22/06/2024
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The Emperor's Dragon
Dragon 30 - Decisions are Made
"Well, Mr Chisaki, you certainly present an interesting problem."
Kai ignored the voice. It was just someone from the HPSC and he figured they'd repeat themselves. They always did. Instead, he was focused on himself. It was somewhat ridiculous but he was chained up. His arms were restrained and he could feel a collar around his neck.
And they knew he was quirkless. The last few days had been nothing more than a series of questions and medical tests. They hadn't been careful discussing them around him. They probably thought he didn't understand the medical terms but he knew enough.
He was quirkless. His quirk factor was still there but was inactive and- Internally, Kai sighed. In one way he was happy. He was no longer diseased but- He burned with hatred for that brat.
He shouldn't have attempted to negotiate. He should have just had the brat taken out immediately and then gone after the elder brat later.
"Usually, we'd send someone with your… ambition to Tartarus but that hardly seems fair now, does it?"
Kai was tempted to roll his eyes at the statement but that might give the impression he actually cared about what they were saying. What did the Yakuza care about fair? The world hadn't been fair to them for centuries. He didn't have any information on the others, those he'd left at the office.
That wasn't quite true. The fact that he was still here told him enough. The brat had most likely attacked. Or if not the brat then the Police or Heroes. Someone had prevented them from coming to get him. That thought led to another consideration. The Eight Bullets were loyal to him and that would hold but the rest of the Shie Hassaikai… They'd be loyal for a time but… Kai suspected their loyalty would wander once they knew he no longer had Overhaul.
"They have quirk monitoring in each cell to ensure you can't use your quirk but that would be wasted on you."
God, even the HPSC guy was going on about quirks! Was that all the world thought about?
It wasn't that he missed his quirk per sae but he did recognise the utility of Overhaul in maintaining power. The Eight Bullets would have helped him maintain power but eventually someone would have made a challenge when they weren't there or were occupied or… He could think of many options, including one of them getting delusions of grandeur. Something would have happened.
And without his quirk he would have had to give up his ambition. That was… That was intolerable. Quirks were a disease. The problem was that society just refused to acknowledge that. They were so fixated on the disease that they failed to see the problem.
Even the brat…
"Not to mention the power supply, the back up power supply, the generators and the uninterruptible power supply that can supply the entire island for at least 5 days."
He should have just had Chronostasis take out the brat when he entered, grabbed Twice and the girl and raided the elder brat. That would have put the Old Man's resources under his control and…
All of that is what might have been. The power, the resources… just what might have been and he knew better than to fixate on what hadn't happened.
"All of that wasted on you."
That statement made him want to lash out. But Kai knew that even if he could, it wouldn't prove anything. The restraints were over the top, given his noted abilities. Instead Kai settled for keeping his expression blank as he thought about the future. Ruthlessly Kai pushed aside his desire for was… That was not a thought for now. Firstly he needed to find out what was happening with him. Tartarus was not a good option but was the most realistic, even with what the HPSC moron was blathering.
If it was Tartarus then conventional wisdom would state that he'd die there but Kai didn't believe in that. He almost laughed. It if was Tartarus then he'd have to rely on the brat to show his filial loyalty and wouldn't that be ironic?
"You are an interesting case. And given your lack of ability, there is some room to negotiate."
Kai might have been considered young to be the boss of the Shie Hassaikai but he had achieved that because he had ambition and he could control himself. So when the HPSC driveler said that, he simply raised one eyebrow to indicate that he was actually listening.
The man gave him a bland smile, to show that he'd seen the reaction. "Freedom is not an option," he said, "but the quality of your accommodation will be directly impacted by the quality of your information."
This was typically ham-fisted of the Hero Public Safety Commission. Kai sighed.
The man took it as his que to continue. "Your project was interesting. Underfunded, crude, and ill managed but interesting," he said.
Kai made no reaction. The insults were boorish and betrayed the direction of the HPSC's interest. The ability to remove quirks would give them an unmatched form of power and a threat to use against villains that would subdue most of them. It was, in a way, the exact same power that the brat and the old man had. Objectively their ability was better since they could then use those quirks but… The HPSC would accept the ability to remove them. It would give them power.
He said nothing. The HPSC might consider his efforts crude but they were still talking to him. They needed his information and there was no point in giving them hints as to what he knew.
The man apparently expected him to speak given the pause in the monologue. Kai remained silent.
"Or we could simply ship you to Tartarus," the man said.
He huffed. "Your negotiation skills are poor," Kai observed.
"I think of this as less of a negotiation and more of a pitch," the man replied. "One you should be doing," he added before Kai could say anything.
Kai sighed. Even the brat knew more about business than this mook. "Those making a pitch usually know what they are getting. You have been as typically vague at that as those who typically backstab others for a living are."
It was pleasing to see the little irrelevant pleb tremble but Kai knew better than to gloat as the man was probably one of those petty, vindictive types.
The guy huffed. "Usually you would be sent to Tartarus," he explained, as if talking to a young child. "With your quirk absent," he said with a grin, "that facility is wasted upon you and the HPSC is prepared to be merciful. For the right information."
"And what would be that information?" Kai probed with a grin. He could duplicate what he had been doing. He just needed the girl.
"The HPSC would have a use for your experiment."
"Crude though it was," Kai added mockingly.
"Indeed. In exchange, while you will be confined, I think you will find the accommodations far more pleasant."
They were rubbing it in thick. Did they really think he feared Tartarus that much? They had no idea. But if they were going to make his bid for vengeance far simpler, who was he to deny them?
"What exactly do you want?" Kai asked pointedly.
The man smiled. "Why don't we discuss that?"
-ted-
At breakfast, Inasa noted that there were fewer students. Whatever they were being tested for, obviously had a high fail rate and UA wasn't being particularly subtle about it. He hadn't managed to catch Koi to talk about it but she probably couldn't tell him anything. She might not know what they were testing for, but she would have noticed.
Instead he nodded at Taiki and Aimi and collected his breakfast. It was nice to be able to try Lunch Rush's food. It was as good as rumoured. He was looking around for a table to sit at when he saw them. Inasa didn't recognise the uniform but he did recognise who they were looking at. All of those who had their quirks taken had also had their faces plastered over national television for a while. Well, the first reason was because of the kidnapping and then subsequent rescue but it was enough for him to know who they were. Katsuki and Eijiro.
He didn't like the way the group was looking at the two UA students. It was the type of look you gave a bit of floating phlegm or something that had gotten stuck on your shoe.
The two UA students were lined up with the others to pick something out to eat. They weren't doing anything that warranted such a look. As Inasa watched, the group took their places in the line. They were a couple of places behind Katsuki and Eijiro and for a few moments Inasa thought that all it would be was the glare he'd seen earlier but as the two UA students turned away from the counter, carrying their trays, Inasa saw one of the group flick a hand towards them.
It was a casual gesture. It shouldn't have meant anything but a moment later the trays Katsuki and Eijiro were carrying flipped up, sending their food flying. They did a good job of trying to save it. Inasa could see that the two teens were physically fit and possessed a great deal of coordination and they managed to avoid getting splattered with the food. But as he watched the guy in the group made the same gesture and this time, both Katsuki and Eijiro slipped. Again, their reflexes helped but it didn't save them from falling. The way Katsuki fell indicated he would have made an explosion to stop it while Inasa figured Eijiro would have just hardened his body to avoid damage.
The group laughed.
Katsuki snarled at them as he got up, but the guy made the flicking gesture again and the UA student slipped over. Inasa realised, from Katsuki's angle, he couldn't see the gesture.
One of the group sniffed ostentatiously. "I didn't realise the quirkless were this uncoordinated," they said, loud enough to be heard. The group laughed.
"Why you..!" Katsuki growled and lunged at the group.
Predictably, he slipped again.
Inasa shook his head and before anything else could happen he stepped forward. This wasn't funny. "Stop," he yelled, striding towards the group.
"Oh, stay out of it. They shouldn't even be here," came the response.
God he hated petty shit like this and from the way the group was moving, it was only a matter of time before they did something more. Inasa gestured. Usually he just made a single whirlwind, this time he made a series of them, putting up a literal wall of wind between the UA students and the group.
Eijiro had held out a hand to Katsuki and gave him a nod.
"Are you training to be heroes or hidebound fools?" Inasa asked the group.
"Aren't you asking the wrong people?" one of the group challenged him. "Quirkless can't be heroes!"
"Why you!" Katsuki yelled! This time Eijiro didn't try to hold him back. Instead he ran into Inasa's wind wall and was knocked back a little. Inasa didn't bother to make a whirlwind to stablise him. Katsuki had the reflexes to keep his balance.
Inasa shook his head at the group. "I think you should go," he said softly.
"Yeah, they should!" the group agreed.
"No, you should," Inasa pressed. He was aware of the audience of students but he couldn't let that distract him.
"You should," a voice agreed with him. It was vaguely familiar and Inasa risked a glance back to see who it was. His eyes widened when he recognised All Might, in his hero form. The Number One Hero was looking at the group sternly and when Inasa turned back to them he could see they were crumpled under the gaze. "You are no longer welcome here," the Number One Hero said.
"But-" One of them objected.
Inasa felt All Might's presence flare. While he hadn't been in All Might's presence often, Inasa realised that the man mostly felt comforting. Right now, there was a distinct note of anger in his feel. It was directed at the group and Inasa could see that they had almost collapsed. Their breathing was shallow and he could see a fine sheen of sweat on them.
They held firm for one moment longer before they fled. All Might turned to watch them go and Inasa could tell that the Number One Hero was keeping the force of his presence on them as they left. As they practically sprinted around the corner the hero turned back and looked over to Eijiro and Katsuki. The red-haired teen gave a nod to say they were okay before All Might turned to him.
Inasa couldn't feel any hostility in the Number One Hero's gaze but he did feel as if the man was looking for someone within him. It was an odd feeling. He only noticed now how piercing a blue the Number One Hero's eyes were.
"Why did you stop them?" the man asked.
Inasa frowned. What type of question was that? The answer was obvious, wasn't it? "Because it wasn't right," Inasa said.
"Many people will say they are quirkless now and so-" the Number One Hero shrugged. It said without words everything that could be put on the end of that statement. They were quirkless so they deserved it, or deserved nothing better. They were quirkless so they should have left UA, to give their places to someone more worthy, who had a quirk. They were quirkless so they should just be quietly forgotten. Those were the nicer statements.
Inasa was sure some people would be thinking that they were quirkless so they should do the honourable thing and stop being a 'burden' on society.
"And many people would be wrong," Inasa replied. "I'm going to be a hero," he said firmly. "That means I help everyone," he finished with huff. "Even if this is a test," he muttered softly.
The slight quirk of All Might's lips indicated he'd heard the last but the Hero said nothing. "You should get your breakfast," he said as he turned away and Inasa watched as All Might left. The entire cafeteria watched and when he vanished the silence held for a few moments before everyone broke out into conversation at once.
"Thanks man."
Inasa looked down slightly to see Eijiro giving him a toothy grin. "Not a problem," he replied.
"Tch," Katsuki spat. "I could have taken them," he growled.
Inasa raised one eyebrow and he got the feeling that Eijiro was bracing for something. "Even with your arm?" he asked, giving a pointed look towards the cast still on Katsuki's arm.
The blond rolled his eyes and growled before he strode off.
Eijiro sighed. "Sorry man, he's not taking it well," he offered an excuse for his friend.
There was no need to specify what 'it' was.
"No one would," Inasa said. "How are you going?" he asked instead. Katsuki had more media coverage but Eijiro was in the same boat.
The teen gave him a smile but Inasa could tell it was forced.
"Stupid question," Inasa apologised. "No one would be taking it well," he answered for himself. "Come get some more food with me," he invited instead. The trays the two had been carrying were still on the ground and the food was spread out. Inasa repurposed the whirlwinds he had been using to create the wall. He waved one hand and set them to picking up the spilled food. Quickly the food was spiraling in the air and the floor was clean. He looked around and spotted a bin and quickly sent the food towards it while depositing their trays on to the stacks above.
"Wow," Eijiro said. "Your quirk is awesome!" he complimented.
"It comes in handy," Inasa agreed before he stepped back to the line to get breakfast. He could feel the eyes of the cafeteria on him but his insistence on things going back to normal was forcing everyone else to continue with their day.
"So, what's good to eat?" He asked Eijiro when they got to the counter.
The red-haired teen grinned up at him and then reached out and grabbed three trays before piling food on them.
"Some for Katsuki?" Inasa murmured the question.
"Yeah, he'll forget to eat, and then be pissed that he forgot to eat," Eijiro said.
"You are a good friend," he commented.
Eijiro gave him a half smile. "And we made another friend today," he said.
For half a moment Inasa reflected upon that, and then he nodded. He was going to be a hero, and he was going to save everyone when he was a hero, and heroes… well, they were friends with everyone, so he might as well start now.
"I think I made two," he confirmed.
The half smile shifted into a full one and they got breakfast together.
It was a good start to the day.
-ted-
Well Kai at least knows theoretically he should be happy at not being diseased but he can't feel that. And his belief that he's more intelligent that most will probably bite him in the ass later. While it might be true that he's smarter than some, right now, he does not have leverage.
And Inasa and co are continuing at UA but there's obviously issues for those who now stand out.
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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