The Emperor's Dragon

Mission

Yakuni knew he should have said no when Daruma told him to find out what the Shie Hassaikai wanted. They'd sent a messenger who was seeking Dragon but Kurogiri had determined that it was not worth bothering the man with their request. It was a nice piece of subterfuge to make Dragon seem far older than he was. Yakuni had been confused as to what Dragon's Father was setting up but Daruma had explained that it was a longer term strategy. Dragon's Father was creating a persona in the underworld. Once established, there were several options. It could remain a phantom to be used as necessary. It could be a persona that Dragon or his Father permanently stepped into.

He'd been a bit amused at that thought. What would people think when they found out Dragon was so young? Ujiko had chuckled at the question but hadn't answered. Yakuni realised he knew the answer already. Members of the underworld were not going to admit they'd been duped by a child. Instead they'd add to the mystic around Dragon, confirming his youth but also establishing that he was cunning and powerful.

The development of Dragon's reputation was probably why the Shie Hassaikai had sent a messenger. And Daruma pointing out that he technically worked for Dragon was why he was here. He'd been hoping to continue collecting genetic samples and developing clones from that to ensure Dragon had a good selection of quirks in the future. He wanted to get Dragon a quirk to ensure he could breathe underwater but he'd been interrupted on that, though Ujiko admitted that was a good idea so it was one he was currently looking for.

After the Police had finally taken note of his quirkless status, they'd given him a stern warning and then released him. They hadn't even checked up on him! In fact at least a few of the officers had given him looks which were mixed disgust and pity. One had said he should be thankful 'cos at least he'd been fed for a few days. He'd ignored all of that and had headed back to the lab, via an unnecessarily roundabout route but better to be careful. Then it had been back to the quirk cycle.

He had suggested that he could apply for a job at a medical facility that specialised in treating heroes and while Daruma had been supportive of the idea, they hadn't yet been able to fabricate an identity for him that would allow that. Officially, his highest qualification was graduating Middle School and while it was pretty easy to create a High School graduation certificate, he'd need a higher qualification for the job that might help. And he was only just old enough to have gotten that, which meant he had no experience.

Daruma was supportive of the idea of him getting a job in a facility but he would have to get more experience to be able to fake having the required qualifications. Then the messenger had arrived and... here he was.

He felt a bit under represented. The Shie Hassaikai's leader had several attendants and they all wore plague masks. They were different heights and their clothes were different so it was easy enough to tell who was who, but Yakuni had no idea who they really were. He didn't know their names or their importance to the leader, who Daruma had told him was named Overhaul. Ujiko didn't know anything more than that.

"You work for Dragon?" The question took him by surprise.

"I do," Yakuni confirmed for Overhaul.

"Why didn't Dragon come himself?" the demand followed.

Yakuni didn't know how to answer that. He couldn't say 'because Dragon had school!' That would ruin everything so what did he say? He racked his brain. There were two things he could do. Apologise or attack. He couldn't apologise. He wouldn't apologise. Not unless Dragon specifically told him to and attack... Daruma was interested in what they were doing but Yakuni wasn't sure that Dragon's father was. He may not have any protection here and even if he did... it wouldn't extend in the heat of the moment. Or... He settled on a third strategy, giving Overhaul a smile. He hoped the man understood the challenge. Why hadn't he come to see Dragon in the first place?