Chapter Text
Two children disappeared one month ago.
“Are these your kids?” Popular music hero Jiro ask the parent. Holding a picture of two. They both nod silent fear, particularly unwilling to accept what happen.
“Don’t, I will get them back no matter what.” Jiro promises with a confident smile.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Couple shouted. They eventually walked away from the area. Harbor a spark hope.
Old man with level decency wasted till being out ear shot. Made sure the metal door lock nice and tight. Next grab a nice cold beer. Where the beverage store prior it unveiling anyone guess. One flinch shot bottle cap off faster than a bullet. “Why you have do something as stupid as that?” He loudly ask.
“Hey! I’m going find those kids and bring them back to their families.”
Old man glare at the heroine with pity. Gave same expression one give a baby pig ready be butcher. Like he knew more than he ever wished. “You don’t understand. Pray you never do.”
“Huh?”
“Look I’ve been on this case for a couple long years. I seen people come and go. Kids go missing and parent stay none the wiser. Trust me, promises like that dumbest shit you could pull. It better be vague than give them that shit.”
“Look. I’m pro. It my job find those kid and find out what happened.”
“Pfft. Let me make one thing straight. I am not angry cause I couldn’t find those missing kids. Or pissed cause I never discovered what happened to them. Thing is, one day I did. Took good few years. Waste lot time and effort sure. Eventually I got most my questions answered. Afterward I made it my mission make sure the family never do.”
Jirou squint at the comment. She thought it a detective job bring closure. Even if the child dead, the parent have a right to know. Maybe no how, but least know their child gone.
Detective knew that what the heroine thinking. Same as most the people who are new this case. Their desperate find answers. Or give those families a form of closure. “Go ahead and call me a bastard. I rather those families have false hope, then decode the truth. As the old saying goes: ignorance is bliss. My god what I wouldn’t give be ignorant again. I should know… I saw what that’s fucker did to someone granddaughter.” Old detective to another gulp of the cold beer. Try best resist the urge hit the metal table. Once bottle empty toss it into the nearest trash. “Wether I be religious or not. I know, I just know, there a special place in hell reserve for his breed.”
Outside the police station a officer wlk in from his daily patrol. Read latest an article on ‘Next Gang’ involvement. Apparently there was a jail break while back. Sadden by fact another good officer bite the dust, yet not line was spare mention that fact. Probably too busy talking about the pro Anima and Tokoyami date. He minding his own busy when came a cross a mystery cardboard box.
Guy a newbie, started last week. Still hesitant whenever he first see danger. Wonder if this was a harmless piece trash? Or a explosive? Terrified by subtlety shake, causing him quickly pull his gun. Forehead sweat from heavy stress. Scorn eye watch as box open up. Saw a small hand arise. A child like palm.
Maybe it was officer fear? Perchance curiosity? Whatever reason, man incapable firing. Force see the box open up. In a second reveal the inside contains two children. One black hair boy. Other pale white horn girl. It was Eri and Kota.
“H… Help… Wh… Where…” Water emitter weakly ask.
The officer grab boy inside. Where Jirou immediately informed the parent (Mina and Izuku). She also call for hospital and other safety procedures test the children detect any danger. All result were negative. There nothing bout their biological. Least not yet. Two sent to quarantine for time being.
Many pro like pussycat and former Class-A just glad kids were alright. However in a sense Kota didn’t escape. Eri did, but he didn’t. Deep down he knew he never will. Not when those memories loom within.
X ONE HOUR AGO…
Kota awaken in a large dark moist cell. Room winter cold to the touch. Hands handcuffed to the floors. Sat on top wooden stall. No other soul be found. Not even sister Eri. He was currently all alone. With nothing, but darkness. That said boy quite stern. Accustom to this shit. Uncle Tiger taught him stay calm under these situation. Makes sure they don’t think it bother you. As well remain quite. To do insult or shit like that when capture. Don’t try escalate something bad to worse.
What exactly happen forever lost. Strange anonymous quirk must erase large portions his memories. To ensure nothing too critical like base location or membership didn’t get out.
Still he recall his encounter with one bastard perfectly.
Said bastard five-feet tall. Skeleton thin figure fiend. Clothes were basically old poorly sew together rag. Each tooth like a giant pillar. Eye yellow, disgusting raw yellow, fill with malice. Sharp fingertip claw the iron walls. Scent rotten apple and boil horse shit. Impossible tell wether this was a man or woman. Open skin look paler than snow, although unclear if those part cover in make-up or not. Appear never encounter sunlight before. These detail and more made the creep inhuman. No, not even that, as if that there spark humanity be found within this strange.
To boy surprise. The creeps name never disclose. Like he or she anonymous.
“If you say… One Word… About my plan… I will turn your sister… Into one of my children…” Monster said pointing left bones arm into a darken corner.
Water emitter raise an eyebrow to that statement. Then sight follow the extension arm. After few seconds his eyes adjusted. Where he saw the unthinkable. No the unimaginable. To think anyone could do that. Where the outline of an inhuman beast be seem. Soon boy entire boy began to shake in horror. Mind full an unwillingness to accept this reality. Or any reality where that thing exist.
“All… For-One is… Alive.”
“Huh?” That comment redirected all water-user attention.
“Well as… Alive as a jelly mind… Who bones are weaken than… A Decay carrot. Still… Technically alive… In a sense.”
“…” Kota eye squinted, took deep breathe. Puzzle what he could possibly do. It this for real? Why is this lunatic telling me this shit? He has be fucking with me? Right?
“No… Am not…”
Boy eye widen further. Sweat starting emitting upon both cheeks. Did he just read my mind? Is his quirk like my aunt Mandalay?
“No… No at all…” Creep commented while long tongue began to lick his filthy mask. Not appear as a giant. Shadow engulf monster image. Yellow awful eyes just glare downward. Like it trying detect something. Kota soul perhaps?
Kota stop right then. Mind when blank, no more accurate say he refuse to think. Thought it best remain a vegetable. Nothing else prove fruitful. Not when front by this… thing. Boy no longer able comprehend a thin man, but a demon. One detach from humanity.
“Your just… like everyone else… trapped.”
“…”
Rag man didn’t waste time evaporating that philosophy. Never really deserve share with member outside his cult. Stead change the topic. Knew boy probably wonder what going on. Why he doing this. What he or anyone possibly get out this. The creep recognize human paradoxical nature for seek answers. So he answer cruelest way possible. “My hero… Shall be… Perfection…” Gave enough vague to get boy to imagine unspeakable evil.
“Now… About All-For… -One Listen carefully. He… Will return.”
X- Present
Mina and Deku arrive their children with second. With latter utilizing top speeds. Upon arriving ignore all the protocols and junk hug two. Being worried nonstop. Feeling though their heart were about give out. Everyone in that moment was tearing up, especially Kota. They thought Kota was crying out happiness like the rest. Be reunited with what family members he still has. Yet he wasn’t.
He wasn’t cry out for joy, but sorrow and frustration.
For he now foresee the storm off in the distance. If he didn’t, act All-For-One be resurrected. Mind created a fictional versions of the giant monster destiny to arrive. Beast who claw way through the heroes like butter. Fang slaughter their flesh like paper. Who may splasher their brains like jelly. Worse yet, the possibility of be of Deku, his new father. He doom lose another family.
‘Fuck me.’ Kota thought.
Unless.
“Listen Deku…” Boy try best suppress the fear. For once there an opportunity. A chance to save his family. For this storm was inevitable, it could be avoided. All he needed to do was tell them right here and now.
“Yeah… Yeah… What is it Kota?” Deku look broken father would. Barely held back the urge cry. He lost his dear mother half-an-hour and love every second with his kids.
“I…”
Child still hear that monster words echo in his ears. Feel his warm breathe against left cheek. Long bone teeth almost nimble the skin. Voice compare to a fresh demon from hell darkest pits. ‘If you say…’
“See…” Kota throat began mentally choke. Like something deep down refuse continue. Was this a quirk or a device or a implant. Did those bastard do something him after all?
‘One Word…’
“What is it?” Deku cautiously ask.
“I…” Boy teeth grin frustration. What the hell, tell them.
‘About my plan…’
“He…”
‘I will turn your sister…’
“Are you alright bro?” Eri kindly ask.
All the previous incidents that happened his family weren’t his fault. Parent murder by that bastard Muscular for no reason. Shiretoko render powerless cause All-For-One. The kidnapping and Grandmother blood on Toga hand. What to come definitely be the result League of Villain or Next Gang. However what would happen Eri another story entirely. For he be responsible there be it directly or not.
“…” Trouble boy surrender to the fear. Remain mute about the prophesies disaster. Force cling to small hope they be able survive. “Miss… You… Guys…”
‘Into one of my children…’
Kota will never allow Eri become like that monstrous beast. That a fate far worse than death.
Mina upon hearing those words immediately tight hug the brat. Began mommy kissing water emitter nonstop. Used embarrassing phrases like ‘my process baby boy’. Kota annoyed sure, but on closer inspection see minor tear dripping off both eyes. She as worried a mother could be. Just thankful see her son again. Which only cause Kota pain increase.
‘Please… I don’t wanna lose another.’ Kid silently prayed.