My Hero Academia: Calamity

Ever since Deku had become the number one hero the city itself seemed to calm down. Sure villains were still on the run, on the loose, but no one that was ever as bad as Shigaraki had resurfaced.

That was until recently.

It was hard to notice at first. A few people going missing, a few random deaths, people with missing limbs or other odd parts of their bodies. Then the numbers grew. Instead of two at most every couple of months, it was turning into one per week, sometimes more. The civilians no longer felt safe in their streets for it wasn’t just them turning up in pieces, but pro heroes as well.

No one knew who to look for, or even where to begin. It was impossible to find someone who you didn’t know. The crime scenes were always scrubbed clean of any fingerprints of evidence. Heroes were starting to grasp at straws, regrettably pulling back from the case as those who would get involved became the next headlines on every news station escalating the dire situation.

The night was surprisingly cool despite the rising temperatures in the city. The soft breeze that blew through the streets and alleyways was making the air perfect for a certain vigilante to go bounding across the rooftops. Oni was a man who many knew the face of. He wasn’t a villain, wasn’t a hero, and many were torn on whether he was a misunderstood good man, or a pushover villain.

He had grown tired of the situation in the city, the lack of progress from the heroes, and so he took to the streets himself to try and solve the case or, at the very least, get as much information as he could.

Sneakers squeaked as he came to a halt, landing in one of the back alleys, away from any wandering or prying eyes. The alley itself was taped off, with caution tape draped over every possible exit and entrance. The night before a woman was murdered. Her limbs removed, her eyes plucked from their sockets, and the rest were discarded in a bloody heap for a misfortune service worker to stumble on. While Oni’s quirk wasn’t exactly capable of helping him in this situation, he figured he could bend a few rules to get the ball rolling.

So, he began to look through the scene, analyzing the blood splatter, the lack of tracks, and how there were zero signs of a struggle.

“This is bull shit..” He’d grumble, squatting down to observe the blood stain more closely. He was so focused on the crime scene that he didn’t hear the approach of a set of feet.

“Civilians are not allowed in here.”

Oni scrambled to his feet, turning with the anticipation of a potential fight. He had expected one of the city’s finest officers preparing to detain him. Or an accomplice to whoever was responsible for this brutality. But it was neither.

What he saw dipping under the yellow police tape was a male of average height, with layered turquoise bangs framing his face. Quite a good-looking face too, especially when meeting his golden orbs framed by round, thin rimmed glasses that took in Oni’s full height of six-foot-seven. From the combat boots, custom techware, the glimpse of blue skin above his collar, to his partially masked face. But what truly interested Oni were the additional feline features. But appealing appearances aside, this man wasn’t dressed like any pro he’d ever seen, so Oni let his cockiness get the better of him.

The only thing he could think of was perhaps the man was an underground hero. Or possibly came from another country. It was.. difficult to say.

“Then again,” the man continued flatly, “Civilians would not be able to stomach what you have seen. Tell me why you are here and if you try to run I’ll have you arrested.” Oni grew tense at that threat. He was wanted, after all. Perhaps not as much as some villains, but he certainly caused trouble within the city.

He saw no way out of it other than being honest.

“Since the heroes are taking their time trying to solve this case.-” Oni stated gravelly, the mouthpiece of his demon mask moving, opening and closing with every word he spoke, acting like a second layer of his face. “I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

He’d dare to look down at the blood splatter on the cement. It made his heart ache. Despite his hate for people and his grudge towards heroes, he never liked to see anyone get hurt. At least not if they didn’t deserve it.

“I’m a vigilante. I’m able to bypass the laws that heroes are forced to follow. Figured I’d lend them a hand, given tracking people is a skill set of mine.”

His magenta irises that had glowed faintly until now, blazed brighter as his mouth began to glow a vivid blue. Though it was obstructed from the mask, the glow shined through the small opening as he spoke. “Unless you plan on calling the cops on me, I suggest you let me do my job. I’m not afraid to rough up a few strangers in order to put this criminal on the ground.”

But his own threat fell on deaf ears as the stranger simply brushed past him, slipping on a pair of latex gloves from the pocket of his plaid trench coat. “So you think violence will solve this case faster?” The male yokai inquired, nonchalantly. Since Oni had given this stranger the answer to his question, there hasn’t been a single predictable reaction. Oni had never come across anyone that was so hard to read, yet this guy never faltered with the irritating, blank expression he seemed to be born with.

“You won’t need me turning you in should you continue down this path. Taking the law into your own hands is reason enough for the police to chase you down.”

“Considering I’ve been doing this since I left the academy, I think I’ll be just fine.” The vigilante said with a bit of venom in his tone. He half considered walking away, taking up his investigation elsewhere. He didn’t need to sit here and be belittled by some man he didn’t know.

“You seemed determined to find answers and I share your determination. For someone to do this…” The cat ears drooped and with a sad exhale, the man made eye contact with the Oni once more. Glowing eyes gazing into glowing eyes. “It’s unforgivable. Tell me what you know. Something the police wouldn’t find out without bending the law.”

There was a shift in movement, like Oni was considering leaving. To hell with this guy. He can figure this out on his own and fail like the rest of the Pro heroes. Oni’s body turned as it retreated back into the alley way, but...he paused. The hesitation even took him by surprise. Why did he stop? Was there something deep down telling him to work with this man?

Reluctantly Oni turned to face the stranger and shared everything he knew. Or, rather, everything he felt comfortable telling the man. He didn’t know who this man was, didn’t know if he truly was trying to help the case. All the vigilante wanted was to make the streets as safe as possible again...

“It isn’t a singular man.” He began. “It’s several. It has to be. People are going missing not just here, in the city, but in the neighboring towns as well. Sometimes the same day. Sometimes even within the same hour. Now they could possibly have a quirk that allows them to teleport, but...”

Reaching into his pocket, the vigilante exposed several photos taken of the crime scenes. How he got them was hard to determine. Most likely sticky fingers dabbling into things they shouldn’t be touching, or reaching into pockets they don’t belong in. “Look here. The wounds. Typically a serial killer will kill the same way every time. These wounds are different. The weapons, or the way of killing, are different. That only makes sense if there is more than one.”

Next, he pulled out his phone, but held it in a distance that was out of the reach of this inquisitive man. “I’ve set up cameras all over the streets ever since this started. The criminals are smart enough, or have someone with a quirk, that’s been tampering with the video surveillance within stores or surrounding buildings. So, I went ahead and put up my own. Every few days I move them. It just so happens that last night a camera of mine picked up this street where this person was killed.”

Oni selected a video and played it out. The grainy, black and white footage revealed the victim, wandering the streets before a figure reached out from the shadows of the alley, pulling the poor woman within.

“It doesn’t look like much.” Oni commented honestly. “But I’m collecting the camera to pull the card, upload it, and brighten the footage in the hopes that I can see a face. At the very least any markings that will help me determine who the man or woman is. Then I’ll send a hint to the pro heroes doing this investigation. See if they can get their shit together enough to capture these people...”

The photos were returned to Oni so the man could remove his gloves. His nails looked sharp and well taken care of. Aside from the small bags under his eyes, this feline yokai must ‘groom’ himself often. The vigilante watched with some caution, as the man tucked one of those hands into his coat pocket, and relaxed just a bit when a phone was retrieved.

“I should be stopping you, but clearly you know what you’re doing. A person of your skill set would be useful yet I have a feeling you won’t come with me willingly to the police.” The phone was offered to Oni, the screen displaying an empty contact form to fill out. “We’ll exchange contacts and keep in touch. In exchange for my silence over your illegal involvement, you will contact me with anything you find.” “I don’t think you understand how little I wish to interact with you.” “As an expat forensics scientist that was recently assigned to this case by Detective Naosama, you have little choice in the matter.”

Shit.

“And I also have rules. This is a professional association. We talk about the case and only that. Should we need to meet in person, it should never be in the same place. Alleyways, parks, or bridges. Never at the police station or each others’ houses. Once the case is solved, delete my contact and forget about me. Do you understand?”

Oni would rather turn himself in to the police himself than work with one. They were on opposite sides of the wanted poster, and it was highly unlikely that Oni could put his trust in someone that worked for everything he despised about the Hero Agency and the justice system. But, by working with this doctor, Oni could get information from the police that would take ages to collect himself. It was risky, but nothing ever got made or completed without a few risks.

So Oni took the phone and only typed in a number. It wasn’t his personal number but one of his burner phones. Once this guy starts texting him, Oni will write his number down to message or call after ditching his latest burner. Begrudgingly, the phone was returned and Oni narrowed his eyes dangerously at the man.

“Fine. Whenever I get information, I’ll pass it along. Do your part and keep me up to date with whatever you know.” Oni took a step closer, easily towering over the man and to his annoyance, or levity, the man did not back away. “And if you ever threaten to turn me into the police, or the heroes…” Oni stooped, grabbed his mask and unclasped it so his face was visible. His unexpected younger face had its own handsome charms. His teeth seemed to be a row of just canines, with two of his actual canines that were slightly longer than the rest poking out from his upper lip. “I’ll beat the ever living shit out of you.”

Oni leaned back, clipped his mask back in place and gave the man his space. “So the detective called you in. I would’ve thought after the whole business with Shigaraki the old man would’ve retired. What pros are you teaming up with?” His mind quickly wandered to a few of the pros that certainly didn’t like him. Lemillion being one of them. He and Mirio had fought on a number of occasions neither was ever able to officially best the other, but he certainly wouldn’t be happy with the foreigner working alongside Oni, especially if they got caught.

“Also, what’s your quirk? Why would they call upon an outsider to lend help to this cae?”

The feline had moved away from the vigilante and returned to the torn up body. “Shoto, MindJack, Deku, and Lemillion.” The mention of Lemillion made Oni tense visibly, but he did his best to roll his shoulders and straighten himself. The last thing he wanted to do was seem paranoid or even upset... at least not in the presence of a stranger. The other heroes, despite knowing him, weren’t going to be an issue should he run into them by accident. He could play it stupid, or simply run away. Mindjack might be an issue just due to his quirk. The vigilante was quickly lost in thought, thinking up different scenarios that would likely never happen, and sadly wasn’t brought out of it until the yokai spoke again. “Red Riot and Dynamight will join us once we have a suspect. And my quirk…”

There was a moment of hesitation that had Oni arch an eyebrow. Surely they wouldn’t send a quirkless to deal with this case? “I can see the lingering spirits of the recently deceased.” Oh. “ By touching a personal object or even their body, I can see them in some astral plane. They can show me their last living moments, but I can’t hear them nor can I speak to them.”

That seemed like a rather intimidating quirk. Not one for fighting hands on. Certainly not. What it was good for, though, was research. No wonder the man was called. “Seems useful.” Oni stated quietly. “Useful, but also mentally draining. Should those last moments be horrifying? Like this woman’s likely were.”

He’d look down at the body, observing it once more, his hands fidgeting in his pockets. Blood and gore didn’t bother the young man, but knowing that this woman was innocent when she was killed. It didn’t sit right with him. “What’s your quirk?” Guess this guy wasn’t one to speak fondly of his quirk.

“Plasma.” Oni answered quietly, making his voice a deep rumble. “I shoot a beam of plasma from my mouth. Normally it can go through about thirty feet of concrete before it ends up powerless, but, if I want more power I absorb it through heat. Electricity, fire, doesn’t matter as long as it heats up or causes a spark. I can soak it through my body and make my plasma bigger. But it’s why my voice is like this. All fucked up. So. If we do get in trouble. I do the fighting-” He’d reach over, poking the shorter man’s chest. “And you do the running away~”

And finally, Oni struck a nerve. The man scowled up at him and swatted his finger away. “I don’t run. If I need your help then I’ll ask and make sure I’m out of the way but running is off the table. YOU-“ The man took a page from Oni’s book and prodded a finger to the vigilante’s pectorals. “-worry about holding back and NOT killing the suspect. Understand? No. Killing.”“We’ll see about that, Doc~.”

“My name is Yasui Neyama. What’s yours? I guess it would be your codename since gods forbid you’d reveal your real name to me. Your partner and enemy at the same time.”

He’s a sassy one when irritated. Oni found it rather amusing coming from someone so small, and definitely someone he’ll need to protect if he was ever going to solve this case.

Fuck.

“You can call me Oni, but feel free to give me whatever nickname you want.”

An alert prevented Yasui from questioning Oni’s words further and while the doctor took a moment to read the text, Oni stepped deeper into the alleyway enough to prepare his exit.

“It’s the detective. My absence has finally been noticed.”

“Then I’m going to leave you be. Do your detective work. I’m going to try and look into my cameras. My ears and eyes on these streets. If I find anything interesting I’ll give you a ring. Same goes for you, though. Should you locate anything... do give me a call.”

With that, he’d use the back alleys to quickly escape, just as the sound of approaching footsteps drew closer. Likely the pros, coming in to check on Yasui and his work. He got out just at the right time. Last thing he wanted to do was run into one of the pros. Especially with a dead corpse rotting within the streets.