Shigaraki, no, Tenko remained still in the bed; he was still breathing, but...
"Fuck... what have you done to him, Problem child?"
"I just chanted the Holy names of God; it's Shigaraki who went through the whole 'If I can't have him' phase and broke him," Izuku explained as he gently carded his fingers through the unresponsive Villain's hair. "I... I managed to save him, but..."
"It's alright, Midoriya... don't expect to save them all."
"I know, Sensei. I'm just a tiny, insignificant soul with imperfect senses; the best I can do for him was... well, this and the rest is up to Krishna." Izuku spoke with a sigh. "But... I guess you guys want to hear what happened to me for the last two years, right?"
"Please," Nedzu asked as he turned toward a very silent Hawks. "And I'm sure Hawks is here to take your statement."
Izuku let out a heavy sigh as his shoulders sagged. Seemingly unmindful of Aizawa's tightening grip. "Yeah, cuz me and Dabi kinda sorta killed Blackout, a False hero turned villain that should have been sent to Tartarus because he would kill indiscriminately, but because he had such a strong quirk and an overall forgettable appearance, the Commission repurposed him to be an assassin... They won't be happy to lose this pawn."
...
"Problem Child-"
"And can you please stop calling me a Problem Child? I was abused back at Aldera, and that's the name they would use when Deku (useless) was deemed too inappropriate." Izuku mildly snapped, before letting out a huff. " Also, please excuse my sass; I've had a whole lot to deal with these last few days, and... I don't want to be there."
"Yes, so there is another world," Nedzu interjected.
"Yeah... let's call it the 'real world.' It's basically an alternate reality in which no quirks came to be... but there are some pretty powerful beings that rule over the world. I'll tell you all in more detail but... yeah, so, Blackout had been sent to kill Tenko, Hawks, Yagi-san and you, Sensei." Izuku explained with a very sombre look. " Endeavor-san, me, Dabi and Shoto were just in the way... I couldn't let that happen."
"So you killed him?"
Izuku shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? Try to talk him out of it?" He shook his head. "Listen, you were all already dying at that point. And in the real world, people like him deserve death..."
...
"You've grown ruthless." Hawks piped up disapprovingly.
"Oh, you're one to talk." the returned youth sassed as he rubbed the back of his head. "Still, I wished I would have more time to study his quirk; I mean, how does it even work? Does it sound based? Pressure based? Or just some plain old ESP? Can he control it..." Then he bit his tongue, and Aizawa sobbed.
The boy's mumbling about quirks was the best ID they could ask for.
"A-Anyway. It was either one known killer with an unknown number of victims against four Pro-heroes and a teen. The choice was clear."
"You've changed," Shouto spoke up with a frown. "You're not stuttering and... you're not apologizing or bending over for others. You're confident despite how stressed out you are... but you're also... umm."
Izuku gave an easy shrug. "Listen, I'm not an Atheist anymore. God put me there for a reason, just like how God arranged for me to have a special heart. No matter what happens, I'm safe." Then he frowned as he turned his gaze to Shigaraki. "But... I'm still worried about him... and Dabi. And to be honest." He lightly scratched his ear. "To be honest, I would rather be back home, away from all this drama but... Ah, not much I can do..." He let his shoulders sag. "Anyway. I'm sure you all want to hear what the hell happened to me, Dabi, and Tenko-kun, don't you?"
At this, Aizawa sighed, feeling a headache coming. "And-"
"D... Yamada-san too." Izuku added with a blush.
"You mean your dad." Shoto deadpanned.
"Yeeeah... Actually, the first part will be by him since, you know, heart failure and some time in a coma and stuff." The greenette mumbled. "So... let's start! It's ah...pretty long already and... just... ask me a question when you feel them, otherwise, you may forget them when I'm done."
"Should we get All Might for this?" Hawk innocently asked.
"No," Izuku spoke without a stutter, leaving no room for extra banter as he began his narration.
~0~
flash back tiiiiiiiime~
The whole trip through the door took a moment, and the next thing the screamer knew, they were in the parking lot of a recently built hospital in Russia.
"Wait... Russia!?"
"Holy fuck, were in Chernobyl," Hizashi whispered in pure horror as he recognized the only word in the whole display... Yes, this and the word hospital was the only thing that made sense on the sign.
"Chernobyl!" Aizawa exclaimed, his face turning paler than a piece of bleached bone.
"Yep! That's where we live. It's a super nice place right now, the winter's a bit cold, but there's so much snow to play with, and we didn't stay long since we went to Mayapur in mid-November."
"Ah, I see." Nedzu nodded. "Hmm, I may visit there too. Now, please proceed."
"Yes, sir."
the witch descended to the emergency entrance, where a group of people and a gurney were waiting.
'It was all planned.' The loud blonde thought with dread as the magical trans gently dropped him to the ground close to it.
They landed close to it and deposited Izuku's dirty, grayish, and unmoving body onto the pristine cotton cover of the gurney. "His heart failed - torn. He doesn't have very long. I already told Doc Moo." he spoke as he removed his heavy cape, giving it to a young girl dressed as a witch, revealing what was left of a pair of mechanical shoulders and wires tightly wrapped around bones. "He's severely dehydrated, malnourished, and he's on the verge of losing his toes and a few fingers: gangrene. His veins have collapsed. His ribs are broken and will need to be repaired during the surgery. Blunt force trauma to the head will also need to be addressed."
"Got it, prince." said one mutant man as he rapidly rolled Izuku in the reception bay.
The receptionist, as the blond likes to call them, was already busy dismantling the filthy hero costumes, using emergency shears and safety saws. Meanwhile, the other paramedics were intubing the teen, and once one of his arms was free, managed to put an IV line in.
This gave Hazashi plenty of opportunity to see the state of Izuku's arms and fingers... hell his entire body is riddled with more scars than a high schooler should bear.
And he was frightfully thin... thinner than anyone alive should be.
There are numerous starburst burns that are upsettingly familiar. Cuts, deep gouges... were those stab wounds? They seemed to have been made by nails.
Already, Present Mic's spidey senses are tingling... 'Little Listener... he was abused.'
And he knew why... after one year.
But this was but the tip of the iceberg, for over his old abuses were the newer wounds... or what remains of them.
and his fingers... some of them were barely hanging on.
"Oh God..." Aizawa seinsei whispered, his face paler than Tenko's hair.
And the stench... Thankfully, Hizashi was not stink-sensitive. But, Hoo wee! The kid needed around five baths to stop stinking like a corpse.
"Alright, fluids are in, the pulse is still faint, heart is fluttering, but that's waning; as Magus Zero told us, his heart did not take the love fluid.-
"Wait, what?"
"Love fluid. it's basically how healing powers present themselves. And... Well, when you heal someone you're basically pouring your love you have in them... listen, I didn't write the book, just studied it. it helps with mending body parts and with chronic pain, still had to heal naturally, tough."
-and he's still not breathing." One of the orderlies barked, looking at Magus Zero... no, Jatayu.
"It's fine, we were expecting this. Make sure you prep him for surgery; he has to be as clean as possible and make it quick. Moo and Chandra hate to wait... same as Bhadra."
"Yes, Prince. I've also mended his skull..."
"Yes, I've noticed... and I've seen the stone that had been thrown." Jatayu's voice was glacial and perfectly illustrated what Hizashi felt. "I will bring his Guardian to the long-term waiting room." The... Prince spoke as he gently took Hizashi's wrist and firmly pulled him away from Izuku. Letting the paramedics finish up their prep work.
"Thank you, Guru Das." Prince inclined his head as he moved out of the way, letting the paramedics and ER nurse quickly wheel Izuku away. The Voice Hero made to follow the wounded hero when Jatayu's bony hand prevented him.
"Come... the surgery will last more than nine hours, maybe even twelve, we have a place for you."
"Wait, NO!" Hizashi struggled against the... inhuman being's pull. "I won't follow you until you tell me what's going on, why did you bring us to Chernobyl and what the fuck are you planning to do with Midoriya."
Jatayu looked at the other blonde; it was only then that Hizashi noticed how his eyes... no, his entire face was fake.
He was missing his left eye; the yellow/blue eye was just a projection floating in a voided socket... "What the hell?" he whispered. "Are you a..."
"I am a spirit soul in a robotic body. And I will tell you everything; I would rather you follow me without blowing people's ears off; it is a hospital, after all."
~0~
"So... who's Jatayu?" Shoto asked, his eyes alternating between the still unresponsive Tenko and Dabi's head. "Also... why-"
"I needed a friend, and our Op troll thought your brother would fill this role perfectly." Izuku piped up as he watched the chaos unfold. After a while (and a general sense of pride flowing from Nedzu's form) the Magical greenette resumed his second-hand narration of his heart transplant.
Knowing that, eventually, he would have to talk about how Endeavor, despite his desire to change, had no business around his Familiar and best friend.
~0~
Without much of a choice, the voice Hero followed the reploid to another part of the hospital. In a small room with a window, a TV, a computer, a couch, and a bed. There was a bookshelf filled with enough literature to make him last a few hours, and there was a warm mini-fridge filled with food.
Hizashi stared dubiously at the pierogies and samosas.
"You don't need to worry; those can't go bad, and none are poisoned."
"I don't know if I can trust someone who won't show himself," Hizashi spoke with an air of nonchalance, waiting to see the robot's reaction. "Sending in a computerized puppet to kidnap a hero who just so happens to have a heart attack-"
"We were forewarned. And I am not a puppet." Jatayu answered.
"What are you then? A reploid?" Hizashi asked mockingly, only to have his spite thrown back at him as Jatayu's peculiar look registered.
"Not quite, but my spouse is the father of all of them," Jatayu explained as he sat in the seat in front of Hizashi. " You know the Mega Man Games, don't you? The X series?"
"Holy crap," Aizawa whispered as he covered his mouth. Keeping it shut to prevent spoilers.
'Small talk, huh?' He could work with that. "yeah, but I'm more into the Zero and ZX series, better story and soundtrack." he spoke as he leaned back. "And Zero's. Come on, this guy's the Hero we need. He's what we should all aim to be." Yes, so he was a Zero Simp. But the guy was a massive inspiration for the Voice Hero. Hell, that was the reason why he'd dyed his hair golden blond!
"Oh, thank you. But I'm no Hero." Jatayu Bashfully deflected. "I just do what is right... and destroy mavericks, nothing more."
Hizashi Barked in laughter. " Hah! Right, and I'm Midoriya's father."
Jatayu raised a Brow. "Oh? That's wonderful. After the hell he's been through, I'm sure Midoriya will appreciate having a family member by his side." The robot gave a kind smile... and got up. "Now, if you excuse me..." And with that, Jatayu got to his feet and... stripped in front of the flustered man.
Yes, Hizashi had a spouse, and he was very happy to be with him and to share his life as the most amazing man in the world, but...
Well, his first boy crush, his revelation had been Zero and Omega Zero. And Jatayu looked like the famed reploid. A character in an ancient video game.
A hero.
Jatayu removed his hat and the robe, and Hizashi's breath hitched.
Those skeletal arms were... Jatayu's shoulder was a mess of wires wrapped around all too realistic bones. Embedded in his chest was a glowing red eye-like... thing. And it was clear that the speedo was not made of cloth and was probably not removable. There was a pair of holsters on the side of his hips that moved as if the catsuit he wore was part of his flesh, but what really closed the deal was his boots.
The red, metallic boots he had agonized so long to make perfect. The boots were one size too small and gave him a broken toe during the memorable otaku sakura viewing. Hell, the X he had been shipped with ended up being a huge winner...
he'd even married the man!
"You're... DNW-∞-0000."
"Who?" Hawk asked for everyone who never touched an ancient game in their life.
"Mega Man Zero, the coolest guy around and the giver of unlimited puns." Izuku chuckled.
"But Zero doesn't have skeletal arms, and he sure as hell ain't the type to pull jokes on people. That's illogical."
"Sensei, have you ever heard of character development?" Izuku asked with a tilt of his head. "Listen, that's a whole other topic; I'll tell you why Zero's a Warlock with Monster arms later... and a Hare Krishna."
Nedzu hummed as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe if we let Midoriya-san speak without interruption, then we may learn more about those anomalies." The mammal turned a smile to Izuku, who gratefully returned it.
An ally indeed.
"Yes... and no." Zero Shockingly denied. "That's just my body; my name is Jatayu Das Adhikari, servant of the servant of God is my true identity... same as everyone, to be honest." The reploid (OMG, an actual Reploid! Holy crapamoly, this was huge!) was denied with a smile. (Zero was smiling; either the world had ended, or this was the golden ending Inafune wanted but never got to make.) "But recently, I've gained the title of Grand Magus from the witching community in Nova Scotia and... What happened today is the result of that."
Right! Back on topic, then. And Hisachi could recognize a redirection and cool-down tactic when he saw one.
"Right-o. So, speak. What's this funky business all about? Why did you kidnap me and the little listener? How did you know his heart was off-beat then dead-beat, and why are we in Chernobyl." He asked as he shamelessly mansplayed. One way to say that he wasn't about to attack yet to show that this side of the room was in.
Zero, now dressed in awfully loud pants and a Graphic T-shirt with a blue and yellow circle with some Indian writing inside... It almost made Hizashi miss Izuku's infamous T-shirt. Sat down on his own couch with legs elegantly crossed.
oof, what a power move.
Zero smiled as he sat down and pulled a pizza box and a massive glass of juice out of… well, Hizashi would say nowhere but… it must've come from Jatayu, right?. "Would you rather eat first?"
"No, I want answers, Zero. Snacks will come after I know little Listener's safe and alive."
"Fair enough." Zero inclined his head. "Now, for your first question, I believe you would need some explanations about your current situation... Location wise."
"Go on."
"Have you heard of the ancient Senin living in personal dimensions in Cracks and objects? And do you know what date it is today?" The blond robot asked as he folded his skeletal hands together, his knees folded elegantly. His movement screamed queer energy so hard, Hizashi was surprised the Rainbow didn't surround Zero.
'... no wonder I had a major crush on him." But then, Zero had also been his revelation.
What a hot piece of Metal Ass.
Aizawa-sensei face-palmed with a groan.
"I know. His words, not mine."
But back to the topic.
"Jack-shit, my man. The only thing I know is Japan, my radio station, and how everything went to hell." He spoke as he leaned back and made himself comfortable.
Zero vented out of his nose, massaging it as he collected his thoughts. "Alright... let us begin then.
~0~
An hour later... and Hizashi now knew how Neo felt when Morpheus revealed the truth of the Matrix and how everything was one big lie.
All of those who were conscious and not Izuku also knew what this felt like. Thankfully, Shoto made sure his Father knew that everything was fine and that none of his classmates would interrupt since... well...
After a year of more or less normal interaction with normal people who got him, returning to the chaos that was class A-1...
He... was not ready to face them yet, not before having Eka set up another light screen for his own protection.
"So... let me get this straight." He began as he clung to a lavender-scented pillow for comfort, facing an identity and everything crisis. "The Japan I know isn't real... well, it's real, but not, like a sound stage. The real one's not a pile a half-decayed rubble. Quirks don't exist, and those who have special powers are youkai, Gensokyens, Yogis, witches, demons, demi-gods and monsters, and we're in... I'm like... two hundred years in the past."
"Yes."
"And I'm in Chernobyl..."
"We call it Neo-Varsana. The serving Queen is my Adopted mother, Uttara Devi Dasi." Zero elaborated a bit. "She's incidentally the empress of the world and the main pacemaker."
"Uttara is Reiuji Utsuho. Her quirk would be Nuclear Fusion... She can also make stars, decay nuclear waste, and she's the best oncologist in the world with a ninety percent success rate."
Oh, this was something Hizashi could relate to. "Like a number one hero?"
"No, a nuclear bomb with feelings about things." Zero revealed with an indulgent smile. "In other news, she's the reason why no one can use a nuclear weapon; she likes the taste and the challenge."
"Oh... wait, what?"
"She ate the tsar bomba and asked the world to send more... Needless to say, the predicted nuclear holocaust did not happen... and all the warring nations calmed down enough so that she sat with them and told them what she expected to happen and they simply nodded."
"Yeah, OK... So, no quirks, but those with ridiculous power still lord over the small one." Hizashi (Author note; curse my dyslexia, it's Hizashi, not Hisashi) gave a forced smile. " Same shit, different arse, am I right."
Zero leered at the D-J. Definitely not amused by his crassness. "No, Mother took over the planet to prevent any more nonsense about wars, shitty trade deals, uncontrollable pandemic, and slaughter and did this because hell was once again overburdened! She's the stick of the God of death, and she doesn't care for petty politics; she wants the world and her citizens to live a better life then the crap they had, but for this, she had to give those fucking rascals a small taste of hell. The world's now in a better place; most wars are over, and those that remain are warred outside of city walls and villages; she's the law in these lands, and her own laws are dictated by the God of death himself. Believe me, Yamada, fucking her subjects over's the last thing she wanted to do; she's a woman of God, a pious ruler. Real pious rulers don't fuck around; they perform their God-given duty and take what is necessary, and give back more. you have no idea how much my mom gave to the world." Zero finished with a hiss, leaning forward toward the Sound hero.
He looked about this close to go Feral on him.
Hizashi raised his hands, trying to pacify the god of destruction. "Alright, Alright... I give... I'm sorry I ever spoke bad about Joe Mama." No, Hizashi could not help but have the last word, even if it was a pun.
He was expecting to regret it... when Zero paused... and began to snicker.
It was the dumbest laughter the human had the chance to hear... and it came from his childhood hero and role model.
Speaking of which.
"So... mind telling me why the legendary red hero's dressed up like a witch, has skeleton arms and the eye of Sauron smack dab in his chest and… one funky eyeball?" He asked he would get over the first shock when Izuku would be out of the surgery and take his first meal with a smile (now if that wasn't a tall order)
'Yes, I did get a meal in... not that it did much since, you know. I don't need to eat anymore."
"Oh, really?" Aizawa spoke up, raising a challenge. "So where do you get all your energy, kid?"
"Magic."
Zero smiled as he looked at his hands, the same smile Shouta and Nemuri would hold when remembering Oboro.
"You know how my... life ends, do you?"
"Blasted to bits in the stratosphere after you sacrificed your life to destroy Weil and Ragnarok." What her- "Hey, wait a minute." Hizashi sat straighter in his chair; gone was his goofy smile and attitude; he was all business. " The X and Zero series span over two centuries, yet were still in the Mega Man era and..."
"That's a Hermitage... It's like a book or a game. Time means almost nothing there. Just like how in your hermitage, it's already a hundred years in the 'future'."
"Ok, this time, things is really starting to get to me." the DJ spoke as he began to massage his head; he was feeling a start of a booze-free headache.
"We have some Acetaminophen and some home remedies for headaches and migraines." Zero proposed. "But... to make a long story short, all that had happened in those games are true for those who were held hostage there... and for me." A haunted look managed to pass by the reploids face. "It was on repeat... Don't ask me how many times, I stopped counting after a hundred times."
Hizashi let out a low whistle while Zero snapped his Phalanges.
"Now... I was pulled out from this hell by Madam Yakumo Yukari 3 years ago."
"Wait... you don't mean."
"Yes. The Gap hag with a fetish for trains... not that she's into trains anyway." Zero muttered, a slight cringe twisting his features. " She also pulled Omega out of this place."
"Like, Omega Zero?" Hizashi asked as he felt his own danger sense blare to life.
Zero nodded with a soft smile that glowed with pride. "The one and only."
"Alright... So how come the place is still standing?"
"Oh, that's simple; Yukari and Flandre sealed his power with the pinkest, frilliest ribbon in existence." Zero explained as he sat back in his seat. "He's the one performing the Surgery on Izuku as we speak. He's one of the best in his field, and many came and went through his hands. Now... To make a long story short, despite the time it would take for my Brother to save him, I and Omega got out; we met the Vaishnava Devotees of God and other fellows who were stuck in a hermitage of their own. I ended up getting close to one... one who was dying at the time." He raised his right arm. " His name was Sanatan Das Babaji; he used to be known as Sans Skeleton...This was his last gift before he departed."
"Huh... And... what's up with the whole Magus thing?" Hizashi asked, unsure how to feel about having Undertale monsters running around the place and his favorite one dead.
"Ah, now this is relevant." Zero gave a smile that was a mix of joy and business. "When a human turns themselves into Magi, witches, and wizards, they make a... death wish, something that has to happen or for them to do if they want to leave... to die and move on to another body. But since none of them wants to die, all have chosen needlessly complicated or absurdly precise requirements for their passing."
"I see." Not really, but at this point in time, Hizashi had nothing better to do.
" One year ago, one of my dear friends was called to attend Walpurgisnacht, but since she gave up being a witch, she sent me there in her stead... needless to say, I was quickly outed as a Shikaisen, a sort of Lytch. Something western Magi absolutely abhor."
"uh-huh, go on," Hizashi asked as he cracked his water bottle open, unwilling to drink from the open-mouthed jug.
Zero didn't seem to mind, telling the Pro-Hero that he would desire any soft drink, juice or anything else that was contained in a sealed container; he just needed to ask by pressing a button.
"Now, seeing me as something lower and no better than a slave, they put me in the kitchen and told me to make a feast for them."
"Let me guess, you didn't," Hizashi smirked.
"I did." The replo- Robot Master gave a bright smile, catching Hizashi by surprise.
Well, it seemed that his awkward Otaku Crush just got back to his feet again.
"I love cooking, and I love cooking for my little Giriraja... a Form of God."
"You believe in God?!" Hizashi exclaimed as he struggled to clear his airway.
"Oh, I do more than merely believe in Him, I actively serve Him and his servant." The crazy believer waved it off. "But I'd rather not get on another tangent."
"You're awfully talkative now."
"I have reasons to talk... and I'm on official business."
"Right, right... proceed!" The DJ made a grand gesture as he slumped back in his chair.
"Right... Now, Walspurgis was one of the oldest witches around. She was so old, she had lost her will to live."
' Sounds kind of like Shou... I hope he's alright.'
"Oh, Zashi..."
"Walpurgisnacht was her birth celebration, and the Nova-Scotia's settlement attempts to give her back her reason to live and lead them. Or to make her move on." Zero explained, once again, elegantly holding one of his knees. " Now, this time, she actually bothered with the feast. But, being so old, she had lost her taste for food, mundane or otherwise." Zero Narrated. " Imagine their collective surprise when the grand witch ate, let alone smiled and enjoyed the food I, a Shikaisen worshipping a Cow Herding skirt chaser, had cooked."
This last statement caught Hizashi by surprise. " Wow, wow, wait a little minute there Joe... Can you explain the last statement for our listeners around the world?"
"I can...," The... Zero smirked as a glint entered his eyes. " Now... obviously, I'm more than a mere machine. This body I'm in 'snot the one I was born in... and don't ask me about that one, I forgot it, again. But anyway, Walpugris passed away after making me the new leader, the Grand Magus. I decided to tape my dead name at the end… you know, rules of cool.""
The Voice Hero let himself huff at that.
" So yeah, that's how I ended up being... well, I'm a mess of things but call me Vaishnava. so, that happened after I was rescued and back to being stable..." He gave a Helpless shrug. " I just... Omega and I chose to be Vaishnava, Aspiring servants of God, instead of some aimless robots accustomed to war and violence trying to eke out an aimless, pointless life in times of relative peace…. Makes sense, right?"
Hizashi remained silent as he mulled what Zero had said.
While most of Japan was Atheist, it was not out of the question for some old heroes, especially those living in Europe and the American continent, to turn to God.
Hell, even Hizashi liked to entertain the thought that he was not alone in facing the hell that was adulting in a world where you live, you git a bit happy, then you die. and that there was this big, benevolent sky daddy looking down with love at his snotty earth kids, ready to pick them up and patch their scabbed knees and broken hearts.
But then Shouta had shot that down, telling him that if God really did exist, then Tartarus was the only place for him.
"And God, in his most perfect and attractive form, is known to be the lover of the gopis, pure souls who have given everything to God in full and conquered the unconquerable one with their unalloyed love. But... that's for another time." Zero digresses. "Oh, I have another name too. In our tradition, we have three births. The spiritual birth nets you a fancy new Sanskrit name. Hence, most people around here will call me Jatayu Das."
" That's a whole lot of As."
" Oh? Are you A-llergic?" Zero asked with a shit-eating grin after some of the dumbest chuckles ever to have graced Hizashi's ears. Jatayu spoke again. "Huh... So you went with the edgiest name ever to..."
"The servant of Jatayu, the celestial vulture who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save Mother Sita-devi from the Demon Ravana. And it's not like I had a name before... but to return to the topic, that night, Walpurgis gave the Title of Grand Magus Zero, her heir... since they thought the empty Value held the greatest magic and I did the impossible by giving her God's leftovers. she promptly passed away with a serene smile... and this was how I became the Witchkind's liberator... and a witch by mercy."
"Alright," Mic raised his hands up. "I'm not even gonna start trying to understand what you've just told me. But what does it have to do with Midoriya?" he asked. Now more than a little desperate for an answer.
"Ah... recently, one of our congregational members, a witch by the name of Badra-kali Devi Dasi... Byakuren Hijiri, attained the final level of love of God: Death of the material body and transfer to the Spiritual world... or would have been, if not for her Wish."
"Her Wish being?" Hizashi asked, he was finally getting to the good, juicy part.
" She had to give her heart to a green-haired child with red shoes and a broken heart."
Hizashi raised a brow at that. "That's … ah... awfully convenient."
Zero Scoffed. "No, not really... there's more than one hermitage in the world; yours is just one of them. And no, those kids with dyed hair didn't count," The Robot Master admitted with a wry smile. "It took me quite some time and the collaboration of the hermit hunters to have my clue... and then Toramaru Shou told me Bharda told her his name was Deku. That's all I needed to put the pieces together." he shrugged. "I broke through the back door of your hermitage just as the mob was throwing stones at you. And if Midoriya-San's life would have left his body, then trust me, most of them would be dead where they stood." The ancient hero spoke in a tone that would freeze Dabi right here and there. "Also... My doors have a cool-down period. I dearly wanted to bolt out of there, but... I could not go faster than the door. So I had to improvise."
Hizashi slumped back in his seat. "So... you saved Deku."
Zero grunted. "No... I'm only the guy who delivered him to the medical team. Nothing more than that."
Silence descended on the two... it was not a bad silence.
"So... what's happening to him now?" The voice Hero asked, now realizing that this was indeed a hospital... a hospital in another part of a country where most of the population had no quirks... and quirks would not be a thing.
No, this was the pre-quirk era... he was back to a time when people had no superpower. And where it would not even happen.
"Hmm..." Zero hummed as his eyes and head gem began to pulse. "Right now, Omkara, Omega and Chandranana have finished prepping Midoriya-san. I can see his heart ... definitely burst open, the only reason why he lasted so long's because the pericardial sack kept all the blood in."
Hizashi gasped.
"Omega became my twin brother; we... share plenty of things, including what he sees... being in computer bodies and all that."
"Oh..."
"And... if the surgery is successful, then IMidoriya will have a new heart. We will nurse him back to health, both physically, mentally and, if he so wishes, spiritually also."
"Spiritual... right, you worship Krishna."
"Who's God... but that's for another time."
"Yeah, sure..." Hizashi rolled his eyes. "And after that?"
"After that, we will enroll Midoriya, and you in a rehabilitation program just to teach you how to survive in this cutthroat world. Where no supervillains exist, and where the only ones with superpowers are the Yogis living in the Himalayas, the Youkai and denizens of heaven and hell. All of them have chosen a peaceful living... and those who didn't still live in Gensokyo and other refurbed hermitages, where they can't hurt innocents. The queen of the world is a Motherly hell Corvid. Climate change has slowed down, and all types of plastic are banned save for those with medical purposes."
...
"Is it really that peaceful?" Hizashi asked. "Like... none of you guys will go and kill ninety percent of all life... right?"
"No, all of the most powerful beings that call Mother Earth home are Hare Krishna, and as Servants of the servant of God... we don't go around eviling for the hell of it."
"Eviling..."
"eeeviling"
It was so bad and yet so descriptive that Hizashi could not help but crack a smile. " yeah, okay, I'm keeping this one for the book." he leaned back. "And ah... is it just you and Omega that are out or…"
"Oh no, X is also out, happier than ever. Same with Chandranana.. Copy-X. We also have the four guardians; my dad, X's dad did not make it tough, having died quite a long time ago. Giro, or Girouette was also saved; he lives in Poland, then their Prometheus and his Sister Pandora. They are my sort of neighbours; they live with Lumine."
Hisazhi let out a low whistle, which prompted Zero to snap his phalanges. "Alright... that's quite a few bots running around. And Lumine?! Isn't this guy like fuking evil?"
"Yes, Lumine. They are quite fond of Gardening, and they aspire to be a school teacher; they are already working through their studies." Zero smiled broadly, pride swelling his chest.
"Oh... ah, ok. But... aren't they a villain?" He awkwardly asked, hoping it wouldn't trigger some bad reaction from the legendary war machine... now with a pair of bony arms and...
'Is that... wait, no, I remember...'
"They used to be... just like Weil, he's living in Canada right now." Zero explained. "Not to go too much into the ancient Cult I'm in. But in general, our philosophy is not to see the external aspect of the body, but the soul inside. And the soul is by nature Innocent and pure... the Gross and subtle body, not so much. And those persons are pretty sincere about getting better... and were keeping an eye on them, in case of."
Hizashi nodded. "Uh-huh... right, right... So, you don't kill mavericks anymore, you-"
"I still kill miscreants if I ever get the chance of running in one." Zero clarified. " But we also have some rules to follow. If the Villain runs away, cowers and surrenders, then we let them be and/or see what we can do to help them out of Villainy if possible. I can't kill a sleeping man or a man who has lost his mind. We can arrest them tough, and then, depending of their crimes…"
"So... I take it that they've all surrendered."
"Yup!"
"Even Weil?"
"mmh-hmm." The mechanical blond nodded. "I'm still in the process of forgiving him... No, it's not easy, and many times, I'm still waking up from horrible nightmares..." he admits. " We all do..."
Oh, how relatable that was.
"But... So far, he's shown no interest in villainy anymore. Quite the opposite, really." Zero continues, his eyes far away but his eyes bright. " We... all have a past, but given a chance... those who want to break out of demonhood will jump on it and never look back."
Those words...
It hit something rather deep in the voice hero's heart.
With the entire hero society crumbling down, the HSPC Servers had been hacked by some pro Villains activists.
The breach had been closed rather quickly, but not quickly enough that the leak had flooded the web... filling them all with a chilling revelation.
The league of Villains consisted of abused children looking for love... and never given the chance to get better.
Hell, Shigaraki Tomura had been... From the words of Yagi, groomed from a young age to be All For One's vessel.
The monster only saw the youth as a means to an end, nothing more and had turned him into a childish weapon... and he had the leash.
Dabi... was Todoroki Touya, and from what Endeavour had once sobbed out during this one time when booze was not a prime commodity, he had been driven to madness by his Father's drive to the top.
And while Hizashi had been a lucky bastard with his very understanding and loving Family, his quirk being a practical carbon copy of his mother, her training never ending with him screaming his voice box out and coughing blood... it never went as far. And his mother loved him no matter what, and even after his younger brother and sister were born, this love had never waned, and while he did feel a bit left behind, his parent had made sure he knew that they never thought less about him and that he had a role to play in the raising of his siblings... just like his bro did.
"Shoto...He's... he's asking for forgiveness." Izuku spoke as he showed Dabi's head. "He's not expecting it, and is willing to accept whatever punishment you have in mind for him, save for death."
"Why? He killed people."
"Because he won't be able to make reparation as a dead man. He won't force himself on anyone, and he will gladly go and live away from everyone if it means that it will make you feel a bit better... and He's my familiar, and you can't kill a witch's familiar."
"I... will think about it."
"That's all he's asking. And he's apologizing about this one time he almost murdered you... and he said you can use his head and any body parts he has for whatever you so desire, even using his head as a stepping stool. Same for you, Hawks-san."
"I... will think about it."
"Toga Himiko and Spinner had been neglected and abused by their so-called family. Toga had been starved to madness while Igushi had been sold to the Creature rejection clan by his own, more human-looking family.
"Oh God." Aizawa whispered in pure Horror as Nedzu's hackles got raised to another level.
Magne had been a trans, something her family had never accepted. She joined the league out of survival… or perhaps something else, but with her being dead and all, nobody could know the truth.
The only ones who didn't fit in with the abused kids were Muscular, MoonFish, Mister Compress, and Mustard.
Well... Mustard, as it turned out, had been heavily bullied for his burnt skin since his quirk had burnt it off. They had basically walked in the League of Villains hideout, declaring that they wanted to see society burn and...
yeah, that was it!
Unfortunately, the HPSC had gotten their grubby hand on the kid.
This had been the last time his parents had heard news of him.
"Also... I'm taking the Commission down." Izuku declared with much preamble.
"I shall help." Nedzu readily agreed, his claws still sharp.
'Oh Crap... what will my mama and pa think? How will they react?' Hizashi thought with dread; They would be worried sick; he knew them well... and his sibs.
'No... I don't have time for that; I have to focus. I need more intel.' he mentally shook himself; he would angst about his folks later.
"So... If I get this straight, there's some Touhou Project girl running around the place, right?" Hizashi asked as he fished for some more convos.
"Yep! And please, don't call them Touhou Project girls; call them Gensokyens."
"Got it, Chief."
~0~
Ten hours later, two boxes of flat crust Pizza from Govinda (best damn pizza Hizashi got the chance to eat) and More info about what the hell was going on in the real world, and the Heroic DJ had enough to tell Izuku once he would wake up...
"It was... yeah, so he did tell me all of that a week later, but it took Uttara's... errr.. mind-manipulating Yokai of a pet mom to show it to me. Which is why I can tell you everything as if I was Dad..."
"That's a... very convenient quirk."
"It was either that or I remained in denial and suicidal... not that I am anymore."
"Izu." Shoto interjected. "You cut your wrist."
"yes, because I knew I could heal, and I did heal, and I just needed an hour of sleep and some food to get better because while I have magic, I still don't know how to make more blood out of my willpower. and I made a vow to God not to give up my life, and I plan on keeping this vow."
"Alright." Aizawa sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "And the... what more exposition did we get out of that?"
Izuku gave a wry smile. "I'll skip a few more hours; you wouldn't get what happened anyway."
Basically, Hermitages were pocket dimensions made by normal humans who developed power by following some crazy austerities and worshiping Lord Shiva and Brahma (ok, sure). In those hermitages, they could do whatever the hell they wanted, even link them to make something even bigger like Gensokyo or the Smash community.
Now... He and Izuku were extracted from one who had a disturbingly similar mechanic that Yukari's hermitage shared. And this hermitage was currently under scrutiny by Prince Toyosatomimi no Miko (yes, the guy of the bill... well, gal now).
So far, they would have to raid it and rescue all of those going through what Madam Mukhara (Said ancient prince of japan on the bill ) told Zero, a Toxic scenario.
More like post-apocalyptic, but from what Hizashi had heard through the grapevine, the dorm situation with Midoriya and Bakugou... and their so-called friendship was the very definition of a long and abusive relationship.
Apparently, their friendship was mending but...
He had seen many abusive relationships in which the abuser changed for a while before reverting back to his old habits.
"Yeah... I know Bakugou tried to get better but..." Izuku shuddered. "I'm... still dealing with the trauma of eleven years worth of abuse by his hands. I've forgiven him but... I don't want to hang out with him."
"I see... it is duly noted," Nedzu said with an inclination of his head.
Oh, the voice hero may be deaf to sound, but he was not blind... unfortunately, his husband had dissuaded him time and time again from looking too deeply into it.
Aizawa blanched as Nedzu drilled him in place with one of his 'you majorly screwed-up' smiles.
The memory of Midoriya, lying on the ground with arms splayed like the Christ on the cross, his lips bluish... his body cooling without a proper heartbeat. Hizashi could not help but wonder if... if there was more to Izuku's one-year solo mission than just keeping one for all away from his friend. The little listener was the definition of self-sacrificing, a horror tale of his numerous fractures and utter lack of self-preservation painted a rather grim picture.
Zero... Jatayu had assured Hizashi that both would get as many therapy sessions they would need with a good friend of his, a certain Phalguni and his team of hypnotherapists.
"I went through them, and whatever self-destructive behaviour was hypnotized out of me. Oh, and I had reiki healing, talk therapy, and plenty of people loving me for who I am and not for my power... and knowing that I'm a spirit soul in a body and not a quirkless individual helped, too."
"I see..."
When Hizashi's skeptical eyebrow made itself known, Jatayu had assured him that he was one of the best in the field, if not the best for those who were freshly out of a hermitage, especially a post-apocalyptic one.
~0~
Hours passed, more questions were asked, and even more were answered. And while it was clear that Jatayu (Calling him Zero would be like calling Nemuri her deadname) was practicing... Well, worshiping God. He had still been plenty pleasant and kind. A friend, really.
But as with everything, Jatayu had to leave, having other things to take care of. He would still be available if the voice hero needed to talk more. The red hero of the maverick war had also given him the WhatsApp number of Phalguni, the hypnotherapist who specialized in Hermitage victims.
He had already spoken to the man... and Hizashi had to admit...
He was quite the snack, too bad he was straight and already taken. Still Shouta would absolutely love the couple and their kids, since they were all cats... or close to it.
"Not my Opinion... but yeah, Phalguni das is a human who has unlocked, by God's unlimited grace, all mystic powers, including the ability to shapeshift. But since his wife is a literal cat, that's the form he takes." Izuku gave the sunniest grin, aiming it at Aizawa and destroying whatever darkness lurked there. "And he's the Fluffiest of Cats, the best of them. Think of... the best of all Maincoons who acts like a ragdoll, is smart like a Siamese, and who's sweeter than a ginger boy."
Shouta nodded as he hid his face in his capture scarf, hiding his blush. A snack indeed...
God, he missed his cat.
More hours passed, Hizashi had eaten, drank, taken a nap, checked what the hell happened in the world in the pre-quirk era (Again) and realized that, yeah, Whatever Jatayu had said had been true! Took a walk in the garden, looked up all the information he could about Chernobyl and realized that this place was part of a Yogic monotheistic cult called Krishna-Consciousness… or Gaudia-Vaishnavism.
At first, he had thought that he would have to break out of this place with a post-heart-op Izuku (how fun) when a nurse came in, telling him that Prince Jatayu saw his unease.
This Ghost-like nurse, Maan-Sarovara Devi Davi, had then taken the time to explain to him what Krishna-Consciousness was all about in as few words as possible. It meant to reawaken their true identities as one of Sri-Krishna's eternal servants-friend-family, lovers/wives. And it meant to bring Him, the Personal form of the Lord, into their current life and to serve the preaching mission of lord Chaitania, the Golden Avatar and please Krishna's senses through the chanting of his names, dancing and cooking. Among other things. And she would preach by serving the devotees and her patients at the best of her ability, serve her husband a teacher and raise her three children in full Krishna consciousness, but beyond that and cooking for the lord before her family, everything was pretty normal, sane, safe, and filled with bliss.
Her genuine smile and healthy eyes put the voice Hero on edge, but at the same time, he knew that he could not afford to scream his way out just yet... Since Izuku really was under the knife.
Apparently, this particular hospital would stream the surgery live for students and those waiting for their loved ones to get out. If they could stomach it, that is.
So he had seen Izuku, pale like a bed sheet, with his chest cut open and his old heart sliced like last weekend's beef stew... and the head surgeon was none other than Omega Zero.
"It's anonymous if the patient didn't give consent, and Omkara spot-tracked all my freckles and scars to make sure nobody would recognize me."
Hizashi had watched the whole show in morbid Fascination. He'd never seen an open heart surgery, and to see it live meant that he could catch any foul play as soon as possible and yell out of there...
"Also, I have the whole thing both edited and unedited on an SD card."
"Noted," Nedzu said with a tiny grin.
of course, it was hard to decide whether it was all good or not, especially when Omega and Copy-X sliced through Izuku's torn heart, pulled it out of the cavity and put another on in... one that was more purple then red and glowed with rainbow tattoos reminiscent of Hijiri Byakuren's scroll...
"She's my donor... she... I owe her everything."
After a brief zoom-out, the identity of the Donor, if the witch who desires to give her heart, was shown...
"She gave her permission since this was the last time she would be in her body. Her followers were... are still loyal to her."
The saint of the white lotus, the sealed magician, the Acaria who surpassed the Primate, the kindest person in Gensokyo...
She had turned her back to Buddhism and embraced the Path of Vaishnavism, in which the goal was the Lotus Feet of the highest and most personal aspect of Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead; it was to love the person behind the title of God wholly and with an unalloyed heart. She had faced many hardships during her switch from Impersonal religion to Personal science. Some of her followers had turned onto her, sealing her back to hell despite all the good she did.
But Byakuren, Bhadra-kali Devi Dasi had never faltered, her smile never faded, and her good wishes never ceased.
She was Mandodari's first disciple, having found in the much younger woman the example to follow Despite her mental chalanges, and on the fourth of May, had gained a new name and a new life.
Her name was Badra-Kali Devi Dasi, the maidservant of the form of Durga who protected the great saint, Jada-Bharath.
She lived a simple life in the converted Myouren temple, greeting the guests and giving them councils based on the Vedic teachings when they would ask, and making flower sweets for God with all the love that resided in her heart.
She was also the main undertaker in Gensokyo, and all the departed souls would reach liberation by her gentle care; evil ghosts would flee from her effulgence while good spirits would flock to her. One of them, a Ghost whose only reason to stay on earth was to drown people at sea, had ascended back to something more human and Loving. And then, by God's supreme will, the same ghostly girl had returned to a human form, back from the dead.
This Ghost, Minamitsu Murasa, had been the one to tell him about Krishna Consciousness, and she had returned to Tell Hizashi all the glories of the Mother as she officially died, her heart now comfortably nestled in Izuku's chest, her magic-infused blood now replacing his.
"And this is why Tenko's alive right now."
"Fuck that." Aizawa shot back. "That's why you live... She's the only reason why..."
"I know... that the power of a saint's body for you." Izuku said as he whipped away the numerous tears threatening to flood his room.
Bhadra-Kali, nee... whose chosen name had been Hijiri Byakuren, had made the final vow that her heart was to be given to an average child, his hair as green as his eyes, his big heart broken so often, it had taken a physical wound—a child who, just like her, had been willing to sacrifice everything for others.
"Bhadra's last wish... came true during one of our preaching endeavours in New Tokyo's big Otaku event. For some 'obscure' reason, our sacred mother got attracted to a four-day Boku no Hero/ My Hero Academia Marathon and watched the whole thing in one sitting."
"Wait... what?" Aizawa sputtered.
"Yeah, our adventures are pretty popular to the outside world... like, all of it and... yeah, the ending was... an ending."
"Yeah... saw the ending." Hizashi felt so stupid; Jatayu had warned him not to look it up... not even to look up the anime his hermitage had been based on... no, wait. The Anime was based on the Hermitage, and Horikoshi san had admitted that his story just came to him one day.
The ending was... rough. All for One had almost won...
So many lives have been lost, japan has been rendered rubble and...
Deku...
"So, you lived beyond your failing heart but not the last battle," Nedzu spoke up.
"Eh... Apparently I did but... considering that the ending was an esotheric one... It doesn't really matter anymore. We're off the rails right now.
He felt a hand on his shoulder; maan-sarovara was looking at him with sympathy. "Hey, It's fine... Midoriya won't have to go through this anymore; his involvement is over, he's safe now."
"But for how long?" Hizashi asked as he trudged forward, his hands in his pockets and shoulders hunched. "I read up on heart transplants. Izu…"
He heard Maan-Sarovara chuckling. "Ah, knowing our Sacred Lady, he will live, give or take a hundred years minimum." she drawled as she turned the corner of another corridor. "But as I was saying, Mother Badra-Kali watched the whole shitshow, and she fell in love with Izuku."
"Love?"
"Not the romantic type, think about the love a saint feels for fallen souls, for orphans and the like... for those whose hearts were pure yet suffering like anything."
"She felt Pity for him."
"If a saint feels pity, then that's not pity; it's an emphatic blessing." The Ex-Ghost spoke with fierce determination and conviction. "Our Sacred Lady... she went through more pain than you can imagine, she was over a thousand... and a thousand of those years were spent alone, in the heart of Hokkai, the source of all magic. In there, she faced her greatest fears and grief, her emotions were laid raw... and her numerous human lifetimes were remembered." Numerous tears stained the cheeks of the pale-haired greenette as grief and pride warred. " When she came back from the marathon, she was crying... I've never seen her cry so much, Yamada-San. It was as if the Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati were flowing from her eyes and nose." Then she closed her eyes and sobbed.
"A week later... she didn't wake up... her brain died."
"I'm so sorry." Hizashi sincerely apologized to the only other Japanese around.
"Oh, no... don't be." She waved him off, still smiling despite her tears. " Mom... Mother Bhadra desired to go back home, back to Godhead, and out of all of us, she deserved it the most... Her death Wish had been thought she would never find a child with green hair, green eyes, and who, despite that, was super normal." She explained, her gratitude shining through her tears. " It took her a thousand years, giving up the path of Buddhism for the path of Vaishnavism and cosplaying as herself, to find the fortunate recipient. And she did..."
She then leads Hizashi to a bathing room... or, as it was called, a decont-room where he was asked to strip himself of all cloth (not with Maan Devi, but with another male nurse... who was quirkless, as expected) as the man said, the whole process was to reduce the chance of infection, Hizashi would also be wearing sterilized scrubs, a face mask, and a face shield. He would have to wash his hands if he'd even touched his face, and it was prohibited to cry on Midoriya Izuku, for tears were also a viral vector.
But... If Midoriya woke up in a panic and required a hug, they would overlook it.
They already knew Hizashi's health status but still gave him an antibiotic tablet (it was stamped with the sign of a rabbit) that would clear him off of all contagious entities like CoVid, the common flu and chickenpox in thirty minutes.
Without wrecking his immune system.
The voice Hero was thoroughly impressed; not even in his Era was such a miraculous medicine invented since the advent of quirks. And rumour has it that even cancer has a cure nowadays...
Huh.
After the sterilization and going over the rules again, he was admitted to the patient ward, the cardio-thoracic part of it, at least.
On his way, he passed by the NICU and, after having a double take, realized that Zero... Jatayu was there, cuddling a Premature baby with the love of both a mother and father combined.
Huh.
And then... he was led to a private room.. on it, the name Izuku Midoriya was written in plain English.
Hizashi took a deep breath despite the mask in front of his face. This Hospital took cross contaminations seriously, and for someone whose heart had been changed, he could appreciate that.
He entered the door and walked through the drawn curtain... and his breath got caught in his throat.
Lying on the bed, connected to machines with tubes, catheters, and wires laid Midoriya Izuku looked like a small dying child nestled in a cocoon of medical apparatus.
He was so small... so young, and yet riddled with so many scars and the eyes of a war veteran.
"Aizawa-Sensei are you alright?" Izuku asked as his scary-looking teacher began to sob. Reaching for his problem child as if his very life depended on it.
Hizashi sat down as he and his Hermitage reality crashed down on him...
Those were children they were training. Kids, most of them barely pubescent.
They were training soldiers... killers under the name of Heroes.
And... he was seeing the consequence of that.
He buried his face in his hands and began weeping for all the children who died to make place for Heroes and villains.
~0~
Back in the present, Aizawa was crying again, for he already knew that...
But right now... one of his brats was back, he was alive. And the second brat was back too... and he had the feeling he would have a third one to deal with soon.