I own nothing. May contain Out of Character moments.

*Note, there has been an error during the initial posting on November 1st where some couldn't view the chapter. As it has been fixed, I have re uploaded the chapter so that anyone who hasn't read it will be notified of the opportunity to do so. Thank you CRed1988 for your message telling me of this fix. Next update will be on November 15th, see you there.

"Mineta-kun…?" Iida asked, unsure of what he's seeing. Mineta ignored his class president as he continued to stare at Stain. The shorter boy was carefully making notes about him and vice versa. But he could feel it; the Hero Killer was ready to pounce at any moment. So whatever info he can get now would be super helpful.

Granted, he was exactly as Fenghuang and her Eight Masters had pieced together. Armed with specific kinds of blades, had spiked boots, attack people in alleyways, fast and acrobatic, etc. And looking at the still immobile Iida and Native, Mineta has figured out the Stain's 'special trick'.

"He can paralyze people by drawing blood. How it's triggered… I don't want to find out." Mineta thought. Since one cut would probably spell the end, it's best not to let any of those blades even graze him. If he gets out of this somehow, he needed to thank Shifu for preparing him.

"… Are you really going to stand against me? For a fake like him?" Stain asked as his glare hardened.

"Fake? I know his acting's pretty wooden, but Iida's anything but a fake." Mineta said with a light laugh. Why was he telling a joke now of all times? Perhaps it was his way of keeping his nerves from fraying. Or maybe the shorter boy was already starting to lose it.

"Mineta-kun, go! This has nothing to do with you!" Iida shouted, body quivering as he tried to move. It took all of Mineta's will to not react to that. He couldn't take a single eye off of the Hero Killer lest he lose the initiative. And besides, it was already too late to turn tail.

"Seeing how you're not wanted by all parties present… I'll give you this one chance to leave. But if you really plan on staying, you'll be mercilessly cut down like them." Stain said with a growl. Mineta felt a shiver rattle his bones. But there was something about his words that only strengthened his spirit. And so, Mineta straightened his back and squared his shoulders, recalling the moment he first met Midoriya.

"Even though I'm not wanted… And I'll probably be killed in seconds… I'm not going anywhere. A true Hero stands his ground."

"Mineta-kun, no!" Iida screamed.

An inquisitive smirk spread across Stain's face as he readied to sprint towards his foe. With Mineta's free hand, he quickly took a ball from his head and waited. The Hero Killer darted towards the shorter boy, his speed intense. Mineta quickly threw it at Stain's next footstep, his timing perfect as–

Stain's pace changed at the last moment, lengthening his stride over the hairball after it has landed. The shorter boy's eyes widened but his body was already moving. His baton went up as Stain came in swinging. The Hero Killer's speed was just about the same as Fenghuang's, allowing Mineta to withstand the attacks. However, due to the difference in build, Mineta felt himself lose ground, something he couldn't afford.

However, there was one thing he was thankful for… Stain's strikes weren't as strong as Soren's attacks.

From his right, Mineta saw the next strike aimed at his neck. Palm up. The left side was clear but Stain was readying a follow up. If he didn't do 'that' right now, the shorter boy would be pinned. So, as the right strike swung in, Mineta raised his baton to defense point six. And upon meeting, the two weapons filled the air with the sound of clashing metal.

The Hero Killer applied pressure to his right blade, keeping Mineta's baton pinned. However, this provided the opening that the shorter boy needed. It was now or never.

Mineta's free hand shot out, grabbing the end of Stain's knife grip as he pushed down on the blade with his baton. Due to the angle of attack, the Hero Killer's grip on his weapon was weakened. And with this motion, the knife slipped out of his hand as Mineta took it away. Stain swung in from the left with his other knife and Mineta blocked it with both blade and baton. The shorter boy then turned the hand that held the baton and thrust towards the one place that would end the fight.

The groin.

However, his foe saw this coming and immediately leapt back. Mineta tossed the blade in his left hand behind him before recovering the ground he lost. He took up his stance again and stood ready for the next onslaught. Stain examined his empty hand before a wide grin spread across his face.

"… It seems I've misjudged you. I've lost my blades in confrontations before. But this is the first time I've lost two in succession. And to such a short kid no less." Stain commented, drawing another blade. This time, it was a smooth, double edged dagger with a broad blade.

"Then maybe you should retire while you're still ahead." Mineta retorted, taking the chance to take a hairball into his free hand.

"Not an option. Not while there are still fakes poisoning society, like the two 'Heroes' you're protecting." Stain said before darting forward. But unlike before he leapt towards the wall, an attempt to get the aerial advantage. Mineta quickly tossed the hairball in his hand, this time waiting just a little longer to ensure the Hero Killer gets stuck. The ball stuck to the spot where Stain's foot was about to hit, only for him to shift away again. However, due to the bad angle, he couldn't leap off with much power.

Using that, Mineta tried to trap the area Stain was going to land on. But again, the Hero Killer simply shifted his feet and landed on clear asphalt. He charged forward, engaging Mineta in another flurry of slashes. This time, he was more calculated and quick with his attacks. And it really took everything Mineta had to even hold his ground.

But it was only a matter of time before he was overwhelmed.

"You are looking more and more like a real Hero! There are so many fools out there who are nothing but talk! They've forgotten what it means to be a Hero! Just like those fakes behind you! They are nothing but posers who–!" Stain began. Mineta felt something snap inside of him. He ducked under one slash and swung up as he stood. His baton aimed for Stain's inner thigh, but the Hero Killer leapt back.

He went on guard as Mineta stared at him in disbelief.

"You killed and maimed so many people… Brought so much fear and grief… Just for that? Wanting more ideal Heroes is great, but this is not how you do it! In fact, this is just making it worse!" Mineta said, slowly going into a shout as he gestured around him. Stain furrowed his brows as he slowly walked forward. And Mineta was so focused on the Hero Killer that he didn't even bother to throw a hairball.

"Would you care to explain? Because every person I've met were either vain glory hunters or angry vengeance seekers. Just like your friend behind you, he showed me nothing but hate and strayed far from the ideal. Avenging your brother? He should be above such petty motivations." Stain said, spitting every word at the shorter boy. He then stopped right in front of Mineta, his shadow looming over him. It was like looking at a cliff face that could fall at any moment.

But the shorter boy didn't run. He continued to stand proud against the Hero Killer.

"My brother isn't a petty reason! He's done so much for people and for–!" Iida began, anger rising again.

"Iida!" Mineta shouted, interrupting him. "He's not right… But neither are you… I mean, just look at you."

"This is nothing! Once I'm up, I'll finish what I started! It's what Tensei nii-san wanted!" Iida screamed, his body trembling in an effort to move.

"If your brother was the Hero you saw him as… He wouldn't want this from you. To sacrifice yourself for his sake. And what can you do? He paralyzed you once, he can do it again." Mineta retorted. His eyes continued to watch Stain as he watched back. Neither of them moved, even when they were close enough to attack each other. Right now, it was a battle of wills. And the first to flinch would be the one to go down.

"I must win! Even if I must give my life to do so!"

Again, something inside Mineta snapped upon hearing that. Was his class president really this blind? Does he not know what would happen if that came to pass? If so, then Iida needs a reality check.

"Your brother just lost his legs. How would he feel if he lost you too?" Mineta asked, the tension in him reaching a new level. He could hear Iida gasping in an attempt to respond. But there was nothing he could say, not to that question. And taking that as a cue, Stain began swinging with renewed vigor. But Mineta wasn't going to budge. He met those blows with all the zeal and fury his small body could muster.

"Now do you see it? How fake his mask really is? That's the true face of your friend! His true character!" Stain shouted. Mineta ducked under his next swing from the right. He then blocked the one coming from his left with his forearm guard. While it was heavy, he managed to stop it. And with that, he quickly flicked his baton into the Hero Killer's fingers.

Stain winced as he backed off a step before Mineta could follow up. The shorter boy, keen on not letting him get away, grabbed one end from Stain's bandana and pulled. However, upon seeing that, the Hero Killer simply cut it and started to step back again. Only to be forced to dodge when Mineta began to lob several balls.

To do this though, Mineta had to place the baton at his hip. But with both hands free and knowledge of Stain's footwork, he knew the Hero Killer couldn't safely advance without becoming stuck. He didn't just throw it at Stain either. The shorter boy threw it all over the place. It didn't matter that his scalp started to bleed and hurt, he wasn't giving an inch to Stain.

Mineta stopped throwing and quickly rearmed himself, wiping at the trickling blood so it didn't obscure his vision. He then watched Stain carefully look around, no doubt planning his angle of attack. And, strangely enough, Mineta found him looking at the blood that soaked his mask and gloves. It was as if he was working that into his plan.

"Oh great… He's going to try and take the blood…" Mineta thought, quickly examining if he left blood anywhere else. There wasn't, so he was still in luck. And hopefully, it won't run out any time soon.

"… Why are you going so far for that Fake? Because he's your friend!? Such naïve values will only–" Stain asked.

"Would you shut up? This isn't about him! This is about you and your jaded world view! Fake? Not a Fake? It's like you're trying to make everything either black or white when that's just not possible. People are just too complex for that sort of logic. Or are you so deranged that you don't give a shit?" Mineta interrupted. Stain's brows furrowed deeply before he raised his left arm and threw his long knife.

The shorter boy's eyes widened but his body went into automatic. He moved to the side, letting the blade pass by him. Only now did his brain register that the thing could hit Iida. But upon hearing a metallic clang, Mineta breathed a little easier knowing the knife hit nothing but asphalt. Though his worries were about to worsen…

"I. Am. Not. Deranged. I wouldn't have been able to kill and maim 41 Heroes if I was. No… I am a visionary looking to change this corrupt cesspool we call a society, one body at a time." Stain said, thunder rolling in his voice. He even began walking forward again, stepping around every ball in front of him. Still, that extreme reaction meant a nerve was touched.

So let's hope this won't end horribly.

"Then you're deluded. Randomly spilling blood won't change anything, just as a flower can't be forced to bloom. What you want needs time and people with open minds to happen. But tell me, who wants to talk philosophy with a murderer? You're just making things harder for yourself." Mineta answered, staring unflinchingly into Stain's eyes. But using his peripheral vision, the shorter boy noted the various bits of trash that he could use for later.

Stain, drawing another blade, began swinging at Mineta again. But like before, the shorter boy met them with everything he's got. However, there was something in Stain's attacks that was different. What that was though, the shorter boy couldn't say.

Still, he should keep talking to try and get into his head.

"Think about it! Despite everything, no one's talking about your crimes with any nuance. No one knows what you're trying to accomplish. All they're concerned with is bringing you down! But things can be different if you just say something!" Mineta shouted, blocking each swing that came his way.

"Pretty words, but that's ultimately useless. People will only listen to actions. So let them come; I'll show them just how fake they really are." Stain said. He pushed Mineta's baton out of the way, before stabbing downward with his other knife. The shorter boy stepped aside, leaning away from the strike before ducking under the next. He met another swipe from his right with his baton.

However, when meeting another attack from his left with his forearm guard, Mineta realized he was trapped. He couldn't move, not without getting himself cut in the process. He was also open to a kick Stain's spiked boots. There was nothing he could do...

"… No one is fake. And even if they are, they can change if you just let them. I know this… You know this…" Mineta grunted, straining to hold back the blades. To his surprise, Stain responded instead of just giving him the boot. Perhaps he was getting complacent? Or just amused by his feeble struggle?

"I don't. People might act like they've turned over a new leaf… But when no one looks, they go back to their old ways. It's just the way we are; our true nature isn't so flexible."

"Don't give me that. We don't know ourselves like we think we do. I always believed I was nothing but a perverted coward. But others helped me open my eyes and find my way forward. In a single moment, they've changed me. And I'm not alone in that; I've seen it happen with others. Are you telling me that wasn't real? That it never happened?" Mineta asked, still struggling to hold back the blades.

Silence as the Hero Killer looked down on him.

"What about you? Are you telling me you were like this from the start? That you became the Hero Killer because it was your lifelong dream? That someone or something didn't change the way you saw yourself and the world? Can you honestly tell me that?" Mineta continued, finally feeling his arms starting to buckle.

"… No, I cannot." Stain answered; his vise grip attack loosening.

"Then anyone else can do the same, they can grow to be something great." Mineta said, sounding a little hopeful that, maybe, he reached him. Stain stared on in silence, before moving the blade on Mineta's right side. The shorter boy was then kicked aside, the shock to his tired arm causing him to finally drop his baton. The Hero Killer charged forward, going for Iida once more.

Without missing a beat, Mineta stepped onto the nearest hairball on the ground. He launched himself to a hairball on the wall and bounced off of it. Thanks to his speed and angle, he arrived in front of Stain just before he could plunge his knife into Iida's skull. The shorter boy raised his hands, hoping to stop the attack somehow.

The silver of the blade flashed.

…

…

…

*Drip*

"Mineta-kun…?" Iida asked, looking at the blood dripping next to him.

The shorter boy could only stare into Stain's eyes, doing everything in his power to not look right. But when there was no pain, he grew disturbingly curious. So slowly, he turned to assess the damage. Stain's blade was buried into his right shoulder. And looking further up, that same blade had also passed through the palm of his right hand.

Only when he saw blood, his blood, stain his glove and ooze down the blade did the pain set in. A horribly sharp fire ran through his right arm and he couldn't contain the scream.

"AAAGGGHHH!"

"There are so few who're willing to die for their so called 'ideals'. But you've exceeded my expectations. Simply remarkable." Stain said, releasing the knife and stepping back.

Despite feeling like he was dying, Mineta pulled a hairball off his head. If this bastard was going to keep fighting, then he'll have to make every last flicker of life count. But that attack never came. The Hero Killer, instead, simply sheathed his other knife and began walking the other way.

What?

"Where… Are you going?" Mineta asked, slowly lurching after him.

"Home to meditate, a lot can be learned from tonight." Stain answered as he continued to walk. Mineta tried to take another step, but found himself falling forward. The stress of the battle, physical and mental, had finally caught up to him. And he would've hit the ground had it not been for Iida catching him.

"Iida…?"

"I don't know. Suddenly, I could move." He answered before looking up to the Hero Killer, finding him staring back at him.

"You've got a wonderful friend Ingenium, he went to Hell for you. So don't take his faith for granted. Do that and you'll meet the end of my blade once more." Stain said before running into the dark of the night.

"WAIT!" A new voice shouted. A green figure then appeared and bolted down the alleyway, giving chase to the Hero Killer. Mineta weakly smiled as he easily recognized that reliable back anywhere. And upon hearing another, more stoic voice, the shorter boy finally began to relax. Well, as relaxed as he could be considering there's still a blade stuck in him.

"You guys… Are… La…" Mineta said weakly.

And then it all went black.

And that has been Chapter 47! Well, here it is, the chapter where things go awry. But while the consequences of this won't be realized until a while later... There WILL be consequences for allowing the Hero Killer to retreat. But I digress...

The biggest problems I faced this chapter comes in three flavors. One, was Mineta's training and preparation enough? Two, was the conversation between Stain and Mineta reasonable? Three, would Stain really have enough sense to listen? It is really difficult to judge how well I handled each of these since, at least on some level, all of these are possible. Mineta was trained by master Martial Artists to specifically fight against bladed opponents. He also argued against Stain's ideology by using applying it to Stain himself. And lastly, while incredibly misguided, Stain isn't insane and is capable of reason.

What are your views on these questions? And how do you feel I handled it?

Other than that, I've got no other news for you. So...

Until Next Time. T1.