As Keralynn was wandering around in amazement, she heard a familiar voice, which made her blood run cold as her eyes widened with fear. "No. Way. Keralynn?! The monster really IS here!" She hears the voice say in English before they laugh. She turns around to see three fellow NHA students from the Hero Course standing in front of her. One was a red Newt, the second was a human with short red hair and wearing blue hearing aids, and the last one was also a human with long blond hair and sapphire blue eyes. She took a deep breath to hide her fear and gave the brightest fake smile she could muster.
"H-Heya Stephanie, Cleome, Anaise. What brings you here to Japan?" She asked.
"Cleome here won a six day five night stay in Japan in a raffle for her and four others. Her parents are here but they're at the Hotel." The one called Stephanie signed to her, using American Sign Language.
"What do you three want?" The young Axel appeared, growling at them. Stephanie hid behind Cleome.
"So, the rumors really are true. Your Illusions really can appear and disappear without using your voice. That doesn't change the fact that you'll still be nothing more than a sidekick, used only for distractions. And with this new discovery, it just makes you even more of a monster than before." The blond headed said.
"You look really pretty in that Kimono, Keralynn." The red headed girl signed without the other two noticing.
Keralynn signed back with a "Thank you" and a smile. "It belongs to my friend, Reika, The friend I am currently staying with."
"So, what's a freak like you doing in Japan?" Asked the red Newt.
"V-Visiting a friend." She said shyly.
"A friend? Did you hear what she just said Anaise? She's visiting a 'friend'!" The newt said as she laughed.
"I didn't think she had any friends, other than Stephanie here!" The blond headed girl called Anaise chimed in.
"Let alone any outside the country." The newt said.
The red head with the hearing aids stood in fear as the Newt and Anaise walked around Keralynn. "Tell us why you're really here, freak. Did your dear old daddy bring you here on one of his tours? Did he finally decide that you were just in his way and decided to abandon you as far away from him as possible?" Anaise asked meanly as she smiled slyly.
"And what's with the Kimono? It looks like a design a child would wear. This hair pin is much too grown up for you to wear." The Newt said as she took out the hair pin Koda had given her, making her hair fall.
"Give that back to her, Cleome! Someone special gave it to her." The young Axel said in an angered tone as he tried to get the hair pin back.
"Someone special, you say. And who might this 'special someone' be?" Anaise asked as she smiled slyly.
"A new friend that she met here in Japan. He's a better friend than you two ever were!" The young Axel said as he growled.
The Newt called Cleome smiled. "You want the pretty pin, kitty? Go get it!" She said as she threw the hairpin far from the festival lighting.
The Young Axel watched in fear as the hairpin landed somewhere in the trees. He looked back at the girls and growled. "How DARE YOU throw something that is most precious to Keralynn!" He hissed.
The boys and Reika watched in anger as Axelander held them back. "Why are you holding us back, Skyies?" Koda and Tokoyami asked at the same time in an angered tone as they glared at him.
"Let's wait and see what she does." He said.
"You know damn well that she isn't gonna do anything. She's trying to be strong in front of them, but can't you see that she's scared?! I HAVE to go to her!" Koda said.
"It's obvious who the ring leader is. Kera's told me about those two before. Anaise and Cleome do whatever means necessary to get under her skin, while Stephanie just stands there and watches from the sidelines because when their backs are towards her, she can't see what they're saying." Reika explained.
"She told me that the two of them are from the Hero Course at NHA. While the red headed is quirkless. She is Anaise's cousin." Koda said.
"From what I know, Cleome has a quirk that makes any guy fall for her just by looking into her eyes. While Anaise has a quirk that would make any couple fight just by hearing her lies and believing them." Reika explained.
"But the downside to Cleome's quirk is that it will have no effect on someone who is already in love. And that works out perfect for us in this situation." Koda said as he glared at the two girls. 'I need to get her away from those two before she shuts down completely.' He thinks to himself. After a short while of waiting. He starts to sneak away from Axelander and the others.
"Now then, Anaise. What shall we do with this Childish Kimono of hers." Cleome said as she grabbed part of her Kimono.
"I think it looks a bit tight on her, why don't we loosen it a bit for her." Anaise said as she glared at her.
Koda watches in rage as he sees the girls trying to loosen her Kimono, ripping part of it in the process. "Those girls are going too far!" Reika said in an angered tone. Everyone feels a chill running down their spines as they feel the rage coming from Koda.
They see him walk towards the girls. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Cleome asked.
"Claws. Off. My. Kitten." He growled as his eyes glowed a golden yellow color. Cleome's eyes went white as she let go of Keralynn's kimono.
"H-Hey….C-Cleome? What's wrong with you?" Anaise asked.
He wraps his arm around Keralynn, holding her close to him. "If I ever see the two of you touch ONE HAIR on her head again. I will make you wish you had never met her." He growls. The Newt ran off, only to be stopped by Reika and Tokoyami.
"We'll take care of them from here, Go help the young illusion find her hairpin." Tokoyami said as he smiled.
Koda nods his head before he gently grabs Keralynn's hand, taking her towards the trees to look for her hairpin. His eyes turned back to normal when they were far enough away from the two girls. He shakes his head before he turns to her. "Are you alright, Keralynn? They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asks in a worried tone.
She stares at him before tears form in her eyes and hugs him tightly. "I was so scared." She said in his stomach, making her voice sound muffled.
He hugs her back. "It's alright. You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you, ever again." He said. After a little while, she finally calms down, laying her head on his chest. The young Axel had found her hairpin and given it back to Koda before disappearing. He redoes her hair, prettier than before, placing the hairpin securely in her hair.
She thinks back to when she heard him call her "his kitten" and blushes a deep red. "Why did he call me that? The only one who ever called me that was Papa." She asked herself quietly.
He looks down at her, smiling sweetly. "The reason why I called you that, is because I love you. I don't care if you're engaged to Skyies right now. We will defeat Bagheera and once we do, your engagement will be nullified. And once it's nullified, m-maybe you could be my g-girlfriend. I-If you want to, that is." He explained, stuttering a little towards the end.
She put her hands over her mouth, a gasp escaping her lips. Tears line the edge of her eyes again. "Y-You mean it, Koda?" She asked with a whisper.
"I do, Keralynn. I love you, more than anything in the world!" He said as he nodded his head.
She gently cuddles into his chest as she starts to purr. "I love you too!" She said as she smiled. He smiles but just as he is about to speak, they hear footsteps coming towards them. He turned around, holding her protectively in his arm as they saw the girl with the short red hair.
"What do you want?" He asks in a stern tone. She begins to sign with fear in her eyes but unfortunately, he cannot understand ASL.
"It's alright, Koda. Stephanie is the only one of the three girls that is a friend of mine. Mom doesn't know about her because she thinks that all humans who are deaf or hard of hearing are hiding something." She said as she placed her hand on his chest to let her go.
"Are you sure, Keralynn?" He asked in a worried tone as he looked down at her.
She smiles. "I'm sure. Let me talk to her." She said as he let her go. "Sorry for my friend here, Steph. He's a bit protective of me. So, What brings you here?" She signed.
"I wanted to see if you were alright. After what Cleome and my cousin did, I was afraid you might have-...tried something again." Stephanie signs with a worried smile.
Keralynn smiles and begins to sign, speaking at the same time. "Ever since I met Koda and the rest of Reika's classmates, I haven't had a single thought about suicide. They've been helping me a lot with my depression and anxiety. They're even helping me to better control my quirk. I'll have to tell you all about it some time while you're here."
"What is Koda's quirk? I noticed that he was able to take control of Cleome earlier." She signed with a questionable look on her face.
"What is she saying, Kitten?" Koda asks.
"She's asking what your quirk is. She noticed that you had taken control of Cleome when you told her to let me go." She said as she looked up at him.
"I took control of Cleome? That's impossible. I can only command animals. Not heteromorphs like you and me." He said with a confused tone.
'Does he not have any memory of taking control of her earlier?' She thought to herself. She turns towards Stephanie. "His quirk is Anivoice. He's able to call upon and control animals. Though we aren't quite sure what was going on when he took control of Cleome like that. We'll have to investigate it." She signed to Stephanie.
After she had introduced Koda to Stephanie, the three of them headed back towards the festival. About three hours later it was time for the boys to take Reika and Keralynn home. As they were walking home, Reika's phone started ringing. Hawks had given Reika her phone back that morning. She looked at it as it showed "Unknown" on the ID. "If it is a number you do not recognize, I would advise you not to answer it, Dove." Tokoyami said in a slightly worried tone.
She stares at her phone for a couple seconds before answering it. "Hello?" She asks.
There was a short pause before. "Escape reality." She heard a familiar male voice, that wasn't her brother's, speak on the other end.
She smiles and replies. "And play games." She said. The boys and Keralynn looked at her in confusion.
"Lionzo gave us a mission, Sharp Azure. Meet us at the usual spot." The male's voice said before he hung up.
"Who was that, Dove?" He asked.
"I-I'll tell you later, Fumi. Lionzo wants me to meet him somewhere for a solo mission. Don't worry it'll be an easy one, You guys go on without me. I'll be home later." She said before she flew off.
"W-Wait, Reika!" He said as he tried to go after her but Axelander stopped him.
"Relax lovebird. She'll be alright. Lionzo would never give anyone a mission that they couldn't handle. Have faith in your mate." He said.
He looks towards the direction Reika flew off in worry. "I have a bad feeling about this." He said.
After Reika made sure she wasn't followed by anyone, she walked into a dark alley where she saw Lionzo in his human form and a dark figure standing in the corner, leaning against the wall. "Were you followed?" Lionzo asked.
"I made sure I wasn't followed this time." She said.
"What's with the Kimono, sis? Were you out on a date with someone?" A familiar voice said. The dark figure opened his red eyes and walked out towards the moonlight, revealing long black pants, black combat boots, and a white sleeveless shirt with light blue polka dots. Only his scarf, headband, and mask were missing.
"M-Maybe!" She said shyly as she blushed, looking away from the dark figure. "L-Look big bro Shuichi, if anyone were to find out that I sometimes team up with a villain to save animals, I'll be watched over 24/7 like a beholder watching its prey suffer as it eats them. Especially by Hawks or Tsukuyomi, if not BOTH of them." She said as she looked at the green scaled figure beside her.
"You're lucky your mate did not follow you this time. He would not have been comfortable with this situation." Lionzo said.
"In more ways than one." She mumbled.
"Your 'mate' huh?" Spinner said slyly as he gently nudged her arm with his elbow.
"Sh-Shut up. Let's just get on with the mission." She said.
He chuckled before messing up her hair. "Alright. But you'll have to tell me about this 'mate' of yours afterwards." He said brotherly.
"We'll see." She said.
Lionzo cleared his throat, beginning to speak. "There have been rumors of an illegal underground fighting ring. My pack and I have been doing research and have found those rumors to be true. The humans that orchestrate the fighting ring know about our kingdom and are looking for specific quirks. They get their animals from different breeders that have bad reputations. They breed anyone from armadillos, cats and dogs, to zebras. The reason why we have asked for Iguchi's aid is because these humans cannot know about our kingdom and live, so we must ask you to kill them but in a way where the heroes will not know it's you. They have been at this for long enough and it is now time for them to be stopped." He explained.
"But why does Shuichi have to be the one to kill them?" Reika asked.
"He is the only well known heteromorph that knows about our kingdom, and the only villain we trust to keep our kingdom a secret from humans. After all, it's because of you that he's a part of the pack." Lionzo said.
"W-Wait WHAT?! Is he serious Shuichi?!" Reika asked with surprise in her voice.
"I've been part of the pack for about five years now, don't you remember? Don't worry, none of my friends at the league know anything about this." He explained as he smiled at her then looked back at Lionzo. "So, where are these guys having their fighting rings?" He asked.
"It will take some time to find them all but the ones we do know about are on a map that the Zoo animals have hidden from their keepers. One of you will have to sneak into the zoo and retrieve that map."
"Or knowing our local Sooty owl, she'll sneak out of her enclosure and come find us with the map in beak." Reika said.
"Unfortunately, her keeper has found out about her little escapades and now has a camera on her at all times, so she's not going to be escaping again anytime soon. I'll sneak into the zoo and get the map from them. We don't want our newest hero in training to start with a bad rep on her record." Spinner said.
"Alright then…We'll have to talk about phase two a different night, I sense someone coming." Lionzo said before Spinner leapt into the shadows.
'Wonder who could be-' She thought to herself before she was interrupted by a familiar voice. She looked in annoyance. 'It's a good thing big brother Shuichi is good at hiding his presence from others.'
"Heyoo baby blue. Whatcha doin back here? A little raven told me that Lionzo had asked you to go on a solo mission." She heard Hawks ask in a sing-song voice as he stood at the entrance to the back alley.
'How did he find her so damn fast this time? And what's with that nickname he gave her? Baby blue? Though it's not much more embarrassing than Sharp Azure.' Shuichi thought to himself as he hid in the shadows. He smiles but holds back a snicker.
As Hawks was talking to Reika, Tokoyami and Dark Shadow were laying on the roof of one of the buildings, carefully monitoring Spinner. Watching him closely to make sure he wouldn't try anything to hurt his precious dove. The two of them telepathically exchanged questions to each other, asking themselves "When and where did she meet him, Why is she such close friends with a villain of all people, and How did this happen?" These were questions they would have to ask her directly.
'I don't like this one bit, Fumikage. Why didn't she tell us that Spinner, a villain, knows about the kingdom? Not only that but he's also a part of Lionzo's pack like her.' Dark Shadow thought to him.
'She told us that she wasn't keeping any more secrets from us.' He thought back.
"I can sense you staring at me from the roof. If you have something to say to me, then say it to my face." They came back to reality when they heard Spinner's voice. There was silence until The boys jumped down from the building, wearing Abyssal Armor, and stared at Spinner. "What do you want, Dark Knight?" He asked in a low tone.
"I have a question for you, Spinner." The boys said at the same time.
"And I may have an answer but, would I be willing to answer truthfully? Who knows." Spinner said.
"If it is a question pertaining to your relationship with that girl, you will." They said in sync with each other.
"I'm guessing by 'that girl' you're referring to Sharp Azure, right?" He asks as he crosses his arms.
'Sharp Azure? Is that what he calls her?' Tokoyami thought. He nods his head yes.
"I am. Who is she to you?" They asked in unison.
"That depends. Who is she to you, Hero?" Spinner asked.
"Someone that she trusts with her life." The boys said.
"Strange. I'm also someone that she trusts with her life, yet I've never heard her mention anything about you before." The tall Gecko spoke, glaring at them.
"What is your relationship towards Reika Takami?" They asked. Dark Shadow's claws started to grow longer as they glared into Spinner's red eyes.
Spinner notices Reika standing on a crate behind Tokoyami and gives him a couple of baps on the forehead and beak, between the eyes. "Bad Tsukuyomi. Do not Interrogate him when he has done nothing wrong, as of late. He knows about the Animal Kingdom and both Lionzo and I trust him, regardless of him being a villain." She explained.
"But won't he tell the other League members about the Kingdom? And why did you hit me twice?" The boys asked as they rubbed their heads.
"Speaking about the Kingdom to humans outside their knowledge is forbidden. Even villains, like me, that know about them would NEVER break that rule, regardless of who we are affiliated with. And I would rather die than let All For One know about the Kingdom." Spinner said.
"There is also a law where when there is a mission regarding quirked animals where villains are necessary for that mission, Heroes and Villains must put aside their differences and form temporary truces in order to save those animals. By working together. You will understand this when the two of you will be called for your own missions where you will have to team up with Shuichi. And when that happens, promise me the three of you won't fight." Reika said.
'She calls him by his FIRST NAME?! Who is he to her?' Dark Shadow thought. Tokoyami looks at her and sighs.
"We promise." the boys said in unison. He glares at Spinner again. "But if I hear anything about him hurting you during this mission, I will personally place him in a cell on Tartarus." They growled.
"Over the eight years that I've known her. I would never DREAM of hurting her. She's like a little sister to me, and judging by how protective you are with her, I'd say the two of you are just as close as I am to her." Spinner said.
"She's basically his future wife, even though he hasn't proposed to her, yet." Hawks teased, making Tokoyami blush a deep red, and Dark Shadow chuckle.
"But she's only sixteen! She can't get married when - wait!" A light bulb turns on in Spinner's head before he looks at Reika with a sly smile. "Soo. THIS is the 'mate' Lionzo was talking about. Now I understand everything." He teased her.
She looks off to the side as a small blush appears on her cheeks. "I get enough teasing about it from Hawks and the girls in the Hero course classes, I don't need it from you too, Shuichi." She said shyly.
"What's wrong with having a boyfriend? I'm all for it. Just by the few words we've exchanged so far, I can already tell that he cares for you a lot and he wants to protect you. He seems to be a pretty good guy." Spinner said as he wrapped his arm around Reika, giving her a noogie.
"Tsukuyomi, you should release your Abyssal Armor before you completely drain your energy." Hawks suggested in a serious tone. He refuses.
"He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. He probably has his guard up because I'm a villain and he doesn't want to reveal his Identity to me." Spinner said.
"If he were to reveal his Identity to you, Would you tell the League?" Reika asked as she crossed her arms.
"I can already tell that he's one of them UA students from the Hero course. And judging by the figure, I think he was the other student that Compress captured the night we captured Bakugo, but he let him go for some reason. But since he's your boyfriend, I won't tell anyone his true Identity. I mean you're still a secret from the League, no one, other than Dabi, knows that you are my adopted sister. That hasn't changed since I met them." He said.
"W-Wait, Dabi KNOWS! I thought he only knew that I'm Hawks' biological sister?" Reika said with fear in her voice.
"He also knows that Tsukuyomi here is your boyfriend and as far as we know, he hasn't told anyone in the League about you." Hawks said.
"I'm still not happy about him being a part of the rescue mission." The boys mumbled to themselves.
"When I overheard Dabi talking to Twice about infiltrating the Committee for intel. He mentioned a girl that was held captive there. Deep down, something inside me KNEW that it was Reika. I wanted to beat the shit out of him when I heard about him hurting her. Then a couple months later I heard him talking on the phone with someone about a rescue mission. I wanted to help rescue her, but both of those would have risked the rest of LoV knowing about my relationship to Reika. The two of you will never understand how it felt for me to suppress my anger and my will to help save her." Shuichi explained, his anger building up inside.
"I know the feeling all too well. I'm still suppressing my anger towards Dabi for what he did to her." The boys said as they crossed their arms.
"I wanna know how bad he and the Committee hurt her." Shuichi said as he looked at Tsukuyomi.
"It was so bad that we don't wanna be reminded of it." Dark Shadow said in a sad tone.
"During our last mission, you showed me that you were learning how to fly. I wanna bet that they clipped your wings so that you wouldn't try to fly away." Spinner said. Reika nodded her head yes.
"All those old, infected wounds, the broken bones, her soft skin, scarred for life, those lifeless eyes, so malnourished that she was nothing but skin and bones, and her beautiful hair, sing-ed to the point where it'll take months for it to grow back to normal." Tokoyami said to himself, beginning to hyperventilate.
"Whoa, hey, What's going on? What's wrong with him?" Spinner asked. He sees Reika run to him and put her hands on his cheeks as Dark Shadow releases the Abyssal Armor, both of them trying to calm him down again, asking him various questions of the five senses.
"He's having a panic attack. He did tell me that he gets them now and then, due to the accident with Reika's adopted mother. But I've never seen him have one before." Hawks said.
"A panic attack? How?" Shuichi asked.
"Because I wasn't able to return to him when the HPSC approached me. I didn't want the committee to hurt him or his parents because I refused to turn out like my brother." Reika said as she petted Tokoyami's head.
"Hey! What's wrong with being a Hero disguised as a villain?!" Hawks asked.
"For one thing, Heroes can't kill unless they have to. Second, I don't want to kill anyone unless it's absolutely necessary. All for One however, is a necessary kill." She explained.
"Watch what you say, Rei. Spinner could be wiretapped." Dark Shadow said as he glared at him.
Spinner examined himself, not seeing any wiretaps on him. "I mean, on the outside I'm good but I'm not sure about the inside. But even if All for One were to find out, he would have done something to me a long time ago. Plus, Dabi's been keeping an eye on me and making sure that he doesn't find out." Shuichi said as he smiled.
"But why would he go through so much trouble to keep your secret?" Dark Shadow asked.
"He won't ever tell me no matter how many times I ask him. It's strange." He said as he looked down in thought.
"Now you have two more secrets to keep. I'm sorry Shuichi." Reika said in a sad tone.
"It's no big deal, sis. I won't tell anyone about your boyfriend or his attacks. Your secrets are safe with me." He said.
"You better not tell anyone! Or else Fumikage and I will hunt you down." Dark Shadow growled before being bapped on the head.