Why was it so hard to sleep? That thought flooded Michiru's mind like a hazy swamp as she tossed and turned in bed. Sure, it had been easy enough to fall asleep once she had finally hit her bed after over a week away, it was just staying that way that was the problem. The worst part was that this wasn't anything new. Michiru had had far more fitful nights than this since she had arrived in this world.

Usually, she got her best sleep after long, stressful periods just like her latest mission. Not this time though. This time it had hit much closer to home than anything else she had experienced in this world of heroes. As tired and burned out as she was, a confusing mix of regrets and what-ifs blended with thoughts of home, good and bad. Then, to make matters worse, there was what Sakon had said on the helicopter…

Alone with her thoughts, and no one else to convince otherwise, looking back on her life through that lens, a rush of embarrassed anger began to color her furry cheeks. "Nope! Time to get up! Sun's starting to come up anyway!" Michiru declared, shaking her head and those dark, shameful thoughts away.

Slowly shuffling her way to her balcony, the tanuki girl opened the glass sliding door and stepped out into the crisp morning air. Coming to the edge, Michiru rested her head on the metal frame that was the edge of her balcony and just watched as the first rays of light pushed their way above the line of trees that seemed to frame UA's grounds like a barrier.

As the sky began to change color with the raising sun, Michiru began to think how funny it was that even in another world, another universe, the sun still looked exactly the same. So much was the same. She was even still in Japan! How crazy was that? How many more worlds were there out there? Were there other ones that had other Michiru's out there? Had they also become beastmen? Or were they still human? Still happy? Still…ignorant?

"Good morning Michi." came the neutral voice of her fellow otherworlder and friend, Emeralda, from the balcony beside her own.

"Uh, good morning, Emmy. Umm, how long have you been there?" Michiru replied, jarred from her ruminations and turning her head to the side to address the tan girl.

Sitting in the chair she had brought from her desk inside her room and wrapped in the comforter from her bed, Emeralda sat with a sketchpad in hand and her eyes focused out on the landscape when she replied "About half an hour. You looked like you were still groggy when you first stepped out so I waited to address you."

Michiru grunted in acknowledgement and continued to watch while Emeralda worked. The other girl's hand seemed to move feverishly while her face betrayed nothing beyond the focus she was giving her subject. It was amazing, honestly, watching Emeralda work. Really, watching anyone do anything creative was a marvel to Michiru, someone who was good at sports and charging forward to be in the thick of things but lacking in creative talent. It had been clear to her from an early age that artistic expression was not in her but she had always admired those that did. As such Michiru wanted to let Emeralda work without interruption and kept quiet.

Emeralda herself had other ideas though, and before long spoke again, "Zelgadis told me after your phone call that you had suffered challenges on your mission. You need not give me the details now but with everything happening yesterday, I didn't take the time to say I'm sorry you had such a hard time. If I hadn't of been so selfish, I could have joined you."

Michiru shook her now raised head, though she was unsure Emeralda had seen it before she replied "Even if you had been there Emmy, I still would have been the one to play double agent and it may have been you I had injured when I…got angry at the end so don't beat yourself up about the de-aging thing, ok? I…know what it's like to run away, after all."

"I…see." the nanomachine girl answered, still focused ahead and drawing while she spoke.

With the sun continuing it's climb, it had become light enough for Michiru to perceive what Emeralda was drawing and asked, "Is that a sunrise?" curious what keep her friend so focused.

"It is."

"Oh. Isss there anything special about it?" Michiru probed, fishing for a change of subject.

Finally, Emeralda stopped sketching and placed her chilly hands under her comforter before she turned to face her furry friend, a small smile on her face. "Eri asked me for such a picture, actually. I…hadn't done any sunrises since I came to this world, it hadn't felt right. Now, though, I don't think I mind so much."

Just then a breeze picked up, lifting Emeralda's full, flowing hair, giving her a certain tranquil quality, at least in Michiru's eyes. There was a pureness there that Michiru both admired and envied all at the same time. The thought occurred to the tanuki girl that it truly was a shame that this young woman couldn't seem to see even a fraction of the greatness that she contained.

When it became clear that she was staring, Michiru broke away and replied "That's good to hear Emmy. You and Zel both seem to have had a pretty good time this past week. I'm glad."

Emeralda quickly attempted to correct the record, saying quickly and inadvertently adding a sense of unease "No, I can't say what I have experienced in your absence has been pleasant. I can say though that I learned something important and for that, I feel glad that it happened, if that makes sense?"

Michiru giggled and replied "Don't worry, I get you. But Zel? He have an easy week?"

Emeralda thought it over a moment before answering "I wasn't with him the whole time and he did seem to worry about you a lot but on the whole, I think his time was a restful one."

With the subject now on the chimera, Emeralda turned her whole attention to the girl clearly unbothered by the cool air. The greenette tried to read the other girl's face and found what she thought was a wistful look in Michiru's face.

After a moment, Michiru answered, her voice suddenly softer "That-that's good. I'm glad. I could tell he seemed mellower than normal. He needs it. Deserves it."

As blunt as ever, Emeralda quickly added "He is not the only one. I hope that you, too, can do the same, Michi."

Michiru let out a mirthless laugh before turning her friend's advice right back at her, saying "That goes for you too, Emmy. I want to see you have some fun and relax, you got me?"

"I will if you will. Deal?" Emeralda retorted, an uncharacteristic smirk on her face.

"Heh, deal." Michiru answered. To seal the agreement, Michiru stuck out her arm, her hand in a fist. Then, that arm suddenly got longer, if a bit noddle-like as it got long enough to reach the other balcony. Emeralda stared for a moment before understanding the intent and offered her own fist, bumping the tanuki girl's unnaturally extended limb.

The two giggled while Michiru's arm returned to normal. A comfortable silence settling on the two after that for a time with Emeralda returning to her work now that her hands were warm again. Eventually, Michiru spoke again, her voice quiet "There's…something I want to tell Zel, but I'm not sure he'll be happy to hear it. If-if he's happy right now, is it wrong of me to not want to tell him?"

Again, Emeralda paused her work to stare at her friend. Michiru didn't notice. She was staring down toward 1-A's dorm, or perhaps nothing in particular. Emeralda couldn't tell. She also couldn't tell if the tanuki girl wanted to ask Zelgadis what she thought Michiru wanted to ask. It had been very evident to Emeralda that the two were close to each other. The two complimented each other very well and in the nanomachine girl's mind, it was inevitable that the two would get closer still. Yet as far as she knew, neither had actually expressed interest in each other. Perhaps that was about to change.

Still, Emeralda wanted to tread lightly. "That depends, I suppose. Is what you want to tell him something he needs to know right now?"

Michiru thinned her lips and sighed before saying "I…I guess not. He's waited this long, he can probably wait a bit longer until there is a good moment. Thanks Emmy. For everything. Enjoy the rest of your work, I'm going to get some coffee."

Emeralda nodded and watched Michiru leave, a bit more life to her steps than when she first stumbled out. A moment of inspiration struck the tan girl and at least for a time, the sunrise was forgotten as she worked on another sketch on the next page.

(X)

For the better part of two days, Himiko had wandered the woods north of Shivmachi. The first day she had wondered if her fellow league members had left her for dead and went to cash in their spoils so they could finally have a decent meal. On the second morning though, the vampiric high schooler picked up the scent of blood. Human blood.

It took another day of following the scent but finally, Himiko had come upon the League of Villains, camped out in a clearing deep in the mountains. If anyone was weary of attack, it didn't show, no less so when she simply walked up and said "You actually waited for me. I'm surprised."

While the rest of the group looked up in feigned disinterest, Jin bounded to her and hugged her tight, exclaiming "I'm so happy your ok, Toga! You reek!"

While the dissociative villain embraced her, Himiko was able to catch a glimpse of the wound on his arm, answering who it had been who left the trail for her to follow. A fact that didn't surprise her at all.

It was just as unsurprising when Dabi spoke up, saying with his trademark mix of annoyance and dismissal "If it had been up to me, we would have left you behind. Boss over here had other ideas."

Himiko looked over at Tomura after Dabi spoke, and for a moment the two villains eyes met before Tomura looked away again, saying "And don't you forget it. We could have tracked down Gigantomachia by now. I expect you to make up for it."

Sitting on a log opposite the fire from their leader, Shuichi pipped in "Yeah, about that. Now that we've actually seen him, how do you expect us to win him over to our side, Shigaraki?"

The next person to speak immediately caused the others gathered to be on guard, those who had them drawing their weapons. "That is an excellent question, Spinner. I've been wondering that myself." A nasally, inherently annoying voice inquired from the shadow of the trees beyond.

The League of Villains did not lower their guard even though they all knew after a few words who had found them. After a tense moment of silence, Tomura answered, his voice dripping with murderous anger "I don't see how that's any business of someone who couldn't even keep their promises, Xellos."

On hearing his name, the mazuku stepped from the darkness, his ever present smile on full display though he wore his classic tunic and cape from his homeworld instead of his pin-stripped purple suit. Pressing a hand to his chest as if to show his hurt at such a charge, Xellos answered "Come now, Shigaraki-san, it's hardly my fault if your master wanted to stay in his little cell for the time being. At least I know where he is and can extract him whenever the need arises."

"It's not just about that, it's about the damn money you promised us, jackass!" Himiko bitterly replied.

Atsuhiro went into more detail after he raised his hand to keep the blonde schoolgirl from jumping the mazuku. "It became quickly apparent that we could not access the funds you had promised with you specifically. You left us in a pretty tight spot. Hardly the way an ally would act, wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah, and how the hell did you find us? Shuichi added.

Xellos dismissively waved his hand and answered, taking a step closer to the group "Oh that part was easy. You didn't exactly make your little fight in Shivmachi a subtle one. It was all over the news that the League had been spotted out here. From there it was just a matter of poking around. Once I found Toga-san here, I only needed to follow."

After Himiko growled, Xellos offered a wink that only incensed the girl more before he continued, saying "As for the money, well you can't hardly blame me for taking measures to ensure I wasn't just double crossed now can you? Rest assured, with me here, you won't have to rob weird random cults you find in the mountains. I promise!"

"Your promises don't exactly amount to much. Just ask Overhaul about your promises." Dabi gruffly pointed out.

"Fair Enough." Xellos conceded, shaking his head in disappointment. "There doesn't have to be trust, after all, just mutual understanding. I help you with what you want and you help me with what I want. As for now, how about some snacks?" Then, the mazuku briefly placed his hands behind his back and when he brought them back out, he was holding several bags from what looked like a convince store.

The eyes of several of the League members grew wide with hungered excitement. Himiko took a step forward and asked "Is that what I think it is?"

"Of course! I got all of what I understand people in this world consider favorites! Dig in!" Xellos exclaimed happily.

And they did. Himiko was first, but Jin, Shuichi and Atsuhiro weren't far behind. Dabi refused to be bought and scuffed before turning and walking away into the darkness of the trees. Tomura watched on and said nothing while the rest feasted on the meager offering. Xellos, though left the rest to eating and came over to join the deranged leader.

Before the purple-haired lighter could open his silver tongue, Tomura asked, a hint of accusation in his voice "What did my master really say? Or did you not actually meet him at all."

For once, Xellos dropped his normal jovial façade, his eyes opening fully and his mouth narrowed into a straight line. "Your master is waiting for you to prove yourself. To build an army. You know him better than me of course but if I were him, I'd let someone else do the dirty work before stepping out to take control again."

Tomura absorbed this, thinking on it for a moment before replying "As long as I get what I want, I don't care how it gets done."

For a moment, a smirk reappeared on Xellos' face before fading away again. "That is a pretty big assumption you're making there, Shigaraki-san. I'm a creature of chaos. Destruction is what I crave and I sense that in you, too. But your master? It's a means to an end for him. You're a means to an end for him."

Tomura's voice grew icy cold when he replied "You dare insult the man who raised me? I'd kill you where you right now if I could you inhuman freak."

Xellos couldn't help but smile at that, replying "Why thank you! That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me since I got here! Seriously though, if what I have learned about your master is true, he's been running things from the shadows for decades before you came along. Tell me, does that sound like the kind of person who wants to just destroy everything?"

"Master had his way, I have mine. He left the stage to me, even left me tools to use. You didn't think we were out here just to get away from the heroes, did you?" Tomura answered back, his hand twitching visibly, as if he was seriously thinking about trying to kill Xellos anyway, even if it wouldn't work.

Xellos' façade returned before he replied, matter-of-factly "Ah yes, the giant. Well, you're free to keep looking. I promised to help so you can leave supplies to me but if you get tired of looking, I'd suggest heading to Deika City. I have some, let's say, contacts there."

Tomura raised an eyebrow, his bloodlust replaced by curiosity, "Deika? What's so special about Deika?"

Xellos' smile grew wider when as he titled his head and wagged his finger, saying "Now that, is a secret!"

(X)

"I'll text you when I'm done. Have fun with Eri!" Michiru said to Emeralda, waving before she headed into Hitomi's office.

The nanomachine colony smiled and nodded in return before responding "I will. Say hello to Hitomi for me. Good luck Michi."

Michiru smiled again before disappearing into the counselor's office. It was mid-day, a couple of hours after Michiru had gotten a message saying that Hitomi had wanted to talk about her mission, which came as no surprise to the tanuki girl. She'd mentioned it to Emeralda, who offered to walk with her on her way out to the hospital. It must have been lunch time because by the time Emeralda made her way out into the halls of UA, it was bustling with students.

Unfortunately for her, luck would have her cross paths with the female cohort of 1-A. Kyoka appeared to be surrounded by her friends, and when the greenette locked eyes with the rocker girl, Kyoka averted her eyes. Several of the other girls offered glares in return.

Emeralda knew then why she had met with hostility the day before and didn't shy away from it. She met the glares with her usual neutral expression, offered a courteous nod and continued on her way. This hadn't been the first time she had had to swallow the rejection of friends and though she felt the usual pit forming in her stomach, it had become something she could live with.

Moving back into the crowd, Emeralda tried to put it out of her mind, focusing on navigating the large school and its many inhabitants. Thus, she was very surprised when she heard the prim and proper voice of Momo call out to her. "Kasim-san! May I have a word?"

Pausing, Emeralda turned to face the vice-rep of 1-A with surprise on her face. "Hello Yaoyorozu-san. Is there something I can help you with?"

The black-haired creator looked nervous, one arm held by the other. "Yes, Kasim-san, there was something I wished to speak to you about but, not here. Would you join me in our classroom?"

"Certainly." was the reply and the two made their way to 1-A's currently empty room. Neither girl choose to sit, preferring to stand near the lectern. Momo spoke first, concern in her voice, "Thank you for hearing me out, Kasim-san. Now, I wanted to confirm. Did you speak to Jiro about her…crush on Greywards-san?"

Emeralda suspected this would be the topic but still, she was glad she got the chance to speak on the subject instead of being ignored. Quickly nodding, she replied simply with "I did, yes."

Momo let out a sigh, a sign of exacerbation at having an unpleasant fact confirmed. Crossing her arms, she continued, saying "I see. May I then ask what it was you told her?"

"Of course." Emeralda answered almost robotically, "I first confirmed my own suspicions that she intended to ask Zelgadis out. On doing so, I advised her to watch his interaction with Michiru before doing so. An informed decision you could say."

Momo frowned but continued "So you didn't directly tell Kyoka to not ask Greywards-san out?"

"I did not." Emeralda replied without hesitation.

"Well, that's a step in the right direction. It does, however, bring up another question. Did you know that Kagemori and Greywards were dating already?"

Emeralda raised an eyebrow and answered, "They aren't."

"Wait, so you put the seed of doubt into Jiro's mind even though they aren't currently romantically engaged?" Momo clarified, her composure broken by confusion.

"It wasn't my intention to discourage her with my words, Yaoyorozu-san. I just didn't think that she was a good match for Zelgadis and thought that if she saw what I did, she could avoid potential heartbreak." Emeralda explained.

"You are telling me you were trying to help Jiro then?" Momo asked, skeptical.

"In addition to avoiding complications between Michi and Zelgadis, yes." Emeralda answered.

The cool, rational way Emeralda was answering on the one hand was appreciated by the raven-haired beauty but at the same time, something else was bothering her and after a moment gave voice to it, her annoyance overtaking her good sense. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Kasim-san but you've never dated, correct?"

Emeralda nodded, her face remaining neutral. Momo continued "Then how is it that you feel qualified to know when others are or are not a good match for one another?"

A small, bitter smile briefly played on Emeralda's face before it disappeared and she reached up and pulled out her pendant, hidden as always under she shirt. "Where I am from, there is a belief in complementary souls. The image of two one-winged angels are often used. I saw this embodied in the two people closest to me back home."

When Momo raised a questioning eyebrow, Emeralda continued "I may not know what love feels like, but I know what it looks like. I know when two people complement one another and I can tell that Michi and Zelgadis do just that. Even if they haven't realized it themselves. I've known for a long time now…"

Momo had been doing her best to project a stern visage during her questioning of the tan girl but now? Now it was clear what Emeralda had been doing. "…you care about them a great deal, don't you?"

Emeralda closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the ceiling and said as if admitting it to herself as much as Momo "I do. And I wish to see them happy." Then she opened her eyes and looked back at the raven-haired girl "But I care about Jiro-san as well. I wanted to spare her pain too. I did not mean to hurt her. I just knew that if she went further and got rejected, she may feel she wasn't adequate. I am more than use to being hated so if she feels I deserve such feelings, I was prepared."

On hearing Emeralda's explanation, a smile appeared on Momo's lips while sympathy swelled in her chest. A moment later, the taller black-haired girl had stepped forward and placed her hands on Emeralda's shoulders and said "I apologize, Kasim-san. I should have known you didn't have malicious intent. It seems the situation is just…complicated is all. I thank you for you for your honesty. I will explain things to the others but feel free to say something yourself, it's always best for these things to come from the source."

Despite everything she had said, a wave of relief washed over Emeralda on hearing those words. As used as she had become to being alone back home, to find herself shunned again here was a thought that stung deeper than she dared admit to herself.

Emeralda nodded and agreed firmly "I will. Thank you, Yaoyorozu-san."

(X)

The rest of the day had been a long one for the league of villains. Though they were whole again with Himiko's return, they were still wandering in the wilderness looking for Gigantomachia with only a vague sense of what direction the giant had gone and with no way of knowing if he decided to change direction.

Plus, they now had a new addition with Xellos. The ever-serious Shuichi worried that he would be one more mouth to feed but the mazuku reassured the lizard man that he didn't need to eat. Xellos actually did the opposite in terms of supplies, teleporting away and coming back with restaurant grade food for them when they stopped to rest.

As great as that sounded, there was the matter of the fact that Xellos never seemed to shut up. Jin could sometimes be chatty but at least both of his personalities could read a room and knew when it was time to be quiet. Xellos either lacked that skill or didn't care. At all. Before long, it seemed like every member of the League had told him their life stories, or at least as much as they were willing to give or remember.

Atsuhiro had been the latest victim, begrudgingly recounting his relation to one of the greatest thieves in Japanese history. Unlike the rest though, who were eager to end their suffering and stop their conversations with the purple-haired lighter, the mask-wearing Atsuhiro decided to turn the tables. "So, Xellos, I must ask, why is it someone purported to be as strong as you would deign to walk with us lowly humans?"

Ducking under a low branch, several other league members turning to listen in, Xellos laughed and replied "Though it is true I am the strongest being in this world, that never stopped me from enjoying the simple pleasures. Honestly, my walk with you all today has been rather…nostalgic."

"Yeah, I don't know that you have an honest bone in your body." Shuichi grumbled.

"I don't have any bones at all!" Xellos cheerily retorted.

"Compressy has a point though. You seem like someone whose much better at sneaking around and plotting and shit than actually fighting." Himiko commented, sounding skeptical.

"Come now, Himiko-chan, didn't you see me fight Esper at the Shie Hassaikai compound?" the mazuku whined.

"Yeah, I did. But like I said, you mostly dodged and played with her before you took her down. Makes me wonder if your more bark than bite." The vampiric blonde countered.

"Seems to me, if we're going to fight side-by-side, we should get a feel for what you can do. Or you can run and hide, coward!" Jin suggested.

"It's a fair point, kinda curious myself." Dabi said, finally adding to the conversation.

Then, Tomura, who had been at the head of the group but hadn't seemed to be interested, stopped. Everyone caught themselves stopping as well, all attention on their leader. The madman turned and said, his voice low and raspy "Do it, Xellos. Teleporting, shapeshifting and being immortal is nice and all but that mostly helps you. What's going to help us?"

Shrugging, Xellos cheekily responded "You mean besides my money and connections?" When he was met by silence and a wall of annoyed stares, his shoulders sagged, and he conceded. "Fine, fine, I can give you a small taste of what I'm capable of. Here, look over at that clearing. You see those deer drinking from that creek?"

Indeed, the trees off to their right thinned enough for there to be an opening, just as Xellos had described. With everyone nodded and looking over, Xellos said with authority, building anticipation "Now, my dear audience, watch carefully."

"Ha ha. Deer." Jin chuckled before a thin sliver of light shot from Xellos' outstretched finger and the clearing just exploded in a massive fireball.

"HOLY SHIT!" Jin followed up, his face feeling the heat from the blast before tree debris and other less desirable things began to rain down on the group. Everyone ducked for cover, doing anything they could to avoid the unexpected shower of rubble, plant and animal matter. Xellos though, stood there, his smirk even wider, his arms outstretched. "I hope you find that satisfactory!" He jeered. "That was, of course, but a tiny bit of what I am capable of. I once single-handedly wiped out a whole legion of golden dragons. Which, are, by the way, the strongest species in my home world."

"Are you fucking insane!" Himiko screamed from underneath a shrub she had dived into.

"Matter of perspective, my dear." Xellos quipped, raising a finger to the sky. "Besides." He added with a smirk, "Don't you all pride yourselves on being crazy."

"Speak for yourself, asshole." Shuichi answered under his breath.

With nothing but the wanning echo of the explosion now left, the rest of the League came back to their feet, several dusting themselves off while Xellos looked on proudly. "That good enough, Shigaraki-san?"

Tomura grumbled something about hating showoffs before speaking more clearly "You'll be responsible if that draws attention to us, lighter."

Xellos shook his head, disappointed in the lack of faith being showed to his little display. "Now, I'll have you know, back in the War of the Monster's Fall I…I…"

All of the members of the league watched on while the loquacious mazuku simply stopped mid-sentence. Then several realized Xellos' attention had been drawn upwards and they turned as well to see that somehow, some way, the towering figure of Gigantomachia had appeared before them. Everyone braced for battle, tensing and taking up stances and ready to fight for their lives. Except, the giant did nothing, he just stood there.

After several long, tense moments of silence an intelligent yet older sounding voice could be heard coming from above the treeline where Gigantomachia stood, "Well, it seems I've finally found you Shigaraki. I take it you want this man, one of our master's greatest legacies, for your own ends?"

Still ready to fight, Tomura called back "That's right! Kirogiri went to get him for me on the master's orders! I'm just collecting what's mine!"

At that, Gigantomachia raised his head to the sky and roared in sorrow, causing all but Xellos to cover their ears such was the power of the man's cry. When he was done, Gigantomachia lamented "No! He is too weak! This one could never succeed the master!"

As if to punctuate that declaration, the giant raised his massive fists and slammed them down in an attempt to kill Tomura and any around him where they stood. Once again, trees were crushed and debris flew everywhere, but none of the League members were hit in the assault.

Rolling to a stop by another tree, Tomura called out "Xellos! Take him down! A berserker is useless to me!"

Xellos raised his eyebrows at the decayer's demanding tone but decided there wasn't any harm in it. Raising his hand, the mazuku pointed his finger at the giant's torso now that Gigantomachia had stood back up, looking for Tomura.

"Wait!" came the voice, now revealed to be large speaker resting on Gigantomachia's shoulder now that the destroyed trees allowed for a clearer view of him. "Just because Gigantomachia doesn't recognize you as his master now doesn't mean he can't be persuaded."

"And what? Are we supposed to ask him nicely? He just tried to kill us!" Atsuhiro countered.

"Yeah, thanks but no thanks gramps!" Himiko seconded.

"Seems to me, I've already got a pretty powerful piece. Why should I bother with whatever stupid win condition you have in your head?" Tomura challenged.

There was a long pause before the answer came "Here, let's have this discussion in person. It's always best to have meaningful discussions in person, wouldn't you say?"

Tomura opened his mouth to answer, only for an unpleasantly familiar black sludge to begin flooding out of it. Knowing what was happening, the leader of the League of Villains glanced about and realized it was happening to all of his subordinates. Not Xellos though. He just looked on with that same serene, fake smile on his face.

(X)

"And that was it? Nothing else to report?" Hitomi asked, standing up and walking over to her desk to get her tablet.

"Nope. After I talked to Misa's husband things went pretty straight forward from there. I helped out wherever I could. I did get into an argument with Formidable on the trip back but that's kinda between me and her, you know?" Michiru answered, glad to have the session over and done with. The events of just a few days ago were still pretty raw, having to relive them for the counselor wasn't exactly something she enjoyed.

"Ah, alright then, but just remember if things get worse between the two of you, please feel free to talk to me about it. I know it means a lot to Yoshimura-san that you're her friend." Hitomi replied, missing the flinch from the tanuki girl who was already near the door.

Before Michiru could leave though, Hitomi called after her "I know I said it during the session but I wanted you to hear it one more time. It's ok that you lost your temper. Yes it made you careless and your friend did get hurt but look at what you didn't do. As angry as you were, you still kept yourself through it all. Just work to be better, ok?"

"Right." Michiru called back, refusing to turn and face the older woman. Doing so would have revealed just how little those words had done to comfort her. As much as Hitomi could see with her power, she was blind to the true source of Michiru's self-loathing.

All of that gloom disappeared however when Michiru did actually open the door and waiting just outside was a welcome face. "Hey Zel, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long!" she beamed.

"I was just reading. Doesn't really matter if I do that in my room or here so don't worry about it." the dour chimera replied seriously.

"Glad to know where I am on your priority list." Michiru countered with a smirk.

With a sigh, Zelgadis answered "You know that's not what I meant, Michiru."

Before the banter could continue however, they were interrupted by a familiar annoyed voice "Hey, if you two are quite finished, can you tell me if the counselor is in?" One Shouta Aizawa asked.

The two lighters almost seemed embarrassed by the intrusion. Michiru recovered quickly though and said "Yeah, I just finished with her. She's still in her office."

"Thanks." Shouta replied before she stepped past the two and was about to enter when he turned back and said "I read the report about Shivmachi. Kagemori, not exactly the way I would have handled it, but all things considered, good job."

Michiru forced a smile on her face, but found she couldn't look the homeroom teacher in the face when she meekly answered "Y-yeah, thanks."

Shouta lingered on Michiru for another moment before he grunted, turned and headed into Hitomi's office, shutting the door behind him. Michiru turned to look at Zelgadis, a questioning look on her face. The sorcerer-swordsmen could only shrug his shoulders before the two left, on their way to eat before meeting up with Emeralda at the hospital.

(X)

After a few more moments of the foul-smelling fluid enveloping him, Tomura was gone, only to reappear in a darkened space. After coughing up the remnants of the teleportation quirk that brought him and the rest of the League, Tomura took in his surroundings. The dark space was illuminated by many large glass tubes glowing a soft green. Each one had what could only be different types of nomu. Each with a different grotesque body type but all with black skin.

After another moment, other League members were getting their bearings, asking where they were and the like. Those questions went ignored when the man who had brought them there turned in the chair he was seating in at the head of a large computer terminal. The man was bold, appeared to be short and had a round build. He also wore goggles and had a big unkept mustache.

"Ah yes, so much better, wouldn't you agree." The older man, Kyudai Garaki said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"I couldn't help but notice you left Xellos behind, good doctor. Care to explain why?" Tomura answered back, not in the mood for small talk.

The old man laughed as though a child had just said the most obvious thing in the world like it was some great revelation. "Oh, my boy, what a silly notion. Me, bringing a lighter here. Come now Shigaraki, I know you better than that."

"Hey, what the hell. Don't talk like we're not here!" Himiko feebly yelled back.

"Yeah, it's not like all of us know everything that's going on! It's probably stupid anyway!" Jin added.

The goggle-clad doctor signed, annoyed he would have to explain something so obvious. "Surely Shigaraki has explained what lighters truly are, right?"

"People from other worlds. So what?" Himiko answered with a notable tinge of disinterest.

"So, my dear, THIS is what every lighter we have brought to this world is looking for." Dr. Garaki explained dramatically pointing above him to a tube containing an especially disquieting looking nomu.

"My word!"

"That…is pretty freaky."

"THAT is the nomu we have used to bring lighters here and I have no doubt the second a lighter got in here, they'd take my beauty away. That is why that Xellos creature is working with you, correct?" the deranged doctor asked knowingly.

"Conversations to that effect have happened." Tomura answered, his tone guarded.

"Well then, I'll cut to the chase then. Gigantomachia, like myself, is loyal to All for One. That will never change, but if you want access to him and all of my knowledge and gifts I can bestow, well, you're going to have to prove yourselves." When Tomura raised a questioning eyebrow, the bald doctor followed up by asking "All of that being said, it's important to know why you want all that our master left behind. So, tell me, Tomura, what is it that you desire."

There was a pause while the decayer considered the question. The two men locked eyes and while he thought, Xellos' words bubbled to the forefront of Tomura's mind. It was clear just by looking around that a great deal of time and care had been put into the doctor's work and he couldn't help but ask why. Was the silver-tongued lighter right? Were they just going to use him? What would this man, who had been a fixture in his life as long as he could remember, say if he wanted to take over the world in his master's stead?

In the end, Tomura decided that if this man, or even his master wanted to get in his way, then he would destroy them both, because "I want to destroy it all! This rotten world has no right to exist and I will bring it all to dust!"

The doctor chuckled, a knowing smirk appearing on his face that Tomura did not at all like before replying, "Exactly what I wanted to hear. So be it then. If you can best Gigantomachia and get him to see you as his new master then I, too, shall lend you my power however you see fit."

Tomura was about to reply when Dr. Garaki cut in "BUT! One little condition I do have is that this Xellos not help you in this endeavor and he not be allowed to know of this location. Do you understand me? Should he be involved I will disappear so deep in the shadows none will find me. Are we clear?"

"What of logistical support? He has offered to feed us after all." Atsuhiro pointed out.

Waving his hand dismissively "Yes, of course. I see no harm in that."

Himiko and Jin jumped up and high-fived each other at that, glad to know they at least wouldn't go hungry again.

"Yeah, I'm out." Dabi then said, his hands in his pockets. "I'm not interested in tangoing with the giant. I have another contact that may prove more useful."

"Ah, then please, take one of my nomu. I think it could come in very handy."

"Eh, fine, whatever, as long as it doesn't get in my way." Dabi nonchalantly answered.

Picking up a small doglike creature, the doctor then said "Well then, our business is concluded. I wish you luck in the coming struggles!"

With that, the black sludge that had brought them there again forced it's way out of the League members mouths before they again found themselves roughly where they had started.

Xellos was there, sitting on a downed log, scrolling on his cell phone idly. "That does look unpleasant. I just don't understand you humans and these odd quirks of yours sometimes." he said, standing up and putting his phone away.

Still struggling to get the last of the ooze out of his mouth as he stood up, Tomura glared at the mazuku and said "It seems *cough* that you may have been right, Xellos. Tell me more about what's happening in Deika City."

The perpetual smile on Xellos' face twisted into something almost inhuman, his eyes opening fully. "Glady." he said.

(X)

"So you still haven't really told me about how all that extra training you've been doing has gone." Michiru asked as she and Zelgadis made their way to the McGonlds they had first visited in their first days in this new world.

Zelgadis rolled his eyes at the prospect and tried to play down the subject's entertainment value, saying "Not a lot to tell really. Just boils down to think on your feet, work with others, don't be a dick. I can't believe these kids take years to figure this stuff out."

Whipping out her phone and waving it in front of the chimera, Michiru countered "I don't know, if you'd been raised on all of this stuff your entire life and had an image of it sold to you, it may take a while to get reality to really stick."

Zelgadis frowned at the prospect. He, of course, grew up in a world where the closest thing to mass media was a book so he couldn't truly judge. That didn't mean he wouldn't try, however and he replied with a hint of dissatisfaction "Hmm, seems to me if someone really wanted to be a hero, all they needed to know about what it's really like is out there to find if they actually wanted to find it."

Michiru chuckled at a thought she suddenly had, which prompted Zelgadis to ask "What? What's so funny?"

With a silly little smirk on her face, Michiru waved the chimera off before answering "Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just wondering if that's what you told Bakugo to get him to make nice and join the band."

The image of lecturing down to a seething Katsuki did present a pleasant image in Zelgadis' head but he quickly let it go, answering his companion seriously "That hardly would have helped. His arrogance is what blinded him, not any delusions about the job. No, he's someone who trusts actions over words. Talking to Hitomi probably helped too if I were to guess."

"So, you didn't blackmail him into joining, then?" Michiru teased, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Heh, pretty sure the school did that. The band was just the right place, right time, I think. He's…come a long way, believe it or not." Zelgadis said, still not quite letting go of being more serious.

"Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it. What about the pervert?" Michiru asked, giving up and deciding to change the subject slightly.

At the mention of the grape-haired teen, Zelgadis shook his head, an embarrassed smile on his face. "That one's hopeless. Gang Orca is about at his wit's end with Mineta. I'm pretty sure he's not getting his provisional license this year."

"HA! Good. I hate that little creep. One of the girls told me they overheard him say he wanted me to morph into a cow so I'd have bigger boobs. I was so mad I wanted to kill him then and there!" Michiru answered, her fist clenching at the thought.

"He is a terrible little troll. I have no idea how he got into what is supposed to be the top school in the country. You have any idea how many times I've caught him trying to harass women on the way to and from those classes?" said Zelgadis, disgust on his face.

"You told anyone?" Michiru immediately asked.

A hint of outrage for even being asked, Zelgadis answered quickly, "Of course, several times actually, to both Aizawa and Gang Orca. It's shit like this that makes me wonder about this world sometimes."

That caused the tanuki girl to raise an eyebrow. "Come on, you've had your doubts about this world from the start! Besides, I've seen the same stuff back home so its not exactly unique to here. You mean to tell me this kind of stuff doesn't happen where you're from?"

"Oh no, it did. I guess I just got used to traveling with a girl who could level cities on a whim and didn't see much of it. Aside from whenever Gourry fell asleep and accidently grouped Lina that is." Zelgadis recalled, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

After a chuckle, Michiru mirthfully said "Accidently huh? I bet this Lina beat him within an inch of his life every time he pulled that one!"

"Oh, it was definitely accidental. That man didn't have a dishonorable bone in his body. Or more than two brain cells but a good heart. But you're right, Lina would beat the hell out of him. It was pretty oblivious she wanted him to do it though so it made it that much more entertaining, if nothing else." Zelgadis explained, a lightness to his words, a little smile playing on his face he didn't even know was there.

Michiru laughed as Zelgadis explained, herself quite happy that Zelgadis was being so open about his time back home with his friends. This was a side of him she rarely saw and it was…nice. As much as Zelgadis reminded Michiru of Shirou, she knew that the old wolf would never bring himself to open up like this. He was just to set in his ways. Far too used to being alone.

"I can see why you'd value your quiet time if you had to spend all day with a couple of goofs like that." Michiru replied.

"Oh, Amelia was just as…interesting, lets say. Then there was Filia the golden dragon and for a little while we had to suffer the crazy princess from Zona. Come to think of it, only Sylphiel was even remotely sufferable." Zelgadis continued, entirely unaware they had arrived at the McGonlds, almost walking right past it.

Michiru caught his arm, bringing him out of his memories along with saying "Hey, don't get lost down memory lane there Zel! You can tell me more while we're eating."

With an embarrassed blush, the chimera let himself be pulled back to the restaurants entrance. "Right, and this time I'll be able to order for myself."

As the two entered the line, Michiru feigned anger and said "What? You didn't like what I ordered for you last time?"

Zelgadis was having none of it, countering with "What? You mean you liked having to baby-sit a bunch of other people through a meal?"

"Wha? N-No…but, i-it was good to be helpful! Back then I kind of felt like the lesser of the four of us, ya know?" Michiru stumbled to answer, having been taken off guard and put on her back foot.

Satisfied he had gotten the upper hand, Zelgadis turned his attention to the menu on display above the register and countered "That's nonsense. You kept us together through those first days. You were the strongest of all of us and I'm including Xellos."

Michiru had heard that sentiment before but hearing again now seemed to feel different and the tanuki girl was glad Zelgadis' attention was elsewhere so he'd miss her blush. She muttered a thanks and turned her attention to their surroundings, hoping to find the real reason they had stopped by the store manager and fellow lighter Sadou Maou.

As the two lighters came closer to their turn to order Michiru began to grow worried when she didn't see the unassuming demon lord and caught the attention of a passing employee. "Excuse me, but is the manager in today? I'm a friend and wanted to speak to Maou-san."

The young man, average looking aside from his lizard-like eyes, at first looked happy to assist but when he heard the question became apologetic and answered "I'm sorry miss but Maou-san left to manage a new store in Deika City awhile ago. I'm surprised he didn't tell you."

Zelgadis and Michiru looked at each other before the sorcerer's usually sour look came back to his face and he drawled "Yeah. We're pretty surprised too."

(X)

The atmosphere in the room was tense as Shouta sat on the couch normally reserved for patients, leaning forward, his shaggy hair obscuring his features. Hitomi sat across from him, a look of deep concern on her caring features.

"Nothing, Kanzaki-san." The underground hero muttered, a hint of anger in his voice. "I've been visiting at every opportunity I can squeeze in but nothing I've said, nothing I've done has gotten through to him."

Hitomi's clasped hands tightened, afraid this was what Shouta had come to speak to him about. "I take it Yamada-san hasn't had any luck reaching Shirakumo-san either?"

"No…you're the only one whose been able to get past whatever they did to him." Shouta answered, his voice suddenly sullen, even by his standards. After a pause and a long sigh, the eraser hero looked up, his eyes extremely bloodshot, which only added to the desperation emanating from them as he pleaded "That's why next time, I want you to go with me. So I can tell you exactly what I want to say to him. Could you do that for me?"

The weight the counselor felt from Shouta was almost palpable. She had been aware that Oboro's friends had gone to see him since she revealed his true identity but until now, Hitomi had been didn't know just how fruitless those trips had been. And how much it had affected the normally unflappable Shouta Aizawa.

Without hesitation, Hitomi answered "Yes, of course I'll come, Aizawa-san. I'll just need to reschedule a few of my sessions and you'll have to make arrangements for your class. Oh, one thing though."

The relief the exhausted older man had begun to show briefly halted and he replied "What is it? Something wrong?"

Hitomi shook her head, a gentle smile coming to her face. "No, it's just that, instead of me passing on a message, I can have you tell him yourself."

Much to Hitomi's shock and embarrassment, Shouta then stood, before bowing deeply in front of her. Before she could recover herself and insist he get back up, Shouta declared "Thank you. It's more than I ever hoped possible. Please, help me see my friend again."

After finding her voice and asking the dower homeroom teacher to sit back down, Hitomi added "I'm sure that he'll be glad to see you again too. It'll be my honor to help."

(X)

For the first time in a long time, I came down with a cold, that slowed me down a bit this month. This chapter is a bit shorter than I had planned as a result but I hope no one minds too much. Wheels continue to turn as we move to similar, if not the same stages as in canon. It is safe to say though that the pieces we find will be arrayed differently. Enough to keep it interesting I hope. For all intents and purposes, this story has two, maybe two and a half arcs left before we actually come to an end. That doesn't sound like much but of course given my release schedule, it'll still be quite some time before that end does come.

Just a quick note since it occurs to me I hadn't mentioned it before but the town where the CRC was named in accordance with Kohei Horikoshi's Star Wars naming convention. Given Emperor Paplentine's xenophobia against non-humans in the Empire, it seemed fitting that the town should bare his name. As such, Sheev Palpatine became Shiv and machi is just a term that means town just as adding ville or burg to the end of a name to make it a place name. Thus, Shivmachi is just Shiv or Sheev Town.

We have one review this month from the ever kind Endericus:

Loved the chapter! Michiru better have that talk with Sakon sooner rather than later, also kinda feel bad for our resident ant girl feeling betrayed like that. While I feel a bit sad about Kyoka getting her feelings hurt like that I'm sure she'll find herself somebody who'll cherish and love her. Anyway sorry for somehow losing my review like last time. Love this fic to death and so hope it will gather more people who'll love it as much as me.

Thank you, as always, Endericus. You never have to apologize for 's many technical failures. Seems like new ones pop up even before old ones are resolved. Any time I get to hear from you brightens my day. Michiru and Sakon will have their reckoning, though wether they will talk it out or otherwise…we'll see. Jiro had the unfortunate luck of being someone I perceived as being attracted to older, more serious-minded men and given Zelgadis does in fact play, it only seemed natural there would be such an attraction. She doesn't know there is a solid five year difference between them and how much that may have played into the rejection she would have suffered I'm not sure. You are right, I have no doubt she will find the right person to share her life with.

Also, thank you for those last words, so so much. Knowing the story is loved by someone else, it gives me more satisfaction than I thought I'd ever get when I started. There is a part of me that wishes there were more people who felt that way. It's taken me a long time to admit that. I've always said I'll finish this story even if no one reads it and that is still true but it's so much easier, and rewarding when people do read and enjoy it. I admiot that I, too wish the same as you Endericus.

There are, more or less, 45 to 50 of you that read each month and I am eternally grateful to each and every one of you. I won't fool myself into thinking I'll get 1k favorites or anything like that but I do hope others will join you in reading the story and enjoying it.

Take care, all of you and again, thank you. See you next month.