07/12/2024
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The Emperor's Dragon
Dragon 76 - I Told You So!
Izuku didn't have time to feel vindicated. He knew the Doctor had been too blase about the heroes. He knew that something would go wrong.
And it had!
In the worst possible way.
The heroes had found the facility the Doctor had set up at the Hospital. It meant that the heroes knew for sure that Tomura was dead, and they had Johnny! They also had a lot of in development Nomu but thankfully not the High Ends. The Doctor had moved them to Yakuni's facility rather than concentrate all his resources in one place. But the heroes having Tomura and Johnny was bad enough!
Except, now Gigantomachia had just told him that the Doctor had the holder that All For One was stored in. The large man had given it to the Doctor because Garaki had said he needed to run tests.
Without telling him!
It was no consolation that Gigantomachia was almost normal sized because of his guilt. He was still strong enough to hold a prisoner though and was doing so with a dedicated fervour.
It wasn't all lost. Not yet anyway. The heroes didn't know what they had. And they may not have just killed the holder. So… He had to get it back and he had to get it back now. But first he had to find out what they had done with the 'evidence'. The one thing going for him was that despite the raid being a hero operation, the Police were involved.
As soon as Izuku had found out what happened, he'd woken up Himiko, and with her help, and Gigantomachia they'd nabbed one of the officers who was on their way to work. They'd chosen a Sergeant. His name was Ito Senu and Himiko was now wearing his face and form and was finding out where the evidence was stored
Izuku could tell through Radio Waves that at least some of the Nomu were still at the Hospital and some had been moved. He couldn't tell if any were dead but if it was a choice between them and All For One, then that was no choice at all.
But he had to know where things were.
Himiko was in the station, while he and Gigantomachia and the officer Ito waited for her to emerge. She had enough blood to last several hours but if she was caught… The action got simpler then. He'd extract her, and whatever evidence they had in the station, with prejudice. Simultaneously, he'd wake up the Nomu at the hospital and have them grab what they could and run. He was hoping it wouldn't come to that.
Ideally, he'd locate the All For One holder and grab it, or have it disappear or something. And if he could, he'd find Johnny, the Nomu with the transportation quirk. He had no idea if the heroes had killed it or not.
This was such a mess!
And at a time when he did not need additional distractions. Izuku pulled out his phone and texted Kurogiri. The misty man had been reticent of late and Izuku hadn't had the time to get to the bottom of what was wrong. Right now, he didn't care. It only soothed his anger slightly when a misty disk appeared a few minutes after his text.
Kurogiri took in the sight of Gigantomachia holding the prisoner quickly and figured it out. The man was not a fool.
"Himiko is in already," Izuku told him. "You will retrieve what she marks," he instructed. On this, he was not prepared for the warp gate to be picky.
"Of course," Kurogiri replied.
Izuku looked at him sharply. The response sounded meek but even with his ability to read the misty man he decided it was best to leave matters be. Kurogiri knew what was at stake.
"Now we wait," Izuku announced.
Until Himiko returned, there was nothing they could do but wait.
-ted-
All Might ignored the hustle and bustle around him as he looked up at the tank. A corpse floated in it and the former Number One Hero knew the tank's presence here was causing some alarm with the Police Officers. But it had been deemed important evidence, too important to leave in place, as had some of the other tanks.
They'd been moved to the Police Station and were in the secure evidence locker. Since the case was active, there were officers moving around the locker so he wasn't alone and Yagi knew there were cameras on him. He didn't care about that. There was an officer looking through the evidence, a Sergeant by the markings on their shoulder. The man was nervous and kept glancing at him. All Might ignored that. He could understand the nerves. The evidence from the raid on the Hospital was unsettling and even without that, he knew his small form was still an unusual sight.
He was thankful that some of the evidence had been moved here. Toshinori didn't want to think about what was at the Hospital. He knew he could find out. He could visit the site but… He didn't want to. Just seeing this… He wasn't sure what to think about the tank. The person in it was Tomura Shigaraki.
It was surreal seeing the young man floating in the tank. He was dead. There was no breathing apparatus attached to him and he made no movement. A physician had been called in to check and had confirmed that he was dead. The liquid was a preservative and…
Yagi didn't know what to think. Without taking the body out and doing an autopsy there was no way to tell how Tomura Shigaraki had died. There was no telling who had killed him but… Suspicion did point firmly at Izuku but proof was not possible here.
The Doctor, who was currently in interrogation, and would be in interrogation for quite some time would know but for the moment Toshinori was just staring.
This was Tomura Shigaraki but it was also Tenko Shimura.
This was someone who wanted him dead but who… He would have cared for Tenko Shimura. He owed Nana that much but she-
All Might sighed and looked up at Tomura's face. Dead, he looked peaceful. It highlighted his youth. He was only 20. Maybe 21. He was…
Legally he wasn't a boy but… He was so young. And, all the research Toshinori had been able to do indicated that Tenko had been in All For One's care for most of his life. Ever since All For One had told him about Tomura Yagi had researched him. It was painfully easy with the correct name.
And just seeing him here, hanging in the tank… it made Toshinori feel like he'd failed Nana all over again.
"Sergeant," All Might said to the officer.
The man started, and gulped and looked over at him.
"What are the plans for the bodies?" Toshinori asked. There had been more than one body found in the … laboratory seemed too tame a term but it was the most appropriate.
"I'd… I'd have to check," the officer replied, nervously. The man looked at the body, flicking his eyes over it before looking away. A sheen of sweat actually appeared on his forehead.
All Might could understand the nerves. The bodies would make… Even Endeavor had been affected by the bodies.
"Please," Toshinori indicated, squinting slightly to read the Officer's name badge. His name was Ito Senu. "Ito, that would be appreciated."
The officer nodded and moved away quickly, leaving the evidence locker.
Yagi returned to staring at Tomura. The body was evidence and while Tomura had hated him he was still…
Tomura had been a villain but it was important to remember that he was still human. He was still… He was a victim of All For One. He'd been taken as a child and had been twisted until he saw things the way All For One wanted him to. He chose villainy because he knew no other way.
He was a victim. The world wouldn't see it. They'd just seen a villain.
But Yagi could see more. He could see what Tenko could have been. He could see… He didn't know. But he could see more than the villain the world saw. And… He could make sure that Tenko was buried with his family.
He owed Nana that much. Tomura might have done villainous things, but he was a Shimura and he deserved to be with his grandmother.
All Might sighed heavily and forced himself to turn away as he walked out of the evidence locker. He had to find that Sargeant again and find out how he could claim the body to put Tenko to rest. And then…
Sir Nighteye had been worried that Tomura Shigaraki had been quiet. They now knew why he hadn't been seen for the last few weeks. That meant Izuku was in charge.
And in a way, Izuku was just as much a victim as Tomura but…
All For One had said he'd given his son a choice. Izuku had implied that as well.
At some point, Izuku had chosen the path of villainy. Just as Tomura had and…
Toshinori shook his head.
They were both victims but in the end, they'd both made a choice. He had to remember that. He couldn't be distracted by Izuku's youth, by the other possibilities he could envisage for the young man's future. Those possibilities were gone. He'd destroyed them himself when he'd made his choice and while there was an argument to be made that he was too young to understand the consequences of his actions, he was still old enough to have taken those actions. Izuku knew what he was doing.
Mirai was right on this. Nighteye was wrong in thinking that Izuku was always going to be a villain. Yagi would fight that belief until the day he died, but Izuku was a villain now.
That was the reality he had to deal with and…
Inasa had once asked if he'd spoken to All For One about Izuku and he hadn't. With Tomura dead…
It was time to speak to the man and maybe, just maybe, the fact that Tomura was dead would get some truth from him because there was no way All For One's plan included Tenko dying. Not with the way he'd exposed himself to save Tomura.
Yes… for once All For One might be truthful. And even if he wasn't… The very fact that one pillar of his plan had been destroyed should make the villain squirm… And where it was All For One…
Toshinori was honest enough to admit he'd enjoy that sight.
-ted-
Izuku was aware the moment Himiko emerged from the Police Station. She was still wearing Ito's face and form and uniform. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw she was walking from the building, not running, and not scared. That was good. She was leaving because she wanted to, not because she was being chased.
Himiko walked down the street carefully and Izuku watched as she checked behind her but no one was following. Then she was out of his sight. He'd have to lean out of the window to see her. "Himiko is coming back," he announced for Kurogiri and Gigantomachia's benefit.
Ito stirred but knew better than to say anything and Izuku gave the man a brief look. It was likely they were going to have to kill him and that… He pushed the thought from his mind as he waited for Himiko to return.
She knocked at the door and Izuku opened it. He could sense it was her by the quirk. The instant Himiko was through the door she let Ito's visage fade. Izuku looked at her sharply. She didn't seem quite right.
"What happened?" he demanded.
Himiko gulped and her eyes were wide. "All Might was there!"
The words made him start and triggered a heap of questions that stuck in his throat as his thoughts tumbled. Instead, Izuku reached out, and Himiko needed no other prompt to grab him tightly. He patted her shoulder and then reached up to stroke her hair. It was soft. He had no idea how she got it that soft, but it was nice.
Himiko took several deep breaths as Izuku thought. There was no need to ask if All Might had suspected her. It was obvious he hadn't but they had not expected the former Number One Hero to be here. That was stupid. They should have known he'd be the first here.
"You're okay?" he asked as another thought came to him. All Might would have to leave the station, eventually and that would be a good opportunity to see if the man had passed on One For All. Izuku assumed he had but couldn't be sure.
Himiko nodded against him.
"Good," he breathed, loud enough for her to hear him. She was probably going to be hyper in a few minutes, once the shock faded and the adrenaline was still in her system. And… he felt bad for thinking this, they really couldn't deal with that in the small room, overlooking the station.
"Kuroguri, take her back to the bar and make sure she's okay," he instructed. "I want to see All Might."
"Izu-" Himiko whined, she turned to look up at him, digging her chin into his side.
"You are going to need the space," he told her with a fond smile. "Though, was it there?"
Himiko had been sent in, wearing Ito's form to see if the Police had the holder of All For One there.
She shook her head. "They had Handsy," she told him. "But not a lot more," Himiko reported.
That was both good and bad. Good because the Police couldn't have damaged the holder moving it. Bad because they might have killed it at the Hospital.
Izuku looked at Ito. Hopefully Himiko would be able to infiltrate Kaju once she calmed down but before they tried to send the officer it was best to find out if he did have access. Izuku pulled both Hitoshi's and the Yakuza's quirk to the fore. Unten had the original Confession, but he had a copy for this exact situation. "Ito," Izuku said.
The officer glared at him but said nothing.
"You don't want to be like that," Izuku warned. "Right now, your best interest is in extending the time you are useful to me."
"You're just going to kill me!" the officer spat.
It was, Izuku didn't really want to admit, the most likely outcome. But if they could keep Ito long enough then they could release him. That would be after the Tartarus raid. It was only a few days away so…
Izuku knew that was unlikely but… he'd like to avoid unnecessary killing.
"Not if I get what I want before you become inconvenient," he pointed out and gave the Officer a moment to consider that before he struck with the Yakuza's quirk. "Are you authorised to access the crime scene?"
Himiko turned her gold eyes to the Officer at the question. She knew why he was asking. So did Gigantomachia. If the holder with All For One was not in the evidence locker, then it had to be at the Hospital. And if Himiko, as Ito, could enter there and tag it, that would make extraction far easier.
"I am," Ito told him.
Izuku smiled and released the quirk. "See, you are still useful," he told the Officer.
"You want me to go?" Himiko asked.
"When you are ready," Izuku replied, giving Kurogiri a nod.
"Wait! Why are you staying, Izu?"
"I want to see All Might," he explained again. "I want to see if he still has One For All."
It took her a moment to understand. Gigantomachia nodded, as did Kurogiri. "I'm not going to confront him," Izuku assured all three of them. "I just want to see."
"You could kill him," Kurogiri observed.
"I could," Izuku agreed. "But, as unlikely as it is that they'd change anything, I don't want to stir up trouble until after." There was no need to specify what 'after' he was referring to. Unspoken were the words that Dad would want to kill All Might more.
The misty man nodded and made a gate. "Go on," Izuku urged Himiko.
She gave him one last squeeze and let go. "I'll go look at the Hospital," she told him.
"You have enough blood?"
Himiko nodded.
"I'll keep him alive," Izuku said. "Just in case," he added.
The officer stiffened but Gigantomachia was far stronger than him and there was nothing Ito could do to break free. Shouting had also gotten him nowhere.
Izuku looked at Kurogiri before Himiko passed through him. "If the holder is there, get it," he ordered. "Don't wait. Everything else is expendable. Get Johnny too, if he's still alive but holder first."
The warp gate nodded again and then disappeared after Himiko had gone through him.
Izuku turned back to the window, looking back at the station.
"Now… Come on All Might. Show me what you've got."
-ted-
So, Izuku is operating on little sleep but is keeping his eyes on the prize. And he does have people who can help him. And yes, Izuku has a copy of Transform so he could have gone into the station but Himiko has had the practice at being someone else, so for this, best to send the expert. Though, if he can see All Might, he will now find out for sure, if All Might still has One For All. We, the reader know he doesn't but Izuku will now know. So... a bit of an information swap. Heroes find out Tomura is dead, Izuku finds out that One For All has been passed on.
Probably not fair, but hey... Now the Heroes have to refocus their efforts on Izuku and... the will need information and who better to ask, than daddy-dearest? But will All For One tell them much?
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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