𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 || ᵇ.ᵏᵃᵗˢᵘᵏⁱ

XXXIX

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"What am I doing here? What are you doing here!" Aeri practically yelled, dumbfounded. She hadn't seen her eldest brother in over 5 years and the first time she saw him was in the middle of a villain's hideout—the villains of which he is clearly affiliated with.

"That's not important right now." He stuttered, turning to Shigaraki. "You kidnapped my sister?" He whispered.

"I came here voluntarily to get my classmate out and round up some information whilst I was at it," Aeri replied, purposely avoiding any language that would show just how much she cared about Bakugou. Her brother using her boyfriend against her was the last thing she needed right now. She used her shoe to discreetly conceal the screw that fell out from Bakugou's cuffs.

"She's your sister?" Toga gasped. "That gives us another reason to keep her!"

"Listen to me Aeri...There are some things you need to know about that family." He looked around as if someone was watching him and then rushed forward, grasping her shoulders. "Do not believe a word they say about Dalnim. Do not seek her out, whatever you do. That's the real reason Mom died...because the power was too much. Push that power down and never let it out do you hear me?"

"You must run away and find somewhere safe. I'll find you and take care of you until you're old enough to go off by yourself..." He continued. "We'll need to get far, far away from Korea—Maybe somewhere in Europe?—either way it's not safe and unlocking that kind of power will kill you...haven't you ever wondered why they're all keeping secrets from you?" Dohwan was rambling desperately, a crazed look in his eyes that made Aeri doubt he was telling the truth.

"You dare fill her young, impressionable mind with your lies?" An ancient, honeyed voice filled the room, Aeri whipped her head around, trying to find the source but Dohwan collapsed to his knees and covered his ears. He was mumbling 'no' over and over again as if he was living his worst nightmare.

"Your mother died in an accident orchestrated by your eldest brother. Even at such a young age, he was jealous of that power. My power. The one he knew he'd never get his hands on. So he took inspiration from the ancient scrolls in the Moon Library. The story of my death and decided he'd do the same thing to your mother in hopes that a slither of that power would be transferred to him upon her death."

The glass of the window shattered inward and the curtains were blown apart to allow the moonlight in. Gasps and screams resounded through the room as some of the villains ducked for cover. Aeri drew her golden dagger and the light from the moon surrounded her like a spotlight. Her golden eyes glowed like a molten pit of golden lava, rage almost consuming her mind as the power of Dalnim filled her body and soul.

"No!" Dohwan screamed angrily. He charged at Aeri who dodged with ease.

"You killed mom?" She repeated Dalnim's words.

"Of course I killed her! I'm the oldest, that power was supposed to be mine! But she wanted a daughter and forgot all about me when she had you. My revenge was murdering her and leaving you all without a mother... and I'm gonna kill you next, and then the rest of our brothers, and then the entire family so there's no one left but me to inherit Dalnim's power!"

"Thanks for the confirmation, the authorities are gonna love this." Aeri tucked her phone in her back pocket once more after recording every word that came out of his mouth. She'd use this to get him put away and she was sure Jinyoung would want the video to get Dohwan the worst possible punishment he could find.

"You conniving little brat. Always meddling. Always getting everything you want." He charged again.

Aeri slammed the hilt of her dagger into his jaw and stepped aside when he pulled out his own to try to stab her, the steel blade scratched as if he neglected to care for it.

"Moon Aeri, my child. Let me in." Dalnim called, her voice calm. "I'll keep you safe."

Aeri complied and did as Dalnim said. She didn't know how to let her in at first but it became obvious when she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, opened her mind and bared her soul to the deity. Dalnim praised her and Aeri shivered when she felt something invading her body, like a parasite trying to take over.

"Don't fight it, I promise everything will be okay and you can eject me at any point. But for now, you need me."

Her eyes snapped open. One remained her usual shimmering golden, but the other was completely white with a purple sheen to it. A symbol of their union. The power felt overwhelmingly heavy on her chest as if it was smothering her, but once it settled into her veins and thrummed in time with her heartbeat, she felt at peace.

The villains scattered. Some ran out the door and away from whatever was happening to Aeri, some dived behind the bar for cover...but Shigaraki watched in awe at the sheer display of raw power.

"Moon Dohwan. You must return to Korea and face the Moon elders at once. They will decide your fate." Dalnim spoke, her voice merging with Aeri's creepily as if they were both speaking at once.

"I'll decide his goddamn fate." Jinyoung spat when he and Hyoseop sprung out of the shadows as if they'd listened to the whole thing.

So much for recording his confession.

Hyunjin and Jungwon climbed through the broken window looking just as angry. Aizawa looked distraught as he burst through the wall with All Might and Endeavour. The remaining villains gathered into the portal and made their escape, not thinking to even try to take Dohwan with them, not with that many heroes surrounding him.

Aeri moved back over to Bakugou and helped him with the last screw, lodging her dagger in and prying it out with newfound strength. She pointed upwards to where their classmates had just flown over and shoved him out the opening All Might had created in the wall so he could get to safety. She heard the telltale signs of explosions going off and knew he'd made it to them.

"You killed Mom," Hyunjin growled, his hair standing on ends and he removed Dohwan's quirk so he wouldn't be able to try to get away. Aeri moved gracefully back across the room to where her family had gathered around Dohwan—or Dalnim moved her, she couldn't actually tell which actions were hers and which were Dalnim's.

Jinyoung reached forward and grabbed Dohwan by the front of his hoodie. He drew his fist back and slammed it into Dohwan's face harder than Aeri had ever seen before. Jinyoung hit him again. And again. And again, until his fist was dripping with blood and Dohwan's face was unrecognisable. No one stopped him. Not Aeri, not any of her brothers not even Aizawa or Endeavour. They all just watched as tears fell down Jinyoung's face and Dohwan's creepy smirk remained despite being unconscious.

"Moon Jinyoung. He won't be able to receive his punishment if you kill him now. Avenge your mother the right way." Dalnim spoke.

"As you wish, Hananim." Jinyoung got up and dropped his older brother to the floor before turning to Aeri's merged form.

He got on his knees and bowed deeply, the rest of her brothers followed and she whined, embarrassed.

"I'm still here too! This is so embarrassing!" She told them. "Get up!" Dalnim laughed and ejected herself from Aeri's body. She stood beside her newest host in her spirit form, dressed in a deep blue Hanbok with a sword strapped to her side. Her hair was black and flowed all the way past her waist down to her upper thigh.

"I must be going for now. Return Moon Dohwan to Korea and turn him over to the elders. They will deal with the rest." Dalnim told them before she disappeared. The moonlight became less harsh and Aeri felt the energy being sucked out of her. She stumbled forward, paler than ever, and collapsed into Hyoseop's awaiting arms.

Even in her sleep, she could hear the fighting and the screaming and the explosions from outside—from All Might. She felt herself being fussed over by her brothers as the paramedics worked and set her up with an IV.

Days later she felt multiple people coming into the hospital room to hold her hand and weep over her unawakened body. Heard them as they told her what was happening at UA and on the news and how brave she was for going into that portal. If Aeri was awake she would've scolded them for putting her on such a high pedestal when a few other of her classmates also attempted to go through to save Bakugou too.

Not once did she feel Bakugou. Not once did she hear Bakugou. And that made her time asleep a living hell.

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