In his old age, Tatsumu finds himself appreciating the smaller things and taking his time through the day. He finished crossing the bridge and made his way to the greenhouse where he could see several balls of light flittering around like fireflies. He stopped in the doorway, glancing around at the flowering shrubs and plants inside.

Sitting on a stool in front of a flower bed was his wife, Hinowa. If he was being honest with himself, she was a much stronger person than him. She kept him stable and even when his father didn't agree with him wanting her as his wife, she never backed down. Her light manipulation Quirk wasn't powerful, but that was never a problem for him. Her intelligence and sharp tongue was the reason he married her.

While she may not show it, Hinowa was greatly disappointed in their son. When Ryuma first brought his, at the time, nameless daughter and left her in Hinowa's care, she wanted nothing to do with her. Ryuma and his wife continuously refused to care for the helpless baby, moving to Nagoya with his closest followers to avoid all responsibility. He still acted like he was important within the family. Since then, Tatsumu's trust in their own son began to dwindle. The years went by and Hinowa's love for their granddaughter grew. She gave her the name "Nagisa" which meant serenity blossom.

"What are you thinking about?"

Even without looking at him, she knew something was bothering him. She stood up with freshly cut flowers in her arms and the pale spheres of light around her disappeared. Her rosewood eyes studied her husband's face. His expression gave her the answer.

"You've made up your mind, haven't you? About stepping down."

"I have. And that means both of us will have to move."

A faint smile spread across her face and she placed a hand on his arm. "Warmer weather does sound nice."

"I'll have Eidolon set everything up in Okinawa safehouse once he returns from Fukuoka." He grabbed her hand, ignoring the dirt on her skin, and placed a kiss on the back of it. "And Nagisa will be notified soon."

"Do you think she'll agree with your decision?"

Tatsumu stared at his wife's hand in his for a few moments before meeting her gaze. "She won't have a choice."

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