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Chapter 7: The Storm’s Embrace
🕑 Added 2023-11-09 13:28:14 +0000 UTCUnlike with its sister story, this chapter will not longer since my holiday break is coming along and it does what I need it to do. But before then, I would like to thank everyone that picked up my work this year, while it’s not a large group, I value those in it and hope to continue pumping out story ideas. I already have a few swimming in my head, but I do need to fine tune them and then pick just one as at my current schedule, I already have 4 stories and since I don’t want to post anything on the weekends, that just leaves one free day in the week. I’ll put up a poll for them at some point in December so that you all can pick which story will win it.
Chapter 7: The Storm’s Embrace
“Die!” The stone villain yelled as he swung his fist towards Midoriya, but he was used to dealing with Bakugo, and had watched heroes and villains fight his entire life. He might not have experience, but he had seen enough battles to understand the mechanics.
“No.” He replied, dodging the attack and rushing over to the side, his tail whipping the man as he went. He had trained in this form for weeks, he knew how to make use of every part of it, even if he was a larger target, he was also far more flexible and faster than before.
There was another swing at him, but he leaned back to avoid it, quickly snapping back into position and jumping over the follow-up, his tail once more smacking the man, angering him. “Damn, you’re a slippery one!” This went on for a few minutes. Izuku not attacking, but instead dodging and evading blows which landing light tail smacks at his elbows and shoulders, testing the joints for any weak-point he could use.
‘I need to end this quickly.’ He thought to himself, as he couldn’t just let this continue. Sooner or later, he’ll either get tired, or the other villains would just leave them. with that thought in mind, when he ducked under a backhand, he didn’t move back but went forward, pulling his fist back and slamming it into the villain’s gut. His attack, which might have been stronger than what he could do in human form, didn’t do much against the stone covered muscle as the villain laughed.
“Nice try, kid. You’re fast but that’s all you got!” He mocked as Midoriya tried to make distance to rethink this, but he was too slow as the villain managed to grab onto his arm and drag him back, his first geared. Izuku didn’t have time to think as he just brought up his other hand to block the blow, which landed with far more power then his own, as the stone scales covering his arm cracked while green lava like blood was spilled.
‘Finally, landed one.’ Seeing the damage on the retreating brat, the villain smirked. But that smirk turned to disbelief as he watched as what should have been a broken arm repaired itself, with the scales stitching together like new while the arm, which was slightly bent snapped back into place. In less than 10 seconds, his blow might as well never happened. ‘What the hell? Is he healing?’ He hadn’t ever fought someone with regenerative abilities, this will be a pain.
Still, he wasn’t about to back out from this as he smashed his fists together. If the brat could heal, then he’ll just beat him faster! “Looks like you’re be an annoying ant to smash into the dirt.” Rushing Midoriya again, he launched a fury of blows against him, many of which Midoriya was forced to evade but a few did get through, hitting his arms and chest.
However, Midoriya wasn’t idle in this as he too had a new plan in the works, using his tail as a shield, he managed to buy himself a few moments to take in a deep breath before firing off another attack. “Serpent’s Fire Scales!" The attack came out like a normal fire ball, pushing the villain back and giving him space before it exploded into 15 smaller fireballs that surrounded the villain. He cursed as he tried to swat them away, and move to avoid them, but he only managed to destroy 2 and avoid 4, the other 9 struck home at different points such as the back of his knees, his elbows, chest, neck head.
Midoriya waited for the smoke to clear from the attack, couching to give himself a little boast should be need to retreat. “Did that do the trick?” There was faint moment in the smoke, but his eyes widened when from it, the villain rushed him, faster than before.
His clothes might have been destroyed, leaving him with just burnt pants, but he was still standing. Izuku tried to jump back but the villain managed to grab him once more. “Not even close, brat!” With a throw, he sent the boy flying into a car, crashing into it with such force that the vehicle was knocked onto its side, with Midoriya in a dent shaped like himself.
While the boy was still seeing stars, the villain reached for another car, grabbing it with both hands and picking it up over his head. “And now, to end this farce!” If he had to do some serious damage, then he’ll flatten the kid with a car!
However, he felt a slight pinch on his elbow, where there was no stone. Looking, he saw that the snake that the brat had brought with him had managed to climb onto him and bite him. “Really, this is just sad, what’s next, you’re gonna send rats after me?” He asked, dropping the car with a crash and grabbing the snake, tightening his grip on the reptile which started to squirm as he felt its fragile bones buckle and crack.
Right as he was about to kill the damned animal and get back to the fight, Midoriya slammed into him like a wrecking ball of smoke and fire, sending him tumbling back some ways, Koharu free from his grasp. The injured snake was now being held in Izuku’s arms, as he hissed towards the villain, his flaming eyes burning even brighter than before, conveying a deep protectiveness, and anger. “No one hurts my friends, no one!” He hissed.
“Hey, wait a minute, I recognise that brat! He’s the guy that managed to get away from All Might!” One of them finally realized who he was, and with that, others followed as while it might have been months, and more exciting stuff had happened since, the number of villains that could say they managed to escape All Might, even briefly was a short list.
“Oh yeah, he’s that Tatooine Arsonist, shit what the hell is he doing here?” Another asked, feeling a tad bit scared as they could all recall the damage the kid left in his wake, rumor was that he torched another dude to ash for shits and giggles.
The villain’s leader hated this, he could accept that the fodder around them was getting ready to shit their pants, but he expected better from his crew! “Shut your traps! So, he run from All Might, so what? All that means is that’s just a coward.” Midoriya didn’t hear any of this, his attention remained on Koharu as he inspected her injuries, cooing to calm her while his anger at the monster that would harm his friend was grew.
“I’m sorry for getting you into trouble, Koharu, that was reckless of me.” Without hesitation, he spewed out flames from his mouth, engulfing the serpent in emerald flames, shocking the people and villains alike that he would do something like that to his own pet. They had heard that he was a pyromaniac but it was clear the stories didn’t do him justice as he was insane. With seemingly no care, he tossed the still burning away, his attention shifting back to the villains who now felt like they should leave the crazy person be.
He doesn’t say anything, nor offer them another chance to surrender as he can see that they won’t take it, instead he rushed the leader for a change, his speed catching the man off guard as it was faster than before when he was just dodging. But that didn’t make him anymore experience in a fight as his punch was horribly telepathed as the villain merely backhanded him. “Is that all you go-!” His gloating was interrupted when Midoriya’s tail shot out from behind him, and wrapped around the villain’s extended arm, immediately heating up the jagged rock that covered his skin.
Midoriya had known he was at a disadvantage, but used that to his advantage as he knew the villain would underestimate him. When he was struck, he put his plan into motion and capitalizing on the momentum, he threw himself forward and hugged the villain, wrapping himself around and increasing his already high body temperature before he burst into flames. The villain’s screams of struggle and pain meaning little to him as he tried in vain to escape, but like a snake, every movement he made only made it all the easier for Izuku to tighten his grip over him.
“Boss!” The rest screamed, seeing their boss started to struggle as he was restrained by this kid that seemed to want to cook him alive.
“Help him!” Another yelled, with the group rushing to help, others preparing their quirks to attack from a distance, but Izuku wouldn’t have it. turning to them, he took a deep breathe, creating fire in his chest and letting it build and fester before he unleashed a torrent of emerald flames.
“Boa Flame!” From his mouth, the deluge of flames took shape, becoming a massive emerald snake that shot towards the now terrified villains, trapping them into a vortex of flames where the heat and flames ripped screams from their throats. This wasn’t the only thing that happened as the snake, with its prey trapped, exploded. In its wake, it left the entire group of villains seriously burnt and defeated.
The sight of this stunned those that saw it, as with just a single attack, Midoriya had taken care of the entire group, bar the leader who watched in with fear, a fear that only grew as Izuku turned his gaze back to him, the emerald flames that made up his eyes conveying a deep sense of…joy. “Well, that takes care of that, now I can focus on you.” He started feeling the heat penetrate his armour, getting to his skin and hurting him more.
Izuku picked up on this, and seemed to grow more pleased with himself as he leaned in close to whisper into his ear, his hold on the man ever tightening, increasing the pressure and heat flowing into him. “You’re feeling it now, aren’t you? The heat, the fire? I figured that your quirk boasted your defense, but while rock doesn’t normally burn…it can transfer heat.”
“Get…off!” He tried to headbutt him, but all he got was a bloody forehead while Izuku’s stone mask of a face was left undamaged, or it was and he couldn’t tell as his vision started to blur from the tears.
“No. I won’t” Izuku wrapped his arms around the man in a perverted variation of a hug from a friend, continued to whisper to him. “Doesn’t it feel good, the flames are so inviting, they’re so loving, aren’t they?” This kid was insane, pure and utterly fucked in the head!
“Please…I…I surrender, let me go!” He started to beg, forget his dreams, forget his pride. If he didn’t do something, they wouldn’t need to worry about cremating him later.
“Don’t fear the flames,” His dread grew to new heights as Izuku opened his mouth, letting the man see that within, he no teeth, tongue or any other flesh. Instead, he saw pulsating veins of emerald, along with a building inferno in near the back. “Welcome their embrace.” He didn’t have time to beg anymore before he was engulfed in the flames, screaming as they ate away at his body as his quirk failed, leaving him with nothing to protect himself from the bright flames that continued to feast on him like ravenous piranhas would on a carcass.
After a few seconds, the flames ceased as Midoriya gently lowered his defeated foe to the ground before turning to the people, the biggest smile he could make with his stone mask of a face on full display as he couldn’t help but feel accomplished. These people had helped him, supported him and he had been able to repay that in full. “You’ll all safe now-!” He stopped when he saw that no-one was happy, or relieved.
Instead, they were terrified, as if the reaper himself stood before them ready to claim their lives. Most of the police, both those unharmed and those that had been taken out earlier, were up and all aiming their weapons at him, their fear mixed in with rage which left him feeling confused and scared as he remembered seeing those looks before, and how that ended.
“Hands in the air, villain!” One of the yelled at him, when he tried to move forward, arms outreached to explain himself, the cop pointed his gun into the air and fired it, the crack silencing any attempt from him.
“No sudden movements or the next one won’t be a warning shot!” He yelled again, with Izuku looking around, his emotions started to flare in him as he looked at people he knew, people he spoke with, that had been so nice to him looking at him like he as much a villain as the ones he just took down, and he didn’t like it!
“Surrender, murderer!” Another yelled as he whipped his head to the side to face them.
“Murder? I didn’t murder anyo-!” Taking a step forward, the cop, with fear, confusion and rage swirling in his eyes, shot him with the bullet that would have no doubt been enough to injure if not kill most, villains and heroes alike, it just ricocheted off his stone skin, not even have the power needed to dent or chip him. Despite the shot doing nothing to harm him, the fact that he was the one they decided to shoot infuriated him, fueling his flames as his ambient temperature rose.
“Not another step!” He hissed at the cop, a response which made them take steps back as the bystanders fled the scene, not wanting to be anywhere close to the pyromaniac when he exploded. And explode he did as he breathed out a large stream of flames at one side of the police, forcing them to run for cover while the others opened fire, but like with the first one, their bullets only further angered him, leading him to spew flames all over the place.
“I’m not a murderer!” He yelled at them, his words near lost in his voice that sent shivers down their spines, as they could feel the rocks that formed his interior heating and shattering in his words.
“When will the heroes get here?” One asked as they hid behind a wall, the yellow and red flames from earlier slowly being replaced by emerald ones which seemed to burn all that they touched.
“They’ll still 20 minutes away!” The second one yelled back, before they both dived for cover as piece of the building, they were closest to crumbled and would have crushed them otherwise. As Izuku advanced, having grown sick and tired of people calling him a villain, he was hit by a powerful blast of water from behind which got a scream from him.
Falling to his knees, seeing through the steam was that being rapidly made from the water trying to douse him, he saw that it was a fire truck. “Stop that, it hurts!” Covering himself with an arm, he built up flames in his mouth before launching a fireball, smaller than his others, towards the truck, forcing the firefighters to all jump for cover.
“Crap!” His fireball didn’t so much explode upon contact with the truck, as it did heavily damage it, but this was enough for the water to stop as he willed his heat to rise again. But even as he become an inferno, he couldn’t understand it. Why did they do this? Why did they attack him? Why reject him? Didn’t he do the right thing, did he not act like a hero and save them?
His anger rising and patience’s in short supply, the continued gunfire only set him off as he took another breath, if they wanted to fight, he’ll give them a fight!
“Serpent’s Fire Scales!" His fireball shot out, exploding into smaller ones that each struck a cop, burning them and sending into their backs or sides where they groaned in pain.
“I’m not bad, you are!” He yelled, seeing red to such an extent that he prepared to just them then there and there, but at the moment, the skies started to fill with dark clouds, faster than anything that could be considered normal as thunder started to rumble through the air.
This flash storm stopped the fight as Izuku looked up the heavens, wondering if this was a sign from on high, and if he should even listen when he had been cursed to live among people that saw him as a inherent threat. Lightning was his answer as out of nowhere, a massive lightning bolt came crashing into the town, destroying an entire building and sending people into a fear fueled frenzy as they all run for their lives. More strikes came, hitting other buildings and vehicles, but he noticed that none of them hit anywhere near him. He doesn’t give it any further thought as he runs over to where Koharu had landed, finding the serpent once again healthy as he scooped her up and run off, never seeing the cause of the sudden and violent lightning.
Above it all, Nine watched the entire fight as it went down, and found himself impressed as Midoriya had performed far better then he thought. He also felt an familiar irritation when he saw how despite his efforts, the fools rejected him and had the gall to attack. It didn’t do them much good, but he decided then was a good time to offer him an out, so he used his control over the weather to summon a localized storm.
Feeling his body start to fall, he cancelled it and flew off after the boy, coughing into his hand and grimacing when he saw the blood spatter.
Line Break
Izuku had just arrived at the temple, rushing through its entrance towards his room, having released his transformed form a while back, he was quick to get a change of clothes, even if he still felt betrayed and angry about the earlier events.
“Why can’t anyone accept me? I did good, right?” He didn’t bother fixing his hair up, his hands too twitchy for that as he looked to Koharu, who had settled into her normal spot around his neck and shoulders. In response, she merely nuzzled his cheek, which helped as he reached for her and gently stroked her head. “Well, you’re the only one that thinks that.”
Looking out the window, he couldn’t help but appreciate the mountain beauty, how peaceful this place…was. He had grown attached, to it and his duties as while he couldn’t be a hero, he found something to give him purpose. But…that was all over wasn’t it.
Sparring Koharu a sad smile, he spoke up. “It was fun while it lasted…but it’s time for me to move on, no way they aren’t going to come here, torches and pitchforks in hand.” She seemed to share his dejection over this as she had been born in these mountains, would have probably died in them too if not for him. She liked living there too, but she liked being with him more so she got off him and watched him pack stuff.
He had left his shopping behind, but he had enough clothing, supplies and other equipment to last a while. Maybe this time they could head north, maybe Gunma, it was known for its hot springs. Perhaps he should go further, he could always rough it in the Fukushima wilderness. Yeah, that one seemed like the better option, especially as he has no desire to repeat this.
Grabbing both Koharu and the half full bag, he run into the kitchen to collect any food that could last more then a week, finding mainly cans which will have to do as he grabbed several of those and a can opener. Heading to the back, he opened the tool shed and gathered additional tools like a bucket, some fishing equipment and basic tools. With his bag now filled to bursting, he closed the place, checked on the flame one last time where he said a prayer and made his way to the entrance.
Only to see that he wasn’t the only one there as standing in the middle of the path, blocking his retreat was a strange man, pale skinned and unfamiliar to him. he immediately realized that whoever this was, wasn’t normal as there was no way he didn’t see him on the way up, nor could the townsfolk have got here so fast. Was he a hero? That wasn’t good.
Shoving the bag behind him, he barred his teeth at the man, ready to fight him off if he had to. “Who are you?!”
If the man was insulted or provoked by his response to his presence, he didn’t show it. Rather he just looked him over for a moment before he spoke. “I saw your fight, it was impressive, though the conclusion was regrettable.”
There was…something in his voice that told Midoriya that he wasn’t lying, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t an enemy, just that he wasn’t one of those that hated him. “You’ll be in the minority for having that opinion, are you here to fight too?”
“No.” The man shook his head, his wet white hair kept in a fine ponytail while his grey eyes seemed as if they would be expressive, but at present were tightly kept under control, giving away nothing.
“Then I’ll be on my way, if you want to say a pray and offer a donation, the shrine is down that way,” He pointed down towards the place, gripping his bag tightly as he stepped off the engawa and slipped his feet into a fresh pair of shoes. “As for me, I gotta get out of here.”
“That is…a shame,” The man replied, still giving away little though he seemed to pause, as if thinking over his with that first statement. “I seem to recall seeing your snake injured and you setting it ablaze, is it another one?” He pointed towards Koharu, who took as much offense at being referred as ‘it’ as he did.
“She, and no…I just healed her and got her out of the fight.” The man’s eyes seemed to shrine at that revelation, something hidden there coming to the surface but still under the waters.
“She then, it seems that if a snake can see what I do, then those people were the issues, aren’t they?” He asked him, with Izuku started to wonder who the hell this guy was, and why he was even entertaining him.
“She’s my friend…and I protect my friends, even if I only have the one.” He muttered that last part, though Nine still heard it and could sympathies with that, though at present, he didn’t have anyone in his life that he would really do much for.
“An admirable trait, having something or in this, someone you’ll willing to fight for.” He praised him as Midoriya walked forward, intent on leaving while he still had enough time to cover up his tracks.
“Let me leave now.” He expected the man to stop him, but instead he stepped aside, giving him right of way. As he walked, he kept his eye on him, picking up that underneath that coat he wore nothing else, that that there were faint purple cracks-no, scars on his body. Was he like him?
Nine continued to question him, though he made move to stop him. “And why is that? I didn’t see you do anything that should warrant such a response, are you perhaps…going in a vacation?” Midoriya couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
“Vacations implies that I can come back, I don’t have a choice in this, if I’m not gone soon, I’ll have to deal with…I just need to get the hell out of here and put as much distance between me and this entire area as possible.” He turned to the man, now wishing to see where this was going.
Nine walked to the side, and took a seat in the snow, his back leaning on one of the statues that lined the walkway. “And why is that?”
“You said you say it, right?” Nine nodded as Midoriya’s frown turned just a little venomous, his anger still boiling close to the surface. “That’s your answer, I displayed my villainous tendencies, I burnt people, I fought against police.”
Nine cocked his head to the sight, his eyes remained expressionless but his tone carried with a spark of sympathy and understanding. “Strange, the way I saw it. You protected the weak, handled a villain and his gang with ease, and were fired upon by law enforcement.” That was a lovely way to put it, though he doubted they or anyone else would see it like that. “If anything, its they that should be leaving.”
“What are you saying? That I was in the right because it sure doesn’t feel like it.” He asked him, with Koharu being on edge with this man, there was something about him that reminded her of a fierce storm.
He shook his head. “No, the one what was wrong was the world. How else would you label a world that would brand someone that helped save lives, that defeated villains to be the guilty party.” Midoriya, despite the odd and confusing vibes this man was giving off, couldn’t disagree with his words as while his mother’s rules and all the bad memories were still there, he also could see the hypocrisy and downright idiotic standards laid bare.
“Do you know what that is?” Nine could see that he had his interest, so he continued when Midoriya didn’t stop him. “Because those without power fear those of us that do.”
“Those with power…” Midoriya turned that statement over in his head, before he realized something as he turned back to the man. “Are you a villain as well?”
Nine didn’t react in a way that implied he was surprised, angered or pleased. He didn’t react at all as he merely thought about his response before speaking. “…I suppose you could call me that, I certainly fit the description that society has created.” He had committed a few crimes, but never actively fought heroes, or engaged in what felt like tiring battles and ego feeding actions.
Midoriya on some level knew that this was a bad idea, that he should just leave now as he already had enough shit because people thought he was a villain, if he was seen with one, he’ll never not be hunted. But…deeper than that, he felt like this person was legit, that he could understand that feeling more than any hero.
It was because of that that he didn’t wish to refer to him as villain. “And what do you call yourself?”
Nine nodded, happy that Midoriya was started to see things for what they were. “Someone that wishes to change things, that rejects the world as it stands where one’s fate is decided from the moment they’re born, where the truly gifted are forced to crawl through the mud.” Midoriya felt that strike a bell deep in his soul, one that hadn’t been rung since All Might looked at him like a ravenous wild dog that needed to be put down.
Nine continued. “I want a world where the truly exceptional can rise, where luck and opinions of fears of the mases don’t see people discarded like trash, abused or hunted like dogs.”
“Who…” Izuku walked closer to him. “Are you?”
“I am Nine, that is all as I’ve long forgotten the name I was given at birth.” Izuku didn’t know what to feel about that, sad that a person could forget such a crucial part of themselves? Worried that he didn’t seem to mind? Envious that he didn’t have nearly as much baggage as he did?
As if he could read his mind, Nine stood up. “As for why I’m talking to you, it’s because I see in you a kindred spirit, someone that hates the current order. Or am I wrong?” Izuku didn’t bother denying it, it would have been false.
“People like us, people with power…we’re nothing more the lions, trapped in zoos for the amusement of the masses. Our entire world are these cages, and should we ever attempt to escape, then we’re the problem and need to be dealt with.” Midoriya, upon hearing those words, recalled all the times he used his quirk, all the times he was told he was the problem, all the times he was shunned.
He hated it, he hated every second of it. But perhaps he just never considered what could be done about it, he had the power, why shouldn’t he? Why should he defend a world order that would never see him as more then a villain in the making? As a monster that needed to kept in check.
Their conversation was halted when they heard engines in the distance, it seemed that the townsfolk were coming, and from the sound it, it was in force. Nine looked him in the eye, and for the first time since he appeared, Izuku was able to see through his grey eyes, seeing pain, hate, love and hope all blending together, swirling together like the eye of a mighty storm.
“So, Midoriya Izuku, do you intend to keep on running, or do you want to break out of the cage?” Nine asked him, and while Izuku would like to say he weighed the pros and cons, considered his words with a grain of salt considering he was a self-admitted villain, that would be a lie.
His eyes gaining a light to them as if they were fire, he grasped Nine’s offered hand. “Let’s change the world.”
Line Break
Below them, the mass of cars filled with volunteers, police and some heroes that had managed to get to town all raced up the mountain pass towards the temple, one mission in hand. They had already spotted the abandon cart half way the path, they just needed to corner the bastard before he could escape. Moments later, the sky darkened once more, and just like before, lightning bolts rained down on then, the first crashing just ahead of the lead car, causing its driver to veer to the side and crash into the side of the road, this panicked the other 3 drivers who all turned or slowed down, blocking the road.
Another bolt came down, hitting in the middle of the road, blowing the mother of all pot-holes into it, which a car struck, its depth busting its wheel right off the axel as the car, skid to the side and flipped. Another bolt caused a driver to panic as they tried to avoid it, but instead drove off into a deep ditch. More bolts comes down, some larger then others, others smaller but it didn’t matter as it was like the Storm God himself was standing against them as not even the heroes knew what to do. They understood that it must have been a quirk, but from whom, and where?
Line Break
High above, Izuku watched this, his body being held aloft by Nine, who used his weather manipulation to levitate him as he did himself. He was also using it to send down lightning bolts like they were stones thrown by a petulant child. “You really go control the skies.” He spoke in awe of the man, but saw that those purples veins from before had only expanded, covering his entire body as the man looked close to passing out if his body didn’t fail on him first.
“I do.” He ground out, before Izuku breathed out a small inferno onto him, the man didn’t curse or scream, already used to extreme pain but as quickly as it happened, it was over and to his amazement, he felt…fine, better then fine even. Even as he felt his cells start to deteriorate once more from him using his quirk, he looked towards Midoriya. The boy might have thought him godly, but what did that say about the being that healed Gods?
“We should do now, I can heal you but we’re just draw attention if we stay.” Izuku advised him, Koharu wrapped tightly around him lest she fell, in his hands he carried his bag of supplies as Nina nodded. As liberating as it was to use his quirk without needing to worry as much, they had a schedule to keep. He…They still had 3 others to find.
“Agreed, hold on tight. I’ve not done this before.” Midoriya nodded as Nine willed them to fly off, the storm slowly dissipating to give them ample cover lest someone spot them by looking up.
“Could have fooled me.” Midoriya muttered as Nine’s control over his quirk was insane. Still, he couldn’t help but smile as that little flame in his danced in joy at the prospect of creating a world where he could be himself and set fire to whatever he pleased.
Line Break
It wasn’t till an hour after the freak storm had passed that All Might was on the scene. He had been looking for the boy ever since he first escaped him, and he could have never imagined that he had fled to an old temple which he all but restored.
But as he stood in the main pathway, watching as police combed through the place with a fine-toothed comb to find clues as to where he could have vanished off to, he couldn’t help but lament the fact he had been too slow.
His friend and one of the best detectives in Japan, Tsukauchi Naomasa, approached him. “Of all the places he could have been laying low, I wouldn’t have picked a temple.”
“One that he was working tirelessly to restore, so you see what I mean?” All Might asked him, as he had brought up his attentions to help the boy rather than arrest him multiple times, but the detective had been slow to agree.
“Yeah, no bad apple would go to such extremes if he was just hiding.” But now, Tsukauchi felt like he’ll need to be a idiot to ignore the evidence, but then there was the issue of what could happen after this. “Which only makes him running all the more concerning as from the reports, he must have had helped.” That was the issue of the day. Nothing in his file or family background said anything about weather control, or lightning powers, yet in two separate and physically impossible situations, lightning rained down and provided him with an escape.
“But from who? He didn’t have friends, or any known contacts that have quirks that are even related to lightning and storms.” All Might asked him, worried that the boy was travelling with less then above board company.
“I’m worried that it was someone that wishes to use him.” Tsukauchi feared that this was a classic case of a villain picking up children and forcing or manipulating them into fighting for them. it wasn’t common, thank God, but when it did occur, it made handling the situation all the harder as how could anyone treat a child like a villain?
His thoughts were interrupted when a police men walked up to them, saluting his superior and the number one hero respectively. “Sir.”
“Have you found anything?” He hoped that they found something, but the officer’s head shake didn’t inspire much confidence in him.
“Nothing much, just some clothing, personal items, and other things you would expect to find in a dwelling.” He sighed at the answer.
“What of the personal items, anything of importance?” All Might asked, but again the man shook his head.
“Afraid not, sir, but the room shows signs that he had been packing before he fled, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the stuff he left behind didn’t have much value to him.” They dismissed the man who went back to searching through the place.
“I’m not sure which is worse, the theory that he had a pre-selected gear to take with him if he was found, or if he merely panicked and grabbed whatever he could carry.” One implied a paranoia which was only being fueled by recent events, the other pointed towards a fear fueled flight response which could make him dangerous if cornered as for him, they couldn’t be trusted.
“We wouldn’t have to have this conversation if they just handled things better.” All Might seemed to be thinking the same thing as while neither had been present, they had spoken with the local police and found their response to have been appalling to say the least.
“Toshi,”
“You heard the reports, Tsukauchi. The lad acted heroic and was demonized for it, he’s already displaying signs of quirk instability, we don’t need him developing feelings of prosecution on top of that.” All Might cut him off as he couldn’t believe his ears when he heard that the police fired on the boy, that they messed up the situation so much that the kid seemed ready to burn down half the town.
Tsukauchi decided against starting a pointless argument as the two walked into the place, dodging policemen as they worked. “That still leaves the issue of his mother as I don’t think she’ll be a happy about this.”
Reaching the shrine, they found that the fire was still burning, as if its caretaker was still present. “What will become of this place? Will there be someone to take over the boy’s duties, or will this place fall back to disrepair?” All Might was a religious man, but he couldn’t help but mourn the place now that it’s sole caretaker was in the wind.
“I contacted some other temples; they’ll be sending people over by tomorrow to watch over the place till something more permanent can be worked up.” Tsukauchi replied, as the local temple authority had been surprised when they told them that this place was up and running again.
“Till the, the fire needs to be put out for safety reasons,” He nodded to a cop who threw a bucket of water into the fire, extinguishing the flames in a single action. All Might didn’t know it, but that fire might as well be their last chance to settle things peacefully. With its death, something else would rise from the ashes.
And in time, the world would know fire.
Line Break
I got nothing….hope you enjoyed that chapter.
