Notes: Before we start, can we all give a little moment for the goddess herself in the latest episode? Mirko is best girl.

Okay... back to the story

"Burn you little bastard!"

The green flames burst from Burnin's hands as she blasted the gremlin looking man jumping at her, kicking him into the nearby car and ducking under another gremlin crook. "God you pricks are annoying!" she shouted and turned around, staring at the six other crooks standing there.

"Too bad your boss Endeavor isn't here to keep you safe," the blue haired man chuckled, his hands summoning red energy whips. "I guess we have to have some fun with his little sidekick."

"Oh don't flatter yourself. Endeavor doesn't even waste his time on shit like you." Burnin spat out. "If you simply turn yourself in, I promise I won't kick your ass."

Laughing, the group of villains walked forward behind their blue haired leader. "Such a generous offer, but I'm pretty damn sure even you can't take on eight guys at once."

Grinning, Burnin's hands ignited as she walked forward. "Maybe not… But four of you will be easy."

"Oh, and what about the other four? Are we just going to sit back and watch?" the vulture headed crook cackled out.

Laughing, Burnin gave a quick wink. "Nah… she can take the others."

Before he could see it coming, the vulture man's beak and arms were suddenly engulfed in water, gasping as they were frozen and yanked him backwards. The others looked in shocked as another thick stream of water shot out and grabbed one of the others and chucked him through the air. "The hell?!" the leader shouted, flipping around and staring at a teenager in blue standing there.

"Sorry I'm late, I had to grab the other two that ran the other way." Katara said as she summoned the water whip back over her shoulders.

"Yeah, of course it took you three hours for that!" Burnin shouted as she blasted her fire forward, the gang leader glaring and swinging his whips slashing through her flames. The other villains reacted instantly, the two gremlin villains rushing and joining the fight against Burnin.

"You better go home before you get hurt, little girl!" a glowing man shouted, shooting a stream of pulsing energy at the waterbender.

Ducking underneath it, Katara shot out several ice spikes at the man pinning him against a car. Immediately she turned and created an ice shield stopping another of the crooks incoming mace hand. Twisting her wrist, she shifted the ice into water and engulfed the weapon before encircling the man and throwing him into the glowing villain knocking both of them out. Turning back around, she yelped and ducked under the smoking gremlin being thrown her way and bouncing across the ground. "Hey, watch it!" She shouted in annoyance.

"Oh shut up," Burnin growled and threw a backwards elbow knocking out the female villain trying to jump her from behind. She then turned her attention back to the leader and spit on the ground. "By the way, not kicking your ass is off the table."

Gritting his teeth, the leader charged his hands and increased the size of the whips. "Go ahead and try, you bitch!" he shouted and swung his arms forward, his burning streams slicing through the ground where Burnin jumped out of the way from. "I'll kill both of you and-

His words were cut off as Katara's water whips ensared both of his wrists stopping him in place. He couldn't even turn around to glare at the waterbender before Burnin's flaming fist cracked him directly in his face, knocking him out cold. Watching him slump to the ground, Burnin stuck her tongue out and flicked her hair out of her face. "Told you I was gonna kick your ass." She grumbled and looked over to Katara. "I had him by the way."

"I know. Just figured it would be easier if he got dealt with quickly,"Katara sighed as she summoned the water back into her canteen, "All of these guys were pretty weak anyway. You probably could have taken them out yourself if you really tried."

"Oh, well aren't you so generous, missy," Burnin sneered and straightened her outfit. "I'll admit though, you would've wiped the floor with these pricks too, especially the way you've been fighting lately."

Katara gave a small smile at the compliment as she closed up her canteen. "I've just been practicing more and getting stronger, so being able to fight in the field has helped a lot."

"I can tell. Almost making the job too easy against these scrubs." Burnin snickered as she kicked one of the groaning villains. "Certainly has taken a load off the bosses patrols."

Looking away and frowning, Katara took a breath and sighed. It had been two weeks since she had walked with Endeavor that evening and let everything she had been feeling out, spilling her feelings for Shoto and the resentment she had of the flame hero straight to his face. After she went home, she had assumed that was going to be the end of her internship, that he was going to cut ties with her and simply have her stay back at the school from now on. To her surprise though, the Endeavor agency contacted her to come back only a few days later.

But that was the extent.

While she was brought back to work, it wasn't like they were on good terms. In fact, there were probably no more than five sentences exchanged between the pair in that time. The work studies had become strictly hero work, to the point Katara barely even saw Endeavor half the time. It was usually her going on side patrols with Burnin, and if they did go on a patrol with the flame hero, he seemed determined to keep to himself whenever work had to be done. Just like he was doing today having chased down another criminal gang earlier on his own.

Approaching the pair, Endeavor stared down at the mix of crooks taken out here, surprised to see the large gang taken out so quickly. Looking up, he took a breath as he saw Burnin laughing alongside the waterbender. When the dark haired girl saw him approach, she felt her chest tighten slightly as the large man came closer, once again expecting him to simply keep silent and move onto his main sidekick like he always did.

"Good work," Endeavor said out, noticing the few scuffs on Burnin's outfit. He then looked over to Katara and noticed the small tear on the side of her stomach. "Were there any injuries?"

"Of course not, sir. Not like these idiots were any threat for us." Burnin grinned and stretched her arms.

"We've been coming across these smaller gangs more frequently though…" Endeavor noted, "it seems they're getting bolder in what they are attempting to do."

As long as we are here, it's not like they can do shit." Burnin laughed and pointed her thumb at Katara behind her. "Just sick Ryujin out on her own and maybe she can be her own ice queen Elsa." When neither laughed at her joke, she frowned and crossed her arms. "Uncultured dweebs."

Endeavor looked over to the waterbender, a tight feeling growing in his chest as her words began replaying in his mind. As the police began showing up, arresting the downed crooks, he took a breath and tightened his fists. "Actually, Burnin…I was hoping you could finish this up with the police on your own. I will take Ryujin to another scene."

Katara's mouth fell open slightly when she heard that, looking up to the flame hero in surprise. Burnin was taken aback as well, but simply nodded and gave a salute. "No problem, sir. I got this."

Taking a breath, Katara walked after Endeavor as he turned away from the scene, cracking her fingers as she neared his side. Moving down the sidewalk, the sounds of the sirens became more faint as they got further away from them, until there was only the footsteps they made. For a few minutes there remained the awkward silence between them, Katara glancing up for a split second to see him avoiding looking her way. Sighing, she looked away, wondering if there simply wasn't going to be a word said between the pair to wherever they were going.

Only for Endeavor cough and glance her way.

"Burnin says you've been getting faster in the field lately, that your battle prowess has improved a lot." he said, "You're in field knowledge is far above most fresh out of graduation already."

"Thanks," Katara quietly said, not expecting his first thing to say a compliment.

"You've shown yourself capable that you have what it takes to do this job…" Endeavor added, taking a deep breath before finishing. "Even better than when most pros themselves."

Katara stopped walking and looked up to the hero, confused why this was the first conversation he was having with her since the blow out. If this was his way of moving on, she wasn't a fan. "What is this?" She shrugged her arms at her side. "What are you doing here? Just brushing aside what happened last time?"

Grunting, Enji Todoroki closed his eyes and turned his head away. "Just hear me out… For all my years doing hero work, I pushed myself to become the number one hero. As soon as I became number two, I saw there was what felt like an impossible wall in front of me known as All Might. I did everything I could in the field, pushing my body to the limit to prove I could surpass him. Everytime I felt like I was nearing him, however, I saw I couldn't even come close. I soon saw I wasn't going to pass him on my own."

Katara felt her chest tighten as he spoke, glaring and just waiting for him to try and justify what he did.

"Over the years, I kept my eyes on that number one spot…" he huffed out, squeezing his fists in frustration. "I wanted it so bad, to see my name at the top above everyone else. But when All Might retired recently, I felt… lost. I reached the position I had wanted for so long, but I didn't earn it. And then I began to see the truth in the situation… that I still do the exact same thing I did before as number two."

His eyes opened up, Katara raising her eyebrows as she saw a look in his eyes she had never seen before. He just looked… empty.

"When you said those things to me last time, I wanted to deny and say you were wrong. I didn't want to believe what you said… to say you knew nothing of who I am. And when you said you were seeing Shoto, I was in disbelief how this could've happened. I was mad, seeing my son falling for someone I didn't want."

Taking a step towards the waterbender, Enji stared at her glare, but kept his gaze soft. "But then I realized he didn't even consider me important enough to know what he was doing… and that I didn't know much in general of what he was doing…"

The earpiece Enji was wearing crackled as Burnin was trying to contact him again, frowning as he refocused to Katara. "After what you said, I… I thought back to Shoto and what he has done… the changes I've seen over this year. He has improved vastly, and… now I see it is in part to you being there for him."

Katara remained silent as he spoke, not expecting this to be coming from the flame hero.

"I know neither of us cared for each other when we first met, and I know that was due to my actions…" Enji said, his fists tightening as he spoke. "And I am not asking for forgiveness from you. I do ask… you see me for who I am now, and that Shoto sees that as well."

As Endeavor turned and headed back towards Burnin, Katara stood there staring at the flame hero. She didn't know what to take from his words, his seeming apology showing his lack of practice. She had certainly had many times of forgiving people, and this did not feel like one of those times. In her mind, however, she thought of Shoto once more, knowing better than anyone that he would certainly not be a fan of listening to Endeavor. She wanted to simply blow his request off and move on. However, she closed her eyes and took a breath, thinking back to her own past and her anger. She knew better than anyone that living off hate never worked out, and it only made you resent others yourself.

She looked back up to the flame hero once more, frowning and following after him. She was certainly not forgiving him now or anytime soon. But… she was going to see if he was one who could learn from his mistakes

Taking a drink of the beer he was holding, Dabi grunted as he walked through the damp cave. He hated being inside this place, kicking at the loose rock beneath himself. "Damn this place sucks. The hell would anyone want to hold up here?" He growled to himself, adjusting his jacket and continuing on through the tunnel. After the first few days here, he grew beyond annoyed by the tunnel system here, the seemingly endless catacombs like a maze to the blue flame user. Once he got a small feel of this place, it wasn't like he felt any better, since he was still waiting on getting his goal enacted.

Entering the main cavern where he first came in, Dabi grunted as a gust of wind whipped by him quickly followed by another rush of air. He turned to see a yellow blur rushing by, whipping across the area as a brown one was in hot pursuit. In the next moment, the lead figure skidded to a stop, the clawed cheetah hand scraping over the stone and stopping himself and standing upright.

"Come on. You gotta be faster than that!" Haraka snickered as he flexed his claws, facing the hyena who stopped as well.

"Hmm hmm hmm!" Fisi cackled and licked his lips. "I thought you were just going on a little jog. I didn't want to embarrass you right there."

"Some big talk for a nutjob," Haraka's long tail flicked out as he bared his sharp teeth. "Still haven't landed a hit on me yet!"

The two hunters rushed each other, their fists swinging rapidly and at almost blinding speed. Fisi swiped several times with his claws, only for Haraka countering them with his own blocks and strikes of his own, their moves striking one another with almost perfect precision. Haraka's speed was slightly higher though, able to knock one of the incoming punches upward and throwing a powerful front kick forward sending Fis backward. Skidding back, the hyena only laughed and snapped his jaws. "Wooh ha haha! Felt like a tickle there!"

As the two went at it once more, a few of the other members sat on the side watching the spectacle. The crocodile Rogue and the scorpion Sasori sat looking bored, while the large leopard seal Kavik watched the battle intensely. "Balance. Use your footing to increase the power to your strikes."

"Shut up," Haraka growled and threw a wheel kick, missing as Fisi ducked and threw his own uppercut. Watching the pair continue evading one another, Kavik grunted and crossed his arms.

"You have the greater speed and agility, but you're relying on that too much and are being too linear with your attacks." Kavik scolded.

"Oh, thanks coach, Hahaha!" Fisi cackled and cracked his knuckles. "Not like I needed the help, though!"

Bursting forward, Fisi leaped through the air and dove straight at his opponent. Haraka growled and shot across the ground just before Fisi landed, sprinting across the massive cavern and rushing by and landing a hit to Fisi's side. The hyena stumbled to the side, attempting to gain his footing before he was struck the other direction. "Hmm hm ha! I was always annoyed that you and Muteki were so fast…." He paused as another punch landed on his face, cackling and spitting out a little blood. "He however…"

Thrusting his hand out, Fisi latched onto Haraka's throat as he rushed to the right, forcing the cheetah to gasp out. "He isn't predictable like you."

"Gah!" Haraka gasped as he was slammed to the ground, pinned down by Fisi leaning his knee on his chest. Glaring, he hissed through his teeth and leaned his head back. "You got me down once. Good for you."

"Heh heh heh… One's all I needed," Fisi chuckled as he released his grip and stood up, snickering as he brushed his shabby hair from his face. "Curiosity killed the cat today."

"The hell does that even mean?" Haraka scoffed as he stood up. "How is me losing one training match curiosity?"

"Doesn't matter. All that matters is you lost. Woo hahahaha!"

As Haraka bared his teeth at the laughing hyena, Kavik grumbled and shook his head. "You are down fourteen wins to three against Haraka. Don't think this makes you so special." he scolded before turning to the angry cheetah. "And you…. Once again you fail to change up you r strategy. The last three matches you've done the same moves over and over. If you don't change it up, anyone will figure out your pattern eventually."

Brushing his coat off, Haraka growled and began walking off to the side. "I don't need a lecture from you."

"As someone who knows how to counter you, yes you do…" Kavik spat out. "All of you have been growing too laxed on your training lately, and it's beginning to show in your combat."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Sasori snapped, her long tail flicking in annoyance behind herself.

"I'm saying your skills haven't been improving like they should. You've become content where you are instead of trying to push your skills to the next level." Kavik warned as he stood up, pointing at Haraka. "Too linear with your movements."

He then pointed a finger at the still laughing Fisi. "Too straightforward in your charging. You lack patience in attacking."

"Ouch, I'm so hurt and now need therapy…" Fisi laughed out and scratched his head.

Kavik turned around to the two sitting behind himself, focusing on the glaring scorpion. "You lack the self control needed for teamwork. You are so eager to kill that you gain tunnel vision when you fight."

"I thought killing is what we are supposed to do?" Sasori hissed out, crossing her claws. "Every single one of us are supposed to kill when we are told to, so we do that. And if anyone is too eager to kill, talk to the raptor boy up there. That crazy bastard has killed more than any of us here."

"Muteki doesn't need training like you or any of us," Kavik said and crossed his massive arms. "He may take out more targets than needed, but his skills are beyond any of ours here, so I don't need to say a word to him."

"So we are the ones who get put through your lessons over and over…" Rogue growled out under his breath, only to jump in surprise as a rock shattered against the wall near his head. The croc man looked up to see Kavik glaring at him with his arm cocked down from his throw. "The hell are-

"You are the last one to say anything…" Kavik hissed through his scowl. "You have a quirk that grants you immense strength and a powerful defense, and yet you've done nothing to push your potential. You lack any technique to your fighting and rely solely on your power, so if anyone needs this training, it's you."

The scaly and large jaws of Rogue vibrated as he bellowed out a deep growl, his claws flexing back and forth as he stared down the large leopard seal. "You were the ones who brought me into this organization, and now it sounds like I'm not up to your standards. you should watch what you say next."

Kavik simply stared back at the croc, a small smirk spreading across his whispered face. "If you disagree, you can come and try and prove that now." he taunted, waiting to see if the newest member of the hunters wished to test himself again. Before anything could happen, however, the light clap behind caught their attention, turning around to see Dabi laughing to himself.

"Well look at you all, bickering like little girls over who's boyfriend is cuter." he snickered at the glares he received, tossing his empty drink to the side and walking inside the cavern. "You bastards have been going at this for the last few days, disturbing my beauty sleep."

"Tsk… what beauty?" Sasori sneered out, earning a few laughs from the others as Kavik walked forward.

"It's called training. Perhaps if your league members had done so, you may have actually been successful in your recent outings."

"Oh, you're offering me a private lesson?" Dabi spit on the ground in annoyance. "I'm flattered but no thanks. You can give your wonderful teachings to someone else."

"Of course you won't," Kavik scoffed. "You and your blonde friend left for a week and now you've done nothing but freeload off us now."

"Ouch… so rude to your client. You have horrible customer service, you know that?" Dabi said as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'm doing my part, and now it's all waiting for the go ahead now. So how about you just shut that mouth of yours and do your part."

Growling, Kavik teeth bared as he crossed his arms. "We are doing our part, where we wait for the orders from above. We follow the commands made by our boss and we do what we have to, when we have to. But you, you lack the respect to follow orders and work with others. There is not an ounce of discipline in you to know what it means to truly work for something. You're Just a petty crook looking for something to make himself feel important."

Dabi's mouth hung open in a mix of disbelief and rage hearing the seal say what he just said. "Work for something…" He muttered out, his hands twitching in anger as his mind began playing images of his childhood once more, and how he did everything to impress a certain man… only to be cast aside and forgotten. "You have no idea anything about me, or what it means to work for something as I have."

"Oh? Then why don't you demonstrate for us then?" Kavik requested, holding his arms out and taunting the league member. "Show us why you think you are so special."

The flames sparked slightly inside Dabi's pockets to the threat, his eye twitching and staring down the large hunter member. He was growing tempted to burn this seal to a crisp, only for a loud laugh to echo in the hall behind Dabi.

"Looks like something is getting interesting now. I was almost dying of boredom here, hoping we could finally kill some heroes like I was promised. But it looks like you guys are having some fun without me." Muscular chuckled as he walked into the area, cracking his neck and jumping down to the clearing in front of the hunters. "How about that lesson I heard you offering? I love learning from someone."

"Oh look who's decided to show up. I was hoping you got lost in the caves." Haraka grinned and flexed his claws in and out.

"I think the little pussycat should shut his mouth," Muscular shot back, "Mess with a big dog and you'll get bit."

"Oh, that's a good one, hahaha!" Fisi laughed and smacked his powerful jaws. "If you wanna see what a bite can do, come here, blondie."

"No…" Kavik stated and walked forward, cracking his knuckles as he approached the center. "Let me see what this guy is capable of."

"Wow, someone's got some balls here. I like that," Muscular chuckled and arched his knuckles. "I've been wondering if you animals were all just a bunch of warriors or just little pets."

Kavik widened his stance and brought his arms up, tightening his fists and taking a breath. "Let's find out, shall we?"

"Yeah, lets!" Muscular shouted and enshrouded his upper body in muscle fibers, blasting himself forward right at the leopard seal. Kavik leapt to the side just as his foe crashed down shattering the stone, watching as Muscular quickly burst forward again and bringing an arm out clotheslining into the hunters block. Kavik grunted as he was thrown backwards, flipping himself and skidding away before stopping. Muscular laughed and stomped onto the ground beneath himself. "Is the little sea otter hurt by that? I've got more where that came from!"

Growling, Kavik tightened his fists and ducked underneath an incoming punch, launching an uppercut of his own straight into his foe's chest. While Muscular did gasp from the hit, he was surprised by how dense the muscle fibers were, quickly crossing his arms and blocking the powerful punch and throwing him back. 'His strength also works as a defense. Impressive.' Kavik said internally and stood back up, grinning to himself and shaking his arms free of the tense feeling. "Not bad."

`As Muscular catapulted himself forward, the other hunters watched as the league member smashed through the stone ground, chasing down their senior without giving him a moment's break. "Son of a bitch is stronger than I expected." Haraka admitted, his eyebrow raising as Muscular crashed through one of the stone pillars on the side. "And faster."

"All brawns and no brain still…" Sasori sneered, her eyes following the action and not wanting to admit he was actually stronger than she expected as well.

"Hm hmm hmmmmmmm." Fisi snickered in amusement, "He looks fun. I would like to face this crazy guy some day."

"Calling him crazy…" Rogue growled in annoyance to the irony.

While they all simply watched his speed and power, Kavik was doing something else entirely; He continued to block and dodge the league members attacks, analyzing his motion and every time. The more muscle he grew, the stronger he was becoming. He dodged several more blows before seeing his opening, redirecting one of the incoming punches and driving his own fist straight into Mucular's face. The blonde killer growled out at the blood dripping out of his mouth, engorging the muscles on his arms and spitting out. "One hit, big deal. Now I will turn you into a fur coat!"

Kavik exhaled through his nose, watching as his foe grew larger. Lowering his stance, he brought his right hand back and tightened his grip, arching his knuckles so his pointer and middle finger knuckles protruded past the others. As Muscular charged again, he spun forward and went in close, yelling out as he drove his strike directly into the villains sternum. Muscular's eye shot open in shock from the hit, feeling like his chest cavity was cracked underneath his muscles. "Gah… Wha- what the hell?!" he gargled out, struggling to even breathe from the sharp pain ringing inside his body as he dropped to his knees.

Dabi himself sat in surprise, watching as Muscular's form shrank to his normal size as he struggled to take a breath. The crazed villain he recruited wasn't bright, but he was certainly a tank when it came to taking damage. He looked up to the large seal standing over the gasping Muscular, and to the right hand of the hunter. "The fuck did you do to him?" Dabi asked.

"His muscles worked as a shield from most attacks, that meant I had to find a way past that." Kavik explained as he knelt over the coughing Muscular. "All I had to do was focus my strength to a specific spot in his chest, a fine enough point to bypass his defense and damage internally. It made it easy with his straight forward charging, since he isn't bright and is easy to predict."

"So he's too weak, is what you're saying?" Rogue commented with a chuckle, earning a laugh from the seal, but not for what the others thought.

"Oh he isn't weak at all. In fact he would probably kill a few of you if you fought." Kavik explained as he looked down to Muscular glaring at him. "Your physical strength and speed are actually greater than mine, but that's the difference; you focus on raw power and no technique, and precision counters strength every day."

"Depends how much strength you are talking about." a new voice rang out from another tunnel, everyone turning to see Muteki walking their direction. "So… would your special counter work on All Might? Or me?"

Huffing, Kavik cracked his knuckles once more. "Of course not. When the gap of strength is so much, strength like that is inevitable."

"Well said…" Muteki chuckled, looking over to Dabi standing there. "Looks like you're blending in so well here."

Grunting at the sarcasm, Dabi spit on the ground once more. "Just watching your buddy here give a lesson."

"Well that's nice, but your lesson is over. She wants to speak to you."

Sighing, Dabi walked past the others, glancing down at Muscular slowly crawling off the ground. Growling, he followed the raptor user up the tunnel to the side. After a few minutes, they had made their way to a small corridor, leading to a door at the end against the rock wall. Opening it, Muteki led the pair inside to see a well furnished room, much nicer than anyone would expect in a cave system. And sitting at the desk in the corner of the room was Itkomi, the spider woman sipping on a glass of wine.

"Welcome. I hope you've made yourself comfortable here." Itkomi said, earning a grunt from Dabi.

"It's not like a cave can be that comfortable. Especially since I haven't been given a room like this." He complained.

Itkomi simply laughed at the villain. "We don't usually let guests stay here, so accommodations are our last concern. Besides, this cave is not only our base, but the perfect hideout. Off the grid, and nothing to track here. And signals inside the cave system can't pass through the walls, meaning we can't be tracked inside. So I would suggest getting comfortable to it."

"His friend sure is getting comfortable. Kavik gave him a little training session." Muteki taunted, making Dabi clicked his tongue.

"I have to say, that surprised me. I honestly didn't think anyone other than you two would be able to stop him that easily." He admitted, knowing how strong Muscular was.

Itkomi nodded and took another sip from her drink. "Kavik is more talented than most. He was a member before I joined and is the only one from before that has stuck around until now. His loyalty and skill has proven most useful."

"I see. Is that why you wanted to talk to me? For your seal to give me lessons in fighting?"

Snickering, Itkomi set her glass back on the desk. "I brought you in because I wanted you to know we are ready."

Dabi's eyes widened at the words he had heard, feeling his chest swell in excitement. After he had come to the caves to confirm they were going along with his goal, he had left to gather a… special gift that was assigned to him. Once he returned a week later, he had now been waiting for another week, growing more frustrated every day just waiting for the go ahead on the plan they had created. And now… a feeling of euphoria fell over him.

He couldn't help but start chuckling at the news. "You're ready?" he asked, earning a nod from the hunters leader.

"Yes. As long as this goes like we both hope, we will gain even more than we ever hoped. And if your little present is as great as you promise, then I doubt we will have any trouble getting through this without Endeavor's presence." Itkomi stated, her many eyes staring up at Dabi. "And that girl will be easy pickings along with everything else."

"Then it's settled." Dabi clicked his tongue in amusement. "We just have to-

"Before I tell you the location, however, I want to make something very clear…" Itkomi stood up from the chair, her spider legs spreading out from behind her back. "This plan is going against everything I've done to build this group to where it is now. Doing so will mean we will be forced to start over if this fails. The only reason I have chosen to go along with this is because the rewards are too great to pass on, but I still have a backup just in case. So if anything goes south on this, or if I sense there is something you do to put us in jeopardy, this plan ends then and there. I don't care if you are cornered and can't get out, We are gone. And if you try anything that goes against us, I'll rip your god damn head off, are we clear?"

Snickering, Dabi rubbed at the burn spot on his chin. "Still don't think of me as a close friend?"

Huffing out, one of Itkomi's spider legs reached over and pulled open the nearby drawer. "I don't consider many friends, and you certainly aren't one of them." She hissed out, lifting up a watch from inside. She stared at her small token, an item off her first job in the hunters. "But money talks, and I plan on getting more than I have ever had in a single night."

"If it all goes well, we will." Muteki chimed in, scraping his claws together as he leaned against the wall, "I've already sent out the plan to the other two, and everything will be in motion."

"And when do we set this in motion?" Dabi asked, not even caring about the money they kept talking about.

Looking down to her hand, Itkomi pulled at the lines of webbing coming from her fingers, herself growing anxious of what was to come. "In four days, everything changes."

The next evening: Fujiyoshida

Under the setting sun, the bustling city of Fujiyoshida was busy with the afternoon shoppers. Kendo walked along the sidewalk along Shishido, stretching her shoulders as she adjusted her long sleeved outfit. Now that she had been wearing this instead of her usual attire, she had been much more comfortable working the streets recently. Even with the light chill in the air, she was warm enough to do her duty still. She glanced over to her mentor for a moment and saw the large fur coat on his shoulders, playfully frowning at seeing how thick it was. "Maybe I should get a coat like yours to stay warm." she joked.

Shishido chuckled and patted his shoulders. "What, you think you can handle a mane for yourself? Looking to be a young lioness?" He teased.

Kendo playfully waved her hand and made a sour face. "Eh, maybe not. A little too hairy for my taste." She laughed, the two continuing a few more banters before they fell silent. She had to admit she was actually enjoying her work studies under Shishido, the hero surprisingly friendly despite his harsh and rough look he possessed. He was always easy to work with, but when it came to working, he was serious and focused. It was certainly a huge improvement over the beauty and makeup shoots she did during her internships. And she was especially happy to have gotten this chance to do something like this.

'Doing real hero work over makeup is a plus any day.' She muttered internally, seeing they were getting close to the main shopping district. Since the evening had been somewhat slow with action, she assumed tonight was going to simply be public services. And that certainly was going to happen as they saw a pair of men arguing in front of one of the restaurants, the larger of the two shoving the other back.

"You look at her again and I'm going to break your face!" the taller man with black hair shouted in rage.

"I didn't look at shit! Now back the hell up!" the other retorted, pushing the raging man back.

"I saw you staring, you creep, now get the hell out of here now!"

"Hey!" Shishido growled out, walking towards the two wide eyed patrons. "You're causing a scene in front of everyone."

"Well, then get this perv out of here!" the larger man shouted pointing his finger at the other. "I was coming back from the bathroom and saw this guy staring straight at my girlfriends skirt at the bar!"

"I told you I wasn't!" the smaller blonde yelled back, his cheeks slightly pink from both embarrassment and the few drinks he had. "I've had a lot on my mind and was just spacing out in thought. I wasn't looking at anything!"

"Yeah, I bet my girl's legs were on your mind." the accuser spat out, making the other grow red in anger.

"They weren't. Besides… it's not like she's much to look at anyway."

"The hell did you say?!" The black haired man screamed out as he drew his fist back, and swung, only for his fist to striked the stiff palm of Shishido.

"Control that temper now and step back." Shishido ordered, frowning as the enraged man attempted to push past him and still go for the other man. Giving a shove back, the man stumbled back and tried stepping to the side, only to trip and fall into a few bystanders. "Damn it…"

"Hey!" Kendo yelled as one of the people in a hoodie was knocked to the ground, dropping the food they were carrying. Running over, she glared at the aggressor as he sat up, his face now red with embarrassment from all the people looking at him. She turned down to the person on the ground, seeing the hoodie flipped up revealing a head of long red hair. "You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright…" the soft voice answered, the face looking up and revealing a beautiful woman in her early twenties. Her bright blue eyes blinked rapidly in nervousness, her fox ears laying flat against the top of her head as she sat up to her knees. "I'm fine, don't worry."

As shishido began scolding the man for causing a scene, Kendo simply smiled and offered her hand. "Sorry about that. We shouldn't have let that happen."

"It's okay…" the woman smiled and took her hand as she stood up. "I should have watched where I was."

Kendo was about to say something else, but as the woman shifted up from the ground, something slipped out from underneath her hoodie and fell to the ground. Everyone's ears perked up to the clattering metal, both Kendo and Shishido's eyes widening as they looked down at the dagger laying on the ground beneath the woman. The teen's jaw dropped at the sight of the weapon, looking up to the woman's shocked face. "What is- gah!"

Kendo yelped as the woman shoved her back and bolted from the scene, pushing through the nearby spectators and running down the street. "Hey!" Shishido yelled out after her, running over and pulling Kendo off the ground. "Who was she?" He asked.

"I don't know, she didn't say anything!" Kendo answered as she stood up.

Looking back down the road, Shishido caught sight of the fleeing woman down the road, surprised to see her putting distance down the road. He looked down to the knife and back to her, snatching the weapon up and taking off after her. "Then we find out who she is. Go!"

As Shishido bolted down the street, Kendo watched as he trekked down the fleeing woman at unreal speed. She knew there was no way she could keep up on foot, but knew there was something else she could use instead. Looking up, she saw the street sign, seeing she was close. "I can catch up…" She said to herself, sprinting around the corner and down the block to where she stored it.

Shishido sprinted down the street after the woman, leaping over a passing car and charging forward. He was surprised by the woman's speed, seeing her keep a small distance ahead of him. "Stop!" He shouted, growling as she kept running away.

Panting, the fox woman flipped her hoodie back up over her head, sprinting into a large crowd and trying to lose the hero pursuing her. As she glanced over her shoulder, she saw it was to no avail, as Shishido leaped onto the side of a building and stared her down. Huffing out, she shoved her way through the group and down an alleyway, bolting across the narrow pass to another street.

"Damn it…" Shishido growled as he leapt onto a large truck, kicking off the roof and landed back down onto the street and chased her. "Who the hell is this girl?"

"Get away!" the woman shouted, skidding around another corner and bolting away, seemingly unable to lose the hero. Suddenly a bright light shined onto her from the side, her blue eyes shifting and seeing something rushing her way. The fleeing woman jumped back as the loud machine shot by her and drifted to a stop, turning to see a green motorcycle ridden by Kendo.

"Just stop, we just want to talk." Kendo tried reasoning with the woman, frowning as the fox girl sprinted away once again with Shishido rushing by again.

Twisting her wrist, Kendo revved her bike up and burned out in the street, her tire smoking before gripping the road and blasting her after them. Leaning forward, she gained her balance as she chased them down the road, exhaling as the speed climbed. The wind rushed through her hair as she whipped down the road, swerving between the honking cars and keeping Shishido in sight unlike before. Without even realizing it, she had a small smirk as she increased her speed, the thrill of seeing she was keeping pace unlike before.

Turning down another alley, the fox woman gasped as she realized this was a dead end. She turned back to see Shishido sprinting after along with the motorcycle skidding to a stop at the entrance, looking forward again and leaping toward the escape ladder on the third floor. Kicking off the wall, she reached up and grabbed the bottom step, but her hand slipped on the slick metal, screaming as she fell down towards the pile of trash and crashing into it. Running up to the bags of trash, Shishido kept his guard up as the debris was shoved away, revealing the woman crawling out of the trash. The hoodie was torn up the front, the woman pulling it off and throwing it to the side revealing a brown shirt and a fluffy red and white tail sticking out behind herself. Her eyes shot back and forth as she looked for a way out, backing towards the wall as she panted in fear. "No no no… this can't be happening…" She muttered out in terror.

"Easy girl, just calm down." Shishido ordered, seeing she was obviously terrified of something. "Let's just take a moment and-

"I have to get out of here… this wasn't supposed to happen!" She yelled out, her eyes shooting back and forth up the walls. "I have to get out of here now!"

Kendo ran up to the pair, confused about what this woman was shouting about. "What's going on?"

"I don't know…" Shishido said and pulled the knife out. "But I want to know why you ran after this fell from you."

Panting the fox woman pressed her body against the wall behind herself, swallowing the lump in her throat. Kendo stared at the woman in confusion, thinking something was after the terrified woman. When she turned to the torn hoodie on the ground, however, she noticed something hidden inside. Kneeling down to it, she pulled out the parchment and flipped it open, revealing it to be a photo. What the photo was of though made Kendo's eyes burst open, her mouth falling open in shock. "Sir!" she shouted out.

Shishido turned to his pupil at her call, the tone in her voice surprising him. Keeping the woman in sight, he stepped over towards Kendo and reached for the item in her hand, grabbing it and looking at it. When he did, his eyes widened as well, looking back to the woman against the wall. "Who the hell are you?"

Downtown Tokyo

"Take them out of here," Endeavor said to the police, handing over the group of crooks he had captured. Sighing, he walked back to the side where his sidekicks were waiting, seeing Kido talking with some other police about the situation while Burnin was laughing to the side with Katara.

"Come on, kid. I whipped you tonight and you know it." She snickered as Katara rolled her eyes.

"I never even said I was doing this competition with you. Besides," Katara gave a small smirk and shrugged. "I captured both of my targets in under a minute while you got one."

"Yeah, but I got a big sucker. Yours were just the runts of the litter, so they only equal less than one guy."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," Katara laughed and crossed her arms. After having a slow night so far at work studies, they came across a gang breaking into the central bank of Japan and quickly dispatched them. Turning to the side, her smile faded slightly as she saw Endeavor looking her way. He gave a small nod at her work, only making her sigh internally. Even after what he had told her the other night, she still had the lack of empathy sitting in her chest, simply forcing a nod and looking away from him.

Endeavor sighed internally and turned to walk away, stopping when his phone began ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out and raised his eyebrow at the name on the phone. "Shishido?" he said as he answered it, "What is it?" he asked listening to the lion hero's words. "I've heard of that name before, but there's never been confirmation of-

Endeavor's eyes widened at what he heard, turning to the side at his subordinates. "Are you certain?"

Burnin noticed her boss staring at them, raising her eyebrow at the puzzled look on his face. "What's up with him?" She said.

"Huh?" Katara asked, looking to see Endeavor's wide eyes looking her way. The look he was giving showed a mix of confusion and concern, watching as he pulled the phone away and stepped towards them.

"Have the police contact our agency to finish up the reports. We have to go now." Endeavor demanded, both Burnin and Katara looking at each other in confusion.

"Something came up, boss?" Burnin asked, tilting her head as the flame hero turned and walked away.

"We are heading to Fujiyoshida."

Maebashi District

"Die!"

Boom!

Bakugo huffed out as he stood over the smoldering villain, watching as the spiky headed villain coughed out smoke and passed out. "Pathetic loser doesn't know when to give up." he growled out, exhaling and breathing out a small cloud in the chilly air before frowning at the laugh he heard behind.

"Sounds alot like you, sparky," Mirko snickered as she took another bite of the sandwich she was holding, leaning back against a light pole watching the fight.

"I'm nothing like this extra, cottontail! And why the hell am I doing all the work lately?! You haven't done shit!" Bakugo barked out.

"Hey, I almost fall asleep fighting losers like this. It's actually kind of nice having someone pick up the trash for me." She grinned and wiped her mouth clean. "Maybe it was a good idea keeping you around."

"I'm not some damn errand boy!" Bakugo snapped out, her laughing at him only making his forehead vein pulse. "And why the hell didn't you say we were going north?! It's damn freezing here!"

"Aw, does the firecracker need a scarf or he will catch a cold?" she teased.

"When it's cold it's harder to sweat, dumbass! If I had known that we were going somewhere colder, I'd have brought my other costume!"

"Damn, what a bummer," Mirko play frowned, laughing as he ground his teeth at her taunt. She then felt the vibration in her belt, reaching in and pulling out her phone, raising her eyebrow at Shishido's name. "Huh? The hell does that pussy want?" she grumbled and pressed the speaker button. "Yo, what's up?" She asked.

"Mirko… something's come up. You need to come to Fujiyoshida immediately." He said through the phone, making Mirko huff out.

"What do you want? You find someone pissing in your litter box again?" She taunted.

"Cut the shit, Mirko… This is serious…" Shishido growled through the phone, "I found someone that you will want to meet right now."

Mirko's smile fell slightly at the tone in the lion hero's voice, "What do you mean?"

"Remember when you asked me if I ever came across a certain group of criminals years ago to tell you? I have one right here for you to speak to."

The moment those words were heard, Mirko's eyes seemed to burst out from her head. The sandwich fell from her hand as her heart rate suddenly spiked. She almost couldn't believe what she was told, her hand squeezing her phone so hard the screen cracked. A massive grin spread across her face as she looked up to Bakugo. "Kid, get your shit together… we're leaving now."

"Huh?" Bakugo looked over to the rabbit hero, noticing the crazed look on her face. "What's with you?"

"Something came up…" Mirko said as she stood up, her ears starting to twitch erratically from her heightened adrenaline, already becoming on edge knowing what she was going to see. "Something I thought I was never going to do."

Forty minutes later, Fujiyoshida

Inside the police station, Shishido stood looking through the interrogation room glass, staring at the fox woman in handcuffs sitting there. When he woke up this morning, he never expected he was going to come across something like this. Huffing out, he looked over to Kendo beside him, the teen looking somewhat distraught. "Do not worry. She will be fine." he assured her.

"It's just… if what you said is true, can you be sure nothing is going to happen?" She asked.

"We will make sure nothing is going to happen," Shishido patted her shoulder. "All of us."

"Where the hell is he?! Get out of the way now!"

"Ma'am, calm down. He is in the back with-

"Is it that way? Move it!"

The sudden commotion from the hall caught both of their attention, although Shishido recognized the gruff female voice immediately. "She's here…" He said, walking out towards the entrance and seeing the rabbit hero shouting at the police captain. The moment she saw him, Mirko's eyes focused to a harsh glare as she stomped forward.

"Shishido…" She growled, "She say anything yet?"

"Not much yet…" He answered, "but let's wait for the others before we go in."

"Fuck that, I'm going in…" Mirko breathed heavily and tapped her foot in anxiousness. "I thought this was something I was never going to get closure on…"

As the two heroes were going back and forth, Kendo tilted her head in confusion to why Mirko was here, and then noticed her classmate frowning behind the rabbit hero. When they locked gazes, Bakugo sneered and walked towards her. "The hell you doing here, big fist?" he mumbled.

"Me? What are you doing here?" Kendo asked. "Why is Mirko here?"

"The hell like I know… She didn't say shit once she got called and dragged me here." he responded, looking over to his mentor's glare, not used to seeing her seemingly pissed. "I have no idea what the hell is so important she had to come here."

The doors to the precinct opened up once more, the group turning to see the Endeavor walking inside. Kendo's eyes widened as she saw Katara and Burnin follow in after. "Katara!" She said and ran up to her. "I'm glad you were able to make it.''

"Kendo?" Katara said in surprise, not expecting to see her here. She looked past her and saw Bakugo there as well, growing even more confused at what was happening. "What's going on? Endeavor got a call and said he had to come here."

"Wait, he didn't tell?" Kendo asked in surprise, looking over to Bakugo who looked just as confused. She turned to the trio of heroes talking, wondering why they were keeping all of them in the dark. "What is going on here?"

Bakugo couldn't help but glare at the waterbender talking to Kendo, once again seeing her coming to another situation. He was now beginning to grow irritated that it seemed no matter what happened, she was becoming involved in it. Cracking his knuckles, he turned away as the pair of girls looked his direction, looking to the heroes together. Seeing they were here now, Shishido nodded and crossed his arms. "Glad both of you made it now."

"Thanks for calling me," Endeavor said, "Are you sure about what you found?"

"Yes," Shishido answered, "What we got so far, she confirmed it."

"Excuse me, but I'm done with paddy cake here." Mirko growled and headed towards the back door. "I've waited too long for this."

As the rabbit hero stormed by the students and through the door, Shishido signaled the others to follow. "Come. it's back this way."

As Endeavor followed behind, Katara and Bakugo looked at each other in utter confusion while Kendo sighed and grabbed Katara's shoulder. "You need to see this."

Wondering what was going on, Katara followed her redhead friend into the back of the precinct, finding the trio of heroes staring through the glass window. Looking herself, Katara saw what was a pretty and young woman sitting there terrified, a pair of fox ears sticking up through her red hair. She then turned to the heroes, seeing both Endeavor and Shishido looking in confusion to the situation, while Mirko was staring like a hungry beast tapping her foot rapidly.

"This is her?" Mirko asked, "Honestly not what I expected being one of them."

"Oh she is," Shishido nodded, "And I didn't think they would try something like this."

Growling, Bakugo stomped forward and looked at the girl inside the room. "What the hell is going on? Who the hell is this bitch?"

Taking a breath, Shishido stepped away from the glass and walked through the group. "She calls herself Vixen… and she's a member of a mercenary group of assassins called the Hunters."

"Hunters?" katara tilted her head in confusion, never hearing of this before.

"What is this? Another group of losers trying to get famous?" Bakugo scoffed out, expecting Mirko to say something as well… but lifted his eyebrow in surprise when she stayed silent for once. He looked over at her, seeing her grinning but possessing a crazed look in her eyes.

"They aren't just a group of losers, kid…" Shishido shot out, flicking on the switch and turning on the back light. "They are cold blooded killers who have avoided capture for years… And they apparently have a new target they are after."

As the lights revealed the pinboard on the wall, Katara and the other newcomers stared in shock at what they saw. The image revealed a shot of Endeavor walking down the street, with Katara and the other sidekicks walking behind the flame hero. But that was only the first thing that made them all confused, all of them turning to glance at the green headed sidekick staring open mouthed in disbelief.

For the picture had an "X" drawn over everyone, except for the red circle surrounding Endeavor's lead sidekick.

"What the hell?!" Burnin shouted out in shock.

Notes: Here we go! the arc has taken movement now! A taste of Endeavor's regret, and a new member of the hunters revealed.

And what is going on?! what are these hunters plan that they came up with that makes Itkomi and them confident?

I guess you will have to find out soon!

And new artwork of Katara is up on deviantart! follow the link on my profile!

Till next time!