Hello, everyone! After much compilating what you guys had to say, I have decided to finish this series and pushed on through it towards the end. My lack of enthusiasm for MHA hasn't dissipated, but I will try to complete it. For anyone who reads Mechanicus, I am going to put that on hiatus until I finish this work. I do apologize if there are bits that seemed rushed or half baked, I decided to scrap my previous draft for a fresh slate. I will do my best with some of the plot points but some things I don't have the heart to really do. Hence if Overhaul vs Ghost seems a bit lack luster, that is because I want to go on to better and more developed fights. Thank you for the support and love.
The city of Musustafu had been swallowed up by the dark. The night was getting old but had still not relinquished its inky blackness away from the city. Dawn was still not due for a couple more hours and with it the bright sun would expose the creatures of the dark to the light.
Overhaul stalked the streets of the concrete jungle, his light feet carefully treading the darkness. The vulture-like villain swayed his head back and forth, eyes darting furiously to and fro, looking for his lost prize.
KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD!
The yakuza boss continued to stalk the dark slowly and methodically looking for his lost asset.
KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD!
Trash, dirt, filth and manner of vileness below his feet. How the masses can just wallow in this disgusting world is beyond Overhaul.
KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD!
The night was quiet with only the smallest of sounds peeping from the brush of the concrete jungle. Only an oblivious man would continue his trek completely unaware of his surroundings.
KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD!
Overhaul was not an oblivious man, and knew that he was being hunted by some rat hiding the shadows. He was waiting for the moment in which the interloper would strike.
KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD! KHUTHUD!
The sign was brief and almost completely indistinguishable from the white noise of the late night city. A low whoosh of air and a teeny crunch of gravel were all the warnings he had before the inevitable blow came to his vulnerable flank. Overhaul dropped to the ground, grumbling to himself as he dirtied himself with the filth. However, even from the ground He could see a flash of wispy white fabric zoom past him. If it weren't the news covering this individual constantly the last few weeks, then Overhaul wouldn't have recognized the Ghost of Musustafu. Yellow eyes narrowed as the hunter now became the hunted.
…
Izuku swore silently to himself as his opponent unexpectedly dropped to the ground causing his trajectory to completely miss the yakuza boss. The robed teen cracked the pavement with his electrified and reinforced fist collided with the ground. He quickly hopped back onto his feet while pulling his arm out of the ground and turned to face his opponent.
Overhaul didn't waste any time dealing with the surprise assassin and immediately yanked off one of his gloves. He grabbed a discarded soda can in one single blurry swipe and flung the object at Izuku.
However, the soda can was no longer a soda can and was now a sharp looking spike of shiny aluminum. Izuku quickly dodged the throwing weapon with ease and called upon Crab. The quirk appeared behind him in the form of a squirming tendril of water. Said limb went careening towards Overhaul, ready to crush him.
The Yakuza boss reached out with his talon-like hands and made contact with the watery limb. When the limb came into contact with Overhaul, it exploded into misty vapors of water. Izuku felt the presence of his quirk immediately vanish, and was now without his ranged abilities for a while. Overhaul slammed his hand into a nearby trashcan causing the metal to goran and morph as three sharp spikes of aluminum shot out from the object at breakneck speed towards Izuku. Once again, Izuku dodged the incoming projectiles with a dash and slunk back into the shadows with the activation of Octopus.
…
Overhaul head swung side to side as he was scanning for any sign of the interloper's presence. However, he could see no sign of Ghost. Logic dictated that the interloper had vanished to the shadows to await another opportunity to strike. However, Overhaul wasn't going to let this squirmish with the diseased villain be on his attacker's terms.
Rather, he was going to draw out the villain and finish him with a singular and devastating blow. If his knowledge on the villain were correct, then it would take devastating brute force to put him. However, the Yakuza boss didn't have the benefit of leveling an entire city block with his quirk as he needed to remain unnoticed to the heroes. He couldn't let the asset get away from his clutches no matter what.
Which means Overhaul had to go for the throat with a serrated blade with his quirk. He had to hold nothing back, but had to do so in a logical and unforgiving way. Such a task was simple enough for the Yakuza boss. And drawing him would be simple enough.
"Your reputation doesn't suit you." Overhaul remarked to the no-so-empty night "I thought you would relish the chance to fight and not hide away in the shadows."
The bird-like head of Overhaul swished from side to side while his ears strained to listen to the tiniest of noises. The Yakuza boss began to strut slowly and deliberately in a circle, his boots quietly yet loudly tapping with each step. The
"The Ghost of Musustafu hiding away from the enemy like a sniveling rat?!" Overhaul mocked "No no, that's not what you would do. You are a brute, a rapid animal, a beast. You wouldn't pass up the opportunity to fight…unless you are protecting something or someone?"
The stillness of the night seemingly answered back with its own stillness. The Yakuza boss grimaced from beneath his mask and relaxed and flexed his fingers.
"You found the girl!" accused Overhaul "And you are trying to take away from me, to save her if you will!"
Within the shadows of the night, the air tensed up and a heavy fear lingered within the air.
"That child is cursed. Never meant to be born. Her power is nothing more than a blight I use to destroy an even greater plague." Overhaul said as he continued to look for Ghost.
From within the shadows and in Octopus' quirk something boiled deep within Izuku. A blazing and dreadful fire ignited within his calm demeanor and threatened to overtake him. His breathing increased sharply as the edges of his vision blurred with the color red. He…he was losing his cool.
"Her quirk is uncontrollable and none are immune to the damage it can do without my own quirk." remarked Overhaul "Everytime that brat loses control, I have to kill and reassemble her over and over again until it ends."
Izuku was struggling to remain standing on his feet as he dropped to a crouch nearly on his hands and knees. He couldn't hear Mar'Ris or feel her touch. All his focus was on the monster that hurt the little girl…His charge…tortured…His entire body was shaking with rage, desperate to be released. He needed to remain calm…
"When I kill you and take back the girl, I'll see to it that she never sees the sky again." Overhaul growled "She is only useful to me as a blood bag!"
Nine words. All it took was nine words and something deep within Izuku snapped. The world seemed to slow down for Izuku as his vision became fully red. His breathing became hoarse and loud while his limbs subconsciously became alien and warped. He opened his mouth to say something but all that came out was a bloodcurdling roar…
Overhaul's eyes darted immediately towards the roar of his opponent having abandoned all notions of stealth. The white robe was ragged and torn making Ghost look like a rippling mass of colorless horror in the twisted shape of a human. His face was a black void that seemed to suck all the light around it like an all devouring black hole. A guttural and unnatural scream bellowed from his empty face while inhuman claws were raised to lash out. A cold and uncaring pressure not too similar to the vastness of the dark ocean weighed down on the alleyway.
The Ghost of Musustafu was terrifying when he was enraged, more demon than human. Any mere mortal man would no doubt be struck with a paralyzing fear at the nightmare incarnate. But Overhaul was no mere mortal. He was above and beyond even the idols of quirks that called themselves heroes. He did not fear the cancerous blight that was Ghost! For he was the cure! He was going to remove this tumor and claim back his stolen asset.
With bloodshot eyes and popping veins, Overhaul slammed his hand onto the ground and activated his quirk. The ground bloomed into a bouquet of spikes and thorns that shotgunned out towards Ghost. It was a wall of spikes and thorns that rocketed out in all and every direction in a cone. It was a calculated and deadly attack with only those that had hardening quirks having the hope of surviving it head on. Ghost's water quirk would no doubt save him due to its teleporting aspect, but that would only work if he was sound of mind.
His blind frenzy had left him open with no indication that he was going to use it to save himself. If anything, Ghost still charged towards his certain death with frenzied abandon. Instead raised his longer and larger left aberrant arm high into the air near his right shoulder. The four fingered appendage then tightly squeezed itself into a fist and swung towards the deadly attack. The blow did not connect with the altered matter and instead stopped short of the wall of thorns. A deafening crack rippled through the air before an implosion sucked the surrounding air in a small bubble-like object in the air. An eerie whistle zipped through the silence of the night before the bubble exploded with hurricane-speed winds. Simultaneously, the spikes that had been beelining for Ghost shattered from force of the implosion and explosion caused by Ghost's raw strength.
Overhaul instinctively slammed his fist onto the ground and used his quirk to secure himself in place against the debris filled gale-force winds. His mind worked at a million miles a second trying to discern how Ghost was able to pull a feat known to only a few species of shrimp. The science needed to pull a feat like this would be beyond the capabilities of any quirk. Even more so given that this feat was not done underwater and instead on land.
A feeling of dread pitted itself against the ego of Overhaul as the gravity of the situation fell on him. If it weren't for the mere fact that quirks were born over two-hundred years ago, then Overhaul would have considered Ghost as the source of all quirks. But the more likely situation is that Ghost is the next evolution of quirks with him heralding an age of powerful and uncontrollable quirks.
The defeating crunching asphalt brought Overhaul back to the moment and he quickly used his quirk again. This time using it to make the ground in front of him as far as possible spring into a field of spikes. The ground bubbled for only the briefest of moments before it happened, but it appeared to be enough of a warning to spur Ghost into action.
The monstrous villain slammed his larger arm onto the ground before bending the limb with tight muscles. Ghost launched himself into the air before the field of spikes could sprout and impale him. The body of the villain rippled and disappeared as he activated his invisibility quirk whilst flying mid-air. Ozone and sea salt filled the air and masked the scent of garbage.
Overhaul's eyes bugged out in horror as they darted to and from everything that moved in the darkened alleyway. No time to be subtle or careful. If he drew the attention of the authorities then so be it. Overhaul prepared to slam his hand into ground again this time to cause an indiscriminate attack all around him. Before Overhaul could complete his action, an invisible hand grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air.
Overhaul let out a hoarse choking scream from underneath his mask. His legs kicked out from beneath him while his hands slapped and grabbed the invisible hand holding him up into the air. Despite activating his quirk multiple times, it did nothing against the invisible hand holding him hostage. No shower of gore. No alteration of matter. Nothing…
Then suddenly and abruptly Overhaul was slammed into the ground with enough force to crack the concrete. The Yakuza boss let out a pained gasp as he was unceremoniously lifted into the air and slammed into the ground again and again and again. To the outside observer, Overhaul became nothing more than a blur from the amount of times he was slammed into the ground. HIs body became more and more bruised and limp. Crimson red blood stained all the immediate area as the yakuza boss was mercilessly dispatched.
Overhaul's beaked mask fell off his face at some point, revealing the full face of the unconscious yakuza. And with the fall of the mask came a ripple of air and it revealed the hunched form of the demonic Ghost of Musustafu. Overhaul hung limply in the hands of the villain, broken and battered and was in no state to fight or even move.
The eldritch villain greedily sucked in air with labored breaths while he unceremoniously dropped the brutalized yakuza to the ground. Ghost stared at the broken body of his prey with the same heightened agitation that empowered him. His heart was beating fast while his lungs screamed for air. He had won, there was no doubt about it, but it brought no relief to him. His rage was all consuming and it cried out for blood.
Must…destroy…to…protect…
All his anger, all his instincts were screaming at him…
How…dare…he…hurt…our…charge…
This innocent little girl, born in a cruel world with even crueler people…deserved better…
She…is…ours…we…will…keep…her…safe…
Ghost raised his monstrous arm up into the air without even realizing it. But his body somehow knew his intentions and acted on its own accord to fulfill them. His four-fingered hand clenched so tight in a fist that it drew black blood…
He…must…DIE!
Ghost snarled in all his eldritch frenzy as he swung his arm down with all his might towards the head of the insect that dared to hurt his charge.
…
…
…
The deathblow intended for the vulture-maggot was abruptly stopped by something that was as strong and as solid as bedrock. Ghost's fury boiled over as he roared in anger at the interruption and struggled against the force holding him back with all the ferocity of a caged beast. The force holding him did not budge or buckle against him and remained defiant.
"Stop. He's done. There's no need to do this."
How…dare…you…stop…me!
"Izuku, don't do this. You are only hurting yourself…"
He…deserves…to…DIE!...stop…containing…me!
"Izuku, Hagakure wouldn't want you to do this…"
It was like a light being switched on in the roiled sea of rage within Ghost. He jolted in surprise as the weight of the moment finally caught up to him. He looked down at the bloody and beaten Overhaul at his feet, unconscious and defenseless. An uncountable shivering emerged in the demonic form of the villain as a cacophony of emotions swirled and contradicted each then subconsciously raised his hands towards his own face and saw them coated in the blood of his enemy. Then the voice of his beloved Hagakure replayed in his conflicted mind.
I know you are better than this.
Finally, it was like the veil had been lifted from Izuku's eyes. His breathing became fast and erratic. Tears coated the corners of his eyes while his knees wobbled and buckled under his own weight. His heart had felt like it had been stabbed by a thousand icy knives. He yanked his hood off, not caring if he was seen, as it felt like he was suffocating with it on his head. Guilt and shame filled the void by the rage causing the teenager to all but sob as he sunk further and further into himself.
"W-What h-have I-I d-done?" Izuku whispered to himself as he slowly began to curl up into the fetal position.
This was stopped when a pair of large warm arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders. Izuku felt the larger body of Mar'Ris press gently against his back while he felt her head nuzzle the back of his hood. The touch of his surrogate mother brought some relief to his wounded spirit, but Izuku was still shaken up by the experience.
"It's okay, Izuku. Breathe, son. Breathe." cooed Mar'Ris
Izuku did as he was told and his hyperventilating slowed down a bit, but he was still very much experiencing the worst of the moment. His head hung in shame whilst he began to hug himself tightly as he shrinked in on himself as much as he could. Izuku couldn't speak up at first but managed to choke out a single sentence after managing to overcome the frog in his throat.
"I-I w-want to g-go h-home." he managed to get out.
"We will." stated Mar'Ris as she squeezed him a bit more firmly "But the little girl still needs you. Can you bear it for a little while longer?"
Despite his troubled state, Izuku remembered the sheer desperation and fear in the little girl's eyes as she tried to escape the monster holding her hostage. Izuku sniffed and wiped his eyes free of tears with the sleeve of his cloak. He slowly and unsteadily rose to his feet and began to slow his breathing down once he was standing. Mar'Ris remained by his side helping her human calm down with her presence.
"I-I c-can…" Izuku said after a few hour-long minutes.
The duo-colored teen slowly pulled his costume's hood back on his head while Mar'Ris remained glued to his body like barnacle. Izuku called upon Crab's quirk and immediately went to work. Both him and Overhaul were swallowed by the clear liquid and away into the night.
Eri awoke from her sleep with a jolt. Her crimson eyes wide with shock. Her breathing was fast and erratic. It was seldom in which the horned girl would have dreams in her sleep. Especially ones that weren't rarely, if ever had dreams about someone finding her and rescuing her from Kai. No, what she usually dreamt of was nightmares, in which a beaked bird would peck holes in her body over and over again. They always all ended with one swift and brutal killing blow.
But such fantasies of being rescued were dreams for a reason whereas her nightmares weren't far off from her hellish reality. As such Eri merely sat there. Staring straight ahead, completely oblivious to her surroundings, and numb to all forms of sensations. In these moments of ignorance, the horned girl could forget about all her cursed existence and the monsters that showed her nothing but cruelty. At least for the moment, she could just pretend that everything was okay…
Eri let out an exhausted sigh as she rubbed her tearless eyes one last time before she began her day. She moved to hop off her old dusty bed…
…
…
..!
Eri gawked in shock as she became keenly aware that she was not on her bed. She had been lying on the floor during her sleep but it was not the floor of her room. Rather, the floor was covered in water. A puzzled Eri looked apprehensively at the liquid floor and noticed the water was completely still and did not shimmer when she tried to disturb its stillness.
Then the horned girl noticed the spiral of stars and celestial dust reflected in the liquid. Eri unconsciously looked towards the sky and her jaw dropped while her eyes sparkled in amazement. They were the most beautiful thing that Eri laid her young eyes on. For she had never seen the stars as the lights of cities drowned out the islands of light in a sea of black void. The celestial bodies of stars shine brightly and unhindered by the lights of the earth. The clouds of primordial dust that painted the sky sparkled like nothing Eri had ever seen before.
The cosmos made the girl feel small, but not in a bad sort of way. It made her feel like there was more to the world beyond the claustrophobic rooms and halls. Deep down, Eri felt that there was someone out there looking for her, and they were going to take her away to somewhere better.
"A'tu ala'kaa Ili'ai?", a wispy voice called out.
Eri's head immediately darted out towards the origin of the voice, and there its owner was in plain view. He was dressed in a worn and ripped white hooded cloak with embroideries that were dirtied with stains or worn into indiscernible sleeve of the cloak was shorter than the other, revealing a pale white hand while the other sleeve hid his other limb. His face was hidden by the dark of his save for his mouth which was filled with sharp teeth. He appeared to be larger than anything she had ever seen in her life, as if a living giant was standing there before her.
Eri blinked. As if she were trying to see if the person see was indeed there and not a figment of her imagination. Was she dreaming? Or maybe he was just a horrible and twisted experiment done by Kai to keep her pacified?
Yet, White Hood didn't seem to mind that the child doubted his existence. After all, he would've been a pipe dream at best and a downright fantasy for the child to believe in. Since when did anyone in her shoes expect someone to actually save them from their prison. Yet, he was here to prove her wrong. Without saying a word, White Hood reached into the sleeve of his cloak and pulled out a familiar beaked mask. He nonchalantly tossed the object onto the ground about halfway between him and the girl.
"A'tu Mu'ṭeen Tu'Vtii A'tu.", He said calmly, "Ovar'haal Po'Vtti Taa'too. Av'ar Ini Un'kaal Kai'Yaap At'Uatt Mṭṭ'Ar. Niin'Kal Cu Tann'Tirra Maak Irukk' Irri'Kal!"
Eri's face stoned over as she stared at the titanic figure before her and back at the mask on the ground. She couldn't understand the strange language he was speaking, but its meaning was not lost over was as though her entire world had been shattered. Then the vision of the little girl blurred as tears she didn't know she even had began to drip down her eyes. Knowingly or not, Eri took a step. And then another, and another and another. Before she even realized it she was running towards the giant man.
Eri collided with White Hood as she embraced the villain with a hug. His battered robe swished in the air as Eri held onto the larger life figure for dear life. It took all of her willpower and years of ingrained habits to hold it all together before she spoke out loud.
"W-Wh-at s-s-hould I g-give y-you?", Eri trembled, "I-I w-will g-give y-you e-every-t-thing I-I h-have."
Eri was prepared to give him anything, her life, curse and whatever meager possessions she had and it would not be enough to return the gratitude she felt. But White Hood changed his position to kneel to her height and the imposing giant was gone. In its place was her savior who rescued her from a long going nightmare. His arms wrapped themselves around her and returned the embrace. Her eyes widened at the gesture as White Hood lowered his head to be even with her ear.
"Walk, P'en. Unnoticed, and in the sunlight. Walk with a smile on your face…nothing will trap you anymore. Not Overhaul or anyone else…nor will your gift. Now be free of this dream.", whispered White Hood in clear japanese.
Eri felt the sensation of falling overcome her before she blacked out.
It was another late night for Shouta as he sat in the midst of his unfurnished apartment in his favorite yellow sleeping bag. His bloodshot eyes were glued onto the bright light of a laptop as he mindlessly scrolled through pages and pages of social media blabber. When Nezu said that he suspected Hagakure Tooru having a romantic connection with Ghost, he expected that he would be out in the field trying to get a glimpse of her unknown boyfriend. Specifically, his usual forte of masquerading as a hobo and getting a glimpse of the mysterious individual and maybe eavesdropping some important information.
Click Click Click
And not brainlessly scrolling through Miss Tooru's social media accounts looking at the various selfies and pictures or posts she made, hoping to get a lucky break.
Click Click Click
At this point, he'd rather risk getting caught by his student rather than see another picture of a caramel chocolate cake or a repost of a hidden camera prank clip.
Click Click Click
Though he supposed that one clip with the prankster getting tased by an old man was funny as it was illogical. And he certainly now knew that his student has a rather unhealthy obsession with plushies and deep ocean fish.
Click Click Click
He really should get some sleep because there's only a few hours until morning and he has to put in a report for all this.
Knock Knock knock!
The tiredness and boredom evaporated immediately out of Shouta's system as the sound of the knock on his apartment's door hauntingly hymned through the small abode. Shouta's eyes zeroed in on the entrance before he escaped the comfy confines of his sleeping bag. None of his daylight colleagues would appear at his home this late in the night nor would his underground contacts without using the official channels.
Knock Knock Knock!
The underground Hero was certain that it was something totally mundane and being that he wasn't paranoid in the slightest, he did not grab the knife he kept on his person while out on patrol. Shouta hesitated when he was directly in front of his apartment door, and cursed himself for taking his hero gear for the evening. Well too little too late to cry about spilled milk.
Shouta opened the door to his apartment expecting to see many things waiting outside his door. But he certainly was not expecting to see a little girl with dirty gray hair and a horn on her head sitting down on the ground while wrapped in a torn white cloth. She was looking at him with the most terrified eyes he had ever seen a child possessed.
Shouta immediately relaxed his guard while the dreaded realization came into his mind.
"I am not going to get any sleep tonight."
Dawn casted its light over the shore of Dagobah Beach, illuminating the white sands to its shine. The night was over and with it, the darkest evils of the world vanquished yet again, until the mighty sun descended at the twilight of the day. A small breeze blew in briny air from the sea towards the shore while the sound of rolling waves interrupted the silence.
Izuku and Mar'Ris were both standing as close to the water as they could without getting wet and taking in the view of the rising sun. Izuku looked absolutely trashed with the bags under his eyes and his slouching posture. Mar'Ris for her part didn't look weary or showed any sign of fatigue, but rather he face showed the vaguest signs of relief. The two were silent as neither of them dared bring up the happenings of the not so distant night.
After an unspecified amount of time passed, Izuku looked at his patron and spoke up.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" asked Izuku.
Mar'Ris looked down at her smaller charge, "I do not know, but my instinct tells me she is in better hands."
The awkward silence resumed…
"Mar'Ris." Izuku said with hesitation "Am I making the right choice? In all of this?"
The alien goddess' hair twisted and squeezed in thought. "Are you afraid? After what happened last night?"
Izuku's thoughts returned to the elephant in his mind and there was no sugar coating it. Izuku had nearly lost control and had all but killed Overhaul. Yes, Overhaul was a monster in his own right for what he did to the little girl, but just because there was a reason didn't mean what he did was wrong. Heroes don't kill, but was it even possible for him to be one now? His anger was so overwhelming, so intoxicating, so enticing. It made him feel strong and beyond approach, like he was something more than a vigilante. He gave into its poisonous temptations and unleashed it all out, but then…
I know you are better than this.
Hagakure. His best friend. His better half. She was the anchor that kept himself in place when the currents of the sea wanted to take him away. He didn't realize at the time, but in retrospect, he was beginning to doubt he had ever gotten over Hosu. Doubt began to cloud his thoughts as his expression became consumed with worry and fear. Was he nothing more than a ticking time bomb waiting to give in a moment's notice? Were the heroes right? Was he too dangerous to be left to roam free?
"I am." he huffed out "I nearly crossed an uncrossable line. I shouldn't have, but I nearly did. I…don't know if I should…am I the monster the news says I am?"
Mar'Ris looked at her troubled human with a slight frown to her small-yet-large mouth all the while her brows furrowed ever so slightly in concentration. With the gait of a bird, she went behind the troubled teen and embraced him from his back. Izuku felt her warm belly on his back while her lengthy slender arms captured his head in a V formation. It brought comfort to the weary teen.
"I was once like that, Izuku." she admitted quietly "When I lost Ma'ken, I was nothing more than a rabid animal. I destroyed everything and everyone in my path. I was inconsolable. I was blind to anything but my rage and my grief. And…I wanted to hurt others…to inflict my pain onto them."
Izuku runs his hands over Mar'Ris' clawed hands as he takes in what she had just said.
"How did you overcome it?" he asked in a small voice "The rage. The desire to hurt others."
Mar'Ris looked away, shame plastered on her alien face as she looked at the sun rising over the sea. Izuku felt the muscles in her hands tense up.
"I wasn't able to do so. At that point, I had lost the only family I had and I never did have any friends to call upon to bring me back. I had no one, no you and Haga-chan to remind me..." Mar'Ris said her own tone full of regret "It was only after I became a ghost upon this world was I able to begin to clear my mind of all that anger."
Izuku gently squeezed her hands and all the tension in them relaxed.
"It took me decades, no, centuries to calm down and learn to reign it in. Now, I can mostly keep myself in check, but it's always there and ready to strike if I don't remain vigilant." continued Mar'Ris "It nearly came out again in that city with all the fire."
Guilt weighed heavily on Izuku as he recalled that horrible chain of events.
"Mar'Ris, I am sorry if…"
"You have nothing to apologize for, Izuku." interrupted Mar'Ris as she rested her head on his fluffy hair and wrapped her arms around him a little tighter, "We both made mistakes that night."
Izuku thought back to Hosu and how he lost control and how he unleashed his pent up rage against the world. It poisoned him like nothing had ever done before and doubts began to pop up in his head. He wasn't himself that night or was he? Was that who he really was? A monster? A demon? A Killer? Was he nothing more than a void of wrath and hatred that lashed out at anything and anyone?
Mar'Ris must've been reading his mind because she not only tightened her soothing embrace a little more but she began to nuzzle his hair as well.
"Don't let my story discourage you. Sometimes things can only be solved with time and cannot be solved overnight. And unlike me, you will not be facing it alone. We won't let you lose yourself again." replied the fish woman.
A small smile grew on Izuku's face and the worry in his face softened, "You're right, I have you and Hagakure to help me. I won't be dealing with this alone."
Nothing more was said between the two as they remained locked in each other's embrace enjoying the warm morning sun and each other's presence. It was a quiet and serene moment for the two as the bond between them had strengthened. An unknown amount of time passed until something interrupted them.
Mar'Ris was the first to turn her head away and look off to something further inland. Izuku was quick to follow his surrogate mother's gaze as he too had noticed something in his enhanced senses. However, he was unable to discern anything beyond "someone was coming towards them".
"Who's coming here?" Izuku asked the fish lady.
Mar'Ris, who always seemed to know more than he did, flashed him a sheepish smile on her smaller mouth. She looked down at him and gave him one last squeeze and nuzzle before letting go. Izuku raised an eyebrow in confusion as he looked at the alien woman with a puzzled expression
"I've been too greedy! Hogging you all to myself this morning." she said with a squee with her hands on her cheeks "I suppose it's time that my little minnow spent some time away from me. A mother should always leave her son alone when he is…"
Whatever Mar'Ris was going to say was replaced with a girlish giggle.
"Mar'Ris, you are not making any sense right now." deadpanned Izuku.
Mar'Ris let out another giggle.
"Don't worry. Everything will be revealed shortly…"
And with that, the fish woman vanished with a ripple of air leaving a flabbergasted Izuku behind on the beach. His brain went into overdrive as he tried to make sense of what she had been implying, but he was coming up blank with what she could possibly…
"Izuku!" shouted a familiar voice.
Izuku looked away from his stupor to see a girl with brown eyes and sharp ears running towards him. Her beautiful orbs were glazed with tears while her face had a happy expression plastered on her face. Suddenly, all the implications of his patron made sense and seeing Hagakure smile so radiantly made his own spirit soar. Joy filled the weary frame of the duo-colored teen as a smile wormed its way onto his face.
"Tooru!" he shouted excitedly back.
"Izuku!" she returned "I passed! I passed! I am going on a summer trip!"
With that final bellow Hagakure closed the final stretch of sand between her and Izuku and jumped towards him. He caught his girlfriend without any issue and clasped her into a tight hug. She returned the hug to her boyfriend as the two began to happily laugh while their hug turned to a twirl.
Sand crunched and squelched at the dance that the two were having before Izuku and Hagakure reluctantly ended their embrace. Hagakure was grinning ear to ear showing off her white teeth in a rare instant of genuine happiness. Izuku on the other hand had lost all the night's weariness as Hagakure's joy seemed to bring a second wind of energy to the forlorn teen. They were only a few inches apart from each other, but both were finding it rather difficult to keep their hands off each other. As such, a crimson blush was on the face of the two teens as they struggled to find the right words to speak.
Izuku was the first to break the silence. "Congratulations, Tooru! I knew that you could do it!"
Hagakure smiled back at her boyfriend "Thank you, Izuku!
"We still could've helped you pass you know." Izuku replied sheepishly.
Hagakure rolled her eyes at Izuku's insistence on cheating "I am just glad that neither of you had too. I almost considered it at some point. But speaking of which, I saw her on the beach when I was running up here. Where is she?"
Izuku almost hiccupped at the question "W-Well, s-she said that s-she wanted to give us some a-alone time."
Hagakure seemingly spaced out upon hearing the explanation before her face scrunched up in a devious expression. A predatory and hungry gaze was directed towards Izuku causing the unfortunate teen's ears to heat up while he became very nervous as well.
"W-Well, w-we d-definitely h-have to c-celebrate. W-Why don't we g-go find somewhere to d-do so?" suggested a stuttering Izuku.
Almost immediately, realization hit Hagakure and her devious expression disappeared.
"I hate to shoot you down Izuku, but I have something different in mind." said Hagakure "My classmates and I had plans to go to the mall today and shop for what we'll need for the trip."
Izuku deflated a little bit but didn't show his disappointment. He didn't have a monopoly on Hagakure, and it made sense that she would want to get ready for her trip with all her friends. But the duo-colored teen didn't expect Hagakure to continue to speak.
"But, I don't think I'll be able to carry everything by myself." remarked Hagakure as she looped her around Izuku's arm "Would you care to give me a helping hand? I'll reward you with…something special."
Hagakure then flashed Izuku another devious smile whose meaning was not lost on him. The implication caused him to turn full blown scarlet and the heat in his throat to get stuffier. The bi-colored teen looked away from his girlfriend trying to hide his totally-not-nervous expression.
"I-I'd liked t-that." he stuttered.
Hagakure pulled her warm boyfriend closer to her person as she looked awfully smug with herself while she nuzzled his shoulder.
"My friends are going to love you, Izuku!"
The sea was in rage. Rain fell from the sky in torrents while the wind roared in fury. Waves rocked the small fishing boat like it was nothing. The crew of the small fishing boat were like a collection of brightly colored ants chaotically working to prevent the little boat from capsizing. Their haggard old captain shouted out commands from the helm to the soaked sailors, his voicing fighting against the wind.
Odd amongst their number was a woman with blue skin and purple hair, dressed in the clothes of a salarywoman. She was soaked to the bone and was visibly shivering from one of the few stable positions on the deck. One arm grasped around her life line to the deck while the other was shielding her eyes from the rain. She was muttering to herself, words lost in the storm, her desperate eyes scanning around the storm beaten horizon looking for something.
"EVERYONE HOLD ONTO SOMETHING! ROGUE WAVE!", Yelled out the captain, his voice faint in the gale winds.
Kizuku turned her away from her task to see the source of the commotion, but she neither heard or saw it. A loud crack briefly interrupted the sounds of the storm, and the boat jerked violently, like it had just hit a solid object. Kizuku wasn't quick enough to brace against the force of the blow and ended up losing her grip on her anchor of stability. She couldn't scream out or even try to grab onto something before she collided with one of the many pieces of fishing equipment scattered on the deck. Stars swarmed in Kizuku's eyes before she went limp and started rolling down the deck.
..
..
..
The world was unfocused to Kizuku as she suddenly came to, even as the storm continued to rage all around her. By instinct, the woman attempted to stand back up on her feet. But her head instantly began to swim in nausea while her arms and legs felt extremely heavy. This only enabled the woman to get as far as her hands and knees before her body refused to continue. Her eyes were wide with pain while she struggled to remain stable in this crawling position.
She let out a raspy cough. Black liquid sprayed on the deck of the ship and onto the back of her hands. She stared at the liquid as if she was bedazzled from the sight of it. She continued to stare at the liquid, confused by its presence the longer she stared at it.
"I-Is that…the…b-blood?" She gurgled to herself "T-The blood of… m-my Lady? Why…would…I…u-unless?"
Suddenly it was all gone. The sound of the storm. The cold in her hands. The feeling of her wet pain in her lucid smell of salt and fish. All of it was gone. Kizuki began to smile excitedly when that intoxicating feeling of euphoric faith came to her. Her eyes widened at the realization. She had made it!
"W-We're…here!" She excitedly coughed "The place…where…Lord Ma'ken Ris was…born."
The haggard old Captain yelled out something but Kizuki wasn't listening. Her pilgrimage was over. Without a care or heed to her own safety, Kizuki wobbled wearily as she used her newfound willpower to stand up on her feet and began to limp toward the stern of the ship. The fishermen shouted out once again to her, but all her attention was on the silence of the sea. She walked in a straight line without losing her balance or slipping despite the boat churning and rocking as violently as it did.
Once the blue skinned woman reached the stern she did the most illogical thing anyone could do. She left the deck of the boat and stood on the railings of the ship. By some miracle she didn't topple over into the sea and to her death. Instead, Kizuki spread her arms out and closed her eyes as if she was trying to enjoy the moment.
Then the blue skinned journalist bowed her head and clasped her hands together in a prayer.
I beseech to you, Lady Mar'Ris, the Holy Mother, and I beseech you, Lord Ma'ken Ris, the Divine Emissary to grant me the strength to endure the trials. Your enemies are strong. Your enemies are numerous. But my faith in you guides me to the sanctuary of your court. You are the shield that protects both my soul and my mortal body from the evils of this world. In return for your love and protection I pledge myself to you and your heirs forever more. To forever honor the covenant of blood. Amen.
Her Green eyes and black irises opened while her mouth of sharp teeth was etched in a any hesitation, Chitose Kizuki, threw herself off the boat and into the dark sea.
The one problem that Kyo had with being prime minister in a country like Japan was all the paperwork one had to do to get anything done. At this point with all the regulations and laws enabled during the Emergence of quirks their country was becoming more bureaucratic than the most tyrannical of all the ancient Chinese Empires. Sometimes she wondered if any of those famous emperors or kings got a kick at seeing the mountains of papers thrown at them because she certainly hated this necessary evil.
Yet, Kyo couldn't help but be excited for the up and coming week where all the fruits of her labor were about to be harvested. The Ghost of Mustafu brought neatly and legally into the fold. With his presence, so many people can breathe a sigh of relief at All Might's impending retirement and not look at the inevitable event with dread. Things will be even more peachy once his apprentice graduates UA and she can rest easy knowing there will be two pillars keeping peace and order. Maybe then she could get some reforms rolling on this bloated corpse of a country.
However, she'll just have to make due with finalizing the last signature on the location of their meeting place: Korriban Support Industries HQ. A small but well respected support item company that earned its place amongst giants like Feel Good Inc and Detnerat for its production of custom support items for those with dangerous quirks. The company's board agreed to be the location with the stipulation that they and only them get to make the support items for Ghost should he join the fold.
A small price to pay but it was an expected one given the company's long history of failed attempts to enter the hero market for support items. Ghost had certainly made a splash with all of his actions. Actions that will no doubt hinder his rebranding…
Kyo's train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a clicking door lock and the all too familiar sound of wheels strolling on the tiled floor. The young prime minister looked up from her paperwork to see the stony skinned Yama rolling his wheelchair towards her desk.
"I am a bit surprised that I suddenly have some time set aside for a small vacation? And one that happens during next week's meeting with Ghost no less." Yama said when he pulled up to the desk "Though I do ever recall requesting such a thing? Do you care to explain that to me, Prime Minister?"
Kyo looked at the much older man with a sheepish smile that she was doing a terrible job at hiding.
"I think…" began Kyo "That this appears to be a happy set of circumstances."
Yama raised an eyebrow on his stony skin and opened his mouth to argue but his junior beat him to the punch.
"You've been working hard this past month to see our latest project go through all the necessary forms and regulations." she said sheepishly "I guess after all that work, someone thought you deserved a well deserved break."
The wheelchair bound man stared at the younger woman for a whole moment before he let out a sigh. He then began to rub his temple with one of his hands.
"Are you sure you can handle this on your own?" he asked.
"I can." she said with confidence. "I know you care and want to support me on this, but sometimes we can be a little selfish sometimes."
"Where, praytell, is my trip taking me to?"
"I thought Kyoto would be good on your old bones."
Amid the titanic towers of glass and steel in the Greater Tokyo Area, a council of the most influential and powerful members of society were meeting. These meetings were a rare event with them only occurring in anticipation of world shattering events. The last time this council had convened was when All Might was about to confront Japan's true leader over five years particular meeting was more concerned with damage control over the two possible outcomes of the impending battle. However, this council's subject had little do with damage control or the fallout of the battle.
"This council has been called today in regards to the government's plan to incorporate the villain Ghost into its ranks." said a shadowy figure "I am sure you all have read the reports?"
Instead the council had an agenda on the more malevolent side.
"Our society is based around the dichotomy of heroes and villains. He doesn't fit into it with the way he's been acting. Reports by our agents and other parties indicate that Ghost is building up a powerbase in and around many institutions in the Musustafu Area and beyond."
"Many in the Government are ignorant of these facts, but the few that do know are doing nothing! They fear him and are afraid to move against him.", remarked one of the shadowy figures, "And they hope to appease him in a delusional form of control. The chains binding him are flimsy at best and imaginary at worst."
"Solely on his strength alone? No quirk or quirks match anything in the database nor do the reports have anything that could give us a solid scale of his power.", interrupted another shadow figure, "We must assume his potential is limitless."
"What about his influence on people?", another figure nearly shouted, "We have confirmation that Mirko is compromised and she is the latest of a long list of turncoats. There is evidence that Sir Nighteye has been compromised and is under the control of Ghost. Rumors detailed by our underground agents tell of a blood crazed maniac obsessed with Ghost. Heroes, villains, gangs, doctors, artisans…students! All converted and awaiting this monster's command…"
"Minister, I understand that your daughter is a sore spot to bring up. But, I'd ask that you refrain from bringing up personal affairs in this meeting." remarked another shadowy figure.
The minister in question immediately quieted up his mouth. A chorus of chattering and hushed talking about the various details on the reports bounced around the darkened room.
"Friends, colleagues, and compatriots." said an emerging figure "I believe enough has been said about this little meeting and our rising usurper. It is clear to me that he intends to replace our old dictator with himself but with less tact and with more smoke and mirrors."
A round of hushed agreements and nodding heads followed the claim. However, there was also a smaller chorus of dissenting opinions mixed in. The shadow leader noticed them and continued his speech.
"For those of you who are undecided on a course of action, let me remind you of the purpose of this council. It was us who steered the course of this country when our leaders failed their duties. It was us who restored the Emperor when the Shogun stubbornly resisted a changing world. It was us who did what was necessary to survive Nuclear Armageddon when the military decided no price was worth surrendering to the Americans. It was us who instigated the Hero System when Quirks ravaged the world and plunged it into chaos and fear." proclaimed the leading figure.
Everyone had their attention focused on the figure and their speech.
"Our country's power is our power. Our decisions have done nothing but steer this country towards peace and prosperity while others would've led us to ruin!" chanted the figure "Are we going to let a petty villain ruin four centuries of our uninterrupted rule? Are we not going to do what is necessary to save our nation and people!?"
The entire council shouted in a chorus of "no"s with exclamations of incoherent babble.
Despite the darkness in the room, the leading figure somehow grinned a toothy smile. "Then, I believe that it is time that this council has to make a verdict?"
A chorus of "yes" resounded in the dark room.
"Very well, Those in favor of the Accused?" said the leading figure.
No hands were raised nor were there any sounds.
"And those against the Accused!", proclaimed the Leader
A loud chorus of noise along with a forest of raised hands.
"It seems that we reached an accord. Let history remember our meeting as the same one held by the patriots that saved the republic from the hands of a rising despot.", said the Leader
"Death to the Villain! Death to the Villain! Death to the Villain!" chanted the council.
All was silent in the warehouse of the League of Villains, as the two masters of the League had just finished hearing the tapped phone line provided by the mole within the government. They knew the full extent of the government's plan to incorporate Ghost into the Hero System regardless of the Hero Association's protests. Not only that, they learned some of the more classified information provided by Ghost to Sir Nighteye as a sign of trust. Which made the reality of the information all the more terrifying if All For One was a lesser mood had become somber as the All For One silently observed the reaction of his successor to the latest bit of bad news.
Shigaraki was oddly silent. As if his man-child demeanor had finally realized the full gravity of the situation in a rare instance of maturity, and was carefully deliberating his actions. The silence of the room grew ever more terse as the minutes dragged on for what seemed like hours until at long last did the young villain speak up.
"We have to kill him.", Shigaraki said simply, "The League…no we won't survive if he becomes the attack dog to those scumbag heroes."
"I agree, Shigaraki.", All For One remarked, his voice taking control of the conversation, "If everything in the intel provided by our associate is true, then Ghost is not at his full potential."
Immunity to Emitter Quirks. Multiple powerful and versatile quirks. Casually fighting off some of the strongest heroes without going all out. A growing base of followers. And a willingness to enforce his will on others. If anything, Ghost eerily reminded All For One of himself in an uncanny way. Which made him dangerous, even more so than his brother's heirs. Ghost could do more than destroy him and his empire, he could replace it with his own and take his place as the ruler of the underworld. All the while, his presence on the overworld of Society would no doubt propel him the same heights as that buffoon All Might. The perfect checkmate, the ruler of heaven and hell.
"His threat to our plans was greater than even what I anticipated.", All for One said moresely, "And it is wise to fear him. Which means…"
In another lifetime, Ghost may have been able to create his empire and few, if any, would have been able to do anything about it. However, Ghost's own potential was hampered by the little desire to play hero and had foolishly made enemies of so many factions in the process. The mere fact the Hero Public Safety Commision placed a death warrant on his head only meant time was limited for the meddlesome vigilante. Hence, why do the dirty work yourself when someone else could do the heavy lifting.
All For Smiled underneath his mask, "...It is best that we get rid of him before that threat should ever come to be."
Afterall, sometimes all you have to do is leave a little bait out and the vermin come crawling from the shadows.
"Are we gonna plan another raid with Nomu?", Shigaraki asked.
"More so than that, Shigaraki Tomura. Why spend all of our strength and power to eliminate him when the enemy of my enemy can easily assist us.", All For One gleamed, "Why not provide an opportunity too irresistible for lesser and paranoid men to not take."
With a push of a button on his computer, the camera feed switches from the static to the footage observing a large tank full of vile green liquid. Inside the liquid was a figure curled up in a ball like a child inside a mechanical womb. The figure was malformed and hideous as it looked more like a living nightmare rather than anything real.
"Let us give the opportunity for our enemies to destroy each other.", All For One said with a toothy grin beneath his mask.
From within the tube, the Nomu's sickly yellow eyes blared open.
"I named him Paladin.", All For One said, "Let's see what he could do for us."
Old and arthritis ridden fingers twirled and fiddled with a small medallion. Said medallion was equally if not even older than the hands that held it. The edges of the object were clipped while the faces of the medallion were worn from repeated use over the ages. Despite this apparent usage, the medallion still displays the vague outline of a great four-winged dragon. The symbol of a Lord and badge of office for only the most trusted of his followers. It was his most prized possession, not even the gold he left behind in Mongolia was as valuable as this little bronze medal. The old man holding this old medal remained transfixed on the object with a small but toothy smile as he twirled it between his spindly fingers.
This is your Captain speaking, but we have approximately ten minutes until landing. We hope you enjoyed your flight on Air China and we bid you a warm welcome to Tokyo!
The old man's smile became a grin.
Omake (Deleted ending to Ghost vs Overhaul fight)
Overhaul stood at attention on the spot he sent an impaling spike out towards. His demeanor and stature is that of a vulture awaiting its meal. His piercing gaze was focused and his gloveless hands etched into claws awaiting to finish the job he was expecting a great number of things to see in the dust cloud that was slowly dissipating. A bloody and impaled villain. A complete miss. An unlucky hobo who made the wrong noise in the wrong place. Ect ect etc.
Yet, what the dust cloud revealed when it finally dispersed was a large and sharp spike impaled on the courtyard wall. With the villain that attacked him standing next to it unharmed and out in the open. The beaked Yakuza boss raised an eyebrow at his enemy's abandonment of stealth and readied himself for whatever trick Ghost was going to use.
Ghost remained still and unmoving in the face of his enemy. And carried no aura of intent nor any conviction to continue the fight. It was as if the villain had abandoned his defense of the girl and had all but given up in the face of Overhaul. Which was all the more surprising when Ghost spoke out and ended his silence.
"I think you've said enough Overhaul, and I want to tell you that you're than that, you are one of the most vile creatures I encountered on these streets.", Ghost remarked without any emotion in his voice.
Overhaul recoiled in a way that a deeply insulted man could with his eyes growing wide and veins beginning to pop along his flesh. How dare he…
"You justify the torture of a little girl to bring back an organization that has no right to remain!", Ghost all but shouted. "The Yakuza were nothing more than thugs and lowlives that enjoyed a bloated self-important ego."
Overhaul was shaking in almost a blind rage. He's heard the whole "you are evil talk" from those deliriously sick from hero syndrome, but this is the first time anyone dared disrespect the Yakuza in front of him. And from a villainous scum calling himself a hero no-less.
"Even then, the Yakuza of old were men of integrity and honor! They at least looked for and cared for the people under their protection.", Ghost spat, " You have neither honor nor integrity! Nor would I say you even resemble anyone resembling the Yakuza!"
The silence in the alleyway was deafening. As the world remained still and quiet in the face of the two villain's staredown. Overhaul's bloodshot eyes were locked on the void inside Ghost's hood. While the robed villain standing before the beaked one merely returned the stare but with all the contempt and indifference that the vacuum of space might contain.
"You are nothing more than a barbarous beast pretending to be one! A hypocrite who preaches against the woes of quirks but uses his to bruteforce against any hardship that comes his way. A disgusting maggot with a pride larger than the carrion it wriggles on." insulted Ghost
Overhaul had never been this angry before. Everything he worked and dreamed of was insulted and spat on like garbage. He would not let this filthy diseased dog get away with any of those words!
"You will not have that girl, I won't let vermin like you walk away with her.", Ghost proclaimed, "I dare you to strike first, you vile Mak'oot!"
With those final words, Overhaul saw red and without even letting out a roar dashed at full speed towards the robed villain. Ghost didn't move or even seem to acknowledge that his opponent was stampeding towards him like an angry bull. Overhaul's limbs became contorted and more monstrous as they grabbed a hold of Ghost's neck hidden in the confines of the hood. Ghost did not struggle nor did he react from what was clearly his death by the touch of Overhaul. Overhaul roared triumphantly as he activated his quirk, and awaited the bloody explosion that would kill this interloper.
…
…
…
But to this horror, Ghost did not explode into a shower of red liquid and instead remained intact and unmoving.
Overhaul's eyes widened in surprise while his mouth gawked open underneath his beak-like mask. Ghost remained as still as the singular limb remained on his neck in those short seconds that felt like hours. Then in a flash of white fabric, Ghost's arms moved with blurred swiftness towards Overhaul's neck and grabbed it. Clawed four fingered hands wrapped tightly around Overhaul's neck and began to squeeze while lifting the bigger man into the air. A throaty choking noise escaped Overhaul's throat as he let go of Ghost and brought them to Ghost's monstrous hands in an effort to pry them off his neck. His legs began to kick and flail as he was lifted higher and higher. Blood dripped down his neck as the talons dug into his skin.
"Your quirk is powerful.", remarked a feminine sounding Ghost, "It is definitely one of the strongest quirks a Mak'oot can possess. However…"
As Ghost paused in his speech, he seemingly began to grow in size before Overhaul's eyes, as if he had a gigantification quirk. As the robes of the villain grew smaller, Overhaul saw more and more details emerge from the confines of the clothing. Blue skin, large black soulless eyes, a head full of squirming tentacles, and a mouthless snarl. Overhaul's eyes bugged out from both strain and in fear as he realized that the thing holding capture pierced into him with a hatred as cold as the deep ocean.
"...I am bigger than you.", Ghost spat with venom in her tone.
If there was something you didn't like, then let me know in the comments. Just be sure to be civil about things.