I hated that talk with Gran Torino. The old man's constant probing makes my skin crawl. Its like now that he knows of my past and my reluctance to accept that not just he knows it, its like he's pushing for more, more details, more information, more me.
I should've kept my composure better in our last conversation. I let my annoyance slip, it wasn't to a level that someone like Bakugou would go crazy, but it was still annoying, the moment kept replaying in my mind.
And then there was my mother. She and my sister both know of my experiences at the Eden Project. I didn't like that, I don't want her to apologize, I was completely fine with moving forward, on my own.
"You're quiet today," Dabi's voice cuts through my thoughts, sharp and mocking. "Thinking about your mommy?"
I didn't respond. I didn't even look at him. We were crammed in the back of a van with a handful of minor villains, all of us waiting for the signal. These idiots are nervous, their eyes were darting around like they were expecting heroes to burst in at any moment.
They were amateurs, cannon fodder at best. But Dabi? He's calm, almost bored, like this is just another day at the office.
I glance out the window. The Ryukyu agency loomed in the distance in the blue-grey sky. I didn't think that they'd start off their attacks against a hero from the top 10. Destro wanted me in on this, a way to test the waters.
"Relax." Dabi says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We're not here to fight her. The mobs job is to create chaos. The two of us are looking for files. See if the heroes know anything. Easy."
I nod my head. Ryukyu's worked close with my sister before. She's been interning with Gang Orca for months which has allowed her to work with Ryukyu. I really hope she is not here. I'd rather not face her.
Dabi smirks, his scarred face twisting into something ugly. "You look nervous. Scared of a little breaking and entering?"
I ignored him again, but he doesn't let it go. He leans closer, his breath hot against my ear. "Don't worry, kid. I'll protect you."
I shove him away, my voice low and cold. "Back off."
He laughs, a harsh, grating sound that makes my teeth ache. "Touchy, touchy. Fine, have it your way. But when we're in there, you're following my lead. Got it?"
I don't answer. My mind already elsewhere, thinking about Gran Torino, about the information I gave him. I told him about the League's plans. He said he'd get word out, that the heroes would be ready. But if they're ready, if they're onto us, then this mission could go sideways fast. Gran Torino could have already mentioned me to some of the heroes, it would be bad if they have filed that.
Dabi's voice pulled me back. "You're spacing out again. Focus. We're on the clock."
I nod, forcing myself to stay present. The van slows to a stop, and Dabi cracks the door open, peering out. "There she is," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
I follow his gaze. Ryukyu soars overhead, her massive dragon form cutting through the skyline like a blade.
"Lets move." Dabi says, slipping out of the van. I follow, my heart pounding in my chest. It was a feeling I wasn't used to anymore. The streets turned to chaos, the mob had already spread out quickly.
We move quickly, sticking to the walls. The Ryukyu agency is just ahead, its glass doors shattered, the lobby was empty. Dabi gestures for me to follow, and we slip inside, out footsteps echoing in silence.
The agency is a maze of hallways and offices, but Dabi seems to know where he's going. He leads me to a room at the end of a long corridor. He pulls a set of lock picks and gets to work, his movements quick and precise.
I keep watch, my senses on high alert. Every sound feels like a boulder thundering down into a shallow river.
The lock clicks, and Dabi pushes the door open. "In here," he says, gesturing for me to follow.
The room is filled with filing cabinets and computer terminals, the walls lined with shelves of documents. Very old school. Dabi heads straight for the computers, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Keep an eye out," he says, not looking up.
I nod my head, my eyes scanning the room. My palms were slick with sweat. I may have to turn my blade on this man. I may have to kill again. If Dabi were to find out that I was working with the heroes he will definitely go to try burn me on the spot.
He is only a few feet away from me. My back was turned to him so he had a great chance to hit me, but since I'm by the door I could very quickly turn and dodge the initial burst of flames. But I couldn't allow him to leave.
But even if I did kill him, there would be even more problems. The League and Destro wouldn't believe me if I were to tell them that Dabi was killed by Ryukyu. Heroes always act with the intent to capture not kill.
And Dabi is strong, if the fight got to that level there would be some build-up that would be noticed and maybe even broadcasted.
I didn't like any of this, recently I've been caught between two worlds a lot.
It doesn't matter, the goal is to...
"Got it," Dabi's voice broke the silence. "They're onto us. But they don't know much, they don't even know of the MLA being a part of our attack."
"How would they have known?" I asked.
"Well, the information is nothing conclusive. Its just a belief that there will be a big attack around the Hero's Eve event since Tomura and the rest of the League have been kind of quiet."
Other than the kidnapping of Bakugou.
I nodded my head at what he said. Thankfully that made a lot of sense for the situation. If I were a hero and on their side I would think that too. There were already rumours of them assimilating many other villain groups under them and there have been little to no attacks yet, so this was something bound to happen.
Dabi stands, his eyes gleaming with something I can't quite place. "Lets go. We've got what we came for."
I follow him out of the room, my mind still racing. The chaos outside, is worse now, the screams louder.
I just realized how strange it was for the fact that there were no staff or sidekicks in the building.
It wasn't some type of ambush, we were already outside of the building and nothing had happened.
I followed Dabi, we stuck by the same walls we came in through, this was just a small attack. Who knew what the next one would be. How bad will it be?
How should I plan it?
Honestly, no matter how bad it sounds, I kind of was wish it was already the day of the attack on Hero's Eve.
***
The city was a fading canvas, the sun dipping below the horizon like a painter's brushstroke, smearing the sky in hues of amber and violet. I walked alone, the streets quiet save for the few people wandering the streets going home or walking their children through the streets.
My mind was a storm, I felt like I was walking on the razors edge. The mission had gone smoothly, but every step felt heavier, every breath tighter, as if the air itself was conspiring against me.
But it wasn't that, no, I don't think so.
But then she appeared.
One moment, the street was empty. The next, she was there, materializing like a fairy from myth. Saya Kurotsuki. Her crimson hair, sharp and asymmetrical, caught the dying light, framing her angular features like a blade poised to strike.
Her skin was pale, flawless, almost otherworldly, and her dark clothing clung to her skin. She stood motionless, her eyes closed, her presence a cold, distant force that seemed to freeze the air around her.
I stopped, my breath caught in my throat. Saya. It had been years since I'd seen her, years since the Eden Project had dragged us together and then scattered us and many other in the wind.
She was taller, her presence was more imposing, but the coldness in her demeanour was the same. She had always been like that, aloof and untouchable.
Her eyes opened.
Deep, endless blue, like the heart of a glacier, piercing and hypnotic. For a moment, I was entranced, caught in the gravity of her gaze. But then her hand moved, fluid and precise, and the air shifted. Blood flowed from her fingertips, coalescing into a long, crimson spear that gleamed like polished ruby. The weapon was as tall as she was, its edge sharp enough to cut the world in two.
I didn't have time to think. Instinct took over, my quirk flaring to life as paper materialized around me, forming a shield just as she lunged. Her spear struck with the force of a thunderclap, the impact reverberating through my arms as I barely managed to deflect it.
I ducked low, the spear whistling over my head, and used the momentum to flip back, putting distance between us.
"Saya," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me. "What are you doing here?"
She didn't answer me. Her silence was more unnerving than any words could have been. She adjusted her grip on the spear, her movements fluid and deliberate, and came at me again. This time, I was ready. My paper formed into kunai, sharp and precise, and I hurled them at her. She deflected them with ease, the spear spinning in her hands like an extension of her body.
The fight was on.
She was fast, faster than when we were young. Her movements were like a blur, her strikes relentless. I dodged and weaved, my paper forming and reforming as I kept up. Her spear broke apart mid-swing, the blood droplets reforming into smaller, needle-like projectiles that shot toward me like crimson rain.
I twisted and turned, my movements precise, almost dance-like, as I avoided the onslaught. Each near-miss sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, my heart pounding in my chest.
Why was she here? Why now? The questions swirled in my mind, but there was no time to dwell on them. Saya was a force of nature, her attacks unrelenting, her focus unshakable. I remember her strength from the Eden Project, how she had always been one of the top-ranked, her quirk it was a power blend of elegance and destruction. But now, facing her again, I realized something, she wasn't as strong as I remembered. Or maybe I just wasn't as weak.
I deflected the punch, her fist slamming into my palm with enough force to sting but not enough to push me back. I countered with a strike of my own, my paper forming a blade that narrowly missed her but left a small piece of paper clinging to her shoulder. She didn't seem to notice, her focus unwavering as she spun, her blood forming a massive hammer that she swung with devastating force.
I leapt back, the hammer crashing into the ground where I had stood, the impact sending shockwaves through the pavement. I took to the air, my paper wings carrying me above the fray. Saya didn't hesitate. She was on me in an instant, her speed unnatural, almost inhuman. I realized then, she was enhancing herself, manipulating the flow of her blood to boost her speed and strength. It was a clever use of her quirk, one that made her even more dangerous.
I couldn't help but smirk, a small, wry thought crossing my mind. Our quirks are basically just creation powers. It's just a matter of who uses them better.
I flew behind a building, putting some distance between us, but Saya was relentless. She moved like a shadow, her crimson hair trailing behind her like a banner of war. I could feel her closing in, her presence a cold, unyielding force.
I needed to end this. Now.
In my left hand, I materialized a small map of the area, the paper forming intricate lines and details. The blip representing Saya's location, marked by the piece of paper I'd placed on her, appeared on the map. I focused, my quirk flaring as I formed a small, paper hand on the map. It was a risky move, one I hadn't tried in years, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
The hand reached out, grabbing the miniature form of Saya on the map. In the real world, the effect was immediate. Saya was yanked off her feet, her body crashing through the buildings like a ragdoll. The sound of crumbling concrete and shattering glass filled the air, dust and debris rising in a thick cloud.
I landed, my breath coming in a short, sharp gasps. The dust began to settle, and I could see the rubble where Saya had landed. For a moment, there was silence. Then, a sharp, piercing glint caught in my eye.
Her eyes.
They were open, blazing with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. I barely had time to react as a spear of blood erupted from the rubble, piercing towards me with deadly precision. I twisted in mid-air, the spear grazing me.
The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the realization that she wasn't done.
She emerged from the rubble, her crimson hair disheveled but her gaze as cold and unyielding as ever. Blood dripped from her fingertips, forming new weapons, new threats. She didn't speak, didn't taunt, just came at me, her movements faster and her initial strike even more precise and deadly.