Part 13: The Convocation of Cursed

153 4 5
                                    

One by one, Tomura and Kurogiri's companions arrived at The Tavern.

First, there was the man Suichi, cursed with the shape of a lizard. He always carried blades.

Then there was Jin, self cursed by practicing duplication magic. He was always a little mad in his speech.

Then Himiko.... Tomura was pretty sure she was just a vampire, but she could shapeshift--also said to be a cursed power because, instead of being an illusion, she actually shifted.

Then Atsuhiro...who wasn't really cursed...at least not in any way they could tell--but claimed he was still valid. He always had a deck of cards in his breast pocket and a long cape on.

Last, as usual, was Dabi. He never gave any history on himself. He had scars on his face, like something had shot up and burned him when he stood too close.

They all met in a room in the back.

Tomura filled them all in on the death of the 8th, though Jin and Himiko already knew.

"And now we have to find that new, little shoot before he grows into a big problem," Tomura concluded. "He won't know how to use the SOL well yet. Now is our only chance."

"If that's so, why did you let him go?" Dabi usually asked the most annoying question he could think of.

"We didn't have much choice, and then we were wanted back at the Capital, but for now, it looks as though that ship has sailed," Tomura said. "Soon the king won't matter."

Dabi scowled. "And his brat son?"

"He's nothing, would have been short work for us."

Dabi frowned. "So, you think the shadow man is ready to move soon?"

"The end of the war is in sight," Kurogiri said, in his monochromatic tone.

"Yay!" Himiko was the only one excited.

"All he needs is the 9th holder dead and the SOL in his possession," Tomura said. "Now, we will have to spread out and find the little brat. Any one of us ought to be able to kill him. But just in case, you should go in pairs. I don't care who goes with who."

"You want us to work together?" Dabi looked like he'd suggested waterboarding.

"If you'd prefer not to, feel free to sit this one out," Tomura said coldly.

Dabi frowned. "All right...but I want one thing. If we pull this off, and the Capital goes down, and we win...I want to be the one to off the old miser king."

"He'll hardly be worth it," Tomura said. "But that's a matter for Master to decide."

"So pass it along--Smokey here can do it, can't he?"

"Perhaps," Kurogiri said. "If you yield results..."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Dabi stood up. "I'll go West. Double-Trouble, you want to tag along?"

"Uh...sure," Jin said. "No... Maybe..."

"Can I go with Atsuhiro?" Himiko asked. "Or maybe Suichi..."

Suichi cringed away from her.

"Actually, you'll draw less attention alone," Tomura said.

"What? No fair, I want to go with someone," Himiko said.

"You just want to kill us in our sleep," Dabi said.

"What? I like you," she said, crazily.

"I see your point," Astuhiro said. "Himiko will blend in best on her own...and the victims will be, ahem, no one we know."

MHA: The Burden of the SOLWhere stories live. Discover now