Chapter 8: Hero of Janus
The weekend felt like it had passed by too fast. The shopping trip aside, I spent time with Mom like I did on Christmas: hanging out at home, reading my history books, laughing at the early seasons of Big Bang Theory, and generally enjoying each other's company. When we sat together on the sofa, I was momentarily taken aback by how content Mom looked. When I asked her what was wrong, she ruffled my hair and said: "Just remembering the shitload of work I have to do on Sunday. Thanks for doing this, Ritsu."
Damn, it looked like she also needed a break. If anything about what she told me of her usual routine wasn't an exaggeration, then I don't blame her. I'd feel like blowing a fuse too.
The best part of our little quality time together however was when we decided to watch Kingdom of Heaven – Director's Cut, of course. I've watched that movie a couple of times before but considering recent events it was a…rather interesting experience, especially with Hassan commentating.
'Events and details were slightly different but…yes, those times were as bloody as thou saw in this depiction. Blind zealotry and politics everywhere, one disguised as the other, sometimes mixed together. One of my students personally witnessed these events. Raynald min Chatillion was nothing more than a thieving brute who preyed upon many Muslims, including my own people.'
'Sure seemed like it' I said at the time. 'What about Saladin?'
It was then that he spoke with something I'd never would've thought to hear in his tone: respect.
'Salah al-Din…one of the few commanders in those wars that my Order respected. Had we not possessed differing goals, we would have made fast allies.'
But like all good things, it had to end. Come Sunday morning, and here I am now; after school, Mom is knee-deep in lawyer work at the firm…and I am currently fishing.
A very nasty and revolting type of fish.
I stand Concealed under a tree, watching people go about the park. Walking dogs, children running around and playing, even a performer out there in the distance is playing on a guitar.
But not one of them is who I'm looking for.
I check the scum's phone from last week. He responded nicely to the little message I sent him, now I need to see if he actually takes the bait.
A little more than an hour and a quarter passes by since my initial arrival and I start to grow a tad impatient. According to the Timeline on his map app, his superior should've arrived a little while ago. Another ten minutes later and still nothing. I grow worried. Is he suspecting something?
My thoughts are cut short by a ping from the phone.
'I'm here.'
I look up and sure enough, a man with a swirly pattern on his cheeks and a bald spot, wearing a blue sweater arrives and sits on a bench next to some pigeons. And either he is scratching his butt or putting away a phone in his pants pocket. Or both. He pulls out a bag and starts scattering crumbs all over the sidewalk, with the little birds pecking away with gusto.
Good. A relatively empty area. I take a deep breath and head towards the man. When I am only a few steps away from the bench, I move behind him and deactivate my Concealment. I tug down on my hoodie and finally sit next to the man. Now it's game time.
"Ever heard of Takeda?" I ask.
The man looks slightly in my direction. He raises an eyebrow. "This is who he's sending? Not exactly discreet."
"Compared to other people here? I'm the picture of normality." I gesture to a person with a giraffe's head talking to someone with the face of a Rottweiler. He looks at them too for a moment and nods.
"Point. Remind me again why he couldn't come himself?"
I shift a bit in my seat. "There are rumors from down south that two of our stations have gone dark. He's afraid there might be a leak so he's staying to prepare for an emergency evac."
"Mmm…yes, I did hear something like that. Is that why he didn't respond and also didn't prepare the latest round of cargo?"
I grit my teeth behind my mask. Calm down Ritsu, he'll get what's coming to him, just like the rest. Instead of throttling him where he sat, I simply shrug.
"I wouldn't know. I'm just the messenger."
The man pauses for a moment and then nods. "I presume this is why he insisted on a personal meeting."
"He did tell me it's not safe to call. Chance of tapping."
He stares at the distance and throws another fistful of crumbs. "Tell him that next time he is to ask for permission before starting on his own. As it stands, the whispers are strong, so he may have a point. Tell him to send whatever he can to Black Shell; he'll understand what I mean."
He then stands up. "I'll be in touch soon." With those words, he leaves at last.
Perfect. He took the hook and line, now it's time for the sinker. The instant his face is turned completely away, I reapply the Concealment and begin following him. The swirl-cheeked man goes through the park and I trail just behind him, waiting for the opportunity to strike. He leaves the park and enters the train station. To make sure no one traces me, I nearly press myself to his back as he goes through the gates. I ride the train right next to him, trying very hard not to grab my knife. When he disembarks from the train and heads to one of the station's exits, I walk ahead to scout for an ambush area. Luckily, the street isn't crowded so finding a spot should be - a-ha!
A nice little alleyway. Once again, perfect.
Pressing myself to the wall, I pull out the dead trafficker's phone. Once the swirly-cheeked man is just in front of the alleyway's entrance, I hit 'call'.
He picks up the phone and stares at it for a moment. Perhaps my warning was too effective? No, he still answers. "What is it?"
I couldn't help myself.
"You should be more careful with whom you talk to."
Before he can do anything, I reach out and swipe his phone. His eyes widen in shock as I hurriedly place it in my hoodie pouch, but he doesn't get another chance to react as I grab him and drag him down the alley, my arm over his mouth. He kicks and hits me, but one stab in his shoulder makes him scream silently and stop struggling. Once the scream dies down and I am far away from the street, I turn off my Concealment and place the blade on his throat, drawing blood.
"If you scream, I'll stab you through the windpipe. Am I clear?" The man looks at me in shock. I lean closer and then he quickly nods.
"Good." I position myself so that one of my knees is planted firmly on his stomach, while the other is on his arm. I pull out the phone and place it in his free hand. "Now open this phone."
His expression morphs into a snarl and tries to spit in my face. "Fuck you!"
Oh, he dirtied the mask. That won't do. "Now now, let's not get too hasty." I lean closer until the mask is nearly touching his nose. "I'm offering you a very simple deal here: open this phone and I won't hand you off to the police, whereupon they will throw you in Tartarus."
A flash of fear passes through his eyes. "Y-you're l-lying. T-There's no way the cops are in league with s-someone like you!"
"You'd be surprised how much they hate filthy child traffickers. The others thought I was bluffing too. Last I heard, the ones who survived are now being sent to a special cell filled with criminals who hate your kind."
He's very much afraid right now. "I'm not asking you to tell me anything. I just want you to open your phone. Do it sometime in the next ten seconds or I'll slash you all over and leave you barely alive for your new vacation house. Don't try me." I growl at the last part and he lets out a whimper.
He quickly looks to the side and activates the phone. Once the four-digit code is in my head, I snatch it away from him and pull down the settings bar. Great, location service is on. I lightly move the blade above his collarbone as I activate the Timeline. Looking through four days I see a pattern similar to the last one. But the new location takes me by surprise. What?
I show him the phone. "This location, is this where you meet the leader of this whole operation?"
"N-no."
I stab him on the other shoulder. "AAAAGGHH!" His contorted face makes me squirm for a moment, but I hold steady. This isn't torture, just a flesh wound.
"Don't lie to me, I hate it. I am giving you one last chance. Tell me now and I will get you medical attention. I might even be able to save your arms."
His eyes widen again. "Yes, I nicked the nerves a bit. Only surgery can save you now. Wonder what your boss will say when you show up a cripple.
Now, talk."
The amount of bullshit I spew sometimes surprises me.
He lets out a whimper, and then starts squealing. "Y-yes! That's where we always meet! Everything, the orders, the details are given to me from there!"
I don't know if he can see my grin, but I don't care. "Excellent. Now, do me a favor and die, you piece of garbage."
I plunge the dagger through his throat and leap away with the phone. He thrashes on the ground for a moment and tries to scream, but no sound comes. A few seconds later, he falls down dead.
I sag as the adrenaline leaves my body. Whew, that felt a lot more tiring than the previous one. I honestly thought he would put up more of a struggle. It's gotta be the eyes. Glowing eyes are always scary.
I wipe the blood off the dagger, re-Conceal myself, and leave the alley. Since I had to leave the gym bag at the hideout for appearances' sake, I piggyback all the way to Hosu like with the man. Thanks to the layout of a subway station, however, I only do it twice.
But once I arrive safely back at the hideout, I sit down on a nearby chair and stare at the new phone. More specifically, the location that the man stated to be where he met the boss.
"Domino Hero Agency?"
I was not expecting something like that, out of all places. It didn't make sense!
'I see thou hast encountered a predicament, contractor.'
'You can say that again. Apparently, someone working in a goddamn Hero Agency is responsible for the trafficking ring! How is that even possible!?'
'Filth can come from any place one can or cannot imagine.'
'Yeah, definitely can't imagine that…' I trail off, the lightbulb going off in my head. 'Oh. That's genius' I let out a chuckle. 'Always where you least suspect it, eh?'
'Indeed. Who would ever suspect that human trash would lurk in a place made to remove them?'
'Still, that says a lot about their screening process.' I do a quick search of this Agency and read the main page. 'Domino the Flipping Hero; specializes in general crimefighting and rescue missions. Established the Agency about three years ago. His Quirk is 'Domino Flip', which can let him…flip the ground like a domino row.' I stare at the Hero's picture. Black-and-white eye mask with a black-and-white suit and a pair of gauntlets. Black-and-white hair like the music store man but his was split firmly down the middle. 'Wow. I knew Heroes liked their little motifs, but this guy is tacky as hell.'
'His attire does make him seem like a charlatan,' responds Mawla with a hint of amusement. 'Regardless, thy objective is clear now. Go to this Agency, find the root of this disease, and tear it out for good.'
I nod as my fingers twitch thinking about what I am going to do when I find this scumbag. But there was one more thing. 'Tomorrow, Mawla. I'll call in sick for school, but it'll be done tomorrow.'
'Oh, and why is that?' Despite him asking, both of us knew the answer.
"Hehe, I'm going to have to get my new outfit."
-x-
The day has come.
Mom left for the office early.
A quick call to Makoto-sensei ensures no one would start looking for me.
I go to the hideout and sneak in a couple of rounds of training. I barely feel tired at all by the end.
After a nice karaage lunch, I soon find myself in front of the main desk at Shadow Gear. This time I un-Conceal only when I'm next to the shop. MsKr8D is there to greet me with a calm smile. For a moment though, I see him giving me a puzzled look. Was I too early?
"Ah, Ota boy. I assume you are here for your order?" Apparently not.
My answer comes in the form of pulling out the Ziploc cash bag. His smile widens at the sight.
"Splendid! We are particularly proud of this one. Your payment did not go to waste, I assure you." He reaches under his desk and pulls out a metal suitcase. Placing it on the desktop, he opens it and turns it in my direction. I take a step closer and let out a low whistle.
"Wow, I have to say, this looks…very, very impressive."
He chuckles at the compliment. "Why, thank you. As I said, your payment insured that we spared no expense in making this suit. There are Pro Heroes who would dream of having a suit like this."
Even when folded, it didn't seem like he was exaggerating. "And the spare I requested?"
"Under the first set. I'm afraid that per our regulations you are given only one pair of footwear in addition to the hardware, but they will last a long time, so the need for a spare pair is smaller. And as I stated during your last visit, you are welcome anytime for repairs." He gestures to the workshop door. "There is a dressing room to the left of the workshop. Would you like to go and change?"
"Of course. Provided there are no cameras."
"Client confidentiality extends to all parts of the transaction."
I let out a chuckle and take the case. "I'll give you the cash when I see how it fits. Wouldn't want to find that it's two sizes too small." He simply waves me off and I step into the workshop. I see a purple veil and pass through it, whereupon I'm greeted by a stool, a coat hanger and a tall mirror. Time to get to work.
It was a bit difficult to get into at first, but once I got my feet through the trouser legs, it became easier. I tighten the last part around me and take a good look in the mirror.
I'm clad in a dark-blue bodysuit that covers nearly my whole body. The slight thickness of the chest area hides the inbuilt body armor, which also extends around the back and to the collarbone. The border between my pants and shirt is rendered invisible thanks to the unique Velcro band, which makes it nearly impossible to rip off unless I apply pressure. In addition, the belt around my waist doubled as further protection for that area and as a utility belt, fitted with rings and pouches for any small items I'll need, like medicine or knives. The shoulders, elbows, and knees are protected by a thick layer of padding. Pockets of various sizes lined the suit, with four on my vest and two deep ones on the pants, not counting the hidden knife holsters. The military-style boots, lined with small non-reflective plates fit me comfortably and felt very flexible. The gloves were a nice combination of padded-yet-smooth. But two features are undoubtedly the best: the first, twin onyx gauntlets about a palm's size that are attached to my arms, stopping just above the wrists. The second is the hood – but instead of a regular hood, it's a cloth with the same color plus a hint of gray tied around my shoulder area and wrapped neatly around my head, covering my hair.
All in all: I look badass as hell.
'A fine outfit, contractor. Worthy of thy position as mine apprentice.'
The shopkeeper's smile is still present when I exit the workshop. "My my, looking at it like this…we really have outdone ourselves."
"You sure have," I reply, still looking over the suit. "Mind giving me some specs on this? You said you would find the best materials last week."
"Certainly. The suit itself, along with your hood and gloves, is made of a special material designed for Pro Heroes who venture into extreme conditions, and as such, it is highly durable. Heatproof, shockproof, waterproof, tear-resistant, it's all there. It will even repel stench and bloodstains, provided there isn't too much of it." He points at my chest area. "The armored vest is a bit more special. One of our designers has a special method that allowed them to create this. Apart from the traits I mentioned before, it is tightly sewn with Kevlar and a special blend of our own to make it highly shock-absorbent, as in physical shock. A chaingun, a well-aimed bazooka, or an All-Might fist will rip you to shreds, make no mistake, but you will be able to take more punishment than most out there. The joint pads and a portion of your upper legs are protected as well. And it is all machine-washable, one of our latest features."
I nod as he tells me the facts. "The color's a little weird, though."
"Contrary to what movies and ninja anime tell you, black is not an optimal color for stealth." He says and shakes his head. "The combination of colors in your suit will allow you to blend in most environments, especially during the nighttime."
Mawla did say something similar. "I see. The gear?"
"Mind pulling out a knife from one of the hidden holsters?" I do so and hold it out. The blade is straight, short, and completely black. "As you can see, it is non-reflective and light. You seem to know how to use them, so I will say nothing more."
I return the knife and point at the gauntlets. "And these?"
"It contains all the features you asked for. Do you see the button on the top? Simply point at a proper target, press it, and it will activate the firing mechanism; press again to release. The other feature is connected to the base of your middle finger, simply pull up and it will activate; the same goes for withdrawal. Assuming you do not run roughshod with them, they will function perfectly."
"And the rolls in the case are spares?"
"Correct. Pull up the slide button on the side and you will be able to change them. Try it now." I do as he says and stare at the open mechanism. "Mm-hmm. Looks simple enough."
"That it is." The man leans forward and steeples his fingers. "Now, is everything satisfactory?"
"Yes. Absolutely." I reach into the bag and hand over the rest of the payment, which he swipes from my hand. "Now if there's nothing else, I need to get going."
The man pauses in his counting. "Hm? Yes, of course. You may leave now, just remember to take your items."
I head back and grab what I brought here and the case with the spare. Just before I exit the shop though, the man calls out:
"And sir? Happy hunting."
I grin and Conceal myself. 'Happy hunting indeed.'
-x-
There it was.
The place where I will find the one responsible for this past week's atrocities. The type of place that not even the cops would suspect.
And it also happens to be the tackiest building around.
I get that you need people to know that you are here, Pro Hero-san, but isn't a giant domino a little too out of place?
'I believe that the whole point is to enforce these Heroes' presence in their areas and serve as a warning, a purpose which this building was designed for.'
…eh, whatever. Just makes it an easier target.
The last of the workers begin to stream out of the building as the sun disappears. Involving too many people risks casualties, something I really need to avoid both here and in the future. A good assassin needs to strike with minimal collateral damage, lest they be noticed.
A quick check of my gear later, I leave the wall I leaned on for the past hour and rush towards the entrance Concealed. Nimbly avoiding the employees, I arrive in the agency's lobby. It looks…fine, compared to the outside. At least they didn't paint the whole thing black-and-white, that would've been a nightmare for everyone involved. A few people are still sitting at desks, which must be the night shift. As for Domino himself, he's nowhere to be seen.
I press myself to a darkened corridor wall and pull out Swirly-cheek's phone. Like his little minion, there's an unlisted number that he called with frequency, matching familiar vague messages, and he did it at this time of day. Too bad for his boss that he didn't keep a lid on Swirly-cheek's habits because it will be his undoing. I turn on my Quirk and hit 'call'.
I hear nothing. Not even a vibrate. Not one of the night crew looks up from his/her desk or screen. I walk to the other end of the room and still no sound. The call goes to voicemail rather quickly. A good safety measure. But there are stairs here. Time to go up.
There is a lounge and a conference room – filled with hanging domino tiles – and no one is present. Another call doesn't go through either. I pass by a partially closed door when I hear a familiar sound. I'd be stupid not to know it, considering what I've been put through these past months.
I peek inside and I'm greeted by the sight of what had to be an unmasked Domino lifting weights. The room – which is a mini-gym –was painted in his colors to my dismay, and he sat on a training bench wearing exercise gear. He seems to be utterly focused on his little exercise round. Good for him and me; fighting a Pro Hero is not ranked high on my list. It'll happen sooner or later, I'm not stupid, but better the former than the latter.
Now unless there's a basement here that I missed, the only place left is the third floor. So up I go.
Said floor is sparse in doors, but the noticeable one is the large pair in the middle of the corridor styled like a…yep, a domino! This must be his office. A tinge of curiosity creeps into my head. Visiting a Pro Hero's office is something I've only done once on a field trip, and I barely paid any attention. I don't even remember which Hero it was. Well, if I'm already here, why not? Can't leave any area unturned. I gently press down on the handle and the door opens.
The inside is spacious, practically a penthouse. A penthouse filled with domino tiles: the floorboards, the walls, and even the desk is a giant domino tile! Come on man, there are limits!
The wall in front of me is a giant window, showing a rather lovely view of the city. I notice handles on the floor edge next to the windows, undoubtedly a hatch for hero-jumping. Certificates and awards lined a wall, while the other one had framed pictures. Newspaper clippings of his deeds, especially of his rescues. The boy in one picture looked ecstatic being pulled from a collapsed building. Cheesy he might be, he seems to be earnest.
But I've wasted enough time. I hit 'call' again and listen. Like before, nothing responds. I curse under my breath as my fingers twitch. Damn it, did he already leave? Or worse, did he find out that the police are after him and cut his losses? I storm out of the office and try thinking of a new tactic. Maybe come back tomorrow when there's more –
Wait.
I nearly miss it. I almost leave without hearing it.
There's a humming coming from behind that curve. Could it be?
I dash in the direction of the hum and see a bathroom door. I go inside and look around. Just two stalls and a sink. Must be his private restroom, since I saw a big one downstairs. Now that's not tacky, just pretentious. The call went to voicemail again so I ring the number again and the humming resumes, this time loudly. It's coming from a…tissue dispenser? What the hell?
I go over to it and take a look. The humming's definitely coming from there. It's locked, but that won't be a problem. I whip out my dagger from the side holster and push it into the side crack. I pry the lid open and there it is: a black flip phone, vibrating in place.
I give it a check and sure enough, the messages and call times match Swirly-cheek's phone. Now there's just one problem: if this is really the main phone, who's the owner? It needs to be someone who has access to this place and has the keys to the dispenser. A janitor maybe? I might really have to come back here tomorrow –
In my musings, I do a stupid mistake: forget to listen.
"HAH!"
My body jumps on instinct to the side. A loud crash nearly rattles me but not enough to disorient, which is fortunate because I dodge another punch and drop the phones. Bingo.
I whip out my dagger and prepare to strike, but when I see who is standing there, looking down at the devices, my mind grounds to a halt.
Only one thought pierces my shock:
'Heh, it really is always the one you least suspect.'
-x-
Ritsu Ogawa (Assassin - Hassan-i Sabbah)
Stats: Too human to be measured.
Skills:
Presence Concealment D+: The ability to hide from others. A poor level for any Assassin, but against ordinary criminals and some intelligent ones it works well.
Throwing (Dagger) B and Throwing (Retrieval) B: The expertise for throwing projectile weapons; in this case, daggers. His daggers have the same destructive power as firearms when thrown, typically spelling certain death for human targets. He can retrieve them to his hand with but a mere gesture
Information Erasure D: Erases all traces of the user's identity, physical or digital, after leaving a scene of assassination. It does not hide the user's identity in any other situation, and clues can be pieced together to deduce identity. If the user's identity is discovered, then the effects of the skill vanish.
Quirk - Super-Hearing C: A power gained as a result of evolution. Allows the user to hear precise details within a certain range. Can extend the range in exchange for loss of detail. Also alerts the user of incoming danger provided they can react to it.
Noble Phantasm: ?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone