Chapter Forty-One
~Shina's POV~
"Are you certain you can handle everything here miss?" Mei asked as she helped Shina unload the last of their bags from the plane.
"Yes thank you Mei." Shina nodded as she helped Kaito down the steps to the airstrip. Dabi and Yoshi had been the first two off the plane while Shina had taken her time. Considering both boys had issues with flying she understood them jumping off first chance they got. Shina herself wasn't very anxious to get back to the League of Villains so she was taking her time gathering her bags and Kaito. She had deeply enjoyed her few days of freedom.
"Then we shall bid you goodbye. We hope to see you again soon!" Mei smiled as she and Chiyo waved goodbye. Shina waved back before she had Kaito wave goodbye.
"Bye!" He called in mispronounced Japanese that had a small smile forming on Shina's lips as the two flight attendants giggled.
"Come on, let's get home so you can see Kira and Kai again." Kaito started to mumble to himself and hurriedly pulled Shina to the car. Shina helped Kaito buckle into his car seat before she got in the driver's seat. A dry look at Dabi slouched in the passenger seat was enough to have an evil smirk form on Shina's face as she revved the engine. He hadn't been very friendly towards her since they'd left America which she didn't mind as Shina had come to associate Dabi's disposition as that of a grumpy street cat. One moment he hated your guts and the next he tolerated you enough to not take a vicious swipe at you. The fact that she knew he had motion sickness was all the blackmail she needed to know that the angry look he gave her was personal. Shina cackled as she started to drive.
Shina didn't say anything as Dabi reached over and grabbed her wrist. Shina glanced at him only to stick her tongue out. He scoffed but let her go without any retaliation.
"I hate you." Dabi growled as Shina chuckled.
"Come on Dabs, I haven't raced in a long time. I won't get us in any trouble." The drive to the Ugly House wasn't that bad in the beginning. It wasn't until they were about halfway to the Ugly House when Yoshi spoke up.
"Hey Shina?" Shina glanced back at him in the rearview mirror.
"What?"
"I just patched into the lines for Kira and Kai, it looks like they could use some help. They're fighting Endeavor, Hawks and Eraserhead on their own." Shina frowned.
"Where?" She asked already calculating in her head how she would able to move with Kaito in the back. She could drop Dabi off so he could do some damage. It wouldn't be planned but she was sure Shigaraki wouldn't mind, it's not like Dabi ever followed his directions to the letter anyway.
"We're about twenty minutes from them." Shina looked around before her foot slammed into the floor as she manipulated the car to go faster than they had previously be going. "Go left up ahead." Yoshi directed. Shina didn't even slow down as she immediately put the car into a drift going the direction that Yoshi said.
"Looks like you get to go up against Endeavor Dabi." Shina commented, seeing him grip the door handle. "Think you can handle that?"
"If you freaking get us there alive." Shina nodded.
"You caught the cops attention." Yoshi called as Shina wove through a crowded intersection. People on the street and in their cars cried out as she avoided getting into any crashes.
"Can you freaking slow down." Dabi growled.
"Nope. Not unless you want to explain to the cops why you're in my passenger seat." Shina stated as she accelerated the car. "I don't want to smell burned cops either so your just gonna have to sit pretty." Shina glanced in her rearview mirror. "I'll lose em." Shina grinned as she glanced at Yoshi. "Gonna need a clear route Yosh."
"Why am I even affiliated with you?" Yoshi sighed as he started to tap away at his screens. Shina didn't bother to answer as she turned the car wheel tightly to the left while also accelerating to flawlessly join the cars that had already been about to run left. Cars honked while the one cop car that managed to follow behind her tried and failed to do the same move. "You got more coming." Yoshi warned.
"Yeah I figured he called back up." Shina bit back.
"Hero in bound at the next turn. Go straight." Yoshi called. Shina followed Yoshi's directions as he directed her past the hero that tried to stop her. Shina effortlessly drifted past cars and managed to veer the car through traffic while also managing to evade multiple heroes that became aware of her 'reckless driving'.
"I seriously hate you." Dabi ground out as he held onto the door tightly. Shina could only cackle as she did a U turn before going back the other way.
"Go left! Four miles straight ahead and then turn right!" Yoshi called from the back. Kaito was cackling up a storm in the back making the grin on Shina's face widen. When Shina did turn right she was greeted to the sight of a flaming hero coming directly at her along with the two other animal themed heroes and…
"Akira! Raidou!" Shina called as she pulled the car right up behind them. "Get in the back!" Shina made sure the car's interior looked black as Kira and Kai jumped into the back seat. Yoshi yelped as the three teenagers got squished. "Dabi you wanna give us some cover?" Shina asked. He glared at her before he did indeed form a giant fireball of blue flames. Shina stomped on the gas, and they were out of there.
"Nice timing Shina!" Kira called.
"Yeah don't thank me thank Yoshi." Shina called back as she got the car back up to it's top speed and once again wove through traffic.
"LEFT!" Shina did as Yoshi said and turned left. She started to recognize where she was now. Without any prompting Shina turned right into a heavily crowded courtyard that had civilians screaming and yelling as they dived for cover. Shina didn't bother to honk as she turned right going down into a subway tunnel. She used her Quirk to make an armored front that smashed through the turnstiles and the other security gates. People screamed and yelled as they got out of the way.
Yoshi yelled. "I didn't say turn down here!"
"I know!" Shina stated. "Trust me on this one guys."
"I don't fucking trust you with anything!" Dabi yelled.
"I SECOND THAT!" Kira screamed as she clutched at a yelling and screaming Kaito who Shina was pretty sure was just laughing along for the ride at this point. Shina rolled her eyes as she turned the car down a track and they literally shot forward at the speed of a train.
"Oh, come on guys, it wasn't that bad!" Shina stated as she pushed her hair out of her face, glancing at Dabi who was glaring at her while smoke and flames danced from his hands. "I know how to drive."
"That wasn't driving. That was insanity." Kai stated as he pulled his mask down. A large grin was on his face. "Let's do that again."
"Another time." Shina promised. "Right now, we have to get gone."
"How are you going to get off the track?" Kira asked.
"Don't worry about it." Shina stated as she accelerated along the track. "I've been down here before and I know this particular track opens up right about… now." Where there was a slowly growing light at the end of the literal tunnel there was now bright skies and the train track ahead of them.
"We've got a tail." Yoshi called.
"Who?" Kira asked as Shina glanced backwards.
"Your feathered friend." Yoshi answered. Shina didn't see anything in the rearview window or mirror but she trusted Yoshi's announcement.
"Make sure you get any feathers off." Shina ordered. "He can track them." Shina saw the kids in the back looking around them for feathers before she decided to just abandon ship.
"I can't find any feathers." Kira called.
"You sure he can track them?" Kai asked.
"Yeah been down that road before." Shina muttered as she glanced around. "It's a nice welcome home though, I missed this." Shina jerked the wheel and forced the car from the tracks. "I'm gonna need you guys to hop out of the car when I stop. Make sure you guys hide."
"What about you?" Kira asked. "And Kaito?"
"I know where we are." Shina stated as she slowed enough to turn down a random alleyway. "We're close to safehouse D. You guys head back to the Ugly House and Kaito and I will head over as soon as we ditch the car. Don't leave anything behind."
"Got it." The kids chorused. Shina once again slowed as she got ready to get back on the roads. She braked the car just before and unlocked the doors. She glanced at Dabi before she grabbed his wrist, pulling him back into the car.
"What you gonna tell me to be careful?" He asked, annoyed. Shina snorted.
"Why would I waste a breath on that? I just wanted to say," Shina yanked him closer by the front of his shirt so he was closer than he'd ever been. He blinked. "You make sure my kids get back safe and sound or I'm going to personally kick you out of the League." Shina gave a small air kiss before she shoved him out of the car. "And no killing!" Shina slammed on the gas, bringing the car into a hard jerk as she turned to head northeast to where she could safely ditch the car. It was a good thing that the bags and stuff were in a separate car.
Shina slowed down the further she got to safehouse D until finally, she parked in a rather empty parking structure. Shina didn't waste time to grab Kaito's tablet and juice before she buckled him and put him on the side.
"Stay right there Kaito." Shina ordered sternly. He nodded before Shina formed a light sword and cut the seatbelt on Kaito's car seat. She pulled Kaito and the car seat to the nearest stairwell before she put the car seat down and knelt down to Kaito. "Kaito, do you have any pretty feathers?"
"Feathers here." Kaito grinned as he pulled a red feather up to Shina's eyesight. Shina nodded, glad she'd had the forethought to make sure if he did or didn't have a feather.
"This is bad feather okay?" Shina stated taking the feather from Kaito's thin fingers. Shina used her Quirk to have the feather disappear in a burst of flame. She honestly would have preferred to have kept it but considering the troubles she'd had the last time she'd tried to keep one of Hawks feathers, she wasn't going to chance getting Kaito caught by him. "Now come on, we have to get to the apartment okay?"
"Apartment?" Kaito asked.
"Yes," Shina picked him up and placed him on her hip before she grabbed the car seat in her other hand. Shina glanced down the stairwell before deciding to let gravity help her get away. Shina got Kaito on her back, using her light rope to keep him strapped to her as she leapt down to the ground floor using the balcony railings. Shina exited the building as she heard a door inside open. Shina used her illusions to go invisible as she hurried down the side streets.
It took about five minutes to reach the front door to the building that safehouse D was in. Shina didn't let Kaito down as she entered the building and headed straight to the elevators. She would need to call Claude to come and get them since the car was now no use to them. She was also going to need to make sure Shigaraki was aware they were back in Japan. Of course she was also going to need to make sure she completed her true mission as well. The elevator doors dinged as Shina's mind overtook her to her last hours with her grandmother.
The morning sun was bright as it spread across the desert turning everything a warm shade of brown and gold. Considering how warm and inviting it looked, Shina still had to bundle up Kaito as she got the boys to her grandmother's home so they could have breakfast before they left. And yet, Shina had left the breakfast table halfway through her meal as she wanted to see one last place before she did leave.
The trek up the mesa to the top took some effort as Shina hadn't climbed the sandy steps in a while. On top of the mesa, stood a single building that Shina knew her grandfather had built many years ago as a wedding present to her grandmother. It was a gazebo made with Japanese wood that had somehow, withstood the test of time, harsh winds and sandstorms.
There were pale stones that led up to the gazebo that shone and sparkled under the sun. Shina knew that in the moonlight they practically glowed as this place was a family secret as well as a sacred place as her grandmother, her uncles and aunts had been married here. The dark wood gleamed as if it had just been built the day before. Her grandmother was hunched over in front of the steps leading to the gazebo. She looked as if she was praying but Shina knew she wasn't. Her people didn't mourn their dead as to them, they weren't really dead, just gone onto the next world to be with their ancestors.
"It's hard to see you leave baby girl." Her grandmother murmured as she stood up.
"I know grandma." Shina said. "But the sooner I leave, the sooner I can come back."
"Will you be gone long?" Her grandmother's voice was curious. "You were gone for a year this last time."
"I know." Shina acknowledged. "To be honest I hadn't intended to be gone so long. I was wanting to come back sooner but then I got handed this job and well, I couldn't exactly say no." Shina mumbled the last part with as much sarcasm as she could.
"Must need a lot of planning then." Shina sighed.
"Honestly at this point, I'm pretty sure we're just floundering. But I can't exactly say anything to my boss otherwise it'll set him off and then I'll have to deal with his tantrum."
"How old is your boss?" Her grandmother asked as she turned around to see Shina.
"Does it really matter?" Shina wondered. "You said all men in power were the same." Her grandmother hummed as she looked over the valley. With the sunlight hitting everything just right, it was beautiful. Like something out of a painting but Shina knew even paintings or pictures would do it no justice.
"Your friend, Dabi." Her grandmother started. Shina met her green eyes that were narrowed into slits. "Be careful around him."
"I doubt Dabi is much of a threat to us." Her grandma let out a soft rumbling as she changed to their native language.
"He was asking questions he shouldn't have known to ask Shina." Shina tilted her head in confusion. "About the Nara home in Japan." Shina narrowed her own eyes in confusion before it hit her like a wall. Dabi had followed her last night. She'd wondered why it had seemed like there were two sets of footprints on the way back last night. She'd just thought it was the sand dunes since the riverbed was dry. Rookie mistake.
"Mari and I were talking about that last night." Shina answered. "Apparently I had forgotten something in the past and she'd reminded me of it."
"And this involved the Nara home?" Shina met her grandmother's eyes warily.
"If I could ask you to be honest with me, would you?"
"I don't think-," Shina interrupted whatever excuse her grandmother was probably going to come up with.
"I'm serious Grandma. I need to know this. I need to know why mom left here and went to Japan. I remember we didn't have the money to stay in Japan after she passed and there was no money to bring me or the kids back after. Why would she leave when things were that unstable? What was mom doing in Japan besides work?" Her grandmother simply assessed her before she clicked her tongue and looked away, out towards where the desert beckoned.
"Our family has not had the best luck in life." Shina nodded.
"Yeah no kidding." Shina stated when her grandmother didn't go on.
"I've lost my husband and almost all of my kits. You grandkids are all I have left tying me to this world." Shina honestly wasn't sure how to respond to that except to place a, what she hoped was comforting hand on her grandma's shoulder. "Your grandfather thought this was the safest place to keep these kinds of things. Turns out he was right." Her grandmother sat down on the steps of the gazebo, sighed and started to talk. Shina listened to everything her grandmother had to say.
"Your mother thought it was suspicious about how your uncles and aunts passed so suddenly. It was unnatural. Your uncle Edward thought so too and he started to investigate everything. He wasn't careful and because of that he was arrested for killing his wife."
"You make it sound like he's innocent." Shina stated slowly, narrowing her eyes. Her grandmother just stared at her in silence. Shina felt a sickening feeling in her gut. "But why is he- if he's innocent why haven't you-"
"Your mother tried." Shina shut her mouth. "She was invited to Japan by someone we thought was from your grandfather's side. We were lied to. Your grandfather did not mention his family because he has none." Shina blinked a few times. "Do you understand now?"
"I… think so." Shina murmured as she contemplated. "Do you have any of mom's research?" Her grandmother nodded.
"I have everything, but it's on here." Her grandmother reached up and took off her necklace. "Your mother said it was a UBS drive."
"That's USB grandma." Shina reached out and took the necklace. Her grandma waved her hand. "If you've had this the entire time, why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I was waiting for the right time." Her grandmother stated. "I should have given it to you sooner, but you were not ready to handle this." Shina met her grandma's eyes as they crinkled up. "You managed to break into some high security places, I trust you and the kids can manage this one. Good luck."
The elevator doors opened revealing a well-lit hallway. Kaito tugged at Shina's hand leading her forward. Shina's fingers felt the necklace around her neck, the weight was heavy but comforting as she realized, she was going to need to get the kids caught up after her phone call to Shigaraki.
~Kai's POV~
"We're back!" Kai called out as he opened the front door. He wasn't sure why he was saying so out loud as he was pretty sure no one in the League was really paying attention to him or Kira's comings or goings.
"Good to have you back Master Kai." Claude's English hoity-toity accent came before his body rounded the corner from the back hallway. "I see you've brought back Dabi as well."
"Surprise robot." Dabi answered. Kai hadn't been aware Dabi knew English until this moment but he made a note to file that for later as he was pretty sure that meant he and Kira were not going to be talking English in front of the League just in case.
"I trust my lady Shina is back as well?" Claude asked. Kai nodded, walking across the wide open front entrance to the stairs.
"She's probably going to need you to pick her up later." Kira's voice responded. Kai started to ascend the stairs but he halted when he realized there was someone at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Kai glared at Shigaraki who waited. Kai didn't even bother to keep going as he stopped in the middle of the stairs.
"Can I help you?" Shigaraki tilted his head. With the hand on his face Kai didn't have a good look at his face but he was assuming the crusty boy was smiling down at him.
"We haven't seen you in quite some time Kai. I was afraid you were in trouble."
"We're fine." Kai responded shortly. He could hear light footsteps on the steps behind him as Shigaraki also twitched.
"Dabi you made it back alright."
"You gonna celebrate my return?" Dabi asked as he walked past Kai. A light tap on Kai's wrist let him know Kira was beside him. She applied pressure twice before whispering low in Russian.
"Shina's study, now." Kai turned around, intending to follow Kira to the study where no doubt Yoshi had holed up in when Shigaraki's voice called out to him.
"Kai, Spinner and I were just getting ready to play another online match. You should join us." Kai glanced back at Shigaraki. "Your avatar is certainly a powerful one that we'll need to pass this next part." Kai honestly wasn't sure if Shigaraki was talking about his online avatar or himself in reality as the last time he'd played with Shigaraki and Spinner was still fresh in his mind.
"Maybe later." Kai answered. "Have to do some things."
"Weren't you just heading up?" Shigaraki asked.
"My mistake." Kai replied dryly. "Come on Kira." Kai nudged Kira along in front of him to go back down the stairs.
"Looking forward to playing with you Kai." Shigaraki called. Kai didn't bother to answer as he and Kira continued on their way.
"What was that about?" Kira asked when they were in the back hallway.
"You remember that night you ditched me to do your movie night with Kana?" Kai asked.
"Yeah? You said you had a boring night with your book. Which how are you not finished with yet? You're the slowest reader I know." Kai pinched the back of her arm. "Ow!" Kira swiftly turned and punched his shoulder as hard as she could causing him to grab his shoulder as pain spread along the arm.
"Ow! No Quirks!" The pain continued to throb down his arm as Kira rolled her eyes.
"Crybaby I didn't even hit you that hard." Kai really had to restrain himself from kicking her feet to trip her. He could get his revenge later if he needed to. "What did Shiggy mean?"
"We played Fortnite. Shiggy, Spinner and I. We found James and his boys and got into a fight with them. Spinner almost rage quit because Yuto kept spamming the same moves on him."
"Okay? That still doesn't explain the tension." Kira stated as she pushed the office door open revealing the wall to ceiling window that looked over the pretty gardens below. Yoshi was sitting in Shina's chair as several screens were hovering in front of him.
"Hey guys I found Shina." Yoshi called as he swiped from one screen to the other.
"Is she and Kaito safe?" Kira asked. Kai plopped down in one of the cushy chairs in front of the desk, putting his feet up on the desk as he lounged back.
"Yeah they're in an apartment building downtown. Shina's texting me right now." Kai watched as Yoshi pulled up camera views of the apartment downtown. Shina was in the living room, sitting on the couch while Kaito was watching some children's show on the big TV. "She said he called Claude while we were heading over here. Apparently she already spoke with Shigaraki and told him what had happened to separate us. Not sure how that conversation went and I don't feel like pulling those logs to overhear."
"When is she going to be back?" Kai asked.
"Not until tomorrow." Yoshi stated.
"What why?" Kira asked.
"She said she had to do something tonight. She needs one of you to head over to watch Kaito for her while she does that. And then tomorrow I guess she needs to run some errands so she'll send Kaito back." Yoshi explained.
"I'll go." Kai offered.
"I wanted to go." Kira said.
"You can't ride Shina's bike." Kai reminded her.
"You can't drive a car." Kira shot back.
"If it's all the same to you both, you can play paper rock scissors." Yoshi offered. Kai and Kira stared at each other for a beat before Kai raised his hand and formed a gun. Kira's fist was clenched to show a shield.
"Again." Kai stated. He dropped his hand and mentally counted to three before he raised his hand. His index and middle finger were raised as a thin crackle of black lightning ran along his fingers. The sound of buzzing sounded while Kira's finger was pointed upwards. Her finger slowly started to rotate, and Kai winced.
"Last one?" Kira grumbled. Kai took his feet off the desk as he sat up. They stared at each other as the mental countdown from three started. At one Kai threw a knife while also dodging the one Kira had thrown. When he glanced up at Kira's face he saw a thin cut on her cheek. Kira glared at him.
"You know my healing isn't as good as yours idiot."
"So I'm supposed to let you stab me? What kind of logic is that?" Kai asked, smirking as he had won the last round. Kira rolled her eyes. A small pebble of blood started to bleed from her wound but Kira wiggled her finger and the blood literally went back up her cheek and back inside the cut. Her skin wouldn't heal right away but at least she could control how much blood escaped, which would be none. "I'll think of you when I'm babysitting." Kai promised.
"You know you have to help him in the bathroom right?" Kira tried to scare him. Thankfully Yoshi was on his side.
"Shina's actually managed to get him somewhat trained in that area already. He really didn't like her changing his diapers anymore when we were in America." Kira scowled at Yoshi but Kai nodded. "What? I'm just saying, he's not exactly a baby."
"Yes he is, he's my baby." Kira grumbled.
"Kids gonna grow up Kira." Kai stated. "Fact of life."
"I hate life." Kira snapped, folding her arms.
"Okay you have your 'I hate life' party here, I gotta head downtown." Kai looked at Yoshi. "Think Shina will have any clothes there?"
"You can take her the go bag in her bathroom." Yoshi said, shrugging. Kai frowned.
"I meant for me."
"Oh, yeah you probably want to pack some clothes just in case." Kai nodded as he stood up and stretched.
"Kay I'll head out now. Keep Kira company until Kana comes for her."
"How do you know she's coming for me?" Kira asked. Kai rolled his eyes as he headed for the door.
"You've been staying at her dorm room all week, I doubt you two are going to break this new tradition now." He called over his shoulder.
"You never know." Kira called. Kai honestly doubted it very much. He climbed the back stairs to the third floor and grabbed some clothes for himself. He also grabbed a change of clothes for Kaito just in case before he went to the underground garage.
The underground garage was filled with cars of ranging make and models. Most were the same dark color that were easily able to blend in with middle-class society while in the back were a rare few that were top notch rides that were considered Shina's 'babies'. Kai's favorites were the small line of bikes Shina had. His favorite was the black Kawasaki of course the grey Suzuki held a special spot in his heart when it came to speed, but he needed to stay under the radar so he grabbed Shina's favorite bike.
He pealed out of the garage and headed for the secret escape tunnel that would let him out in the park closest to them. It would also conceal where he was truly coming from as he was sure Shina's bike was probably being looked for but she was going to need this one to run her errands. If he also did a few test laps and tricks with her bike, well no one had to know.
When he knocked on the door to the safehouse apartment some forty minutes later he was expecting Shina to open the door, which she did, what he hadn't expected was seeing her in what he knew to be a 'cute' outfit thanks to forced chick flick marathons with Kira and Kana. And… was she wearing makeup? What was going on? Kai blinked as Shina smiled at him.
"I'm glad you're finally here. I was honestly expecting you about twenty minutes ago." She moved into the apartment making Kai follow her slowly as he observed her motions.
Shina tended to glow even in dim light, that was still there. Not that that was much of a check as the sun was still out, barely hitting the horizon, giving everything a golden tint. Shina's eyes also glowed slightly so it was more golden when she was around her 'kids', that was still there as well. But again, lighting could give such a big impact.
"Kai!" Kaito ran up to him and gave him a hug before pulling him over to the coffee table in the living room. Shina was drawing with him which honestly seemed like something she would do. Kai nodded mutely at Kaito as he explained what was going on. Shina looked at him with a puzzled look as he continued to stare.
"You okay Kai?"
"Who are you?" Kai asked in Russian.
"Eh?" Shina blinked at him in confusion, but Kai didn't bother to keep the hostility out of his voice as he mentally prepared multiple escape routes for him and Kaito.
"Who are you and what have you done to Shina?" Shina's face immediately fell into her 'sarcasm' face.
"Okay first off, I get that I don't dress up all the time, but can't a girl dress up once in a while without having an excuse?"
"You like your comfy clothes so no. You're even wearing makeup!" At this point Kai was 87% sure this was Shina. Mainly because no one could ever fake that level of 'audacity' in her voice and pull it off.
"It's not that much, just my eyes and lips." Shina defended, shifting uncomfortably.
"Why? And don't say because you felt like it. The Shina I know would rather walk around like a homeless person, or like the rat Kana."
"I'd tell you to be nice but you two have a habit of calling each other names, I'm pretty sure it's how you say 'I love you'!"
"Gross. The rat can drown for all I care."
"Don't be mean you little twerp." Kai merely leveled a look at her as the lighting in the room flickered menacingly enough for Kaito to look around in alarm.
"Shina." He got up and ran to Shina who opened her arms easily for him to curl into her. Kai was 93% sure this was Shina now and was honestly just messing around now. The exasperated look Shina shot him was enough for him to say that this was indeed Shina.
"Knock it off Kai." Shina ordered. She sighed as the lights flickered once more before she blurted out. "I have a date with Hawks tonight."
"What?!" Shina grimaced.
"Don't make it weird okay? I just, I promised him I would go on one date with him when I got back. I figured I may as well get it over with tonight, ya know? Just so I could fully dedicate myself to helping the League and also figure out a way out of our other situation." Kai snorted.
"I don't believe you. You're going out with a hero! A Pro Hero, who tried to filet Kira and I multiple times this past week."
"I've only been gone four days Kai. Not even a full week." Shina snapped. "And, well what can I say." Shina looked away as Kai realized with horror that she was blushing! "He is very handsome."
"His looks shouldn't have anything to do with this."
"Yeah I know, I know." Shina sighed. "Would it help if I said he was a charming dork?"
"Ew no! What's Shiggy gonna think when he finds out?" Kai asked. "What are the others gonna think when I tell them?"
"Shigaraki may be my boss but he doesn't have any right to tell me what I can and can't do, he's not my keeper. And I'm pretty sure the others have taken bets on me dating soon." Shina said. Kai gave her a look that had Shina curling her arm around Kaito's tummy as she pouted. "You guys are mean when it comes to 'relationships' and 'dating'. I haven't been on one in a long time and I know this is probably going to end badly. I'm just gonna pretend things are normal, like I have a normal job and a normal life... that grants me custody of seven kids. God, even in my fiction life things are weird!"
"Refresh my memory but isn't the reason you haven't dated in so long because of a damn good reason?" Kai reminded her. "Your last romantic partner was a psycho."
"You called me a psycho when I didn't let you have candy." Shina pointed out.
"Chocolate is sacred, and you know this. That's besides the point here. You shouldn't be dating. He's a hero! You're… well not a villain but you're in close contact with multiple villains! It's not going to work out!"
"I know! I know trust me I know how this looks but, I really can't explain it. All I can say is he wore me down for this one date and, honestly? I feel like I have to give it to him. Mainly because he has my number in his phone so he won't stop texting me about this date and how it'll be the 'best one I've ever been on'. Which let's be honest I haven't been on any great ones previously." Kai folded his arms as he looked out the windows at the lowering sun, it was almost gone but the evening hues were still present. Kai hesitated a bit longer before he caved into his own curiosity and asked,
"Where are you even going? I need to know in case you get kidnapped or worse, jailed. Again."
"I'm not sure really." Shina admitted sheepishly.
"You're gonna die." Kai stated flatly. Shina rolled her eyes. Before they could continue down this road of whatever horrible idea this 'date' was going to be, there came a knock at the door. "Maybe I should take care of him now?" Kai asked as he made to get up.
"You will not. Catch!" Shina gasped as she tossed Kaito at him making Kaito squeal in delight. Kai yelped as he leaned forward and caught the 4-year-old toddler.
Time seemed to slow down as Kai's arms reached out and caught Kai. The room seemed to blink before Kai was suddenly holding Kaito while also looking out the windows at the nighttime cityscape. There were lights on in the living room but no sounds as even the TV was off. Kai frowned as he looked at the time on the wall and blinked. Kai looked back outside at the city before he pulled out his cell phone. At first it wouldn't turn on but when it did, the time was incorrect.
"What the…?"
"What the!" Kaito repeated happily. Kai looked at Kaito and then back at his surroundings before his phone suddenly started to vibrate like crazy as it lit up with multiple notifications. Kai dropped his phone as the door unlocked with a beep. He was across the room and in a bedroom a second later as voices could be heard.
Kaito started to whine and wiggle but Kai kept a hand on him as he peeked out in the living room before he looked at Kaito.
"Kaito! Shh!" He pressed his finger to his lips. Kaito wiggled more so Kai let him go. Kaito stood beside him silently which was good as Kai looked out in the living room again. Shina had entered the living room, setting her bag down before looking around.
"Kai! Kaito! Where are you guys?!" Kai sighed and opened the bedroom door. Shina looked over at him, relief visible on her face. "Oh my gods Kai! Where did you two go? I turned to open the door and when I looked back you two were gone! I thought you hid in the room but you didn't answer any of my texts and Kira said she couldn't get a hold of you!" Kai listened to Shina's explanation before he looked behind him at Kaito. "Kai?"
"I think," Kai met Shina's eyes. "I think Kaito has a Quirk related to time travel." Shina's face went blank.
"What?"
~James' POV~
James was in a bad mood. Not as bad as Bakugou but close.
It was just so frustrating! How in the h-e-double hocky sticks did he not pass and get his license? He'd been okay for the first half of the test, he'd even worked with his teammates to help the civilians. Maybe it was when he'd chosen to help Shoto against that one guy who could used wind. But what else was he supposed to do? His boy was being threatened! So what if he'd dented the ground, there were others in his class that could do more damage than he could. (Looking at you Midoriya!)
Now he was stuck with going to stupid make up classes.
Well, he mused as he looked up, at least he wouldn't be going alone. Yuto was sitting across from him frowning at his game console rather hard for someone trying to beat Scorpion. Though, James would bet big money that his brother's current issue wasn't based on the lack of a Pro Hero License. Considering Tokoyami was no where in sight, James was gonna guess the emo boys had had a fight. Did he care? No not really.
"Are you sure you don't want any tea James?" Momo asked him for the second time. James shook his head.
"Thanks for the offer Momo but no." James grimaced as he could smell her tea. "Tea either makes me too hyper or it could give me severe stomach pains and I could start vomiting."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Momo stated, pulling back. James shrugged.
"It's fine Mo, really. I appreciate your offer." James gave her a small smile.
"James do you want some of the soda we have?" Mina asked. "Or milk? Do you drink milk?" James shook his head.
"I can't have anything carbonated or caffeinated. Milk, well dairy milk doesn't agree with cats, really it doesn't agree with anyone."
"Poor kitty cat." Yuto drawled. James lightly hissed at him but gave up as Momo and Mina started talking about the benefits of certain types of drinks and the effects it would have on most animals. James merely listened and offered his opinion every so often to keep the conversation going. The conversation moved away from drinks to school tomorrow. James ears drooped as he realized he would have to do the additional make up classes in addition to regular school.
'It was all fun and games until this happened.' James thought sullenly.
"Yo!" James ear flicked as he caught Bakugou's voice. Bakugou was never around them after a certain time, this was a new one. Maybe he was warming up to their classmates? "Meet me out front later. We gotta talk about your Quirk." James frowned as he glanced back to see who Bakugou was talking to.
Midoriya, of course.
'Wonder why Bakugou wants to talk with Midoriya.' James thought. 'I could ignore it. I should ignore it but… I'm gonna spy on them.' James left his friends shortly after that claiming he was tired and wanted to get some rest. He did get some rest, after he climbed up to the roof and got in position to watch the front doors for the two idiots who were trying to leave the dorms after curfew.
Sometime while waiting, James fell into a light doze that was broken when James heard the doors down below him open. He watched as Bakugou and Midoriya walked away from the dorms and towards the training grounds.
"Now why are you two going that far if you were going to talk?" James debated it before he jumped off the roof and started to follow his two classmates from the trees. His natural prowess was perfect to shadow both boys as his eyes were able to see in the dark so he didn't lose sight of them as he stalked them.
"Kaachan how far are we going?" Midoriya's voice called. James wound around a thick bush by hopping into the tree. He laid flat when Midoriya's head started to look around. It was dumb as James knew for a fact that he was in complete darkness, but hiding was second nature. "We're not supposed to be out at night." Midoriya called as he ran to catch up to Bakugou who hadn't slowed. James continued to follow the boys.
When the trees ended and the buildings of Ground Beta came into view James titled his head in confusion as he jumped into the training ground, making sure to stick to the shadows as much as he could. He kept his body low to the ground, making sure to avoid any cameras that may have been in the area. When James finally stopped, he was lying flat on the roof of a building with the perfect vantage point that also covered him from any cameras.
'If I'd known I'd have to do this much sneaking around I would have brought Yu. Should have brought him. Would have made his night better.'
"SHUT UP AND LISTEN YOU GUTTER TRASH!" James blinked at the loud shout from Bakugou. Well, guess the insults have already begun.
"Sorry!" Midoriya whimpered.
"This whole time, I've felt crappy about it. It's been pissing me off! But then after the business in Kamino, I got this idea." Bakugou glared back at Midoriya. "See I've been thinking that you got your Quirk from All Might." James blinked. Crap was Shoto right about Midoriya being the secret love child of All Might? If that was true he owed Kana a lot of money. "Y'know that big bag villain boss, apparently he can just suck up Quirks to use or just give em away." James narrowed his eyes. Had Shigaraki or All For One blabbed about that? Oh well, that was their secret. If not well, Bakugou wasn't in the top 2 of their class for nothing.
"You're the only one who understood him differently. All Might himself wouldn't gimme a straight answer, so I'm coming to you." James looked at Midoriya's face and realized, Bakugou was right. "So you're not denying it? That how it is? You jerk." James silently snorted. Far be it for him to judge jerks but he was pretty sure Bakugou was the #1 in their class, most of the time. But that could be debated later, right now James had to think about the fact that Midoriya had All Might's Quirk.
How did that even work? He knew All For One could steal Quirks and potentially when you stole you could also giveth it back, right? What had All Might stolen from Midoriya for him to have given all of his power to Midoriya? Or was it different? Was it, dare he say it, willingly given? What idiot would do that? A flash of that familiar smile and those determined eyes burning blue shot into his mind.
A loud bomb went off down below drawing James eyes as he saw Bakugou and Midoriya starting to fight. He didn't want to get in the middle of this one. Not if it was going to bring other teachers here. It was best if he left now while both boys were distracted. He did not want to get on Aizawa's bad side. But still, when would he get a chance to watch this kind of a fight between both boys? James settled in to watch the boys fight.
Midoriya kept trying to talk Bakugou down but Bakugou wasn't having it. He kept going after Midoriya until finally, Midoriya flipped backward away from Bakugou and also kicking Bakugou backwards. James filed away their movements for later, maybe he could show Shina or even Kai their movements later.
"Are you okay?" Midoriya asked when he'd realized he'd kicked Bakugou back. James rolled his eyes. He'd been all in for that split second? Midoriya!
"QUITE FREAKING WORRYING ABOUT ME!" Bakugou yelled. "Just fight! I mean what the hell?!" James narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't adding up in his brain about this 'fight'. "How? How'd I end up chasing after a dweeb who was always playing catch up?" Oh, James felt his brain click as he realized, this wasn't a training kind of fight. This was a fight that included feelings. Well that just ruined his interest. "Why'd a twerp like you get that kind of power? You got All Might to recognize you, you got way stronger! So why was it me… why… was it me… who put an end to All Might?! If only I'd been stronger. If I hadn't been kidnapped by those stupid villains, everything would have been fine!" James looked down at his hands.
'Bakugou's been carrying this kind of guilt, who would have thought it?' James wondered. 'I helped put this in him. It's not my complete fault, but I am responsible for some of that.' James turned away from the fight. 'If Bakugou was having this kind of guilt about All Might, was Kana also thinking these same thoughts? Was that why she couldn't sleep?'
"All Might's trying to keep it a secret himself. He hasn't told anyone! But even if I try to forget, sometimes it all just comes rushing back! I'VE GOT NO FREAKING IDEA WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO!" The sounds of Midoriya and Bakugou fighting again resumed as James looked down. There was nothing he could do to stop the boys from fighting. Not without going out there and letting them know he'd overheard everything. This job was getting too complicated now. A few weeks ago, James would have had no issues with going to tell Shina all he'd heard. He still would but, he just wished that none of it made it back to Shigaraki.
'One thing you gotta be careful about with undercover work furry.' Kai's voice echoed in his head. 'You can't get attached to anyone you run into. You're not gonna wanna do the job if you do.' He should have taken those words to heart. James didn't look back at the two boys as he slunk across the rooftop and headed for the dorms.
GM NASAI: Am I slowing down on uploading chapters? Yes. But that's on me because my muse is a fickle being. Plus, you know the real world likes to also intrude on me and my writing sprees.
Leave a comment if you have any ideas on what should happen, at this point, I welcome any and all thoughts.