13/08/2024

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The Emperor's Dragon
Dragon 42 - Turning Points

Toshinori Yagi sat at home on his couch. He hadn't bothered putting on a light and the room was descending into gloom. On the table in front of him was Nezu's staggeringly comprehensive report on Inasa Yoarashi. There were all the usual details. Name, date of birth, quirk name, height, weight, blood type, parent's names, their quirks, his school results and then there was an in depth history of him, detailing his actions. It seemed as if Nezu had gone back to the time Inasa was a toddler, but Toshinori knew he was exaggerating with that thought.

The important thing to him was the psychological report on the teenager.

It showed Inasa was a good kid. Not perfect but a good kid and for his successor, Yagi knew that was really all he could ask for.

Which was why he was now sitting in the dark just thinking.

He'd always known he would be passing on One For All and becoming quirkless didn't actually bother him. It was just… When he'd accepted One For All, he'd accepted the weight of responsibility that went with it. Losing Nana had simply reinforced his commitment and he had hunted All For One down over years… The villain was in Tartarus but his heirs were still active and that was giving him pause.

One For All was not just a quirk, it was a sacred responsibility and now, as he was about to pass it on, Toshinori could feel the weight of that responsibility all the more heavily. He wished he could talk to Gran Torino about it but-

Savagely, Yagi shook his head. Gran was gone and he'd be pleased that All For One was in Tartarus. Grimly, Toshinori knew Gran would have been more pleased if All For One was six feet under, like him, but he knew his mentor would take what he could get in regards to All For One.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his one lung allowed.

Inasa was a good choice. He had a commanding presence but knew how to have fun and he was a good kid. He didn't bully others, and genuinely tried to help those who needed it. He'd done that all his life. Nezu had been right in saying that recommendation looked at more things than just quirk strength since most of the psyche report came from Shadowcrawler and Magentee's agencies. They had worked hard both with and for Inasa to make sure he was worthy of their recommendation. They would be rightfully proud of their student.

Yagi nodded to himself, opening his eyes before reaching out to flip the report closed.

He'd make the offer tomorrow. He'd try to explain the responsibilities that came with One For All and he'd try to explain that, from now on, One For All's journey would be Inasa's to guide.

And then, once it was passed on, he could retire and…

He'd be there to offer advice and training to Inasa, in much the way Gran had for him but, it was time to leave the future to its inheritors.

Their time was now.

-ted-

Despite how uncomfortable Johnny's quirk was, it was efficient and Dabi and Izuku quickly appeared in Yakuni's workshop. The young man gave them a look.

"You're back," he commented blandly.

Izuku grinned. "Show Dabi Kendo," he ordered without giving an explanation.

Yakuni cocked his head slightly and then shrugged. He turned back to his work station, which mirrored the Doctor's and tapped a few of the keys. Izuku thought it somewhat dramatic the way the lights went off in all of the tanks, except Kendo's, though he had to admit it was a good way of highlighting which Nomu Dabi was meant to focus on.

Yakuni looked over at him and Izuku nodded, giving silent permission for the young man to explain what he was doing. Given the way Izuku had left, Yakuni had no doubt figured out that Dabi was at least partially to blame so checking was a good thing. "This is Kendo, but you know that," Yakuni said as Dabi moved towards the tank.

Izuku remained a little distant but he looked at Kendo. It was interesting to see how much had changed but at the same time, how little had changed with what Yakuni had done.

"I'm still putting him through the initial stages," Yakuni said, "but by the time I'm finished, I'm hoping he will be a High End."

"High End?" Dabi asked.

"Capable of some independent thought, and carrying six quirks," Yakuni explained.

"Six?"

"About that," Yakuni confirmed in the way that he did, without actually confirming it. "I'm optimising Kendo for a particular hero," he added.

Izuku didn't laugh but it was a close thing.

"Who?" Dabi demanded.

"Endeavor," the young man told him.

Dabi didn't gasp but Izuku could tell from his expression that he was surprised. "I told you I was supportive of taking out Endeavor," he murmured, loud enough to be heard.

He could see the way Dabi's expression changed slightly. It was obvious the fire villain hadn't really believed him but now he did, since it was impossible to have created this on the spot.

"What quirks are you giving him?" Dabi asked.

Yakuni gestured to the tank again and this time, Izuku could see there were six openings in the support structure. Four were filled with tiny tanks and the last two were empty. "I've got Regeneration, Fire Proofing, Strength and Heat Absorption," he said, tapping each of the small tubes as he named the quirks.

Dabi nodded at each one, and moved closer to look at the in progress Nomu.

"Any suggestions for other quirks?" Yakuni asked.

The fire villain thought about it for a few moments. "You have countered most of his advantages," he allowed. "What about adding something unexpected?"

"Such as?" Izuku asked on Yakuni's behalf.

Again, Dabi thought for a little while. "Endeavor excels at melee combat," he pointed out, "so why not add something that gives this Nomu an advantage at a distance, or give him some flight abilities?" he added the second suggestion as a question.

Yakuni nodded at the suggestions and typed something into a tablet near him. "I'll see what we have," he murmured.

"Something that appears frivolous but isn't would be best," Dabi suggested. "It would piss him off."

"Something maybe to deal with henchmen?" Izuku offered his own suggestion.

"That's getting very much like the original High End," Yakuni observed. "It's got Regeneration, flight, strength, pocket, power and transforming arms," he listed the quirks. "Pocket allows him to store other, lesser Nomu," Yakuni explained.

The parallels were obvious.

Izuku shrugged. "Side kicks are likely to be annoying," he said to defend his suggestion.

"Yeah," the young man agreed. "But we are trying to keep them all different to be unpredictable."

"It will obey orders right?" Dabi demanded.

"Of course."

"Then make sure whoever orders it, tells it to go for the kill," he said.

It was an interesting way of saying it. Izuku was pleased to hear that Dabi knew he'd blown his chances at getting this one. "That's a good suggestion," Izuku said. It mirrored what Gigantomachia told him about fighting. When the fight was for real, defeating the opponent as quickly as possible was the objective, not lording it over them. Take them out, and take them out fast and permanently was the huge man's mantra and it had advantages.

Izuku would have to adopt it for his style. Showboating or gloating was for when his opponent was gone, not just down. They might not hear it but they would have known it in the moment of their defeat.

"I'm not going to use this one until Endeavor is the Number One Hero," Izuku told Dabi. "How much longer will it take?" He then asked Yakuni.

"A couple of weeks, minimum," the young man stressed the time frame. "I told you, the smarter they are, the longer they take."

"I know, I know," Izuku said with a chuckle. "But it's already been a few weeks since-" he didn't say it.

"And you think All Might is going to retire?" Yakuni asked.

Izuku nodded. "Before the annual ranking gala," he gave the time frame. "It will look better for him to retire while at the top rather than slipping some ranks and then retiring. I'm surprised he hasn't already."

"That will be the HPSC," Dabi snorted with a shrug.

"Probably," Izuku agreed, "but they can't hold off forever."

Dabi nodded and they looked up at the tank for a few moments.

"Can I trust you now?" Izuku asked pointedly.

The fire villain gave him a look.

"The Nomu will not follow you unless I tell them to but can I trust you not to try again or run to the nearest hero?"

He could sense that Dabi wanted to lash out at the suggestion but could also see that the man was thankful he hadn't brought up the previous agreement. He shouldn't be having this conversation with Dabi. The villain's loyalty was meant to be a done deal but- He shouldn't be surprised he was having it.

"I'm not going to run to a hero," Dabi said.

"But leave?" Izuku offered the alternative.

The fire villain didn't say anything for a while.

"I want Endeavor."

Izuku didn't reply. He needed the answer to his previous question and couldn't let it just pass.

More silence stretched between them and as Izuku waited, he became aware of the small noises coming from the tanks and equipment here. The bubbling was just audible through the glass and there was the faint hum of electricity and other things.

Finally Dabi huffed. "I won't leave," he answered. "But I want Endeavor," he insisted.

Izuku nodded at the words. "I am happy to give you Endeavor," he said. "I've always said I believe we will have to go through him, but it will be on my timeline," he added forcefully. He couldn't afford to have the others go off and do things on their own. They had to be working to his plan.

"But yours is pretty soon," Dabi indicated.

"Pretty soon," Izuku agreed. Based on what he had seen, it would be pretty soon… probably as soon as the Nomu was complete.

"I'll stay," Dabi reconfirmed, "but-"

Izuku raised one eyebrow. Dabi was in no position to be demanding anything and he knew it. The only saving grace on this little escapade was that it didn't appear as if the others were in on it, or knew about it. They could, metaphorically, sweep it under the rug.

The fire villain didn't finish. Izuku knew what he'd say anyway. Or at least what the gist of it. If Dabi didn't get a crack at Endeavor soon, then he would leave to find another way and take whatever consequences that brought to Shouto.

It was going to be an interesting time.

-ted-

Mei wasn't sure what to expect when she entered the foyer of JBQC's building. It was a big building with a large foyer. The floor was polished marble, as were the walls and the artworks were huge and colourful but still tasteful. In the centre there was a water feature! Behind that she could see the reception desk and the electronic turnstiles for the workers.

She felt the eyes of several people on her but ignored it. She usually ignored people staring at her because they'd been doing that since she started selling babies at Kyoto Station but there was a particular weight to the glare of working people when they were in their office. Mei had gotten used to ignoring that weight when she was on internship at Tissu but this felt different. There was curiosity in the stares but there was some hostility.

Then a woman dressed in a very sharp suit approached her. Mei was kind of mesmerised by the woman. Her hair was perfect, her suit fitted her to the last millimetre, her nails were painted the exact same shade as her scarf, and her eyeshadow and shoes, Mei realised. In short, she was just very well dressed and there was an air of competence about her that told anyone looking at her that she would not tolerate inefficiency. If she had been a machine, Mei would have called her perfect. This was what she strove to create with her babies! The feeling that the baby was completely and utterly fit for purpose.

"Miss Hatsume," the woman greeted her with a smile. It was also perfect. "Please come this way," she invited, gesturing towards the security gates.

To say interest in her rose would be an understatement. Mei could now feel a massive wave of disbelief directed at her.

"Ignore them," the woman said. "Or I can have security deal with them?" she suggested as a question.

Mei shook her head. She could figure out what the curiosity was for. JBQC had been given to her and Izuku a little while back and this would be the first time the workers saw their new boss. There was no wonder they were curious.

"Thank you for coming," the woman said, accepting her answer as they got to the security gates. Mei was not surprised when they just opened and the woman glided through. Mei walked. She wasn't usually self conscious but there was something about this woman that just- Mei didn't know what it was but it was vaguely intimidating. "Shunin was most insistent he had to speak with you personally."

"Shunin?" Mei asked. She didn't know that name. She'd received a letter telling her that an issue had come up at JBQC which required her attention. She'd called the number and whoever had answered had fallen over themselves to make an appointment with her. Then she'd come.

"He's JBQC's court lawyer," the woman told her, before ushering her into one of the lifts.

The doors closed and the woman selected the top floor. The lift didn't jolt but it moved very quickly once the selection was made.

"Court lawyer?" Mei asked. Couldn't all lawyers go to court?

The woman gave her an understanding smile. "When we need to go before a judge, or the case could be complex, we use Shunin," she explained. Except it didn't really explain anything.

"What do you do?" Mei asked.

"Oh, how careless of me," she replied in a tone that sounded truthful but Mei couldn't believe. "I'm Janee Pieruce, Executive Officer to the Chief Executive Officer of JBQC," she introduced herself as the lift arrived. The doors slid open silently and Janee motioned for Mei to leave first.

"Izuku's dad?" Mei questioned.

"Yes," Janee said. "It was such a surprise to see Hisashi fighting All Might!" she said. Her tone was sad but Mei couldn't help but question who she was feeling sorry for.

Before she could ask, they came to a door and Janee opened it for her, motioning for her to enter.

Mei could see that the door led to a large board room. The central table could comfortably fit 12 and was topped with a dark, polished wood. The paneling on two walls were the same and the last wall was a floor to ceiling window with a very nice view of Tokyo.

There were three people already at the table. One was sitting slightly apart from the others and Mei surmised that he was probably Shunin. That was all but confirmed when the other two glanced at Janee for instructions. She didn't say anything and Mei watched as they floundered slightly. It would have been funny if she'd known more of the context.

They were saved by Shunin. "Thank you for coming, Miss Hatsume," he said smoothly, coming around the table and offering her his hand.

Mei took it. His skin was orange. As was his hair leaving the only point of colour about him to be his suit and his eyes. "I'm Shunin. I work for Reikokuna, and we are kept on retainer by JBQC to deal with their difficult cases," he told her.

"Mei Hatsume," she introduced herself. "Half owner of Mi Enterprises," she added with a grin.

Janee Pieruce had come in behind them and was indicating a seat for her.

"And since Mi Enterprises owns JBQC, I am also at your disposal," Shunin said with a smile.

Mei nodded. "And that supposedly, is why I am here," she said, going to the chair Janee indicated. It was a little odd that the other two hadn't been introduced but Mei was sure that would become clear in due course. "Though I am not entirely certain why I am required to be here," Mei added.

Shunin waited for her to sit before he took his own seat again. Janee took a seat on her left, which left the other two on her right. Shunin was across from them. "No one told you?" he asked curiously, glancing towards the other two gents who were present.

The younger one shook his head.

Mei shook her head too, to confirm that she had not been given the information and had not found it through osmosis or telepathy.

Shunin sighed and then sent a questioning glance to Janee Pieruce. Her expression said enough. Mei wasn't sure who the two gents were, but she had a pretty good idea that they would be seeking new employment opportunities shortly.

"Well then, let me explain," Shunin said. He took a deep breath and Mei could see he was thinking.

She had a sinking feeling she wasn't going to like the explanation.

-ted-

It's been an interesting few weeks. Let's leave it at that. But now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Dabi has come around since Izuku couldn't have such a perfect Nomu pre-prepared.

All Might has decided who he's going to give OFA too and may actually warn Inasa what he's getting into before he gets the quirk.

And Mei, through JBQC is making progress on the HPSC case. The Commission is going to be surprised when our favourite lawyer shows up as the legal representative :D I'm not sure who is going to have more fun, Shunin or whatever lawyer the Commission has employed? :D

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-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!