26/04/2025

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The Emperor's Dragon
Chapter 113 - Unexpected Encounters

Goumanya had noticed that since he had begun doing jobs with Kobun, people at Tsuke's had started looking at him differently. Though it was sort of odd, there were people who wouldn't talk to him now, while others looked up at him with something akin to hero worship in their eyes. Usually, he'd have asked Nobasu what it meant but, he knew, this time, he was going to have to figure it out by himself. The teenager was still pissed that he'd supposedly stolen his glory. It didn't really matter. He knew why they were looking at him differently.

It was acceptance. He'd been accepted into the group. He was useful. He was…

It felt good. And it was the first step to actually getting somewhere in life.

That felt better.

Goumanya nodded at the others in the gym as he set up some weights. Kobun expected his people to be strong, and while Goumanya usually hated working out, he needed stronger arms. He had noticed the kick back from his quirk. So… he'd work out. A bit anyway.

"Do you really have Bakugou's quirk?" one of the guys on the rowing machine asked.

"Yeah," Goumanya replied, testing the weights. It seemed enough. "Did you know him?"

"Nah. But Nobasu went on, and on, and on about him," the guy laughed.

"And we saw him at the Sport's Festival," someone else said.

Goumanya didn't see who. He'd started his set so was concentrating on that.

"Can you fly?"

He wasn't expecting that question and almost dropped the bar. Bakugou could fly? Fuck! Goumanya had to do some research into this quirk. Nobasu had obviously been holding out on him. "Not yet," he replied, strangely happy to tell them the truth. They knew he hadn't had Bakugou's quirk for long. "I didn't expect to get the quirk," Goumanya added with a chuckle.

"Oh yeah," came the reply, also amused. "So, what's your real quirk?"

He should have seen that one coming. For a moment, he thought about lying, and saying something completely weak but it was easy enough, even for people like this to catch him in the lie. "Why do you think I was at the temple?" Goumanya asked instead.

They weren't the smartest cookies, so it took a while for them to get it.

"Serious?"

"It's a miracle," Goumanya deadpanned.

That got a round of laughs but before anyone could ask anything else one of Tsuke's men appeared at the door. "Rou, Tsuke wants to see you."

"Coming," Goumanya immediately replied. When Tsuke wanted to see you, Tsuke got to see you. Since he arranged most of the work, you did not keep him waiting. Carefully, Goumanya stowed the gym gear he had been using. Tsuke was also hell on those who didn't put stuff away. The messenger nodded his approval and Goumanya knew there'd be no problems.

He then followed to Tsuke's office. It was a room on the ground floor. People came here to hire those Tsuke had access to. It was actually nicely appointed and pretty neat but then Goumanya knew it was to portray a particular image. Though today it appeared more empty than usual. Or maybe Tsuke was going through a minimalist phase.

Tsuke gestured for him to take a seat and Goumanya did. The broker looked at him. "What are you doing here?"

The question was not something he expected. He knew Tsuke wasn't exactly happy with him being here but the broker had warmed to him or at least tolerated him as his control of his quirk got better.

"To earn a living," Goumanya told him. He hadn't finished high school, and he had no other really marketable skills. The streaming market was full, and the only way to make any money there would be to play up his quirklessness and be terrible. And there were already people doing that - who weren't quirkless.

"So, get a job," the broker told him. The implication was obvious.

"Can't," Goumanya said before he realised that wasn't quite true. "All I can get is minimum wage crap that would leave me rotting for the rest of my life," he corrected. Like the lovebirds would be. Rakura was studying but… no, they were gonna be stuck there for their entire lives and probably be grateful for the opportunity they supposedly had.

"So, you really just want a job that pays," the broker mused.

Goumanya caught the meaning. Tsuke's work, even though they did it, paid Tsuke. No one got rich working for Tsuke. "You are a stepping stone, boss," he told him. Obviously, others would have said the same. "Until I get enough recognition to go out on my own or do something else."

The man gave him a bland look. It wasn't disbelieving but it definitely told Goumanya that Tsuke had heard it before. And had probably seen people fail in that before. "Well, maybe you will," he murmured. "Kobun wants to put you in his team," the broker announced.

He nodded. Goumanya thought it had already happened.

"But I have had an alternate offer."

That was news to him. He hadn't really heard about that happening. Once one of the Team Leaders decided you were good for their team you usually stayed with them. The others didn't poach but it did happen sometimes. It had to. People, even in the underworld, needed skills. He'd just never heard of it happening for someone in the general labour pool.

"Sir?" Goumanya asked.

"I believe I'm going to have to go with the other offer," Tsuke told him as Goumanya heard the office door open. "Ah, Hizashi, impeccable timing," the broker greeted the newcomer.

Goumanya turned. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but a man with slicked back black-blond hair, over yellow glasses and a leather jacket wasn't it. He didn't recognise the man but there was a nagging sense of familiarity.

"There's no need to worry," Hizashi told him pleasantly. His voice was remarkably soft. "I'm in a slightly different line of work than Tsuke, and when I saw your job, I thought you'd be much better suited to what I do."

Goumanya found himself not wanting to go. There was something in the man's voice that wasn't right, but he couldn't tell what it was. A cold dread pooled in the pit of his stomach.

"You can take him," Tsuke said.

"What?" Goumanya objected. "This is how you treat your people?" he growled. Tsuke was meant to be one of the better brokers. This didn't seem like it was good for him. If Tsuke was passing him on to another broker, then… why? He could just put him in Kobun's team and then technically Kobun was responsible for him.

"You are not signed with me, Rou," Tsuke said, as if it should be obvious.

"And your continued presence here would be bad for Tsuke's business," Hizashi said. Goumanya recognised the threat and wondered what the hell Hizashi had over Tsuke.

It had to be something. Tsuke was… Goumanya actually had no idea of Tsuke's history.

"This is the way the game is played, Hizashi," Tsuke said with what Goumanya could hear was false friendship. "And if I have to sacrifice a couple of pawns-" he shrugged, "-so be it."

Hizashi's hand dug into Goumanya's shoulder and while it was an odd angle for him to look at, Goumanya could see the way Hizashi's features shifted. The man was not happy. He would much rather be taking Tsuke but…

"Come along," he snapped instead, pulling Goumanya up from the chair and literally dragging him out of the office.

The end of the exchange was as abrupt as the beginning and Goumanya was in a daze as they emerged from Tsuke's building. There was a large black car waiting for Hizashi and the man pushed him towards it.

Goumanya stumbled on the stairs slightly and the feeling of dread blossomed into full panic. He tried to push back but momentum was with Hizashi, and the man pushed him towards the vehicle. Goumanya didn't need any help generating sweat on his palms. He tried to ignite them, but nothing happened.

Stupidly, he looked at his palms, but he could see the sweat on them, it just didn't explode.

"Yeah, yeah," Hizashi said. "I owe you," he added.

Goumanya looked up and saw that Hizashi was looking down to the car. The window was down and another man with black hair was sitting in the driver's seat. He was looking at them and his eyes were wide open. His hair rippled in a breeze that wasn't there.

What the hell was going on?

"Just get him in the car," the man said.

Hizashi listened and literally dragged Goumanya down the rest of the stairs before shoving him into the back. He slid into the seat next to him and before he even had the door closed the car drove off.

"Don't try anything," Hizashi told him. "At the moment, you are coming with us voluntarily."

Goumanya didn't object. He knew there was voluntary and voluntary and the way Tsuke treated this guy… There wasn't fear in the broker's actions but there was respect. "And if you try something then… this will just get messy."

"It's already messy," the black-haired guy driving muttered. His hair was back to normal.

"Yeah, well, Shouta. It will get worse."

The man huffed. It was the sound of someone who was tired.

Goumanya gathered his courage. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere we can ask you questions," came the response from Hizashi. "You've been busy."

"It wasn't me!" he objected.

"Yes, it was," the driver said.

"No, it was Kobun," Goumanya corrected

"Kobun has already been arrested. You will be arrested as an accessory if we do not get answers."

He immediately knew that was getting into dangerous territory but before he could do anything, Hizashi grabbed his wrist and squeezed. The man didn't look strong, but he was.

Sitting there, given up by Tsuke, riding in the back of a black car, with two people who obviously knew what they were doing… Goumanya knew, the jig was up.

-ted-

Izuku had placed the urn Kurogiri had assured him was Dabi's on the Todoroki family grave. He didn't feel comfortable putting the ashes into the grave. That should really be something the family did, and he figured they'd see the urn there and attend to it. He'd checked. They hadn't yet put Endeavor to rest.

The others were paying their respects and had told him he would go last. Izuku wasn't sure what that was about, but he'd just nodded. As he waited, he examined the grave and wondered if there was a Shigaraki grave somewhere. Probably not.

It also reminded him that he had to go see Saicho.

He looked at the grave. It was highly traditional, carved stone with the name Todoroki engraved prominently. There were other names there, which Izuku recognised as Dabi's ancestors. They didn't mean anything to him.

It felt sort of odd to be here but the instant he'd announced, last night, that they were going today, everyone had agreed, and they hadn't even objected to the time. The sun was up, but the morning chill still lingered in the air. Unten had driven them and would pick them up later. His father had said this was not something he should be involved in.

He was probably right. It might be crass since his father had benefited from Dabi's death even though he didn't know him. But Izuku could also see it as showing respect. But everyone had more experience than him in this area, so Izuku deferred to their judgement.

Izuku looked up at the sky. It was still a washed out blue, but the colour was developing as the sun rose higher. He could hear birds and, in the distance, there were some sounds of life - cars and trucks but they were muted here. That made sense. The Todoroki family grave was not in a poor area. They'd want their dead to rest well.

The silence, well, near silence was actually nice.

Izuku waited as the others paid their respects and was surprised when what he thought was Whisper changing position with Twice was actually something else. He should have known. Whisper wouldn't make that much noise on the gravel pathway. His head snapped to the pathway and Izuku felt his eyes widen.

Shit.

On the path was a small group. They were dressed in black kimonos. It made the white of their hair stand out more. Izuku recognised Shouto. He was pushing one of the women back with a determined expression. Bandages were visible under his kimono. Surprisingly, another man Izuku didn't recognise, with white hair, was doing the same to some of the other older people.

"I didn't come to fight, Shouto," Izuku told them before anyone did anything stupid. He stepped forward, deliberately light on his feet.

The teen glared at him. Izuku could see the others were confused.

"Why did you come here?"

Izuku sighed and held up one hand briefly, to indicate he would answer but wanted to do something first. He turned and took the few steps to the grave, reaching out to pick up the urn. "Don't do anything," he whispered to the others. They hadn't come here to fight, and Izuku didn't think it would come to that.

He turned back to the group of people. They were watching him curiously and Izuku could see that a few of them had realised who he was. Izuku held the urn up. It was a simple ceramic pot, glazed in blue. The top fitted snugly and had gold highlights. This was not the urn Dabi had been in, but Izuku thought this was much more appropriate.

Izuku fixed his eyes on a middle-aged woman who was standing beside a really elderly lady, with salt and paprika hair, holding an equally ornamental urn. He guessed the older woman was Enji's mother, accompanied by his wife. Deliberately telegraphing his moves, Izuku walked to the women, aware that the crunch of his shoes on the gravel was the only noise in the cemetery. Even the birds had quietened.

He looked into her gray eyes as he held out the urn. "I am sorry for your loss," Izuku said softly, holding back the urge to gulp. She looked at him, and Izuku saw her eyes flicking between the urn and his face. He held his expression neutral and slowly the woman reached out to take the urn.

Izuku gave her a grave nod and took a few steps back. He was aware of Shouto's eyes on him, and interestingly the other man's gaze, from his silver eyes, was heavy. His long hair was tied back neatly. Izuku made a note to find out who it was but for the moment he paid attention to now.

The woman held the urn gingerly and then she looked down at it. Her expression, which thus far, had been restrained, shifted into a rictus of grief as she looked down at the urn. "Touya," she whispered the name brokenly as she began to cry.

Izuku supposed, it could not be easy, losing your husband and your son together, especially knowing that it was your son who killed your husband. Respectfully Izuku bowed. "We will pay our respects at another time," he told the group before standing straight. He didn't know what else he might say.

"Is that why you were here?" Shouto demanded.

Izuku didn't bother to reply. He had the urn here. Everyone was dressed respectfully, and they had not done anything. He turned away, his shoes crunching on the gravel as he ignored the feeling of eyes on him. He walked past Himiko and the others, giving them a nod as he continued down the path. Izuku heard them fall into step with him.

Once they were out of the graveyard he turned around.

"Well," Atsuhiro said.

"That was unexpected," Izuku agreed. "But we'll have to pay our respects later," he added, looking at Twice. He knew Jin was eager to ensure they were respectful to Dabi. Jin nodded and Izuku felt a surge of relief.

"They probably wanted to mourn in private," Twice said.

Izuku nodded. "And we'll respect that," he indicated. It was, he had to admit, one of the logical reasons they were so early. "But for now, let's get breakfast," he said, giving them a grin.

"Can we get blood?" Himiko asked.

"You can have blood pudding if you want," Izuku told her.

"Yay!"

At that point Unten drove up and Izuku gave Himiko a fond smile. It would take some time to get over the loss of Dabi, but they would mourn together and that would draw them together.

Izuku knew there was still a lot of uncertainty about the future, but he was sure they'd face it together.

-ted-

Well, I think the Heroes are aware of a lot of the Brokers and while they may want to move against them, it's easier to leave them in place and move against the underlings - where evidence is simpler to get. So yes, going to collect Goumanya was simply a matter of working out who he was working for and then telling Tsuke the consequences of harbouring him and viola... they get to arrest Goumanya. So now on to questioning and the interesting revelations we know are there.

And as for Izuku and co, showing respect to your fallen is important, though obviously showing respect and coming in contact with the family was not expected. And so Shouto and Izuku get to see each other again, in very different circumstances, and well... I think things went well.

I have zero idea how Japanese funerals are conducted so you will have to forgive any inaccuracies.

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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