MHA: Harbinger of Fear - Male Reader x Midnight

Part 53

"One thing before we head out." Knuckleduster had a black cloth in his hand and a heavy trench coat over his shoulders. He hadn't said where they were going but only Tsukauchi seemed to care for that.

"What's that?" The detective asked.

"We'll need an arm." He shrugged. "Leg. Head. Something big from the Nomus."

"Uhh..." Tsukauchi shared a glance with the others and found Rook confused and his superior supportive.

"If it cuts down the waiting time." She said.

"A-alright." Tsukauchi rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "I suppose we could."

"Trust me on this. We'll need it."

He slipped on a half mask, covering the upper half of his face. And per namesake, slipped a pair of knuckledusters on. He may have been quirkless but he certainly had the heart and body to make good use of them.

"Let's get some lunch first." Knuckleduster sighed. "It's a long ride from here."

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Some believed death to be an end, our destiny. Others believed it was the start of another journey or the beginning of a long overdue punishment.

Tsukauchi could feel it, an ominous sensation rippling over his skin. It tugged at his heartstrings, reminding him of the sensitive strings and how easily they could snap or be snipped.

He blinked once then again harder. He looked around and saw that the American duo felt the same. The man was uneasy as he shifted about and popped his neck as if to ready himself for a fight.

The woman stared blankly at the forest wall beside them, her dark eyes turning into pits of thought and despair. But as soon as he identified it, Tsukauchi saw it blinked away.

"The hell is that?" He heard her whisper.

"Knuckleduster?" The man looked at him and saw him shiver.

"It's her." He grumbled in discomfort. "Whatever you do, don't look her in the eye."

"Ominous." The woman sighed. "Can you at least tell us what we're going into?"

"It's..." Knuckleduster paused. "Best that you see for yourself..."

"Okay." Tsukauchi sighed and rubbed his eyes. The feeling remained but he pushed it to the back of his mind with a shove.

A cold, splintered arch shone silver under the moon. Its crimson paint was old, splintering with the wood underneath.

Tsukauchi had seen several shrines in his day, but none so neglected or alone. But then again, he hadn't gone into the countryside of Japan.

The trees were thick, rustling with healthy bushes of leaves and the occasional clatter of bamboo slapping each other. It made the air dreadful and the feeling of death almost pungent.

They ascended the shrine with Rook offering a small prayer before continuing. No one had it in them to tell him otherwise.

At the mouth of the shrine a great emerald light brimmed through the cracks in the wood, shining bright like an unwavering presence.

"Feel like I'mma puke." Rook whispered then flinched.

"Visitors?" A strong voice bellowed from the other side of the wood. Tsukauchi felt a chill run down his spine when it met his ears.

"It's me!" Knuckleduster said.

"Hmm. Come in." The unknown woman sighed as if annoyed.

Wood shifted and creaked underfoot, pushing fear deep into Tsukauchi's stomach. He grit his teeth and steeled himself to follow Knuckleduster inside.