Chapter 16: Out With A Whimper

Tomura is not one to replay a game. Nor is he one to go easy when he does play. Thus I was slightly surprised that both Hawks and Overhaul survived as long as they did. I suppose that is testament to their desires rather than Tomura's. Once finished with them, the League dumped both bodies.

We are not so crude as to display them, as some might have. They were just dumped, though there was also no hiding the extent of their injuries. They were left where the police would find them. We are villains, not complete monsters and it would not do for a civilian to find them.

The police did find the bodies but they couldn't keep the news from the media. The public exploded. Most did not care about Overhaul. They cared about Hawks. It had been noticed that the Number One Hero had not been seen. The Hero Public Safety Bureau's story was weak and was based on the assumption that Hawks had continued with their infiltration plan. It relied on the League being ignorant, trusting and uninformed.

We are none of those things. Villains who have those weaknesses do not survive long.

With the fall of Hawks, the League took out another Number One Hero. It was getting to be our thing, especially since we hadn't lost that many, and those we had lost, the Heroes knew we'd replaced.

All Might. Taken down by Sensei. Their final battle has gone down in history as the embodiment of good versus evil. Society is so predictable that way.

Endeavor. Taken out by his Son. It wasn't even a battle, more the opening of eyes to the evils the hero perpetuated.

Hawks. Taken out by the League. By Izuku really, though the League are the ones who fought. It was inevitable that the winged hero would fall.

On some of the more morbid public forums there was betting as to how long Best Jeanist would last until the League took him out.

We wouldn't need to. The world was changing. Imoku reported that he had been confronted by Eraser Head and All Might's husk of a body. He assured Tomura that everything was in hand. Usually I would doubt such a thing but this is Imoku. I know I can trust him. If things are in hand, then things are in hand and progressing as they are meant to.

I doubt the heroes have such certainty. And the fall of another Number One hero sends an unmistakable message from the League to the world. We aren't going away, and no amount of effort from the Heroes can dislodge us.

It is now time for things to come to an end, for the League's goal to be achieved.

It is time for the Heroes to fall.

-afop-

"This is unacceptable!" Deputy Prime Minister Kiyoshi Takenaka slammed one hand on the table as he glared at those sitting there. Paper's jumped into the air before fluttering back down.

The Committee of the Hero Public Safety Bureau just looked at him. The men and women were expressionless. They were counted as civilians. They were not heroes, or even ex-heroes but they were politicians and they recognised that the Deputy Prime Minister out ranked them. There was a small group assembled behind him, including the Minister for Heroes, Yumiko Yamashita, who was technically their boss. She looked miserable and refused to met their eyes.

"Sir, with due respect, what is unacceptable?" One of the braver members of the Committee asked.

"This!" Kiyoshi snapped, gripping the papers and holding them up.

The Committee squinted but couldn't make out what was on them.

"This is the result of an investigation one of the junior members of the House of Representatives has initiated."

The listening Committee didn't say anything. Those who were more astute, nodded slightly now understanding why the Independent Member of the House of Representatives, Imoku Kakurete was standing with the other Government officials. It was his investigation.

"It explains in horrifying detail exactly how the so called Leader of the League of Villains, one Tomura Shigaraki became the murderous bastard he is today."

The Committee didn't know how to react to that. The Heroes had been chasing after the League of Villains since they appeared but it seemed as if every encounter things just got worse for them. From the USJ, to the kidnapping of a UA student, through to the attacks by the mindless beasts the League kept to the toppling of the Number One Ranked Pro-Heroes. The League appeared to be ahead of the Heroes at every turn.

They were too well informed.

"And you know, after reading it, I honestly can't say that I blame Tomura," Kiyoshi said. It was something he'd never admit in public.

"Sir?"

The Committee didn't know what was written in the investigation.

"Every single way Tomura was failed by the system," Kiyoshi said, flicking the papers on the table, to allow the Committee to pick them up.

There was silence as the Committee read the documents.

"This is preposterous!" One of the Committee Members exclaimed. She obviously read faster than the others. "You cannot blame everything that has gone wrong in that nutjob's life on us!"

"Not everything," the Deputy Prime Minister allowed. "But at every important juncture, every time when he could have been turned from Villainy, Heroes failed."

"We have not!"

"With respect, Madam," Imoku stepped forward. "I do not believe Deputy Prime Minister Takenaka is saying that every hero has failed. Nor is his saying that the HPSB has failed but there have been opportunities where the system failed."

"You!" One of the others said.

Imoku understood the question. "I commissioned the investigation because I was curious to know how a man becomes that," he said the last with some distaste. "No one grows up wanting to be a villain after all, so how did Tomura Shigaraki become that. That's what I wanted to know." He took a deep breath for effect. "But it is not just Tomura Shigaraki, it is also Kai Chisakai, Chizome Akaguro, Teruo Hazukashi, Oji Harima, Shin Nemoto… I could go on."

"Who the hell are they?"

"That's the point," the Deputy Prime Minister said. "They are people. They are people society calls villains because that is a convenient tag. They've all been failed by the system. For those who the system saves, those who the system lifts up, there are those it crushes, those who the system forgets. Since the advent of the hero age, we have seen villain after villain, tragedy after tragedy.

"They should not be normal but yet, somehow we have normalised it all under the name of villainy."

The Deputy Prime Minister took a deep breath.

"Sir, that is why we need heroes," one of the Committee Member's said. "Heroes are the only ones authorised to deal with quirk related crimes."

Kiyoshi snorted. "Because everyone who uses their quirk in public is somehow a villain," he said sarcastically. "No, I don't accept it. The government doesn't accept it, and we both know full well that most of those called villains are not. They are simply criminals, those who have lost their way. We call them villains to maintain the image of heroes.

"And we have had to work darn hard to maintain the image of heroes," the Deputy Prime Minister snorted. "How many deaths have we had to cover up?" He demanded.

"None sir."

"Shut up," Kiyoshi snapped, ignoring the speaker. "How many have been killed by hero related efforts which we have just conveniently blamed on the villain?" he reiterated his question, giving it more context.

Understanding crossed the features of the Committee. They were not stupid. They knew how in taking down some villains, collateral damage included injuries, and sometimes the deaths of those caught in the crossfire. The deaths were always blamed on the villain because after all, if the villain hadn't acted in the first place, then how could the hero be guilty of something that happened in their apprehension.

"Then how will we deal with quirk related crime?"

"The same way as we deal with non-quirk related crime," Kiyoshi was quick to reply. "In making the distinction we somehow say that those who use their quirks are either more or less than human. We forget that they are human. The system feeds villainy, so instead of being trapped in a self perpetuating loop, we are going to do better."

As a group the Committee looked miserable. The Minister for Heroes just hung her head. She felt some vindication. She had been telling them to deal with the League for months… years even and this was because of their inability. Imoku's report was just the final straw.

"In two days time, the government will be holding a conscience vote. The question will be if we continue the current system, the system that churns out villain after villain, that turns those who could have been heroes into one of the most hardened criminals we know, or if we should move on to something better, something stronger. I know which way the government will be voting," Kiyoshi said, even though technically a vote of conscience allowed all to vote according to their personal feelings.

"Sir, you can't!"

"We can," Kiyoshi replied, "and the reason is in your hands," he added, picking up the front page of the report. "Tomura Shigaraki, true name, Tenko Shimura, grandson of Nana Shimura." He didn't read further. He didn't need to. They recognised the name of the woman.

She had been a hero who had fallen before All Might's debut but she was still remembered. She was one of the best. All Might had taken up her mantle.

"This is a boy who should have been a child of the system, instead, he has rejected the system, who has become the bane of the system. And he's not the only one. The system is broken and it is beyond time it was fixed. You can either be part of that fix, or you can be forgotten."

Imoku hid a smile at that. The Committee were public servants, being forgotten, being deemed irrelevant was being fired.

"Heroes will be integrated into society. They can join the military, the police, the emergency services. They can apply for Quirk Usage permits to help with other jobs but they will no longer be special. They will not longer be apart. Society can no longer support that distinction."

"Then how will we deal with the League?" The question was asked timidly. Personally Izuku was disappointed at that. So far it was the most pointed question relating to the situation. He had thought on the League as well though his solution was far different than the governments.

"They will be dealt with. If we have to bring in the military, then we will, but they will be dealt with," Kiyoshi assured them before he sighed. "This is a failure of the system, so we will fix the system. It will be difficult but in the long run, it will be worth it.

"That is what I believe," he said firmly, before looking around the room. :"And that is the message you will give your people going forward," he ordered.

Because that was what the government wanted, and what the government wanted ,the government got. Even over the backs of heroes.

-afop-

The end came without fanfare. Most expect the achievement of their goals to come in the aftermath of combat. For us it was nothing like that. The League didn't even know about it until Imoku told us. The government had voted. Heroes were to be integrated back into society. They were no more.

Of course, it was not quite that simple. They would exist for a while yet. Integration would take time but the League has won. It is an interesting feeling. One of relief yet one of sorrow. It leaves one at a loss. Imoku has requested to visit us. Tomura agrees. I'm not sure what he wants but probably to tie up a few loose ends.

I can already see the future. Those we call heroes will be integrated into existing structures. The Police, the Military and Emergency Services. I'm sure some were better suited for them anyway. I am equally sure that some heroes will resist the change.

That's what is amusing me at the moment. Heroes have always played by the rules but now those very rules favour us! There will be vigilantes. Those heroes who do not want to give it all up. They will be hunted by those heroes who do integrate. The battles will be interesting. It is always fun to see former friends fighting each other, when they are not your former friends.

I suspect others will retire, seeking entirely new jobs. Some of their quirks are more suited to other industries after all. I'm interested to see what the students do, those who passed the assessments. There are those amongst them who truly want to be heroes to help people. That has now been torn away. I wonder what they will do, how they will adapt. I wonder what schooling will be put in place for them to help them change.

It is not my concern but it is all interesting. The change from one regime to another is never without pain. This change has been smooth, because we have managed it, but I expect there will be issues we don't know about.

The League is one thing. With our goal achieved, what are we to do now? What will come of those charges that have been laid against us? As far as I know we all have charges laid against us in absentia. For the moment, I guess it means we must be careful but this is the beginning of the end. It is the beginning of the change we desired.

We can only look forward now.

-afop-

Imoku looked around the bar with a sense of nostalgia. It seemed the League gravitated towards bars as their norm. It wasn't the first time he'd been here but it was the first time he had had the time to look around.

Kurogiri was behind the bar, wiping a glass. Tomura was sitting in a darkened corner, and Dabi and a few others were present.

"Izuku!" Toga cried cheerfully when she saw him.

"Himiko," he chided her.

"Oops!" She said but didn't sound very regretful. "Only in private," Toga told him in a sing song voice one that implied she could recite that phrase from many, many memories. She laughed and flicked her knives away, sheathing them under her uniform.

"Only in private," Imoku repeated with a smile.

Dabi laughed at the interaction.

"Imoku, my man, what brings you here?" the fire villain asked.

Imoku smiled. "A bit of this, a bit of that."

"The vote?" Endeavor's son pressed.

"The vote," Imoku confirmed, looking at Tomura.

Tomura only had a few hands on him today, and none covered his face. "You've done well, Imoku," he told the politician.

"Sensei expected it," Imoku replied with a shrug.

Kurogiri poured a beer, and slid it over the counter toward Izuku. He picked it up, turning to lean against the bar as he drank deeply. "Gah!" Izuku breathed deeply. "Your beer is the best, Kurogiri!" He said.

The rest of the League knew better than to make any quip about the quality of the beer. They all wanted to maintain their drinking rights.

"Have there been challenges?" Kurogiri asked. The vote might have been taken but a counter vote was always a possibility.

"There are always challenges, Kurogiri, but nothing that can't be overcome." There was a note in Imoku's voice that spoke of the future.

Kurogiri could tell that Tomura picked it up as well by the way the League's leader shifted slightly. "What do you mean?" he demanded.

"Exactly what I said, Tomura," Imoku told him. "There are always challenges."

"But it's over!" Tomura objected. "We've won."

Izuku cocked his head at Tomura. Kurogiri recognised the gesture from years ago, when they were both learning from Sensei. "Is that what you believe?" Imoku asked Tomura.

"Of course!" he declared. "The heroes are gone! They can't attack us. They can't do anything against us! It's time we went out there to show that we have won," he growled.

Imoku shook his head. "Not yet," he said gently.

"What do you mean, not yet?" Tomura growled. It was only because he had experience with Imoku that he even bothered to ask.

"Exactly what it sounds like," Imoku said. "You go out there now and you could jeopardize everything!"

Tomura snorted. "You don't know that and you forget your place! You are meant to serve me! You are meant to do what I tell you to. I'm not meant to do what you tell me to!"

Kurogiri picked up a new glass to clean. He had a feeling this argument had been building for a while and he had seen parts of it earlier. Years back. Izuku had even said it. Sensei said it as well. Tomura was to inherit everything and Izuku was a part of that everything. Izuku had said that too. But Imoku was his own man, and he had a different role to fulfil. Toga pulled out a knife as she watched. She began cleaning her fingernails with it, flicking invisible dirt on to the bar floor.

"I was put in place to ensure that the League wins," Imoku countered. "And sometimes that means restraint."

"But it's over!" Tomura objected.

Izuku sighed heavily. "You can't believe that," he said, his voice disbelieving.

"It is over," Tomura repeated, rising from his seat. "We've won."

"This isn't a game," Izuku countered. "There is no last level. No final boss," he used the terminology. "And there is no final victory."

Kurogiri blinked wondering what Izuku meant. From the looks on the faces of the other members of the League they were wondering that as well. But Izuku had a point. This wasn't a game and maybe Tomura was thinking of it like that. He had probably not thought what happened next.

Imoku obviously had.

He looked at Sensei's two students, nodding to himself.

"We have won," Tomura repeated, as if he was speaking to a small child.

"And if you go out now, the vote will be meaningless. The vote will be overturned," Imoku said.

"Then make it stick!"

"It's not that simple."

"Tomura…" Dabi said.

"Shut up!" The Leader of the League growled as he stalked towards Imoku.

"It's not that simple," Imoku repeated.

"Don't!" Tomura growled. "Don't you dare use your quirk on me!" He shouted.

"I wouldn't do that, Tomura," Imoku said.

"Bullshit! You'd use it. You have used it, you just don't think I noticed. Well I have!"

For a moment Kurogiri didn't think it was possible, Izuku's quirk was Spark, then he saw Izuku's smile and he was reminded that Sensei had said he had given the boy two quirks. One was sparks and the other… He didn't know what the other was. But some sort of persuasion quirk did seem likely given the information he had on hand.

Izuku put his glass of beer back on the bar as he leaned into it, resting both elbows on the counter. He looked up at Tomura confidently. "Given the outcome, you know it was necessary."

"No more," Tomura barked.

"No more," Imoku agreed easily. "But, you can't go out now," his voice was firm.

"I don't obey you."

"Yeah, that's the problem," Izuku muttered.

For a moment Tomura froze, then he spluttered.

"We've gotten so far, because I've kept you on track," Imoku continued provoking Tomura.

Kurogiri felt he should say something but he couldn't really think of anything. This was between them.

"All you have to do now for total victory is lay low for a little."

"All we have to do is obey you?" Tomura rephrased it.

"If you want to think of it like that," Izuku shrugged.

The bartender knew that was the wrong thing to say. He suspected Izuku knew as well but the boy was intent on provoking Tomura today. There was something else going on here.

"I do not obey you!" Tomura snapped. "The League does not obey you," he continued, ignoring the amused look Izuku was giving him. "And you will either agree to obey me or you won't leave," Tomura threatened. He held out his hand. Imoku knew very well what his quirk did and spark or some other quirk was not going to protect him from Tomura's decay.

Kurogiri blinked before he nodded to himself again. He should have been expecting this. Toga snorted a bark of laughter. She was watching intently, as were the others of the League. Most didn't know who Imoku was. His suit was not normal attire for the bar but his ease with Toga, Dabi and Kurogiri convinced them that he should be here.

Arguing with Tomura only went further to assuring them that Imoku, whoever he was, had every right to be here.

Izuku looked at Tomura. "No," he said clearly. "I think it's time to acknowledge which of us has really made an impact here."

Unseen Kurogiri winced and prepared a warp gate as Tomura screamed in rage and lunged at Izuku. He never got the chance to use it. He'd prepared it for the wrong person. Toga was faster. He hadn't seen her move but the girl had obviously been waiting for her chance.

She slid forward, her knife flashing, then blood gushed and the smell of it filled the bar.

Tomura screamed again. This time in agony.

It took Kurogiri a moment to see why. He was clutching his arm, at the stump. The hand he had extended towards Izuku was on the floor. "You bastard!" Tomura roared. He lashed out at Toga.

Again she slid out of his way. That wasn't like her. She wasn't that fast. Kurogiri was too surprised to act as she drew a second knife. Her face was split into a homicidal grin. "You aren't going to touch my little Izuku!" She told Tomura.

He snarled and lunged again at Izuku. Himiko was faster and she slashed her knife in quickly. There was a soft thump and Tomura's other hand fell to the ground. It was brutal but Toga was like that. He reeled back, tucking the stump of both arms into his armpits as Himiko moved. She put her knife to his throat, pulling him down to his knees, ignoring the blood.

"You bastard," Tomura spat, his eyes fixed on Izuku.

Kurogiri could see betrayal in that gaze but he could also see questions. Tomura was questioning why he wasn't stepping in. Truthfully Kurogiri didn't know either.

"You look so much better covered in blood, Izuku!" Toga purred.

"Just so long as it's not my blood," Imoku told her gently, taking out a handkerchief and wiping at his face. The blood had managed to splatter over his no doubt very expensive suit.

"Ow! Izuku!" Himiko groused but she appeared happy.

Izuku looked at Tomura who was glaring up at him. He sighed. "I guess, it was always going to come to this," he murmured.

Kurogiri was reminded of his previous thought. The argument had been building for a while, though he had been naive. It was never going to be between the two of them. It involved the entire League except… Himiko had obviously chosen her side. The others weren't sure. They were shifting but in a way that spoke of their confusion. Except the longer they took to make their decision, the more the decision was made for them.

"You don't have the guts to go through with this!" Tomura proclaimed.

"Oh, I think you will find I do," Izuku said, nodding at Himiko.

She wasted no time. One cut, ear to ear. And that was the end of Tomura.

Izuku picked up his beer and saluted the bleeding body before he down the last of the amber liquid.

"And that, is the end of that," he said when Tomura stilled. Izuku looked around the bar, meeting each of the League member's eyes. He lingered on Dabi and the fire villain just rolled his eyes before giving the politician a nod. Imoku smirked, before he turned to look at Kurogiri.

The bartender sighed. He looked at Izuku, and the body of Tomura. He should feel something more but… He had seen this before. He had seen this all through his career as a villain but never quite at this level. But then… who would think to even attempt to take out Sensei?

This was inevitable as soon as Sensei brought Izuku here. As soon as Izuku and Tomura both had positions of power. Perhaps it was what Sensei wanted. Perhaps this is what Sensei meant when he said that Imoku's path was possibly more important… The man covered every angle but this was not an angle that could be discussed.

And while Tomura had lead the League, Izuku had lead others to embrace the new reality. They were both leaders and the League could not afford two.

No, they'd never really had two leaders. There had always been one, just that he chose to remain hidden. Kurogiri thought back. Izuku had made the suggestions Tomura followed. Izuku had kept Tomura diverted with Overhaul, with the news of Hawks… Izuku had controlled everything and at the point when Tomura thought he had the upper hand, Izuku displayed his. He'd granted Tomura the illusion of victory, had given him that much but he was right. Now was the time for strength, and restraint.

Something Tomura didn't have.

"Sensei covers every angle," Kurogiri told Izuku. That was really the only thing he could say. He hadn't seen this coming but now that it had, he accepted it. There could never be two leaders of the League and … He no longer doubted Izuku. This was what Sensei wanted. He'd said it himself, Izuku had a different path than Shigaraki, but his path was just as important…

It was different until now, when it rejoined. And now it was the most important path.

The boy smiled at him. "That he does," he agreed. "That he does." He accepted another pint of beer and turned back to the League. "I meant what I said," he told them firmly, stepping into the role they were used to Tomura occupying. "Now is not the time to run wild. Now is the time to simply let events take their course. I will lead you through this change," Izuku promised. "And once settled, the League will emerge again, as the only power that matters. Until then, all you have to do is obey me, while I deal with the other loose end," he added ominously.

The League members shuddered but nodded.

Kurogiri looked the same as always but his mind was working on the logistics. Imoku would not stay with them. He would remain a Representative. But that wasn't too different from Sensei. There was enough time and… he nodded internally. That explained why Dabi was so quick to accept it. He'd probably been offered the acting leadership of the League. That would please him.

"To the League," Izuku toasted.

"To the League," the members replied. Dabi drank is beer. Himiko licked her knives and the rest drank what was on hand.

Izuku smiled. Sensei was right. It was all about power. And now he that he had the power, he could help so many. He'd be their hero. There'd be some losses, there always was. But he could not go back now.

"To the future," he added the toast.

Because now, in a future without heroes, he was free to act. And he would save the world.