24/08/2024

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The Emperor's Dragon
Dragon 45 - Enter the Contacts

Izuku sat in the corner of the bar. The others weren't up yet and the bar wasn't open, so he was taking the time to think, and practise with the quirks he'd taken recently. He still didn't have the hang of the Yakuza's quirk but he had determined that it seemed to have several aspects. Disassemble, followed by a choice to either reassemble as it was originally or as something new. But with the something new, he couldn't just create something from nothing. The mass had to be there in the first place and reconstructing something new took a lot of concentration.

He couldn't shake the feeling that his lack of ability to use the quirk was at least somewhat related to his dream the other day. He had no problem using Solar Force after all, and was coming to understand how the girl's quirk worked. Both Saisho and the girl had been happy in his dream. The girl had been on a bouncing castle and Saisho had been taking care of other infants.

The Yakuza had been crucified.

Maybe it meant that his quirk wasn't willing… Izuku shook his head. If the quirk wasn't willing, then he'd just have to make it willing. And that would simply require more practice. Or he'd give it to someone else but this one, even with his limited utility had uses. If he could figure out how to build or rather rebuild a body so that it could withstand multiple quirks, then making a High End Nomu would be easy! Condition them for loyalty, optimise body, have him rebuild them and then shove the quirks in and viola… done. He might even be able to do the optimisation.

Sure it took up his time but he'd also be using the final product.

So he was continuing to practice. Mostly with the girl's quirk. Finding things that he could easily measure time on was being a bit problematic. Fruits should be okay but they were often put into storage, so it was important that he only practiced on fresh fruit. Yakuni had also pointed out that some bugs had definite life cycles that could be observed, and measured such as butterflies, except it was winter and bugs were in short supply.

Even so, with fruit he was getting a good idea of how the quirk worked. Intent was important. Before he engaged the girl's quirk, he had to have a firm idea of the outcome he wanted but it was not just about intent. There was something else that impacted it as well. Yakuni said that it worked with some sort of energy. Izuku still didn't know what that energy was but he did know it took time to accumulate the energy. The more time taken to accumulate, the more he could 'rewind' something.

Izuku shook his head. He shouldn't think about the quirk as 'the girl's quirk'. It was his now, and she had a lovely barrier quirk. He needed to practice with the other quirks too, the ones Yakuni had collected for him but he needed more room for that.

"Izu?"

The soft question of his name broke his attention and Izuku looked up to see Himiko standing there. Her hair was down and she was blinking in the dim light of the bar tap room.

"Himiko?" Izuku asked. It wasn't like he was up particularly early, just that most of them liked to sleep later. He was still in the habit of waking early for school, even if he was no longer going to school. Himiko usually didn't get up for another hour or so.

"Why are you awake?" She asked, as she came over to the table. She was still dressed in her pyjamas and when she got close, Izuku could see that they had little cats and dogs on them… with knives and an occasional brown patch that he was pretty sure had to represent blood.

Only Himiko!

"I always get up this early," Izuku said. "It gives me time to think," he told her.

Himiko slid into the booth and rested her head on his shoulder as she sighed contentedly. Her hair fell forward and Izuku reached out to push it back over her shoulder. It was surprisingly soft. "You warm," HImiko murmured and Izuku could see that her eyes were closed.

"Glad to be of assistance," he whispered.

She smiled. It wasn't a toothy smile, just a sleepy one. "You don't need to whisper," Himiko said. "I'm awake."

"What do you think of everyone?" he asked.

"Yakuni's good," she replied immediately.

"I know he is. What about the others?" Izuku pressed. He was curious as to her answers.

"They're good," Himiko told him as she snuggled further on to his shoulder.

"Really?"

"Hm hmm."

"I caught Dabi trying to steal a Nomu yesterday," Izuku said.

Himiko's eyes flew open and she jerked up. "He what?" she almost yelled.

Izuku put one finger over his lips. "Shhh!" He hissed, looking up. The rooms they slept in were upstairs and while the sound proofing was okay, he didn't think it was perfect.

"He did what?" Himiko demanded, her teeth fixed into a snarl.

"It's okay," Izuku tried to calm her. He had been fishing for a reaction but he hadn't expected this. "It's not like it was going to go with him anyway," he shrugged.

"No Izu, it's not okay," Himiko shook her head.

There was obviously some underworld thing here and thankfully Himiko knew he didn't know it.

"Dabi agreed you were the boss," she said. "That means…" she huffed. "Look, you can betray the boss, and people do, but if you are paid, then there's a contract there. He could have left but trying to steal from you… Izu, that's just disrespectful."

"So what do you suggest I do?" he asked. He probably needed the manpower, and he needed Dabi's contacts. He needed all their contacts if he was honest.

"Well you can't trust him now, not like you could, so if he stays, then he's not gonna be-" Himiko stopped when Kurogiri appeared.

"Izuku," the misty man said. "And Himiko."

"Yes?" It was hard to not sound slightly annoyed but Izuku knew Kurogiri wouldn't bother him unless it was important.

"There is one of your father's old contacts wanting to see you," Kurogiri announced.

"Dad's contacts?" Izuku was confused.

"Your father had many contacts," the warp gate explained. "This one is in distribution," he added.

"Distributing what?" Izuku asked suspiciously as Gigantomachia squeezed into the room. He immediately gave Himiko a measured look before his eyes shifted to the rest of the bar's taproom and he inspected every nook and cranny. Izuku knew better than to sigh. Gigantomachia would hear it.

"Product," Kurogiri replied. "Are you willing to see him?"

"Are you willing, Himiko?" Izuku asked. She was the one dressed in her pyjamas.

"Yep!" Himiko grinned at him.

"Please," Izuku nodded to Kurogiri to indicate that he was happy to meet them. Gigantomachia moved further into the room, taking up a position where he was able to cover the table. Izuku gave the large man a smile. He liked Gigantomachia but he was wondering how his father coped with being watched all the time. It was the huge man's job but-

Kurogiri led someone in from the kitchen. Izuku didn't bother to put on his scales because the guy already knew who he was. Or at least, who he was the son of. He did toy with the idea of using one of the Yakuza's quirks. The one who wouldn't shut up. Yakuni said their quirk could force someone to tell the truth. That had uses and while Izuku wanted to keep it, he knew better than to assign every job to himself. Most companies tried to avoid single points of failure, he saw no reason he shouldn't duplicate that.

He might get a copy of the quirk, but he wouldn't be the one primarily using it. That might go against how some of the underworld worked but… He had to make it work for him.

"And here he is, the Dragon!" the guy said grandiosely. He came forward, giving Gigantomachia a pleasant nod, before helping himself to a seat.

Izuku didn't frown but he didn't think that was quite the proper etiquette.

"And here is-?" He replied, gesturing with one hand to indicate the fact that he didn't know the guy's name.

The man gave him a grin but wasn't offended. "Oroshi Urigyou, at your service," he introduced himself with a little bow.

At that, Izuku felt Himiko laugh but from the corner of his eye, he could see that she was pretending to be asleep. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. If he hadn't felt her movement, he would have believed the impression.

"Dragon," Izuku replied with a small smile.

"Yeah, your dad always spoke about you," Oroshi said. The man gave Himiko a curious look but said nothing. Apparently if Dragon was happy having a girl sleep on his shoulder, then he wasn't going to say anything.

"I doubt that," Izuku told him.

Oroshi gave him a look and then burst out laughing. "True, true," he admitted. "He spoke a lot about Dragon, never about his son but those of us who knew could put two and two together."

Izuku gave a slight nod to indicate he accepted that explanation. From what he understood, idiots didn't survive long and while his dad had prepared the persona of Dragon, he had kept the fact that Dragon was his son away from most. But there would be those who knew. He wondered how close Oroshi thought he was to his father, and how close he actually was. Obviously the man was important enough that Kurogiri knew him but Izuku was almost positive, Oroshi would have thought he was higher on the totem pole than he really was.

After all, in business you had to make sure everyone felt like they were your most vital connection, even when they knew they weren't.

"So, you wanted to see me?" Izuku asked.

"Straight to the point, like your dad, I like that."

Izuku's expression changed into a flat look and thankfully Oroshi got the hint. All the comparison to his dad was not flattering.

"I thought it best to introduce myself," he said quickly. "Since you didn't get the education I'm sure you would have gotten if things were better."

That made some sense. "I'm a quick study," Izuku announced.

Oroshi laughed at that. "I'm sure you are. Anyway, I run the Trigger labs and supply," he continued.

Izuku had heard of Trigger. It was a drug that enhanced your quirk. It amplified them, making them stronger. He'd never met anyone who took it and he hadn't been aware that his dad had been involved with the trade but it made some sense. "And?" he asked, again lifting his hand and making a circling gesture to indicate he'd need more information.

Oroshi wouldn't have come if he wasn't going to continue that role. He could have gone independent, especially if he already had the facilities and Izuku wouldn't have known until he confronted him later but in coming here, Oroshi had said that he was maintaining his loyalty to his father, and maybe to him. That was something.

"I'll keep doing that, but I need to know if you'll protect us, like your old man," Oroshi asked.

He almost said of course he would but before the words could form Izuku realised that was the wrong answer. Himiko's jab of a finger to his thigh helped too. It sounded right but when would his dad have had the time to see to protection? If his father was protecting Oroshi's lot, then it was via reputation only, not active work.

Izuku shook his head. "I don't think so," he said, fixing his eyes on Oroshi and allowing his presence to flare slightly. The man's expression changed, indicating that he'd felt it and he said nothing as Izuku continued. "Supply will be maintained but I'm not extending a protection that never existed."

Oroshi looked at him for a few moments before his face broke into a wide grin. He actually laughed. "You do that Dragon," he allowed.

He didn't huff, but it was a close thing. The question had been a test. No doubt if he'd said he would provide protection, he'd have been running from one end of Japan to the other dealing with a zillion petty little problems that were Oroshi's to deal with. Instead, Izuku gave a grave nod. "Is there any issue I should be aware of now?" he asked.

Oroshi shook his head. "Nothing. There's some jostling for position, and there will be some upstarts 'cos of what happened but-" He shrugged. "You'll deal with any that get too uppity."

At that Izuku did give a huff. "One of the Yakuza groups has already discovered I'm not a cash cow," he told the man.

"Yeah, I know. News travels fast, and that won't have harmed your rep," he added. Oroshi got up. "I'll tell the crew that the boss planned well. Dragon is a worthy successor."

Again Izuku nodded but said nothing. There was no need to say anything further. He'd deal with the issues as they came up, and there was no need to tell anyone that his father wouldn't be in Tartarus long. Those who were truly loyal would already know that. Those who were just loyal should expect it and those who were looking to profit should fear it.

Kurogiri escorted the man out and Himiko woke up.

"That was interesting," she murmured but didn't move.

"It's a beginning," Izuku acknowledged.

"I think I'm jealous," Himiko murmured. It sounded like she was falling asleep for real now.

"Jealous?"

"Your dad did so much!" she told him.

He smiled. "I know. That's why I want to get him out of Tartarus," Izuku explained. It should be obvious.

"We will," Himiko agreed. "We wil-" she didn't quite finish.

Izuku looked down at her. Her eyes were closed and her expression was peaceful. She was asleep again. He gave her a fond smile. He supposed he could be a pillow for a while. It didn't interrupt his thinking and he still had some fruit to practice on.

And if he practiced enough then…

Himiko could get her quirk back. Ochaco could be healed and his dad… He didn't want to think that his dad could be healed with the rewind quirk just yet, not until he worked out how much time was needed for recharge versus time rewound but from the experimentation he was doing it seemed as if it was about 50 days rewound for about 12 hours of recharging.

When you calculated that out… If he wanted to rewind his dad to the time before his fight with All Might, about 7 years then that would require about 25.5 days of recharge… It seemed too simple, too easy…

And he would have to test it on someone first but if that was all it took…

He didn't want to hope, not yet. But Izuku couldn't help but feel that the future was going to work out.

One way, or another.

-ted-

Hitoshi sat beside the bed and reached out to take the still hand that was resting on the covers. There was no resistance. He'd love for the person lying in the bed to snatch their hand back but she didn't. He sighed.

He didn't get the chance to visit as much as he wanted but every time he could, he did. Ochaco was a good friend. She deserved the time he could give her. Even if it hurt him to see her lying like this.

The bastards who had done this…

He knew Izuku had most of them. The media had made much of it for a few days, and then announced that All Might had captured the ring leader before, they just moved on.

It wasn't fair! How could they just move on when Ochaco was left like this? The Doctor's said she was in a coma and that she would wake up.

Eventually.

No one knew when that eventually would be, and until then… All she could do was lie there.

In some ways, it was a blessing. Even the most rabid of those calling her a villain lover had shut up when they discovered her condition. And she didn't have to deal with the stigma of being expelled from UA but those blessings paled in comparison to the curses.

She just lay here. Not moving, not talking, not… the list of nots covered everything Ochaco should have been doing and he hated it. Hitoshi knew why Izuku had taken the rescue groups quirks, he knew why Izuku had gone after those who had attacked Ochaco. He knew why Izuku didn't have the ringleader, because All Might had gotten them. The ring leader was still awaiting trial and…

What would a trial prove? That the guy was a bastard? That he took gossip far too seriously and had lead an attack on an innocent girl who was now-

Hitoshi sighed. Ochaco didn't deserve his anger. She deserved his company but with her lying there, unmoving, it was really hard to feel happy.

Especially since he was now in the hero course. Mostly. He had an apprenticeship and wasn't actually enrolled in any of the hero classes. But the apprenticeship meant that he would be a hero, the way Ochaco should have been and…

Revolutionary was the only way, and he'd go that path but he was going to be an underground hero. For the Revolutionary Hero path to make any difference it had to be done by a daytime hero, one who was popular. That was meant to be Ochaco and now… Now it wasn't going to be.

Hitoshi closed his eyes and held on to Ochaco's hand. It was all he could do. It was all any of them could do, just to let her know they were there and that they wanted her back.

It wasn't meant to be this way.

-ted-

It's time for Izuku to start meeting people in his father's network. Trigger is a good source of income for him and I would think that AFO set up the network to do the work, while AFO got the profit. Izuku benefits from that. And Oroshi may benefit as well since he's the first one to come and introduce himself to the new boss.

Name meaning - just to prove that I'm uber lazy with them (and perfectly capable of butchering Japanese) - 卸売業者 - Oroshiuri gyōsha - Distributor

And Ochaco is back... sort of... I hadn't shown her for a while so thought best to remind people of her situation. And Hitoshi's.

Discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all! Not just about MHA.

-ted-

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