Chapter 02 - Blessings of Control

…

"These reports are accurate?"

"Of course, ma'am! I double checked them personally."

She nodded absently in response. She hadn't expected any other answer, but silent moments sometimes called for a bit of conversation. Her underlings certainly seemed to appreciate it.

Her eyes never left her screen, though, and her fingers trailed along the stack of reports detailing this morning's incident. Very … interesting reports.

"Repair crews are already on site?"

Once again, the answer was a given.

"Of course, ma'am! I sent them out myself!"

The beaming pride in the man's voice suggested he'd personally found a cure for cancer, but she gave him a small smile regardless.

"Well done."

The man all but vibrated with joy at her praise, but she'd already turned her attention back to her screen, once more playing the grainy security footage from outside a local laundromat.

Distantly, she made a note to see about upgrading external security systems for city businesses. Doubtless, they'd be overjoyed at the free government aid, and the benefits to her own department from the improved surveillance for unlicensed quirk usage went without saying.

"Distribute their images and increase surveillance for the affected and surrounding sectors," she instructed, voice gentle enough for a mere suggestion, though firm enough to erase any question of obedience, if such were even to occur to her people.

"At once!" the underling barked, snapping an unnecessary salute. "And when we find them?"

Her small smile never changed, but her ringed, golden eyes glittered with an unreadable light as the footage showed a torrential stream of energy pouring across the city sky. Another video presented a different angle, revealing two battered teens staggering away from the scene.

"I think I'll deal with these two myself," she said, laying a long, delicate finger along her cheek.

"... Yourself, Miss Makima?"

She raised an eyebrow at the question. "Of course. There are two lost puppies wandering my streets. They deserve a gentle hand to guide them to their proper kennels, wouldn't you say?"

"O-of course, Miss Makima! Whatever you say!"

Meeting his eyes, she gave him a small nod, clearly a dismissal. Overjoyed at the simple eye contact, the man grinned widely as he bowed his way out.

Clicking her mouse, she started the footage once again, her smile deepening ever so slightly.

"Very interesting, indeed."

… … …

"... Oh, look. More trash. And I was starting to think we might run out."

No one responded to his commentary, not that he'd really expected anyone to.

"I miss Morgana," he muttered to himself, feeling a pang of homesickness. If nothing else, he'd always been good for having an ear to offer.

Sighing, he tossed another fistful of empty cans into the garbage sack. He seemed to be making depressingly little headway in the apartment, but he'd been prepared for that when he started. He'd just been too bored to keep sitting there any longer listening to Yusuke snore.

Luckily, there were just the two of them there. He hadn't been looking forward to the awkward explanations for who he was or why they both looked like they'd lost a fight with a garbage scow.

'Mom's probably still on a bender.'

That had been Yusuke's only answer when asked where his family was. Ren had decided to forgo any follow-up questions at a glimpse of Yusuke's stormy expression.

And so Yusuke slept, sprawled limply on a grungy mattress in an even grungier apartment.

Though … it might have been slightly less filthy now after he'd had a few hours to work on it.

… Maybe. In the right light.

With a dejected sigh, Ren slumped down on a lumpy, freshly cleared couch in what may have passed for a living room at one point, though recent evidence suggested it had spent the last few years pressed into service as an impromptu bar.

Or a recycling center.

He gave a start as a loud groan broke the silence. His hair a tangled mess, a bleary-eyed Yusuke stumbled out of his room, blinking in confusion at the somewhat cleaner apartment.

"Holy shit, we've been robbed."

Ren blinked in astonishment at the small smile on Yusuke's lips.

"Did you … just make a joke?"

"Course I did. I'm hilarious," Yusuke said flatly, flopping bonelessly onto a kitchen chair. Rubbing his eyes, he groaned into his hands.

"So, how are we feeling?"

"Like ass. What do you expect?" Yusuke growled weakly. Without waiting for an answer, he sat up straighter and met his gaze with bloodshot eyes. "So, first things first, we need to get you an ID."

Once more, Ren blinked at him in surprise.

"What? I had a few lucid moments between comas, and you're not gonna get very far without papers of some kind," he said defensively. After a moment, though, his lips twisted in a smirk. "Guess we'll have to put you down as quirkless. Poor bastard."

"There that word is again. 'Quirk'," Ren noted with a frown. "What is that? Is that what you call your power?" After a moment's thought, his face paled. "Are you saying other people can do what you did, too?!"

"Well … maybe, I guess. I'm not sure," Yusuke admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Most people have some kind of power, but they're all usually different. Some better, some worse. Some terrifying and awesome."

A look passed across Yusuke's face at that. Something … he couldn't say what. It was just too many things at once. All running too deep.

"But yeah, we call 'em quirks, and it's damn strange for someone not to have any at all." Once more, he smirked. "Sucks for you."

"Yeah. Sucks," Ren muttered, flexing his foot in his borrowed shoe. "Any chance at getting some clean clothes before anything else?"

"Hmm? Yeah, we should have something around here that'll fit you," Yusuke answered, gesturing vaguely at the rest of the apartment.

Groaning internally, Ren stood and started the hunt. "You have a plan for the ID?"

"A few," he admitted. "I know someone who can set up a decent fake. Better yet, they owe me a favor after their last beat-down, so I figured I'd cash in, make sure they remember their place … two birds and all that."

"Sounds like another you," Ren noted, tugging a wrinkled flannel shirt free of a nearby pile. It might have once fit Yusuke–when he was five–but it certainly wouldn't fit himself.

"Ha! They wish!" Sighing tiredly, Yusuke climbed to his feet at last. "Alright, funny as it is to watch you tear through our garbage, I'm too tired to laugh right now, so I'm just going to show you my dad's old closet. I think some of his crap got left in there."

Ren was torn between irritation and gratitude.

… … …

"You know, I'd never realized how much of a network thugs had."

"There's a lot you don't know," Yusuke grumped. "For instance, thugs tend to get touchy when you call them thugs."

"Oh, that I knew," Ren retorted with a cheeky smile.

Rolling his eyes, Yusuke gave his shoulder a shove.

"Still, though," Ren continued, more somberly, "this can't be your best option for a fake ID. I mean … here? Really?!"

"Well … maybe not," Yusuke confessed. "I mean, they do great work, but mostly … I just needed to see 'em. I mean, we were butting heads just last week, and now this?!"

Ren hesitated, but nodded in understanding, even as he grimaced up at the implacable fortress awaiting them. It made sense to need some answers when you wake up to find your friend in prison.

"And here I'd hoped to never see the inside of another," Ren muttered.

"What was that?" Yusuke asked, shrugging off his melancholy and giving his shoulder another shove, this time harder. "C'mon! Quit dragging your feet! We got shit to do!"

With one last sigh, Ren reluctantly followed.

… … …

"This … may not have been the best idea."

"This occurs to you now?" Ren asked in exasperation, shifting uncomfortably on the hard metal chair in the visitation room. A camera overhead felt like a circling hawk tracking a pair of mice.

"Hey, I didn't hear you spouting any grand ideas," Yusuke retorted bitterly. "And what was with that dumb-ass name you signed in with? 'Arsène de la Fantôme'? Really?"

"... The Third," Ren added sheepishly, avoiding eye contact. "Alright, so maybe we both made some stupid choices."

"I'll accept that you made some stupid choices," Yusuke bit back smugly.

Ren's flat stare broke as the subject of their little visit was marched through the door. His cheeks burned as he caught the tail end of a guard's speech about the limits of visitation. Specifically, how much and what kind of touching were not allowed.

He and Yusuke had already gotten a similar spiel earlier, much to their mortification.

Busy growling something back in response, it took the girl in question a moment to pay attention to who had come to visit her. Ren took advantage of the opportunity to study her himself.

She was fairly tall, he noticed first, probably just an inch or two shorter than himself. She also seemed fairly athletic going by the well-developed muscles he saw. Clearly, she was someone who took good care of herself … or regularly scrapped with street thugs like Yusuke, going by the stories he'd heard.

She also seemed a big fan of green. Her hair alternated between light and dark green and seemed artfully formed into two buns on top and a short braid down the back, with two lighter green bangs framing her face.

It was her face that truly gave him pause. Honestly, he couldn't have said for sure what it was. It might have been her eyes, boldly green and fierce, or maybe her mouth, fixed in a rigid sneer as she fearlessly stared down the guard. Hell, maybe it was just her posture, cocky and relaxed on the surface, yet poised to move, to attack, at a moment's notice.

Whatever it was, as he looked at her, Ren felt like he was looking at himself what felt like a lifetime ago. Someone twisted and betrayed by fate, with the entire world arrayed against them.

'Damn brat! I'll sue!'

Shaking himself, he pulled himself out of the memory before it could swallow him. All that was over and done with, anyway. Shido was long defeated, and a world away on top of it. He was free.

He just wished it didn't feel like he was trying to convince himself.

At her gasp, he fully jolted back to the present. By her expression, he wasn't the only one dealing with ghosts at the moment, though it wasn't him she was staring at.

"You …," she whispered, stumbling into a chair and all but falling into it as the guard closed the door behind him, leaving them alone. "It … it can't be!"

"I know. It's got to be a crime to look this good," Yusuke gloated, raking his fingers through his hair. By his face, though, he was just as confused as he was as to her reaction.

"This has to be a joke! A trick or … something," she insisted, sounding nearly hysterical. "You think this is funny?! Toying with people like this?! What, you get yourself some shapeshifting quirk and decide this is how you'll get yourself off?! Fuck you!"

He wondered if he looked as dumbfounded as Yusuke did as this strange girl ranted at them, eyes bulging and all but ready to climb over the table at them.

He probably did.

"Well … I see you didn't oversell your skill with women," he finally spoke up.

He immediately regretted it as the girl's glare turned to him, losing exactly none of its vitriol.

"And you! Who the hell are you?! Some voyeur here to see me lose my shit?! Or do you just think it's funny to wave dead people's faces around?!"

This time, his astonishment had nothing to do with her words. As she raged at them, a … shape began to appear behind her, hazy and without form, like a mirage. But somewhere in that murky shadow, even eyeless as it was, he felt another glare just as fierce as hers.

No … it was fiercer somehow, losing even her thin veneer of civility as it balanced delicately on the edge of incredible violence.

He felt himself shift his chair back ever so slightly, ready to move. Was this another of these so-called "quirks"?

If so, why did it feel so … familiar? And why did Yusuke not seem to see it?

"Wait … you know I died?" Yusuke interrupted suddenly, leaning forward in his chair. "How?"

For all her fury, the girl leaned back away from him, her eyes growing wide and unsure. He caught something more than fear in her gaze, though. There was surprise and uncertainty, of course, but behind all that, almost buried beneath her aggression …

… was that shame?

"No," she insisted mulishly, rage trying to flare back to life. "No, this is a trick! That fucked-up lawyer put you up to this, didn't he?! What's he trying to do, squeeze another confession out of me? As if seeing you here will-"

"You're the one who ran him over," Ren suddenly realized, the words spilling out in his shock.

The look that came over her was that of a cornered animal. That alone said he was right on the money.

Yusuke, meanwhile, just looked poleaxed.

"You?!" Yusuke reared back in his seat, seeming torn between raising his fists and backing away. "But you … I mean …" His eyes grew even more stunned, and his face darkened. "You dumped me in the ocean!"

"Romeo did that! Not me! It wasn't me!" She also seemed to be trying to climb backwards out of her chair, eyes fixed by his own. He didn't think he'd ever seen anyone look so desperate … or more betrayed. "He said we had to hide it, or we wouldn't be together! He said that if I loved him, I had to help him! I had to! That's why I told the police I was the one driving, but I wasn't! And that's why I … why I helped load you into the trunk. We were supposed to say someone stole the car … and then he told the cops that I did it … that I did it all … but I didn't … I …"

Tears rolled down her face, but all strength seemed to leave her. She panted like she'd run a marathon, her eyes still pinned by Yusuke's, waiting …

Yusuke dropped back into his chair heavily, staring just as wide-eyed at her, not that Ren could blame him. It had to be surreal to confront someone involved in your death.

And in its cover-up.

"Wait … if Yusuke is here … then the police must have never found his body," Ren slowly puzzled out. "So what are you being charged with?"

"... grand theft auto," she eventually mumbled back, eyes flickering between his and Yusuke's, as if afraid to take her eyes off him for too long. "Romeo …," her mouth twisted in contempt, but she kept going, "Romeo told them I … ran someone over … so they're trying to book me for that, too, and for trying to cover it up … but without a body, I don't … I don't think they're making much headway with that."

Suddenly, she slammed her fists on the table, fire returning to her eyes as she glared at Yusuke anew. "Alright, what's the deal here?! Who are you? You can't be … him, so who are you?! What do you want?!"

"What do I want?" Yusuke repeated slowly, face thoughtful. "I don't know … be the toughest guy around … meet a nice girl … make lots of money … just the usual." Finally, the fire returned to his eyes as well, and he leaned towards her. "And I damn well am Yusuke Urameshi. Don't believe me? How about I talk about all the times I kicked your ass? Would that convince you?"

"Hey, I won just as many times, and you know it!" she reflexively snapped, then appeared startled at her own words.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, sister," Yusuke drawled, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

"Hey, fuck you, Urameshi!"

Once again, she seemed startled at her own outburst.

"Seems like you already believe me," Yusuke observed before cracking his knuckles. "Course, I could always blast you with my Spirit Gun if you're still not quite sure."

"I think she gets the picture," Ren interjected hastily.

"Yeah, I think so, too. So how about we cut to the chase?" Once more, Yusuke leaned towards her over the table, only this time, with her chin raised, she didn't back away, no matter how uncertain her eyes were. "Your boyfriend did it. You did it. I don't care. Far as I'm concerned, you owe me, and you owe me big. Capisce?" He didn't wait for her uncertain nod to continue. "My friend here lost his ID. You're gonna help him … find it."

"... That's all?!" She seemed astounded.

"Hell no! That's a start," Yusuke corrected her smugly.

"... and I'm supposed to help you with that how, exactly?" She looked pointedly at the concrete walls around them. "Even if the manslaughter charge doesn't stick, they're still going for the GTA charge thanks to Romeo."

Ren almost jumped. He didn't think he'd ever heard so much hate and bile poured into a single name before.

"Figured as much," Yusuke retorted. "Which is why you're going to put us in contact with your family."

"Fuck no!"

This time, he did jump, though the others seemed too absorbed in their conversation to notice. But what was with that reaction of hers? Who was her family?

"Well, that's a shame. And here I was feeling so much better, too," Yusuke replied in a mournful tone, undercut just a tad by the glint in his eye. "But I guess I should probably swing by the hospital. I was just hit by a car, after all. Maybe I'll even file a report with the cops. Wouldn't want some reckless driver just speeding around out there running over innocent kids, now would we?"

Her jaw dropped lower with every word, outrage growing in her astonished eyes. More interestingly to Ren, though, that haze came back, too, and it seemed to be struggling to gain definition with each passing moment.

"You have never been an innocent kid, Urameshi," she growled, hands clenching and unclenching on the metal tabletop.

"And now you sound like my mom," Yusuke retorted, rising to his feet and towering over her.

… Well, as much as his height allowed, anyway.

"You heard what I want. Drop me a line when you come to your senses. Just make it snappy. I'm not exactly as patient as I used to be."

Ren stared at him flatly. He more than doubted Yusuke had ever been patient, and going by the girl's identical stare, she was thinking the same thing.

"... seriously, though, Urameshi," she suddenly spoke up, voice softer than it had yet been, "what happened to you? How are you here right now? I saw what was … what was left. And yet here you are, not a scratch on you. What gives?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Yusuke straightened his uniform smugly. "C'mon, Ren. Let's-"

He froze as one of the doors opened, and in stepped a woman with a briefcase.

At least, that's what his eyes told him. Every other sense was screaming at him like he'd just turned a corner and found the Reaper staring down at him, guns drawn. Even his breath caught in his chest, every muscle drawing tight and watching.

Waiting.

Praying.

"Who the hell are you?"

Yusuke's words broke the spell like a gunshot scaring a flock of birds into the air. With a jolt, his lungs kicked back into gear. He grabbed the edge of the table fiercely, trying to appear calm, unruffled. Trying to hide his urge to gasp and pant desperately.

Who the hell was this woman? On the surface, she appeared nothing particularly special. Sure, she was beautiful. Uncannily so, in fact, with rose-colored hair that shimmered like it was freshly washed, pulled back in a neat and professional braid, suiting her crisp, black suit very nicely. For all her professional aura, though, her expression seemed surprisingly warm and inviting, with a gentle smile that made one feel they could trust her with anything.

Then he caught sight of her eyes, and everything grew still, and silent.

Her eyes … they look just like Lavenza's.

"Hey! I asked you a question, lady! Who the hell are you?"

The woman in question appeared completely unconcerned by Yusuke's tone, seating herself delicately in a chair at the end of the table and setting her briefcase on the ground beside her. Folding her hands, she smiled at them all pleasantly.

At least, that's what the expression should have been. Ren's skin crawled at the sight of that smile, though. Those hollow, golden eyes just didn't fit it at all. They made it seem false, and empty.

Like a mask.

"Greetings Yusuke Urameshi, Jolyne Cujoh," she said at last, voice cool and soft, "and Arsène de la Fantôme, I believe?"

Did her lips twitch a little bit at that?

"The Third," he added before he could stop himself.

Really, Ren? Even now?

"Indeed." Her smile definitely broadened there. It did nothing to put him at ease, though, given how her bottomless eyes still didn't change.

"I am Director Makima," she introduced herself. "I thought that we should talk."

"What about?" Yusuke asked, almost calmly.

Ren's eyes widened. Was Yusuke blushing?

"Quite a bit, as it turns out," she replied.

"Director of what?" Jolyne interrupted, fidgeting a bit in her seat.

Ren's eyes widened even further. Was Jolyne blushing, too?!

Director Makima's smile deepened, but grew no more pleasant. "Are you aware that conversations in prison visiting rooms are recorded and monitored?"

Yusuke and Jolyne both blanched.

"I thought as much," she chuckled, eyes flicking from them to him.

He fought very hard to appear just as surprised as they were, but he doubted those eyes missed much. It didn't really matter, though.

It seemed he got a bite. Now to see just who caught whom.

"You appear to have had quite a stressful time of it these last few days, Mr. Urameshi," the director continued, placing her briefcase on the table and opening it with a click. "I do hope you are feeling alright. I would be happy to have my doctors take a look at you, if you like."

"Nah, that's fine! I'm totally fine!" Yusuke answered quickly, voice a bit higher than usual. Ren seriously considered kicking him under the table.

Get it together, man!

"Quite impressive," she continued, retrieving a tablet from the briefcase and giving it a few taps. "You must have quite the remarkable constitution to be so well recovered after so potent a display."

Yusuke's face went pale as she placed the tablet in front of him. Even from the other side of the table, Ren had no trouble understanding what it showed.

A stream of energy blasting across the rooftops, followed by a pair of teens limping away from an alley.

"And you, Mr. Fantôme the Third?" His mouth went dry as those eyes turned back to him. "I hear you recently lost your identification? How unfortunate."

"Yep," Ren responded after working some moisture into his mouth. Laughing softly, he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I guess that'll teach me to go swimming without checking my pockets first."

"A wise lesson to learn," she replied, giving no hints as to her thoughts on his patently bullshit story. "And then there's you, Miss Cujoh. Your third strike, I believe this is?"

Jolyne nearly bolted upright. "W-what? That … that's not right! That can't be right!"

"Age 15. Grand theft auto," Director Makima continued, pulling a file from the briefcase. "I believe your claim was that you were 'just joyriding'? Not an effective legal defense, I'm sorry to say. Strike one."

"But … but that's not … but I was just a mino-…"

"Age 17. Once more, grand theft auto," she continued, gently rolling right over Jolyne's stuttering defense as she removed another file. "And finally, assault with a quirk. Strikes two and three, I'm sorry to say."

Jolyne's jaw dropped. "That's … that's bullshit! Complete bullshit!" The table rang as she slammed her fists. "My quirk hasn't even manifested yet! How could I have-"

"It would seem Mr. Romeo Jisso was quite thorough in his report," the director countered, flipping through the file. "He claims that, in addition to stealing his vehicle, you used your quirk–a Stand, I believe–to physically assault him in an attempt to threaten him into silence. He was, of course, unable to provide a description of the Stand in question, being unable to manifest such a power himself, but his reports quite clearly match those made by other victims of your family's infamous Stands. As do his injuries."

The photograph she placed on the table in front of them silenced Jolyne's protests in their tracks. Even Ren's stomach churned queasily at the sight. The boy in the picture was all but unrecognizable, looking more like a lump of tenderized meat than a face.

"Obviously, given the egregious abuse of a quirk in this case, not to mention your felonious history, we have no choice but to waive your youth and prosecute you as an adult, and to the fullest extent possible. You understand, I'm sure."

Gun to his head, he would have been at an absolute loss to describe Jolyne's expression, let alone read it, but her feelings didn't stay hidden for long.

"This far," she whispered, strands of green hair beginning to stir and sway. "They'll go this far to ruin my life."

Ren leaned back as wind began to whip around her, her blazing eyes still fixed by that photograph.

"They'll sink this low to steal my youth," she hissed, "to rob me of my freedom and imprison me in this damn ocean of stone!"

It can't be, Ren thought in numb astonishment, feeling the air grow thick and charged as it ignited around her like golden fire. It can't be … but it feels just like …

"No more!" The haze was thicker than ever, a swirling storm of fury that slowly coalesced. Here, a leg. There, a muscled arm. "No more will I just sit here, a captive of my fate!" Files flew as a fist struck the table. A fist not her own … and yet more her than she had ever been. "I will set myself free of this cursed destiny! I swear it!"

As if heeding her resolve, the haze suddenly burst in a wave of heat and power. Ren shielded his face as it washed over him, threatening to carry him away. In a heartbeat, though, it faded. Catching his breath, he stared at Jolyne.

And at the figure behind her.

A woman's blue form hung in the air, muscles standing exposed like coiled wires, natural sunglasses shrouding its eyes. Even still, its gaze spoke of incredible pride.

And fierceness untethered.

"By the name of Stone Ocean, I swear it!"

Silence followed her display, Ren and Yusuke both staring wide-eyed at Jolyne and the entity now floating passively behind her. Well, as much as a crouching lion could be called passive. Even standing still, it somehow seemed on the brink of incredible violence.

"Quite well done, Ms. Cujoh," Director Makima complimented, somehow appearing completely unruffled by the entire experience despite the files still drifting through the air around her. "If I may say so, you do your family legacy proud. I very much look forward to seeing what you make of your power in the days to come."

Jolyne's breaths still came heavy after her powerful display of emotion. Even still, her jaw clenched as she glared down at the seated director. Mirroring her attitude, the spirit at her side clenched its fists, clearly just a word away from attacking.

"What … the hell … is that?!" Yusuke suddenly demanded, climbing free of his overturned chair.

Jolyne glanced at him, then did a double-take. His eyes weren't on her. They were on her Stand.

"You … can see her?" Her face was completely astonished.

"What? Of course I can see that thing! What the hell is it?" By his expression, he was less than thrilled at being tossed ass over tea kettle, and he was more than willing to vent his frustration on the spirit to blame.

"Even more intriguing," Director Makima missed, tapping her lips thoughtfully. "Traditionally, only those whose quirk allows them to manifest a Stand are able to see another's Stand, and yet here I find two apparent exceptions to this rule."

Jolyne frowned at her in confusion, but then her eyes widened and darted to Ren.

"Unless, of course, Mr. Fantôme the Third here isn't as much of an exception as he would appear to be," the director continued musing, golden eyes piercing him in his seat. "Can you produce a similar power, Mr. Fantôme?"

"Can you?" he fired back in return.

Their eyes all darted to her in shocked realization, but her smile simply deepened.

"Regardless, it would seem that you can, in fact, manifest a Stand, Ms. Cujoh, as can be confirmed by myself as well as two other witnesses," the director continued, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. "As such, it would appear that Mr. Jisso's accusations cannot be dismissed out of hand. After all, it remains impossible to prove exactly when a quirk did or did not fully manifest for the first time." Her smile grew deeper still. "No matter how charming the display."

Jolyne's shoulders slumped at her words. Even her Stand seemed at a loss, head swiveling as if searching for something to attack to set her other self free … and finding nothing.

"... Fortunately, I may have a solution to your current predicament," Director Makima finally said, breaking the newly tense silence. "And not only yours, either."

"A 'solution'?"

Ren was relieved that Jolyne sounded as suspicious as he felt.

"Indeed." Steepling her fingers, the director stared deeply at each of them in turn. "You, Ms. Cujoh, seem to be up the proverbial creek without a paddle. You, Mr. Urameshi, can likely expect to find yourself following swiftly after her, given your most impressive display downtown. As you know, with the times we live in, we can afford no tolerance for violations to our stringent laws regarding quirk usage, especially those of the magnitude you demonstrated. As we speak, my department is already preparing to take the appropriate action against you."

Before either sputtering teen could speak up, those golden eyes fell on Ren. "As for you, Mr. Arsène de la Fantôme, the Third. A rather curious case, wouldn't you say, someone suddenly appearing in my city as if from thin air, with nary a paper trail in sight? No matching identification. No missing persons report. No sign of even passing any of the various checkpoints leading into the city. As if you truly did not exist until less than a day ago." Her gaze grew sharper somehow, and once again, Ren found himself struggling to breathe. "And, of course, without identification, you would also quite unavoidably be without proper quirk registration, as well. A very significant violation."

"And if I'm quirkless?" he asked, his tone light and conversational, to his relief.

"Actually, that would do nothing to improve your situation. Quite the opposite, in fact," she informed him.

"I see. So you're firmly committed to the hard sell," Ren retorted flippantly.

"I simply wish to ensure you fully grasp the severity of your current situations," she responded easily.

"And I suppose you have the magic fix-it button, do you?" Picking his chair off the ground, Yusuke flipped it around and straddled it, leaning his forearms across the back. "So, let's hear it."

Jolyne simply folded her arms and stared at the director imperiously, a gesture mirrored by the Stand at her side.

"As you wish." Leaning back in her chair, Makima smiled and folded her hands in her lap. "I would like you to work for me." Their eyebrows collectively rose at this statement, but she kept going. "My department has developed an … experimental task force. The three of you shall join this task force. In return, as my subordinates, you shall be subject to my protection, including from your recent legal difficulties. Furthermore, the three of you shall be selected as candidates for the entrance exam to join SA."

"No shit," Yusuke muttered, clearly shocked. "You want us to become heroes? Us?"

"To hell with that!" Jolyne tossed her head in disgust. "I'm not becoming some government stooge!"

Makima nodded her head graciously. "You are, of course, welcome to refuse. However, doing so will leave you defenseless against your coming legal storm. And it might also bear mentioning that, with your quirk finally confirmed, you will soon be transferred to facilities that are better equipped to handle someone of your power." This time, her small smile seemed consoling. "I'm afraid conditions there will be far less to your liking, but I'm sure you understand. Certain sacrifices must be made for the sake of our nation's security."

The way Jolyne was bristling, Ren wouldn't have been surprised to see her … 'Stand', he believed they called it here … go on the attack. Somehow, though, he hadn't the faintest doubt that it would be utterly useless against this woman.

"Question," Ren interjected, raising his hand. "What's SA?"

"You don't know?!" Yusuke sounded as offended as he was shocked. "On second thought, I guess there's no way you would, is there?"

Once again, Ren gave serious thought to kicking him. Did this idiot even know the meaning of keeping one's cards close to their chest?!

"Anyway, SA is the academy for future pro heroes," Yusuke continued, oblivious to both his glare and Makima's thoughtful glances. "All the biggest names went there. Basically, if you want to be one of the biggest badasses this side of the globe, you best plan on getting into their roster."

"I see," Ren replied, thoughts spinning. Pro heroes? That was a thing here? Not only that, but it was a job? With schools and everything?

Wild.

"Mr. Urameshi is quite right in his assessment," Makima agreed, making Yusuke twist a bit in his chair. It certainly wasn't because he was feeling bashful, though! "However, one detail he glossed over is how competitive it is. Only the best of the best manage to pass the exams to qualify for entry."

"Well, it's a good thing we've got you backing us, then, isn't it," Jolyne growled bitterly.

"Oh, I will do nothing to aid you in this endeavor," Makima informed them. "My involvement will begin and end in ensuring you qualify to take the exams. From there, you shall succeed or fail based solely on your own merit."

"That's good, then," Yusuke replied, cracking his knuckles with a vicious smile. "I don't need any help kicking ass!"

"A most welcome attitude," Makima praised, once more making Yusuke totally not blush like a schoolgirl. "However, I would be remiss if I failed to mention that, without the training and licensing provided by SA, you will be unable to be of any use to me or my department. As such, our deal would become null and void upon your failure in these exams. Or upon your expulsion from the academy once joined."

Here, her eyes fell on Ren's, and he'd only thought they were piercing before. "As such, I sincerely hope you all possess quirks that are sufficient to the task. I very much look forward to seeing them in action."

Yeah, I'll bet, Ren thought bitterly. However, his attention was no longer on the mysterious director.

It was on Jolyne and her Stand.

I don't know how … but that's a Persona, without a doubt, no matter what they call them here. And if she can summon hers in the real world …

He brushed a hand over his eyes, feeling the memory of a mask digging into his fingers.

It seemed he had his work cut out for him, but he'd never expected this to be easy.

"It's a deal, then," he finally said, a grin spreading across his face.

"I am delighted to hear it," Director Makima replied.

Her smile never changed … and her eyes never left his.

… … …

I am thou, thou art I.

Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall become the guidance of sanctuary that endeth thy fears of uncertainty.

With the birth of the Control persona, I have obtained the shelter of devotion that shall lead to ascendance and new destiny.

[End of Chapter 02]

… … …

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