"You are a hard man to find, All for One." Xellos began, as he sat in a chair that may or may not have been there a moment earlier. Tilting his head slightly with a checky smile on his face, the mazuku added, "For someone of such great power and stature, you certainly seem to like to hide yourself."

All for One let out a hearty laugh at the poor attempt at goading. Still, as opening gambits went, it wasn't a terrible one. With a sly smile of his own, All for One replied with all the geniality of a host entertaining his guest "My, that is an interesting statement coming from someone who has faked his own death twice now and had to hide his identity just to pay little ol' me a visit. Tell me Xellos, are you really as strong as your fellow lighter says or is he just a coward?"

Xellos chuckled before taking a sip of tea that most definitely wasn't there a moment earlier. Then, unfazed, the purple-haired demon exclaimed as if just realizing something "AH! So you did have agents in the police force! Bravo! Still, I'm not the one who basically let themselves get locked up. You certainly put on a fancy light show in Camino but I have to wonder how much of that was just smoke and mirrors? Maybe you're not as mighty as the heroes of this world have made you out to be?"

Ah how All for One had missed this. Talking to heroes or prison authorities could be fun but it was also usually very predictable. They all thought the same. So focused on their precious rules and laws and order. Nothing was more important to them than to keep the cogs moving and the population under the delusion of safety and fairness. This one though, this Xellos was everything All for One had been hoping for all those years ago when he first thought to try and pull people from other worlds.

"Oh, power can be expressed in many different ways, as I'm sure you are aware. You didn't just waltz in here and reveal yourself for all to see for example. Tell me, did you bribe the other guards or hack the system somehow?" The bound master of evil asked.

Xellos wagged his finger, a mischievous smile on his face when he replied "Now, that is a secret my good sir. A magician doesn't reveal his secrets as they say in your world after all. I did get some outside help to overwrite the system and that may have cost a yen or two but the rest, that's proprietary."

"Used your magic then, I see." All for One guessed. A smile spread on his face when Xellos' own grin faltered slightly.

Taking another sip to hide his displeasure, Xellos countered, saying "If we've moved on to speculating then I suppose it's my turn. You're in here biding your time while that hand wearing kid of yours does the dirty work of clearing the stage for you. Getting a good look at your body now, I'd even venture so far as to say you may even be in the market for a new one. Am I right?"

All for one's smile never waivered but there was a slight pause before he responded and that was enough for the mazuku. Still, the former lord of the underworld's response was dismissive. "If the report on you is true then you have also lived many years. Surely you have felt the need to step away from time to time and watch the proceedings? A palate cleanser, if you will."

Xellos chuckled. "My good All for One, my lord is a master of the hunt! Lying in wait is very much a part of the game. That being said, if I am wrong then you should have no problem with the fact that I have made contact with your little Tomura. He is still very eager to see you free you know. Even helped me get in here on the promise that I would help get you out! Such a loyal little child you have there! A touch immature though."

"Yes." All for One lamented, "My protégé still has much to learn. Lessons best learned on his own. He'll never become a true master of darkness if I am always there for him to fall back on or if some enterprising fool tried to take advantage of him." That last part was delivered with an icy edge to it, very much meant as a warning.

Xellos put his hands up defensively, his cup of tea now somehow gone. "Come now, good sir, we are on the same side here! As you have seen, I enjoy nothing more then sowing chaos. It's what we mazuku do, after all and your world is just begging for some more unpredictability."

"As noble as that sounds, I have never met a soul that doesn't crave for something more…tangible. My instincts tell me you are no different. Tell me what it is that your heart desires Xellos and perhaps it is within my power to grant it." All for One offered, genuinely curious if this creature would even answer, let alone offer a trueful response.

Suddenly, Xellos' cadence turned dead serious, his smile gone as he stood up and leaned forward toward the glass that separated the two men, his purple eyes fully open. "Oh, my good lord, you already have exactly what I want. Give it to me and I can promise you I will not interfere in whatever little plans you have for this world."

All for One was disappointed. Of all the things this devilish otherworlder could want and it comes down to the same thing they all wanted. Still, leverage was leverage. "Ah, of course, the Nomu. I'm sure you can understand how valuable that specimen is, of course. Fragile as well. I'm afraid I can't simply part with it on a whim. If you truly wish to go home, then I can't imagine you wouldn't mind sowing some of that chaos first?"

Xellos, still standing, raised an eyebrow as his eyes once again narrowed and his smile returned. "Oh my. Is the man strapped and bound to a chair, in prison, seriously in a position to negotiate? Point of order, good sir. I don't seek your little creation to go home. No, I wish to destroy it. Second, a counter proposal. In my world, it isn't unheard of for humans to make contracts with those of my kind. We get help when we are busy with other projects and you humans get…well not being able to die is quite enticing, is it not?"

The side of All For One's mouth creeped up in a sly smile before he responded "An enticing offer. But as you have already surmised, I am already well on my way to solving the issue of my bodies…declined state. It would hardly do to swear fidelity to someone else now, wouldn't it? One can hardly lead from behind someone else after all."

"OH! You thought I was referring to you!" Xellos laughed dismissively, causing the lord of darkness' smile to strain. "I only mentioned it because there are many people who would trade away some of their freedom for my little gift. You may have been able to offer quirks but I, good sir, can offer life eternal. Goes a long way to building a network quickly, let me tell you! Or at least co-opting what others have already built. Not that you would know anything about that, would you?"

For the first time, All for One began to get a sinking feeling in his gut. The thought crossed his mind that maybe, just maybe he had let loose something that he could neither predict nor control. At the same time, knowing that a variable existed went a long way to accounting for it and for that, All for One was quite grateful this lighter was showing his hand as he was. Managing to keep an even smile on his featureless face despite his burdened thoughts, the constrained villain finally replied "There is much that I am familiar with Xellos. I must admit my time spent away from the world has left me ignorant of some of the changes going on. That being said, I wouldn't be so foolish as to assume I could predict everything that would happen during my sabbatical. Still, if you wish to challenge me, I look forward to it. Heroes can be rather predicable and that can make the game…less than stimulating."

Bowing, one arm tucked at his waist and the other flared out, Xellos answered just as genially as his host "I appreciate your time, All for One. Though whether or not we find ourselves pitted against each other only time will tell. I don't exactly have the same worldly desires as you do after all. I look forward to seeing you on the stage once again. In the meantime, I will be spending some time with your apprentice, just to ensure you don't try to rig things in your favor. Good day!"

With that, Xellos turned and put his guard's hat back on. As he did so, All for One saw the mazuku's hair darkening to black, letting him know the disguise was back up. Left in silence once more, the master of evil would have much to keep his mind occupied for a long time to come.

(X)

The next week for Michiru was easily one of the hardest of her life. The first day Michiru had gone back to the deranged real estate agent and talked the woman into letting her have the keys for the large house that the team had been meeting in on the pretense that that was the one she was most interested in. The trust the agent showed because of the undercover girl's professed beliefs were unusually strong but that wasn't enough to get what she sought. To prove her story, Michiru was given a physical and though the blood tests would take some time to come back since they had to be sent to a lab in Musutafu, she lacked the extra bone in her foot that all with quirks possessed. With conditional proof, Michiru was granted access. Getting the keys allowed Celty and Sakon to stay elsewhere to avoid getting caught at night at the inn.

That also meant that Michiru was now more isolated, left as she was to try and record evidence of what was going on in the town and learn more about Gigantomachia and his apparent relative. Each night, anything Michiru recorded would be passed on when Michiru went back to the prospective new home and met with her team. Sometimes she would find her way back out to the farm being worked by the heteromorphs, sometimes it would be conversations she would have with townsfolk. Each and every time it ate at Michiru a little bit more but at the same time, she also felt she was getting into the good graces of the sick people who inhabited the town. More and more the tanuki girl wished she had never taken this mission on.

Thoughts of home were frequent. More often though, to Michiru's surprise was just how much she thought of her friends back at UA. How they were doing, how the festival prep was going and just how much she wished she could be with them. Even if Emmy was quiet, she was sweet and empathetic. Even if Zel was a bitter sourpuss, he was intelligent, observant and cared much more than he let on. How was his training going? Was Emmy getting along with Eri? Some nights it was all Michiru could do to keep her sobs muted just to make sure no one else in the little hotel could hear her. Yes, this mission needed to be over as soon as possible.

One of the things that brought a sense of relief, in a twisted way, was having breakfast with the innkeeper Misa and her family regularly. Getting to be a part of the family helped to fill the void that had been growing each day in the tanuki girl even if she knew the dark side of the people she was staying with.

Plus, getting to know them and getting closer to them helped the mission. Misa was well known and liked in the town and knew almost everyone it seemed, which helped Michiru open doors faster with people. Misa's husband, who Michiru learned was named Yagitoko, didn't storm out like he had the first time she ate with them. Instead, the quiet tower of a man ate silently, his face always hidden behind a newspaper, just as he was today when his wife spoke up and said "Nazuna, dear, I've been talking with the mayor and some other folks and we thought you'd like to join us for the monthly town meeting. What do you say?"

Halfway into biting a piece of toast, Michiru's eyes went wide as she quickly downed her mouthful. "Town meeting? Yeah, sure! I kinda feel like I've met most everyone in town thanks to you but that sounds like a great way to introduce myself formally to my hopefully soon to be new neighbors!"

Michiru noticed Yagitoko's hand twitch as the paper audibly crumpled in his grip. His wife laughed lightly, replying "Oh no, silly, this isn't just a regular old civic meeting. We gather each month in a mansion up the mountain to reaffirm our beliefs dear. It's rare that we get to add someone new to the fold and I can't wait to have you!"

If there was anything that Michiru had come to learn about his host, it was that Misa was completely insane. Not the tin-hat wearing classical nut job raving in the streets about aliens and government coverups. No, this woman was for all the world to see a perfectly normal, lovely person. Yet somehow, despite how she presented herself, seemed to have no problem whatsoever saying and condoning the most horrible acts and views on other people Michiru had ever seen. It was as chilling as it was horrifying. Worse still, the innkeeper wasn't the only one. This town had managed to completely normalize the way they saw and treated other human beings that just so happened to have animalistic physical traits. At least back home Michiru's Japan made a show of tolerating beastmen.

Now practiced at lying to her hosts, Michiru beamed and said "You mean it?! That sounds amazing! I'm willing to bet I have you to thank for that, don't I Misa?"

Covering her mouth with her hand before laughing briefly, Misa answered with false modesty "Oh, I may have been lobbying for you here and there!" Then, sobering, the innkeeper continued "It's two days from now, at nine PM. You'll need the proper attire and I'll be sure to have it for you. Just be ready to go and I'll take care of the rest dear."

Offering a thumbs up and a wink, Michiru exclaimed "I can't wait, thank you Misa!"

Once everyone was fed and the time to part came, Michiru texted Celty that she had something important to share and wanted to meet right away. When she got the affirmative, Michiru left with her host's family and made her way to the empty house she was becoming very familiar with.

(X)

Sakon sat in the corner of the largest room in house that she and Celty now occupied, completely bored out of her mind. Unable to go outside during the day, no one to talk to, nothing to do besides play games on her phone, the ant girl chafed under the complete lack of action the last week provided. Sleeping at night sucked too. When the two of them had left the hotel, the most they could take with them to avoid suspicion was a couple of pillows. Celty made a shadowy blanket for Sakon to use that did the job but was, to the ant girl, more than a little creepy.

The only time anything happened was when Michiru came in to report and even then, all Sakon could do was listen and watch as her friend looked more and more frustrated and worn. Today, at least, would be different. Michiru had reported she had something urgent and was heading over now. With any luck it would be something that would crack this damn case wide open. Being the reasonable one was not the brunette ant girl's style and she could only check her impulse to knock some racists for so long.

Finally, the door burst open and Michiru charged in, shifting to her tanuki form as soon as she looked through the window to see that no one was nearby. "They want me to go to some meeting they have in a mansion up the mountain every month! This is it Celty, we can finally nail these bastards!" she exclaimed, waving her hands about as Celty stood to the side, her helmet off as the mist that rose from her neck remained a calm stream.

Sakon wasted no time jumping up and rushing over to offer a high-five to her friend and teammate. Michiru's smile was one of relief as she swung her hand up and met the ant-girl's own, the slap echoing through the empty house.

Celty's response was far more restrained as she remained leaning against a wall, her arms crossed. "Did they say what was going to happen at this meeting?"

Some of Michiru's enthusiasm drained from her as she turned to face the veteran hero, her hands now fiddling with each other. "Umm, no, not yet but I'm pretty sure if I probe I can get Misa to let me in on some details. Here, I have the recording for you, just need to connect my phone to your laptop."

Celty sighed as she stepped away from the wall to get her computer and said "See that you do. It'll be hard to make a good plan without as much information as possible. Formidable and I can go investigate the mansion tonight."

Michiru pulled out her phone while she waited for Celty to bring the computer over when her nose picked up something unusual. "Wait! We're not alone!"

Sakon was immediately on alert, realizing something was wrong too, responding "You're right! Damnit, how did I miss it before!"

"Because" a deep voice said from behind the front door, "It's my job to go un-noticed."

Michiru knew that voice, even if he had only spoken a few words to her. "Oh shit." The tanuki girl said as the door opened and in stepped Misa's husband, Yagitoko, a gun in each hand. His face showed no emotion, as if his features had been chiseled onto his face.

When the much larger man's eyes met Michiru's now much more unusually colored one's, the taciturn farmer said, his voice grave and disbelieving "Quirkless, huh?"

In an instant Celty was brandishing shadow tendrils, ready to strike while Michiru and Sakon readied to rush the man despite the guns he had leveled at them. Several tense moments ticked by in which no one moved, each side sizing the other up. Finally, Yagitoko spoke again, a hint of warning in his voice "Sound tends to carry in open spaces like this town. Even one gun shot can be heard quite a distance away. So, before things get heated, why don't you tell me who you really are and what you're doing here."

The three women looked at each other, or at least two did, it was hard to tell where Celty was looking without her helmet on. The man had a point, which meant talking was the best answer, if for no other reason then to get him to lower his guard long enough for them to subdue him. "We're heroes." Celty spoke first, her artificial voice cautious.

"My name's Michiru or Animalia and we're here investigating the CRC." The tanuki girl answered second, her eyes burning with vitriol now that she no longer had to act for the man before her.

"Formidable is the name and like they said, we're here to take you assholes down!" Sakon added with more confidence than she was feeling.

"That a fact?" The large man said, his eyes narrowing, "Can't say you'd be very popular in these parts. I reckon the townsfolk would have a word or two about you three."

Before things could get more tense, Michiru blurted out on impulse "How'd you find us? I've been checking to make sure I wasn't followed."

To her surprise, the armed farmer answered without hesitation. "It's my quirk. Let's just say I'm very light on my feet. I'm usually assigned to keep tabs on outsiders like you. Especially if they've been invited to the mansion."

Celty thought she saw Yagitoko's focus begin to loosen and was about to strike when the unexpected happened. The large man lowered his guns. "What the hell are ya doing, old man?" Sakon questioned, ready to charge with the threat lessened.

With a heavy sigh, the farmer holstered his weapons and raised his hands. Celty's shadow blades were on him instantly, Sakon up in his face almost as quickly, a fist ready to be smashed into the interloper's gut. Michiru, though, remained where she had stood, her features softened as she saw the look in the man's eye. "You're…not one of them, are you?"

Sakon pulled back her fist on hearing those words and stepped back to see the pain on Yagitoko's face. Celty though kept her shadows in place when the innkeeper's husband spoke again, his voice full of shame and regret, "No…truth is I've been hoping one of you heroes would finally show up. When they assigned me to tail you, I wasn't sure what I'd find, if anything. Not this."

Sakon wasn't buying it, her fist shaking in anger as she countered "What, so you've known how bad this place is and did nothing? You just sat on your hands waiting for someone else to come and solve the problem? You enabling son-of-a-bitch!"

Yagitoko looked over at the enraged ant-girl, meeting her rancor head on before he replied "I am as guilty as the rest, it's true, but it's more complicated than just running to the cops. I couldn't…I couldn't bring myself to leave. They're, they're still my family."

"At yet, here you are, ready to turn them all in. What changed?" Celty asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"Her" Yagitoko said, pointing at Michiru. "This girl stood and watched everything going on here. Agreed with all the horrible things my wife says and played at moving to this diseased town. When I saw her change into a heteromorph, I realized how much it had to take for her to do all those things. I realized…how much of a coward I've been."

"Yep, ya got that right" Sakon sneered.

Michiru shot a glare at the ant girl which was enough for her to clam up. Her gaze again settled on the much taller man, Michiru's eyes locked with Yagitoko, peering into what little of the man's dark orbs that she could since, somewhat like Xellos, his eyes were nearly closed. A familiar pang of anger and frustration pulled at her heart in that moment before the tanuki girl looked away and asked "So, what? You going to help us then?"

The large man nodded before responding "That's right. Even if that's nothing more than reporting to the council that you check out. I'd like to do more though, if you'll have me."

Slowly, Celty's shadow blades pulled back until they were gone completely. "I'm game but ultimately, Animalia here is the one taking the greatest risk so I'll let her have the final say."

Michiru had held her head low during the exchange but when all eyes turned to her, she looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "What matters is that you're here now, Yagitoko. I'll take your help and any info you have."

The taller man nodded, his own features showing he was ready to do his part. Ultimately, the best thing to do was to record all they could and then pull out, get back to the city and come back with more heroes and police. Sakon and Celty would wait outside on standby if Michiru got into trouble and signaled for them. Yagitoko provided as much info as he could and would be the one to actually record everything since he was sure they would check her for any devices.

With a plan in place, it was just a matter of waiting. Two more days couldn't come fast enough.

(X)

"Here you go! Your very own ceremonial garb!" Misa beamed as she handed a set of folded clothes to Michiru. "Oh! I'm so excited! Don't forget your mask!" the innkeeper continued as she handed her guest a skull shaped face covering.

As hard as it had been for Michiru the past week to endure pretending to like these people, knowing there was a time and a place where she would bring them to ruin was enough to allow her to endure. So it was that Michiru smiled broadly as she accepted the clothes before asking "So am I supposed to come dressed up already or do we do it there?"

Already turned to finish getting her kids ready, Misa replied distractedly "Oh come all ready to go. It's bad form to show yourself out of the garments."

Internally, Michiru smirked. It was just as Misa's husband had said. The man himself did as he always did this time of day, his face buried in the paper. Michiru was going to trust the man with her phone, since he had warned her that she would be patted down since it was her first time. Without better equipment and the quirk that was blocking communication, using a recording device was all they could use to get the last nail in the coffin that Celty wanted to be able to bury the CRC in this town.

Michiru kept a low profile the rest of the day, only going out to eat but otherwise staying in her room, awaiting the evening when all, she hoped, would be revealed and she could finally end this evil town.

Finally dusk arrived and a knock came on Michiru's door. "Nazuna dear, are you ready?" said Misa's motherly voice.

Now wearing a black robe with a black shoulder cape that was lined in yellow with a black mask that covered her head completely and adorned with a jawless skull on the front, Michiru opened the door to find her host in the same garb save for the mask, which she held in her hand. "I'm ready, whenever you are."

Misa nodded solemnly, her cheer now replaced with a seriousness Michiru had not seen of the older woman. As the two walked, the undercover girl asked despite knowing the answer "So where is your husband? I thought he would be joining us?"

"Dropping the kids off at the sitters. We chose who watches all the town's kids each month so no one is stuck missing out all the time. He'll arrive separately but you likely won't notice him by that point." the innkeeper explained.

The two continued to exchange idle chatter for the rest of the walk to the mansion. As they got close, Michiru could see others entering the building. The structure itself had taken on a sinister appearance, at least to her compared to how it looked in the daytime. The mansion was not being lit with electricity, torches instead being used, which gave the building an eerie look to it. Michiru supposed it was meant to make it look akin to an altar or other such holy place but to her, it just made her want to get away as soon as possible lest some horrible monster pop out and attack.

By this point Misa had put her own mask on and once they had entered the well-appointed foyer, Michiru was indeed patted down before being told to wait there until she could be introduced. This was expected so the tanuki turned human wasn't worried. The only real unknown was what kind of ceremony was planned for the evening beyond her initiation. Yagitoko was normally responsible for security so wasn't privy to what was planned each month which created some uncertainly going in.

After what felt like an eternity but was closer to about ten minutes Michiru noticed what sounded like chanting. Then the clearly expensive wooden double doors that had barred her further access to the building opened up and a deep voice familiar to Michiru bayed her to step forward. "Nazuna Hiwatashi, step forward and be judged."

Not for the first time, Michiru inwardly cringed at the use of her best friend's name and she wondered how her foxy fellow beastman back home would take having her name used as an alias like this.

The way forward was as dimly lit as the foyer Michiru had been waiting in, giving the hall beyond the doors a foreboding air to it. Still, confident in her team's plan, Michiru stepped forward into the very heart of darkness. What awaited her was enough to take her breath away. Two heteromorphs sat in cages on either side of an altar set up on the opposite wall. People stood lined up parallel, running behind each of the cages, leaving Michiru flanked on either side by a wall of skull-masked monsters.

The alter itself was also adorned with candles leading up to a podium. Behind the podium, mounted on the wall was a figure that looked very much like Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man only with a halo added above. Michiru was agape at the sight, all of the week leading up to this not quite preparing her for it. The sometime tanuki girl was glad that her entire face was covered, so no one in the room could know the horror painted on it.

Not that anyone was looking. The two rows of people we faced forward, their hands held up and heads down in prayer as though they were at a traditional Japanese shrine. Only the figure standing in front of the altar at the podium seemed to have their attention fixed on Michiru as she made her way forward.

When Michiru got within ten feet of the podium, the apparent leader spoke once more, his voice carrying throughout the hall with a mix of reassuring authority and confidence, "Kneel, Nazuna!" As she did so, the leader continued, opening his hands wide, a signal for the others to raise their heads, "You have come to us a stranger, and yet you have shown us that you are of the true born! You know that which is right and true! That which is not of man is of beasts! It is us true born that must purify these lands of savagery! Praise Be!"

"Praise Be!" the others repeated with reverence.

"We would welcome you into our flock, so that another may take up the cause and put animals in their rightful place! To treat them and care for them as they are! Do you pledge yourself, oh true born!?"

Michiru kept her head prostrate but answered clear and loud "I DO!"

The leader spread his arms wide once more, this time leaning back to face the heavens and proclaimed "She swears it! Before this most holy assembly! So let it be witnessed and affirmed!"

"Praise Be!" the flock again chanted.

From behind the podium, the leader produced a sword with which he quickly walked over to the cage on the right that contained a cowering boy with mouse-like features. With a sudden swift swing of the blade, the leader put a gash across the teenager's arm, causing him to scream out in pain. Michiru almost rose that very moment and any watching her would have noticed her shifting her weight to move. Seeing the boy clam up as he clutched the wound though let Michiru know the mouse boy wasn't in mortal danger and held off, telling herself they would be back to save him in just a day or two.

Now the leader spoke again as he wiped the blood off the blade with a small towel he had produced from his pocket. "Now our newest member must lead by example. To give of herself so that the unclean may be cleansed of their filth just as we shall do of the land!"

The leader stepped forward and placed the sword across his hands and leaned forward to offer it to Michiru. Speaking at a stage whisper so that all could still hear him, the leader commanded "Take this blade and offer your own life force so that this unclean animal may be purified."

Behind her mask, Michiru's eyes widened. They wanted her to bleed on that kid?! That was out of the question. Michiru knew that having beastman blood transfused into her had somehow caused her to become one herself and that her own gnome was unique even among beastmen as a result. If her blood got into another person, let alone one from another world with quirks…she had no idea what might happen.

Still, this man was offering the weapon to her. If there was no getting around doing this, Michiru knew she was going to have to find a way out. If that meant failing the ceremony, she just hoped she had enough already before she abandoned the plan. Before she did that though, Michiru wanted to get closer to the boy so she could confirm that he was, in fact, alright. Maybe even free him as she ran off. So, with grim determination, Michiru took the offered sword and said as she rose "As you say. If my pure blood can offer respite for this poor animal, then I gladly give of myself!"

A chorus of "Praise BE!" followed her words as she stepped past the leader and moved toward the caged mouse boy.

Standing over the cage with the terrified child, Michiru raised her arm and pointed the tip of the blade at her open hand as if to cut it open. Looking out to the assembled townsfolk, Michiru spoke one last time, her voice raised so that all might partake "Hear me! Before I offer of myself, I have something I want to say! I wanted to say-"

Michiru was cut off by the sight of a CRC member in full costume being flung from the balcony of the second floor that ran along one side of the hall. The body crashed in a heap in the middle of the room and judging by the person's size, it was likely Yagitoko.

Michiru feared the worst, that they had been found out and their mole beaten and thrown to the wolves. The flock looked just as stunned however, most looking up to where the body had come from, as did Michiru. Who she saw there though made her blood run cold. A slow clap echoed in the hall as Tomura Shigaraki grinned like a mad man, dismembered hand on his face as he spoke, his voice dripping with menace, "Well, well. Quite the little party you have going on here. Couldn't help but feel left out, I hope you don't mind a little raid!"

As he finished speaking, several other members of the League of Villains appeared beside him adorned in rich-looking clothing or carrying expensive-looking items they were currently looting from the mansion. Already there were angry calls for them to stop raising from the sea of murmurs as the thieves revealed themselves. As brazenly upsetting as having their holy site be robbed in plain site was, only when the lizard man Spinner appeared in view did the crowd below really start to shout and throw insults. The leader pointed up at the masked green-skinned Stain admirer and called above his flock, his voice heavy with righteous indignation "You would dare to defile this sacred place by allowing such filth! Truly, you are the lowest of the low and we will not stand for it!"

Shuichi and Himiko glared down at the rabble below but it was Tomura who again spoke, his voice challenging, "Oh? And here I thought you were about to induct one of those 'filthy animals' into your sick little group? Or did you not know about your new little friend?"

The leader scoffed, waving his hands dismissively "The lies of thieves! Our newest member is quirkless! The purest of the pure! She is to be protected at all costs!"

At those words, several members of the flock raced to circle Michiru, their back to her, apparently intent on protecting their newest member. "Enough of this! Seize them! We will teach them for soiling our temple!" The leader ordered.

Within just a few moments, the situation had suddenly gone from troubling to completely out of control. Just as CRC members began to bring their quirks to bare on the league above them, Michiru knew whether she signaled soon or not, her teammates would hear the fighting. Michiru lamented she wouldn't be able to see the surprise on these assholes faces as sparks appeared around her, drawing attention from the guards there to protect her.

To the guard's shock, Michiru's mask pulled away as her face stretched forward, covered in fur, revealing a long wolf's snout. As the CRC members watched on, disbelieving, Michiru rose her snout high and let out a howl, the sound carrying to all corners of the hall and outward, drawing attention from everyone who heard it, supposed friend and foe alike.

Almost instantly, a second-floor window burst inward as one figure and then another flew through the opening and landed amongst the costumed racists. Sakon rose from her rolling landing, pumping her fists, a hunger for battle in her mutli-lensed eyes while Celty, cloaked in shadow blades called out for all to listen "I am the hero Shadow Rider and you are all under arrest! Resist, and we shall use force to detain you." When the headless lighter caught sight of the League above she inwardly cursed. Outwardly, she added "That includes you terrorists! You will answer for your attacks on UA and countless other crimes!"

There was a brief pause where the shock left everyone waiting for the next shoe to drop, no one moving or speaking. Then there was a shout of "NEVER!" and the brawl was on. CRC members throwing themselves at the two heroes or trying to get at the villains trying to rob them.

Michiru reverted back to her base tanuki form and was about to use the sword to try and break the lock holding the wounded mouse boy. Mid-swing however, Michiru's wrists were caught by the leader of the group, who pulled off his mask to reveal himself to be Shu, confirming why his voice sounded so familiar. "YOU! Disgusting animal! How? You're missing the bone! There is not punishment harsh enough for what you have done! I will have you skinned, and your hide laid before my dogs to shit on!"

Her hands still held aloft, the blade shaking with effort to try and free herself in Shu's grasp, Michiru slowly turned and looked up at the fanatic, her eyes alight with fury. To angry to speak, Michiru let her pent-up anger do the talking for her. Her arms swelled to massive size, causing the man to lose his grip as Michiru's wrists swelled well beyond his ability to grasp them.

Shu barely had a moment to show the shocked horror on his face before Michiru swept her arm, catching him hard in his side and sending him flying through the podium and crashing into the wall below the image on the wall.

The four that had gathered to guard her were now set on attacking her, one with a knife, another now with spikes coming out of their arms. The other two didn't appear to have weapons and if their had quirks they could attack with, they weren't showing them. It didn't matter to Michiru in that moment, however as she began breathing heavily, her anger threatening to overtake her.

Using her ability to moroph once more, Michiru's snout became a bit longer, wider, and featuring whiskers plus was full of nasty teeth to go with the claws she was now brandishing before her would-be attackers. The now lion girl was done talking to these people and she charged forward.

(X)

Chaos had well and truly erupted in the mansion as dozens of farm folk fought two different groups of interlopers. For the league, it was as much about the looting as anything. Twice, Mr. Compress and Dabi, freshly returned to the group, continued to take what they felt was of value. In the meantime, Tomura, Himiko and Shuichi jumped down to join the fight proper for a little fun.

The hand-wearing leader of the band took no time at all grabbing the first people he saw, clutching them firmly to trigger his quirk. Those approaching to attack paused as they watched in horror as their compatriots screamed in agony, their bodies slowly withering to dust bit by bit. With a feral grin, Tomura bounded after the others, who turned and ran, desperate to save themselves.

Shuichi was having a harder time, his only real strength being able to climb walls. He brought his sword to bare and against those with passive quirks worked just fine but he was struggling against one who was able to shoot rocks from his hands, keeping out of his swords range.

Himiko though, had no such problems despite wielding only a knife. Being far more agile with much more experience in combat, the vampiric girl had little trouble bounding about cutting attackers down with an almost euphoric glee. The blonde blood sucker's rampage took her toward one of the cages with a mouse-looking guy in it and what looked to be a showdown of sorts. With no one within immediate cutting range, Himiko paused to see what this was all about.

The tanuki looking lighter was glaring at one of the flock whose mask had been slashed enough that part of the face underneath could be seen. That face was twisted in betrayed rage. "NAZUNA! I took you into my home! Treated you like the sister I never had, and it was all a lie!? You're one of THEM? Just another filthy animal that doesn't know their place? I was such a fool!"

"My name is Michiru! Michiru Kagemori, Misa! Don't you dare try to make it sound like I did a horrible thing here. You kidnap and enslave innocent people for no reason other then they don't look the way you think they should! There are two of them in cages right in front of us! And you teach it to your children! The only one you have to blame is yourself!" the tanuki girl countered, having reverted to her standard form after taking down those that had surrounded her.

The two women were too absorbed in each other to notice Himiko's presence. That was until the blonde girl dismissively called out "BOR~ING!" Before she surged toward Misa, blood lust in her eyes.

Michiru didn't think twice, her body moving almost on its own, both the transformation to quicker cheetah legs and the rush to get between herself and Himiko. Much to Misa's surprise, Michiru made it in time, able to get herself between the two. What she wasn't able to do was defend herself, taking a nasty gash on her chest, blood shooting out and away with the force of the slash.

Some of the blood managed to splash itself on the very boy Michiru had been charged with bathing in her life's blood, some of it even managing to land in the boy's own wound. For now, no one noticed this, however. Michiru was wounded, but not out, shifting her arm, doubling it in size to take a swipe at Himiko, who cackled and leapt out of range.

"Pretty stupid to throw yourself in front of someone who doesn't even see you as human, lighter." Himiko taunted, bringing her knife up in front of her. Whether she was about to attack again or lick the blade Michiru didn't know.

Glancing back and seeing the stunned look on Misa's face, Michiru shot back, adrenaline helping to dull the pain of her wound, "Yeah, getting looked down on isn't anything new. But you know what? You can't change someone's mind if they're dead."

A smirk spreading on her face, Himiko countered "Change people's mind? Look around you lighter. These asshats aren't going to change their minds, they built an entire religion based on the idea that you're not human and you think they'll change their mind? Please! Once people have decided you're too weird for them, don't fit into their nice little holes then you need to be put down!"

"Maybe, maybe not." Michiru answered as her arm suddenly shot out like a wiggly coiled spring. The action caught Himiko off guard, she knife knocked out her hand. The vampire girl moved to try and bite the attacking limb but Michiru had already began pulling it back, the blonde missing her chance. With a smirk, Michiru added "But that doesn't mean I won't continue to be me no matter what they say or think! I'll show them the best I can be!"

"Yeah, let me know how that works out for you!" Himiko responded before pulling another knife and dashing away to charge Celty, who was now fending off Tomura.

Michiru moved to follow, only to suddenly feel a piercing pain in the back of her left shoulder. From behind, Misa spoke into Michiru's ear with as much venom in her voice as she could muster "I never asked to be helped by some lowly animal, you hear me? I'd rather die then know I'm still breathing because something so unclean as you saved me."

Upon hearing such hate-filled and irrational words, Michiru felt like a gaping hole had formed in her belly. She felt empty, almost dead inside for several long moments. Michiru had endured their insults. Stood by while she watched these people beat and demean others like her. Now when she stood to defend them, taken care to knock out but not kill any who had attacked her, this was what she got? Not thanks but instead more bile and hatred? The emptiness suddenly felt like it was being filled, a cold and hard rage settling in the morphing tanuki girl.

When Michiru spoke again, her voice seemed to take on a deeper, snarling quality to it that instantly filled the woman who stabbed her with uncontrollable fear. "You think I'm a monster? I'll…I'll give you a monster!"

As she spoke, sparks came to life around her and Misa watched on in whimpering horror as Michiru grew in size, her cloths straining to contain the change. Her tail longer, losing its fur and hardening as it appeared to segment, the last of which appeared a stinger. Michiru's legs gained mass, though her toes stretched out and hardened, becoming talons akin to an emu. Though her arms took on the shape of a gorilla's, they were covered in scale and much like her feet, her hands became paws with sharp claws. Her back expanded and rounded, breaking into segments that clearly denoted a turtle's shell. Michiru's head grew large bull-like horn's while her face became more feline in shape but when she turned to loom down at the hate filled innkeeper, her mouth appeared to be filled with sharks' teeth more than anything a lion or tiger might have.

Michiru let out a blood curdling roar and everything else that was happening around her ceased as all turned to look on the abomination that stood before them.

(X)

Just to be clear, whatever Michiru has become, she hasn't lost her mind. I don't know what the popular opinion among the fandom is, but I am of the opinion that Michiru is not capable of falling prey to Nirvasyl Syndrome so don't expect that to be the case when we pick up next month. I mostly mention this because, as with last month, I hadn't intended to end here. I had in mind that we would climax the CRC arc here. However, between speed running FFVII: Rebirth and another untimely death that has hit me pretty hard, I have struggled to find both the time and drive to get all I had hope done this month so I apologize.

Next month is my annual torture, a huge event I put on as part of my job that sucks much of my time and energy away. I will, as always, do my best. I mostly mention it in case there are even more mistakes than normal when I get the chapter out next time. Michiru will again carry most of the next chapter but Emeralda and Zelgadis will return along with more of 1-A as well though a reunion will be a couple chapters away I think. I can't tell you all how much I wish I could just sit and write this story. Times like these make me wish I could be in such a world as this and there are times as I write when I can almost feel like I am. One of the joys of writing I suppose. Sorry, I've perhaps gotten too personal, on to the reviews!

Oh and a quick note about reviews, if you review as a guest, requires that I approve the review. Especially when I'm at work I don't have the chance to approve the review so that it is visible so if you don't see your review right away, its just because I was busy for a few hours, my apologies.

From carllee135k/Storm:

if your going to add more lighters i hope you add reo and nagi or barou from blue lock as like side characters.

i wish that we see bakugou and deku interacting more i understand that you don't like bakugou but yeah i really like their relationship in the show and i really want to see deku defend bakugou more as he does see him as a friend and someone who he admires. they are the closest according to canon. I'm also surprised deku didn't react more as trash talking and hurting bakugou is a sure fire way to really piss deku off. anyway that's my only gripe. do it or not i don't really care I'll still read this story either way.

enjoy your day

Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time review! I appreciate anything you want to see in the story (in part because it tells me you read it) because it tells me you think my story is at least worth adding something you care about into it or you want to see better.

I played soccer for most of my childhood, it was easily my favorite sport to play. Sports anime, on the other hand, has not been a genre I've been able to get into. Even though I know that Blue Lock is very much a subversion of the usual formula for sport anime, I've not gotten around to watching it. I admit that I hadn't planned to have any other crossovers for the remainder of the story though thinking on it, there may be an opportunity if I play things right. Still wouldn't be for awhile in universe time and given my slow pace, a long time real world.

As for Deku and Bakugo, I assume you are referring to the late night encounter between Bakugo and the lighters with Izuku after talking with Xellos. Mind you Izuku had just discovered other worlds exist, along with magic and that the people with him wee from different worlds. He kind of had a lot on his mind and Zelgadis didn't exactly give much opportunity for discussion. I see your point though and had I given the scene more time to breathe, Izuku would have had something to say after the adults had their say.

Ultimately, this is Michiru, Zelgadis and Emeralda's story. I have to this point given other lighters, Izuku and even Bakugo development and I plan to continue that. My distaste for the blonde hot-head is well established but I admit to having been influenced by my audience and the guy is fun to write so he will get more time then I had originally planned. That will include time between him and Izuku. Bakugo has been confronted with his horrible behavior toward the other boy and will need to face him if he wants to go forward as a hero so look forward to that.

Thank you again so much for taking the time to write. I have always found it hard to tell others what I think about stories so to mean it means the world when someone else can do it for me. Take care and I hope you stick around despite my less tan ideal responses.

From Endericus:

Hey great chapter as always! It's nice to see that random stuff I watch can give you ideas how to expand the story. Honestly when Himiko talked about lighters I wonder what the hell will happen if she tries to drink and shift into one of the lighters, mostly concerned with how it will work with Michiru's blood and her Transform quirk. I can also kinda see Himiko and Michiru relating about not being seen as normal or at least as a monster and something inhuman, except that in our tanukis case she actually stopped being a human. Something to think about, can't say I see her being redeemed in this fic or anything like that but if the conversation goes in that direction than that would be interesting. Well besides ruminating on possible conversation about humanity between a vampire and a furry, Eri and Emeraldas friendship is just precious and just might give me diabetes. Also in the future when Michiru will work on her abilities I think her and Suneater could really give each other ideas since their abilities both involve transforming partially into animals, in canon he experimented a lot with different stuff so it would be fascinating if he could give her tips or ideas about things he couldn't do but would like to try.

Hey Endericus, thank you as always! It's funny, I've been reading fanfiction for a long time and more than a few times I have read writer's responses where they are amazed that a reader has seemingly read the author's mind. Didn't think I'd ever have that feeling but you have done it this time, Endericus. I had already planned for a conversation involving Himiko and Michiru before your review so good call. As to her drinking a lighter's blood, it's easy to miss but she has already sampled Emeralda's blood and commented on how fake it tasted. How effective Himiko's quirk would be would entirely depend on the nature of each lighter's power. That is to say, if she drank Ranma's blood she could look like him but not change sex because he is under a magical curse that doesn't transfer over with his blood. Michiru though, her power is, as far as we know, purely genetic and I see no reason why it wouldn't carry over. It seems to me based on what happened to Michiru that drinking her blood would result in the same think happening to Himiko, making her a beastman and losing her quirk in the process. You are right about Himiko and redemption, it's not in the cards here. Bakugo is a piece of shit and I hate him but he cane still grow up and get better. He hasn't killed anyone yet. For all that Himiko suffered, once she crossed that line, to me, there is no going back for that. We're not done with her yet between her and Michiru though so don't think the words they exchanged here is all you're going to get.

I, too, have thought about Michiru and Suneater trading notes as it were and had even planned a scene along those lines while they waited to storm the yakuza base. As usual, time was short and I worried about the pace getting bogged down before the fight started. I was also trying to keep the focus more on Zelgadis as well so I felt I had to let it go. Might be a good thing to revisit during a quiet moment between arcs though.

Alight, that's it for this month. Wish me luck out there. The less chaotic my event is, the more time and energy I'll have to write. Thank you all again and I hope to see you next month! Take care.