A/N: Before I start the chapter maybe some of you may question how Stray Cat is still with Kira in the future as it was taken away by Okuyasu back in the past Morioh, so let me clarify, this is something I totally forgot to explain. So as Kira activated Bites The Dust his state from an hour before was used to be transported with Stray Cat in Killer Queen's abs, so yeah Stray Cat stays baby... One of my favorite characters from JoJo.
Now let's continue!
x-x-x
Chief Inspector Higashikata Ryohei's eyes narrowed as he listened intently to the crackling voice of his officer over the radio. "Chief, we've exhausted every avenue in our databases," the officer reported, his voice heavy with concern. "There's no trace of the man from the café. The name he provided, Kosaku Kawajiri, could very well be an alias. We couldn't find a match for his face either. It's as if he's a ghost."
Ryohei leaned back in his chair, a sense of grim validation settling over him. His instincts had been spot-on from the beginning.
He pressed the button on the radio, his voice filled with resolute authority. "Good job, boys," he commended. "Your findings only reinforce my initial suspicions. We need to bring him in for questioning without delay. The lack of information on his identity and quirk is precisely why it's crucial we apprehend him."
Ryohei's mind raced as he pieced together the limited information they had. If this Kosaku Kawajiri was indeed the phantom killer they'd been pursuing, a quirk user potentially capable of erasing people from existence, they needed to act swiftly. Every moment they hesitated gave the suspect another opportunity to slip through their fingers and claim more lives.
Rising from his desk, Ryohei addressed his team with unwavering authority. "Listen up, everyone," he commanded, his voice resonating through the station. "We have a promising lead on a suspect possibly connected to the phantom killer case. Our last confirmed sighting places him at Morioh train station. I'm ordering a full tactical response, but we must proceed with the utmost caution."
As he paced the room, Ryohei's mind churned with strategies and contingencies. "We'll work in close coordination with the Natori police department and transit authority to secure the station," he explained, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. "I want officers positioned at every entrance and exit, with additional units patrolling the platforms and trains."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room to emphasize the gravity of the situation. "Keep in mind, this suspect is considered armed and highly dangerous. If he does possess a quirk that allows him to erase people from existence, we need to be prepared for any scenario. Engage with extreme caution and prioritize non-lethal force. Our primary objective is to apprehend him alive for questioning."
Turning to his second-in-command, Ryohei's eyes burned with urgency. "Get Natori station on the line immediately," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We need their support, and they can reach the scene faster than we can. While you're at it, contact the local hero agencies as well. We're going to need all the assistance we can muster."
A tense silence fell over the room, punctuated only by the hurried footsteps of officers and the crackle of the radio. Suddenly, the second-in-command's voice cut through the air, his tone strained. "Chief, we have a situation. Natori is currently dealing with a major incident downtown. A villain is causing widespread destruction, and even the local heroes are struggling to contain him. They're urgently requesting backup."
Ryohei cursed under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. The timing couldn't have been worse. But he couldn't afford to divert resources away from the phantom killer case, not when they were so close to potentially apprehending the suspect.
Ryohei's brow furrowed as he absorbed the news of the downtown incident. He knew that every second counted, and the thought of the suspect slipping away on a train while they were stretched thin was a bitter pill to swallow.
"This is going to be unpleasant, to say the least," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "We're racing against the clock here. If the suspect is already on a train, we don't have the luxury of time to spare for Natori."
He paused for a moment, his mind working furiously to find a solution. "We need to call in backup from the local heroes, both for our case and the downtown incident," he decided, his tone resolute. "They can help us cover more ground and increase our chances of apprehending the suspect before he disappears."
Ryohei whirled towards his second-in-command, his eyes burning with fierce determination. "Contact the hero agencies, and do it now," he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Lay out the situation in explicit detail and drive home the urgency. We need their support on two critical fronts – reinforcing Natori's efforts downtown and assisting us in the pursuit of the potential phantom killer suspect."
Without hesitation, the second-in-command sprang into action, his fingers flying across the communication console as he rapidly dialed the numbers of Morioh's hero agencies.
"While the suspect's alleged connection to the phantom killer case remains unconfirmed, I cannot ignore the disturbing possibility..." Ryohei's thoughts raced, his brow furrowed in concern. "Even if the man from the café had only targeted a criminal this time, such vigilante actions are still unlawful and unacceptable."
He paused, a sense of unease settling over him. "However, the true cause for concern lies in the unpredictable and potentially catastrophic path this could lead to. What if this suspect's actions escalate beyond targeting those they deem as criminals? The consequences would be devastating, and we cannot afford to let this situation spiral out of control."
Ryohei quickly snapped back from his thoughts, faking a cough to regain his composure. "I want to make one thing clear," Ryohei added, his voice filled with unwavering conviction that was aimed toward his officers present. "While we lack concrete evidence linking this man to any killings or erasures, the absence of data on his identity and quirk is precisely why we must err on the side of caution. It's better to have a substantial presence at the scene, ready to respond if he resists or reveals his true nature."
He turned to his team once more, his gaze intense. "Remember, our primary mission is to bring this man in for questioning. The allegations surrounding him remain unconfirmed, but the possibility is too high to ignore. We need answers, and this is our best chance to get them."
The officers nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of determination and nervous energy. They understood the gravity of the situation and the weight of the responsibility resting on their shoulders. As they hurriedly gathered their gear and checked their weapons, an almost palpable sense of urgency filled the air.
Ryohei watched as his team prepared to mobilize, his mind already racing ahead to the challenges that awaited them. They were about to embark on a journey into the unknown, chasing a suspect who seemed to have emerged from the shadows. But the chief inspector knew that the safety and well-being of Morioh and its citizens hinged on their success. Failure was not an option.
With a final, resolute nod to his team, Ryohei turned on his heel and strode purposefully towards the exit. His footsteps echoed through the station, a steady rhythm that seemed to mirror the beating of his own heart. The hunt for the truth had begun, and he was determined to unravel the mystery surrounding the phantom killer and the enigmatic man from the café, no matter the cost.
As the officers rushed towards their vehicles, a sense of controlled chaos erupted in the parking lot. Car doors slammed, engines roared to life, and sirens began to wail, piercing the air with their urgent cries. The team moved with practiced precision, each officer taking their designated place and double-checking their equipment.
Ryohei slid into the passenger seat of the lead car, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, sharpening his senses and fueling his determination. This was more than just another case; it was a race against time to prevent further bloodshed and to bring a dangerous individual to justice.
As the convoy of police cars peeled out of the station, their lights painted the streets in a kaleidoscope of red and blue. They would stop at nothing to uncover the truth and ensure the safety of their beloved citizens.
x-x-x
Quirk: 「EMERALD ESOTERICA」
User: Emerald Enchantress/Hōseki Midori
Quirk Type: Emitter
Power: B
Speed: C
Range: B
Durability: A
Precision: B
Potential: A
Ability: Generates and manipulates an emerald-colored aura that can be solidified into crystalline structures with gemstone-like properties. Allows for creation of constructs, and enchantment of objects and people.
x-x-x
The streets of Morioh were unusually quiet as the trio of heroes patrolled the city, their colorful costumes standing out in stark contrast to the mundane surroundings. Captain Courageous, Emerald Enchantress, and Soundwave had been assigned to this uneventful patrol for weeks now, and the lack of action was starting to wear on their nerves.
Captain Courageous' brow furrowed, his lips twisting into a disgruntled scowl beneath his mask. "I can't believe we're stuck patrolling this sleepy little city," he grumbled, his voice laced with frustration as he tugged at the vibrant spandex clinging to his muscular frame. The crimson and cobalt hues of his suit gleamed brightly under the sun's rays, a stark contrast to his sullen demeanor. "When I signed up to be a hero, I thought I'd be fighting dangerous villains and saving the world from catastrophe, not babysitting a bunch of civilians."
His words hung in the air, accompanied by a dejected sigh as he shook his head, disappointment etched across his chiseled features. "Well, I guess shit like this is what I get for being assigned to an area lacking in heroes."
Emerald Enchantress offered a solemn nod, her flowing purple locks swaying in the gentle breeze. A wistful expression settled upon her delicate features as she echoed his sentiments. "Tell me about it," she murmured, her emerald eyes downcast. "The most exciting and dangerous mission we've had this month was rescuing that cat from a tree."
A rueful chuckle escaped her glossed lips, but her gaze remained somber, a flicker of disillusionment dancing across her porcelain visage. "I mean, really? Is this what we've been reduced to as heroes? Playing animal control officers?"
Soundwave, the youngest of the trio, idly strummed his guitar, his fingers plucking at the strings with a listless rhythm. His pierced brow creased in contemplation as he considered their predicament. "The last major villain attack in Morioh was three months ago," he mused, his tone tinged with disappointment. "It's like this place is stuck in time, retaining its peacefulness even after becoming such a bustling city."
The heroes sighed in unison as they pointed their heads downwards their posture screaming disappointment, after this little reminder of an actionless career they continued their patrol, their conversation turning to the latest rankings and the fame and fortune that came with being a top-tier hero.
Captain Courageous let out a wistful sigh. "You know, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a massive fan club, with thousands of adoring supporters hanging on our every word and deed." His blue eyes took on a faraway look as he imagined the cheering crowds and flashing cameras.
Emerald Enchantress perked up, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Well, believe it or not, I actually do have a pretty sizable fan club!" she announced proudly, puffing out her already ample chest. "Last I checked, the Emerald Enchantress Fan Club had over 50,000 members on social media."
Soundwave and Captain Courageous exchanged a knowing glance, barely suppressing their smirks. "Oh really?" Soundwave asked, his voice dripping with feigned innocence as they know about this fan-club... sadly, not the kind you should be proud of. "And what exactly do you think... attracts so many devoted fans to your club, Enchantress?"
The buxom heroine tapped a perfectly manicured finger against her chin, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, I suppose it must be my dazzling wit, my incredible heroic feats, and of course, my killer fashion sense!" She struck a dramatic pose, her cape billowing behind her as she flashed a megawatt smile.
Captain Courageous coughed to disguise a chuckle. Leaning in close to Soundwave, he whispered from the corner of his mouth, "Does she really not know? I mean, has she seen the kind of photos her 'fans' are posting in that club?"
Soundwave shook his head, his eyes wide with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "I don't think she has a clue, man. Those dudes are definitely not there for her 'heroic feats,' if you know what I mean." He made an hourglass shape with his hands, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Oblivious to her companions' whispering, Emerald Enchantress continued to regale them with tales of her online popularity. "And then there was this one time when I single-handedly saved a bus full of schoolchildren from a rampaging slime monster! My fans went absolutely wild - the post got over 25,000 likes and shares in a day!"
"I'll bet they did," Captain Courageous muttered under his breath, shaking his head at the green-clad heroine's naivety. "Enchantress, don't you think some of those fans might be more interested in your... 'assets' than your heroic deeds?"
Emerald Enchantress blinked, tilting her head quizzically. "Assets? What do you mean? I sponsor some local charities and youth programs if that's what you're getting at..."
Soundwave facepalmed, a muffled groan escaping his lips. "No, no, that's not... you know what, never mind. You're absolutely right, Enchantress. I'm sure your fans are just blown away by your heroism and sparkling personality."
"Damn straight!" Enchantress agreed, flashing a triumphant grin. "It's about time I got some recognition around here. You boys could learn a thing or two from my sterling example!"
As the heroes continued their patrol, Soundwave and Captain Courageous trailed a few steps behind, still shaking their heads in disbelief at their companion's obliviousness.
Suddenly, their communicators crackled to life, startling them out of their reverie. "Attention all heroes," the voice on the other end said. "We have a situation in Natori. A villain is causing widespread destruction downtown, and we need immediate assistance. Captain Courageous and Emerald Enchantress, you are requested to respond."
The two heroes looked at each other, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Finally, a chance to prove themselves and gain some recognition. They were about to head off when the voice on the communicator spoke again.
"Soundwave, we have a separate mission for you," the voice said. "We have reports of a suspicious man in the area, and we need you to investigate. It's not a high-profile case, but it's important nonetheless."
Soundwave's face fell, and he looked at his fellow heroes with a mixture of disappointment and envy. "Why do I always get stuck with the boring missions?" he whined. "I want to fight villains and save the day, not chase after some random guy."
Captain Courageous and Emerald Enchantress exchanged a look, their excitement at the prospect of a real mission tempered by their colleague's disappointment. They knew that fame and recognition were important, but they also understood the importance of doing their duty, no matter how small the task.
"Hey, man," Captain Courageous said, clapping Soundwave on the shoulder. "We all have to start somewhere. Who knows, maybe this suspicious guy will turn out to be a big deal. You never know."
Emerald Enchantress nodded in agreement. "And even if he's not, every mission is important," she said. "We're heroes, after all. It's our job to keep people safe, no matter how boring or mundane the task may seem."
Soundwave sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I guess you're right," he said. "I just wish there was more action around here that I can participate in... I feel like we're wasting our talents in this quiet city."
Captain Courageous turned to Emerald Enchantress, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Speaking of duty, what do you say we make a grand entrance in Natori? I think it's time to show that villain what real heroes are made of."
Enchantress grinned, her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I thought you'd never ask, Captain. Let's give them a show they'll never forget!"
With that, Captain Courageous stepped forward, wrapping a muscular arm around each of his companions' waists. "Hold on tight, you two. It's time to fly!"
Soundwave barely had time to sling his guitar onto his back before the ground fell away beneath them, the city streets blurring into a dizzying kaleidoscope of color as Captain Courageous rocketed into the sky. The wind roared in their ears, whipping at their hair and costumes as they hurtled through the air at breakneck speed.
Emerald Enchantress let out a whoop of exhilaration, her purple locks streaming behind her like a banner. "Now this is more like it!" she shouted over the rushing wind. "I feel alive!"
Soundwave, on the other hand, clung to Captain Courageous for dear life, his face pale and his eyes squeezed shut. "I think I'm gonna be sick," he mumbled, his words lost in the howling gale.
x-x-x
Stand: 「KILLER QUEEN」
User: Kira Yoshikage
Power: A
Speed: B
Range: D
Durability: A
Precision: B
Potential: A
Ability: Killer Queen is a close-range Stand that possesses immense physical strength.
First Bomb: Killer Queen is a close-range Stand that possesses immense physical strength and the ability to turn anything it touches into a bomb. Kira can detonate these bombs remotely, allowing him to eliminate threats with devastating explosive force.
Second Bomb: 「Sheer Heart Attack」 - a remote-controlled bomb that can track and pursue targets independently. This sub-Stand is highly durable and relentless in its pursuit.
Third Bomb: 「Bites The Dust」- By activating Bites the Dust, Kira could create a temporal loop, rewinding events back to a specific trigger point from an hour before... or perhaps transporting its user centries into the future?
x-x-x
As the sleek, aerodynamic form of the Shinkansen bullet train sliced through the Japanese countryside, Yoshikage Kira sat in quiet contemplation, his stolen face betraying none of the dark thoughts that swirled behind Kosaku Kawajiri's eyes. The gentle vibration of the train car and the soft murmur of conversations around him faded into the background as he lost himself in his musings.
"To think," he mused silently, "that a mere two centuries ago, this journey would have taken twice as long. The relentless march of progress, the ever-accelerating pace of technological advancement... it's almost enough to take one's breath away."
He allowed himself a small, ironic smile, the gesture feeling strange and unfamiliar on his borrowed lips. "And yet, for all the marvels and wonders this brave new world has to offer, I can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Surely, with two hundred years of uninterrupted development, humanity could have achieved so much more."
Kira's gaze drifted to the window, watching the picturesque landscape blur past in a smear of vibrant colors. "Perhaps it is the rise of these so-called 'quirks' that has held us back," he pondered, his brow furrowing slightly. "So much time and resources diverted to studying and containing these aberrant abilities, rather than pushing the boundaries of what is possible. A pity, really."
His train of thought was interrupted by the crackle of the intercom, a polite, pre-recorded voice announcing their imminent arrival in Natori. "Attention, passengers. We will be arriving at Natori Station in approximately one minute. Please ensure you have all your belongings with you and prepare to disembark. Thank you for choosing the Shinkansen for your travel needs."
Yoshikage Kira's fingers traced the fabric of his attire, smoothing out any errant creases with the same fastidious attention to detail he had once dedicated to his own pristine suits. His stolen features remained impassive, betraying none of the anticipation that flickered beneath the surface as the announcement crackled over the intercom.
"One minute," he murmured, his tone devoid of inflection. "Just enough time to prepare myself for the uncertainties that await in Natori."
A ghost of a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth, his brow furrowing ever so slightly as memories of a bygone era resurfaced. "It has been quite some time since I last conducted business in this city, back when I still wore the guise of my true self – Yoshikage Kira."
His gaze flickered towards the window, taking in the unfamiliar skyline that had undoubtedly transformed in the intervening decades. "While I would prefer the comfort of the familiar, I cannot allow myself to indulge in such naïve hopes," he mused, his tone taking on a sharper edge. "The passage of time spares no corner of this world from its inexorable march of change. Natori will be no exception, I assume."
The train glided to a smooth stop, the doors sliding open with a pneumatic hiss. Kira rose from his seat, his movements calm and unhurried, the very picture of an ordinary, unremarkable man. He joined the throng of passengers disembarking onto the platform, blending seamlessly into the crowd, just another face among the masses.
As Yoshikage Kira stepped onto the bustling platform of Natori Station, his stolen eyes scanned the surroundings with a predatory intensity, his gaze searching for any sign of his intended destination. The throng of commuters ebbed and flowed around him, their faces a blur of insignificance, mere background noise in the grand symphony of his dark machinations.
With measured steps, he made his way through the crowd, his stolen face a mask of calm indifference, betraying none of the anticipation that thrummed beneath the surface. His mind was already racing ahead, calculating the myriad paths that lay before him, each one a potential avenue to the fulfillment of his twisted desires.
As he navigated the unfamiliar terrain of the station, Kira's gaze alighted upon a large, freestanding map of Natori City, its glossy surface adorned with a spider's web of streets and landmarks. He approached the display with a sense of purpose, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the intricate network of lines and labels, searching for the one place that held the key to his future success.
"123 Quirk Avenue," he murmured, his stolen lips curling into a faint smile as he located the address on the map. "The Metamorphosis Beauty Salon... how very fitting."
He allowed himself a moment to savor the irony, his mind conjuring images of the transformative power that awaited him within those walls. With a quirk user's expertise at his disposal, he would finally be able to shed the ill-fitting skin of Kosaku Kawajiri and assume a new identity - one that would allow him to blend seamlessly into the fabric of this brave new world.
But it wasn't just any host that would suffice for a man of Kira's particular tastes. No, he needed someone who fit a very specific set of criteria, a perfect vessel for his dark passenger. They had to be ordinary, unremarkable in every way, with a physique similar enough to his own to minimize the time and effort required for the transformation.
"Single, of course," he mused, his stolen eyes glazing over with a faraway look as he lost himself in his twisted fantasies. "No close ties to family or friends, no one to notice the subtle changes in behavior or mannerisms. A blank slate, ripe for the taking."
He knew that finding such a host would require patience and careful observation, a meticulous process of elimination that could take days, even weeks. But Kira was nothing if not methodical, his mind as sharp and unyielding as the scalpel he had once wielded with such precision.
As he memorized the route to the salon, tracing the path with a stolen finger, Kira allowed himself a moment to indulge in thoughts of his future conquests. The women of Natori, blissfully unaware of the monster that walked among them, their delicate hands ripe for the plucking. He could almost feel the cool, smooth skin beneath his fingertips, the exquisite texture and form that he so craved.
"My lovely 'girlfriends,'" he whispered, the words a depraved caress upon his tongue. "Waiting for me, their beauty begging to be preserved..." He suddenly narrowed his eyes in disgust. "At least until they start to rot on me..."
With a final glance at the map, Kira committed the salon's location to memory, his stolen face settling into an expression of grim determination. He had a goal now, a purpose that would guide his every action in this unfamiliar place. And he would let nothing stand in his way, no matter the cost.
As he stepped away from the map, melting once more into the faceless crowd, Yoshikage Kira allowed himself a small, secret smile.
x-x-x
User: Akira Hibiki
Quirk: 「POWER CHORD」
Quirk Type: Emitter
Power: B
Speed: A
Range: C
Durability: D
Precision: C
Potential: C
Ability: Power Chord allows Akira to channel his quirk through a musical instrument, transforming sound waves into tangible energy that can be manipulated and projected. He can generate powerful sonic blasts and create various effects depending on the style of music he plays. However, thanks to his clothing, everyone knows what kind of music he plays... mostly.
x-x-x
Soundwave confidently strode through the bustling streets of downtown Natori, his punk attire and spiky hair drawing curious and sometimes disapproving glances from the eclectic mix of passersby. The 19-year-old hero, freshly graduated from the academy, exuded an air of bravado and self-importance that seemed at odds with his relative inexperience in the field.
"I still can't believe they've got me stuck on this lame stakeout mission, even if they say this is important I really wanted to bash some skulls with my guitar," he muttered under his breath, petulantly kicking a pebble with the scuffed toe of his well-worn combat boot.
He came to an abrupt halt at the next crosswalk, impatiently tapping his foot in a staccato rhythm as he waited for the light to change, feeling the seconds tick by with agonizing slowness. His restless mind wandered back to the mission briefing he'd sat through earlier that day, the specific details of his target still fresh in his memory.
"Let's see... white business suit, white pants, black and white hair," Soundwave recited, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Why, does this dude wear that? Does he dress as a kind of human chessboard? I mean, seriously, how many guys in this whole damn city could possibly fit that weirdly specific description?" He paused, frowning thoughtfully. "Okay, maybe not that many when you put it like that... but still, it's gonna be a royal pain in the ass trying to pick him out of a crowd."
The light finally turned green and Soundwave eagerly surged forward, his long, loping strides quickly eating up the pavement as he hurried toward his destination. He glanced down at the high-tech watch on his wrist, noting with an irritated grunt that he was already running five minutes behind the train's schedule thanks to his so-called "shortcut" with Captain Courageous.
"Damn that showboating glory hound and his half-baked 'shortcuts'," Soundwave grumbled peevishly. "I swear, I almost puked when he decided to take a detour straight through the highway... weaving between cars at breakneck speeds like a bat out of hell."
As the imposing facade of Natori Station came into view, Soundwave felt a renewed sense of determination wash over him. He narrowed his eyes, his keen gaze intently scanning the milling crowd for any sign of his elusive quarry amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle of the station. Commuters hurried to and fro in a dizzying blur of anonymous faces and generic business attire, creating a constantly shifting sea of humanity that was hard to parse.
"Well this is just fan-frickin'-tastic," Soundwave sighed in frustration, absentmindedly running a hand through his artfully spiky hair. "The man's probably long gone by now, vanished into the ether like a fart in the wind. And even if by some miracle he is still lurking around here somewhere, how the heck am I supposed to pick him out of this teeming mass of lemmings? It'd be like trying to find a needle in a flaming haystack."
Feeling momentarily discouraged, Soundwave slouched against a nearby pillar, striking a pose of studied nonchalance tinged with an air of sullen detachment. To the casual observer, he probably looked like just another aimless, angst-ridden youth - the punk attire and standoffish demeanor fitting the rebel without a cause archetype to a T.
As he gave up looking around like this, with a frustrated huff, the young hero pushed off from the pillar he'd been leaning against and began to methodically work his way through the station, checking every nook and cranny with a fine-toothed comb. He poked his head into restrooms, peered behind vending machines, and even checked under benches desperately knowing exactly this will not help - earning more than a few odd looks from passersby in the process. But despite his dogged persistence, Kawajiri Kosaku remained maddeningly elusive.
As the minutes continued to tick by with no sign of his target, Soundwave felt his initial burst of determination quickly giving way to a mounting sense of annoyance and unease. He couldn't shake the niggling feeling that something wasn't quite right about this whole situation.
As the minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness and still no trace of his quarry, Soundwave felt his initial rush of adrenaline and confidence slowly draining away, like sand through an hourglass. A creeping sense of unease wormed its way into his gut, his instincts screaming that something about this whole situation was off.
"Seriously, what kind of absolute clusterfuck are they even dealing with downtown?" Soundwave groused to himself, his frustration mounting as he glared balefully down at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. "I mean, how utterly incompetent do you have to be to let one lowlife dirtbag tie up the entire hero roster for this long? Fucking pathetic."
Just as he was about to swallow his pride and radio HQ for orders, as he thought maybe the suspect was lying about where he was going. A sudden flicker of movement in his peripheral vision yanked Soundwave up short. His head snapped around, lightning-quick reflexes kicking into high gear as he caught the briefest glimpse of a telltale white suit vanishing around a far corner of the station.
In that split-second, the young hero felt his heart seize in his chest, a dizzying cocktail of shock and raw adrenaline flooding his system with the force of a surging tsunami. Time seemed to dilate and stretch like taffy, each fraction of a second crawling by with crystalline clarity.
"Well fuck me sideways..." Soundwave breathed, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and budding excitement as his brain caught up to what his eyes had just witnessed. "Snow white threads, pretentious two-tone hair... that has to be the one. Son of a bitch is ballsy, I'll give him that."
The implications hit Soundwave like a punch to the solar plexus, sending a fresh jolt of electricity arcing through his body and galvanizing him into action. He exploded into a flat-out sprint, heavy combat boots thundering against the station's scuffed concrete as he tore through the clueless crowd like a man on fire.
Soundwave's mind shifted into overdrive as he rapidly closed the distance to the corner, feverishly trying to parse the bizarre scene that had just unfolded before him. Kawajiri had been sauntering through the station bold as brass, wearing a shit-eating grin that could have put the Cheshire Cat to shame. The guy was moving with the easy nonchalance of a man out for a lazy Sunday stroll, seemingly without a single solitary fuck to give that his face was plastered across every wanted poster in the city.
Even stranger, the wily old bastard appeared to be heading straight into the seething heart of the chaos erupting downtown - strolling into the teeth of an active crisis zone like he was en route to a goddamn company picnic.
"Seriously, what the hell is he doin'?" Soundwave huffed under his labored breath as he screeched around the corner in a barely-controlled skid, wild eyes raking the crowd for any trace of his slippery target. "I mean, is this guy just straight-up suicidal, or did he forget to take his senility meds this morning?"
Soundwave gave himself a rough mental shake, forcefully shoving the spiraling questions to the back of his mind. As much as Kawajiri's baffling behavior made him want to scream in confused hysteria, he couldn't afford to let himself get distracted. Not when he was so close to the biggest bust of his budding career.
Kawajiri already had a significant jump on him, and Soundwave knew that if he didn't pour on the speed, that squirrelly son of a bitch would melt into the panicked mob fleeing downtown and vanish like a fart in a windstorm.
The young hero clenched his teeth until a muscle ticked in his jaw, pouring every ounce of strength and determination into pumping his aching legs faster. His pulse roared in his ears and his chest heaved like a bellows, but he stubbornly pushed through the searing pain - a man possessed.
As Soundwave fought his way through the churning tide of humanity clogging the streets, his mind raced with a dizzying array of half-formed suspicions and worst-case scenarios. Why the hell would a fugitive like Kawajiri deliberately run towards the scene of an active hero operation? What could possibly motivate the wily old bastard to take such an insane risk? The pieces of the puzzle stubbornly refused to fit together, no matter how Soundwave tried to force them.
Unless...
A chilling thought wormed its way into Soundwave's brain, sending tendrils of ice slithering down his spine. What if Kawajiri wasn't running from trouble downtown... but racing to join forces with the villain? What if the one-man crime wave wasn't just some lone wolf out for himself, but part of a coordinated team of villains working together to keep the heroes distracted and off-balance?
"Fuck," Soundwave swore viciously under his breath, the terrifying scope of the theory coming together with each hammering footfall. If he was right, then the heroes could be blundering headfirst into a deadly ambush - an elaborately baited trap designed to take out the city's mightiest defenders in one fell swoop. The operation unfolding downtown might just be the opening salvo in a full-fledged supervillain uprising... and the poor, clueless bastards were charging in blind, with no goddamn idea what they were really up against.
A fresh surge of urgency flooded through Soundwave's body, his heart slamming against his ribs like a piston as he frantically tried to close the gap between him and his quarry. If there was even a snowball's chance in hell that his suspicions were right, he needed to get to Kawajiri and beat the truth out of him before the crafty son of a bitch could link up with any potential co-conspirators. The lives of his fellow heroes - and the fate of the entire city - could be hanging in the balance.
But even as Soundwave strained every sinew to push himself harder, faster, his treacherous body was rapidly nearing its breaking point. His muscles screamed in agony, his vision blurred and tunneled, and his lungs felt like they were being sandblasted from the inside out. The young hero had always prided himself on his speed and endurance... but chasing an oily snake like man through the panicked throngs was like trying to catch greased lightning in a hurricane.
Just when Soundwave was teetering on the very edge of collapse, the crowd ahead of him suddenly parted like the Red Sea. For one glorious, critical instant, he had an unobstructed view of the street... but Kawajiri was nowhere to be found. The man had vanished into thin air, as if he'd never even been there at all.
"Oh, you crafty motherfucker," Soundwave gasped, battling the urge to scream his fury and frustration to the uncaring heavens. He whipped his head left and right, bloodshot eyes raking the stampeding mob for even the barest glimpse of a stark white suit. But it was no use - in the mere seconds it had taken Soundwave to catch his breath, that man had exploited the momentary break in line-of-sight to pull a goddamn Houdini.
Despair crashed over Soundwave in a suffocating wave, his heart plummeting into his stomach like a stone. He'd been so fucking close... and now, he had nothing. No leads, no way to prove his wild theory, no chance to redeem his rookie fuckup in the eyes of his fellow heroes. All that furious effort expended, and all he'd really managed to do was run himself into the ground and -
Wait.
There, at the very corner of his vision - a flash of bleached hair and pale skin, ducking into a shadowed side alley.
Relief and wild hope exploded behind Soundwave's eyes with the searing heat of a magnesium flare. His screaming muscles were instantly forgotten, his exhaustion fell away like an old snakeskin, and a manic rictus grin nearly split his face in half. Kawajiri wasn't gone... he'd just found a darkened bolt-hole to skulk into and regroup. The old bastard had to be running on fumes himself after a chase like that, and now he'd finally slipped up and given away his position. This was Soundwave's best - and possibly only - chance to end this once and for all.
Without a second thought, the young hero hurled himself towards the alleyway Kawajiri had vanished down, forcefully shouldering his way through the dwindling stream of fleeing civilians. His instincts screamed that something was deeply, fundamentally wrong about charging into unknown territory while totally alone and cut off from support... but he couldn't afford to hesitate. If he didn't move now, Kawajiri would give him the slip for sure, and any hope of figuring out what the larger game was would slip through his fingers.
Soundwave finally reached the mouth of the alley and plunged in, his ragged breathing and pounding pulse echoing deafeningly off the close brick walls. Inky shadows cloaked the narrow passage like a burial shroud, concealing God only knew what lurking threats. The hero forced his eyes to adjust to the sudden gloom, peering ahead to try and catch a glimpse of Kawajiri's telltale white suit.
Nothing. The alleyway stretched forward, twisting and turning into the murky darkness... but there was no sign of Soundwave's quarry.
An oily unease churned in the young hero's gut, his nerve endings sizzling with the instinctive certainty that he'd just made a devastating mistake. He shouldn't be here. Every cell in his body was howling at him to turn back, to get out before it was too late. But he couldn't - not with Kawajiri still in the wind. He had to see this through to the bitter end, come what may.
Heart in his throat, mouth bone-dry, Soundwave took one fateful step forward... and then another... and then another. The shadows seemed to flicker and dance at the corners of his vision, taunting him, luring him ever deeper into their stygian embrace. The world beyond the alleyway fell away, sound muffled and distorted as if he'd been submerged leagues beneath the sea.
And as the darkness finally swallowed Soundwave whole, the sibilant whisper of a phantom chuckle slithered through his mind - mocking and triumphant.
In that instant, with clarity as pure as polished crystal, the young hero finally understood the horrible truth.
Far too late, he'd walked into a trap... and now, the jaws were about to snap shut.
As the suffocating darkness closed in around him, Soundwave felt a rising tide of panic clawing at the edges of his mind. His heart hammered against his ribs like a caged animal, and icy tendrils of fear slithered down his spine with every shallow, rapid breath. The alleyway that had seemed so short and straightforward mere moments ago now felt like an endless, labyrinthine tomb - a twisting, claustrophobic nightmare from which there was no escape.
Soundwave's instincts screamed at him to run, to flee this shadowed hellscape before whatever lurked within could sink its teeth into his flesh. He took one faltering step backwards, then another, his wide eyes straining to penetrate the crushing gloom. But the darkness was absolute, impenetrable, seeming to mock his pathetic attempts to navigate its treacherous depths.
With each stumbling step, the young hero's terror ratcheted higher, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps that sounded deafening in the oppressive silence. The rational part of his mind knew that he couldn't have ventured more than a dozen meters into the alley... but the primal, lizard-brain part gibbered that he'd wandered into an infinite abyss, a pocket dimension of pure shadow from which he'd never find his way back to the light.
Panic finally won out over reason, and Soundwave spun on his heel to sprint for the distant safety of the street - but his desperate bid for freedom was cut brutally short as he slammed face-first into an invisible barrier. The impact was like running full-tilt into a solid wall, stopping the young hero dead in his tracks and sending him stumbling back with a pained grunt.
Soundwave blinked spots from his vision, his throbbing nose and ringing ears sending stars whirling before his eyes. He shook his head to clear it... and then, to his uncomprehending horror, he saw them. Shimmering faintly in the gloom were what looked like floating spheres of pure air, hovering in an impassable curtain that blocked his only path to escape.
"W-What the fuck! H-How is this...? Isn't this guy's quirk to blow shit up?" Soundwave breathed, the words tumbling from numb lips as his brain strained to process the incomprehensible sight. This wasn't just some simple ambush, not with shit like this in play. Kawajiri wasn't working alone. Someone must be around the scene!... and whoever or whatever he'd teamed up with had powers as far beyond Soundwave's as the sun was to a flickering candle.
The hero's pulse roared in his ears like a freight train as the sheer enormity of the trap he'd blundered into crashed over him. Bile scorched the back of his throat and raw, mindless panic clawed at his nerves, screaming at him to turn and flee deeper into the alleyway, heedless of the untold horrors that might lurk within. But before he could so much as twitch...
Click. Click. Click.
The sound of measured, inexorable footsteps echoed from the shadows behind him, each dress-shoed footfall as loud as a gunshot in the suffocating silence. Soundwave's blood turned to ice in his veins as the leisurely pace of the steps spoke of a predator who knew its prey was well and truly cornered. There was no need to rush... because there was no possibility of escape.
Slowly, helplessly, as if compelled by an irresistible force, Soundwave turned back to face the oncoming threat - and beheld a vision that would forever be seared into the screaming vaults of his memory.
A bone-white smile cut through the darkness like a crescent moon, all the more terrifying for its eerie calm. Shadows seemed to boil and writhe around a lean, suit-clad figure as it strode forward with easy arrogance, every inch the unhurried master of its domain. Fathomless eyes glittered with cruel amusement above sharp, patrician cheekbones, drinking in Soundwave's paralyzed terror like a fine wine.
As Soundwave's trembling hand inched towards his guitar, desperate to unleash his quirk and fight his way out of this nightmare, the shadowed figure abruptly halted his advance. The young hero's heart seized in his chest as the realization struck him like a thunderbolt - his enemy was still a good eight meters away, well outside the effective range of his sonic attacks. He was utterly helpless, completely at the mercy of this unholy creature that had effortlessly ensnared him.
Soundwave's assailant stood motionless, his suit-clad form seeming to drink in the darkness that pooled around him. Inscrutable eyes raked over the paralyzed hero, a faint sneer of contempt curling at the corners of his lips. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low, cultured drawl that oozed condescension and disdain.
"Really? This is the whelp that had the temerity to chase me? I must confess, I was expecting someone a touch more... impressive."
The man canted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening as he subjected Soundwave to an uncomfortably intense scrutiny. The young hero had the unnerving sensation of being dissected, laid bare and analyzed down to his very atoms by those fathomless, glittering eyes.
"But then again, perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss you," the figure mused, his tone turned coldly speculative. "You clearly knew something of me, to have pursued me with such dogged determination. That speaks to either insider knowledge... or a woeful lack of self-preservation instinct."
Soundwave swallowed hard around the lump of ice in his throat, his mouth and tongue suddenly as dry as the Sahara. Every instinct screamed to keep his fool mouth shut, to not give this archvillain any more ammunition to use against him... but he couldn't seem to override his brain's panicked impulse to fill the suffocating silence.
"I... I'm a h-hero," he stammered, his voice thready and cracking. "W-was following a lead on your l-location. Y-you're wanted for questioning in connection to-"
"A hero?" The man cut across Soundwave's halting explanation, his voice dripping with scorn. "Is that what passes for a costumed do-gooder in this place? Interesting."
The figure took a single, menacing step forward, his immaculate dress shoes whispering against the grimy alley floor. Soundwave cringed back involuntarily, a low keen of pure, animal terror building in his constricted throat.
"As to me being wanted..." The man's chuckle was a dark, obscene thing, rife with cruel amusement. "I've only been active in this world for a scant few hours... and I only met some officers around 28 minutes earlier... Pretty impressed. Either your intelligence network is far more efficient than I had ever anticipated... or you are far more resourceful than your laughable appearance would suggest. Regardless, your fumbling little interrogation ends here and now."
Another step, and another, each stride slow and deliberate, each footfall echoing like the bang of a judge's gavel in the sepulchral hush. Soundwave was nearly panting now, cold sweat slicking his body and rolling down his face in rivulets. The shadows around them seemed to thicken and roil with each passing second, clustering close around the approaching figure like a living shroud.
The man came to a halt bare inches away from the young hero, the pristine white of his suit almost blinding in the narrow strip of sickly light that filtered in from the distant street. His smile was a slash of purest malice in the gloom, all traces of urbanity stripped away to reveal the grinning rictus of a demon.
"You know, you rather remind me of an... 'acquaintance' I had, back in my old life," he purred, his minty breath scalding against Soundwave's cheek. "He was a bothersome little twerp too... always interfering in matters that didn't concern him, always needing to be smacked down and put in his place. It will be quite nostalgic to re-educate another arrogant pup who doesn't know his proper station."
Suddenly, moving faster than Soundwave could track, the man seized the front of the young hero's costume in an unbreakable grip, hauling him up nearly off his feet until they were nose to nose. His eyes were pits of pure malevolence, twin black holes that promised nothing but unending pain and horror.
The hero's bladder nearly let go, raw and all-consuming terror blotting out all other thoughts.
"I am Yoshikage Kira," the nightmare said, his words flowing with a neutral tone as he introduced himself. "But in this world, I go by Kosaku Kawajiri. Allow me to enlighten you about the life I lead."
Kira's grip on Soundwave's costume tightened, his knuckles whitening with the force of his grasp. His voice took on a hypnotic, almost dreamy quality as he began to speak, his eyes distant and unfocused.
"I'm 33 years old. My house was in the northeast section of Morioh, where all the villas are, and I am not married. I worked as an employee for the Kame Yu department stores, and I used to get home every day by 8 PM at the latest. I don't smoke, but I occasionally drink."
Soundwave stared at his captor in mute incomprehension, his terror briefly forgotten in the face of this bizarre non-sequitur. What the fuck was this psycho on about? Was this some kind of deranged villain monologue?
Kira continued, heedless of the young hero's confusion. "I'm in bed by 11 PM, and make sure I get eight hours of sleep, no matter what. After having a glass of warm milk and doing about twenty minutes of stretches before going to bed, I usually have no problems sleeping until morning. Just like a baby, I wake up without any fatigue or stress in the morning. I was told there were no issues at my last check-up."
The serial killer leaned in even closer, his nose almost brushing Soundwave's as his voice dropped to a fervent whisper. "I'm trying to explain that I'm a person who wishes to live a very quiet life. I take care not to trouble myself with any enemies, like winning and losing, that would cause me to lose sleep at night. That is how I deal with society, and I know that is what brings me happiness. Although, if I were to fight I wouldn't lose to anyone."
Soundwave's brain spun like a hamster on a wheel, trying desperately to make sense of this surreal monologue. Was this man seriously just casually sharing his fucking life story and daily routine like they were on a goddamn coffee date? What the actual shit-humping Christ was happening right now?
Kira abruptly released his hold on the hero's costume, sending Soundwave staggering back on rubbery legs. The killer smiled, a cold, reptilian expression utterly devoid of warmth or humanity.
"But none of that matters now. This identity, this life... it's temporary. As soon as I reach the Metamorphosis beauty salon, I will shed this skin and disappear into the faceless masses. Kosaku Kawajiri will vanish like a ghost, and Yoshikage Kira will be living his life peacefully as he always wanted..."
Soundwave gaped at the madman, a hysterical bubble of laughter threatening to burst from his chest. "W-why are you telling me all this?" he croaked, his voice cracking like a pubescent boy's. "You d-don't think I'll report everything you just said to the authorities the s-second I get out of here?"
For a long, stretching moment Kira simply stared at the young hero - his eyes flat and lifeless, empty of all emotion. Then, with a languorous, almost sensual motion, he raised his left hand and pointed his index finger directly at Soundwave's forehead.
"Oh, you sweet, stupid child," Kira purred, his lips peeling back from his teeth in a deranged smile. "What makes you think you're getting out of here at all? I'm afraid your 'hero' career ends... along with your pathetic little life."
Soundwave's hammering heart seemed to stutter and freeze in his chest, the bottom dropping out of his stomach with sickening speed. The darkness crowded close, eager and greedy, the fetid alleyway suddenly morphing into the lightless gullet of a ravenous beast.
As the shadows lunged forward to swallow him whole, Soundwave felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash over him - a suffocating aura that emanated from the madman before him. It was reminiscent of the oppressive presence of Emerald Enchantress when she is angry, but distinct in its own way, like the difference between drowning in icy water or being smothered by thick, oily smoke.
Desperate to escape the psychic miasma that threatened to engulf him, Soundwave lashed out with his guitar, shoving Kira away with a burst of panicked strength. The serial killer stumbled back, momentarily caught off guard, and the young hero used that brief window to scramble to his feet, his chest heaving as he gulped down precious lungfuls of air.
Kira regained his balance with uncanny grace, his eyes narrowing to flinty slits as he watched Soundwave with predatory intent. The hero's hands shook as he fumbled for his guitar, his fingers slipping on the sweat-slick strings. With a wordless cry of desperation, he activated his quirk, unleashing a concentrated blast of sound directly at his tormentor.
The sonic wave slammed into Kira like a runaway freight train as he coughed, his ears almost exploding and sending him flying backward to crash against the alley wall. For a moment, Soundwave dared to hope that he had bought himself a precious few seconds to escape, to put some distance between himself and that monster.
But that hope was short-lived.
Kira rose to his feet with deliberate slowness, brushing the dirt and debris from his pristine white suit with precise, fastidious motions. He seemed utterly unfazed by the attack, as if being hit with a focused sonic blast was no more troubling than a light breeze ruffling his hair... thanks to his little companion, Stray Cat.
Just before the sonic blast could reach him, the dense cushion of compressed air stood ready, dispersing the energy of the attack. Kira, ever the meticulous planner, had anticipated such a confrontation. Before he even confronted the hero, he had already deployed Stray Cat to strategically place air bubbles around his vital points.
These invisible pockets of condensed air, meticulously arranged, served as a preemptive defense mechanism. The sound waves, reliant on the air as their medium, encountered these areas of altered density and immediately disrupted their lethality for any ordinary man. The sudden change in air pressure scattered and diffused the sonic energy, preventing it from maintaining its concentrated force.
Stray Cat had effectively created an invisible shield, a barrier of condensed air that nullified the attack's inner side effects on the organs. To any observer, it would appear as though Kira possessed an otherworldly resilience.
"You know, that actually stung a little," Kira remarked casually, his voice calm and conversational. "I can see why you fancy yourself a 'hero' with that little trick up your sleeve. But I'm afraid your quirk, as you call it, is outmatched by the power I wield."
Soundwave's eyes widened in horrified comprehension as Kira raised his left hand once more, his fingers splayed wide. The air around the killer's hand seemed to shimmer and warp, like heat rising from sun-baked asphalt, and the hero felt the dread weight of that strange aura intensify a hundredfold.
"My Stand, 「Killer Queen」, has the power to turn anything it touches into a bomb... including living flesh."
Soundwave's blood turned to ice in his veins as the full implications of Kira's words crashed over him. Stand? What is it? He stared down at his own body in mute horror, his mind reeling as he tried to comprehend the fact that he had essentially been transformed into a living weapon - a human bomb just waiting to be detonated.
Kira looked at him as if he was ready to dispose trash, like he was nothing but mere annoyance rather than any threat. He began to slowly close his outstretched hand, his fingers curling inwards like the legs of a dying spider.
"And now, my bothersome little pursuer..." Kira said with a monotonous tone. "It's time to bid farewell. 「Killer Queen」... detonate!"
The young hero's body seemed to swell and distort, his flesh bubbling and bulging grotesquely as the bomb within him reached critical mass. For a single, horrifying instant, he felt himself expanding outwards, his molecules straining at the very limits of their bonds.
Then, with a blinding flash of light and a thunderous roar that shook the earth, Soundwave exploded - his body disintegrating into its component atoms, erased from existence in the blink of an eye. The alleyway was scoured clean by the blast, every trace of the hero's presence vaporized in an instant.
Kira stood at the epicenter of the explosion, his suit was miraculously untouched, not a single gleaming hair out of place. He inhaled deeply of the ozone-tinged air, a look of dark satisfaction settling over his angular features.
"Ahh... such a lovely little firework display, I really needed that," the killer mused, brushing a microscopic speck of soot from his lapel. "But a tad too loud for my liking. In the future, I'll have to be more discreet in my disposal of irritants."
With that, Kira turned on his heel and strode away, walking out from the shadows as if he had never been there at all.
Kira walked briskly through the streets, now empty, his polished dress shoes clicking rhythmically against the pavement.
He had lingered too long, and indulged his sadistic impulses to the point of recklessness. The disposal of that meddlesome teen had been immensely satisfying, yes, but it had also taken a long time - the very antithesis of the subtle, low-profile approach he typically favored. The authorities were likely mobilizing if this hero was searching for him, apparently.
Kira's lips compressed into a thin, bloodless line, a flicker of irritation sparking in his flat, calculating eyes. This world was proving to be far more troublesome than he had anticipated. The presence of these so-called "heroes" - and the apparent efficiency of the police intelligence network - was an unforeseen complication, one that threatened to derail his carefully laid plans. He should have thought about it way before this happened, he is way too used to the past intelligence network of authorities who were way slower in the past.
He needed to accelerate his timetable, to shed this temporary skin and disappear before the net closed in around him.
- TO BE CONTINUED! -
A/N: I'm really sorry about that whole bait-and-switch there. I know it must have been frustrating to build up all that anticipation and then not get the payoff you were expecting.
Believe me, I've been there - you have this awesome scene planned out in your head and then when it comes time to actually write it, it just doesn't come together the way you envisioned.
But I'm glad I was still able to give you something to read, even if it wasn't the big climactic conclusion you were hoping for. I tried to really build up the details and make Kira's abilities shine, you know? I wanted you to be able to visualize it all clearly - the way he's always one step ahead, how he uses Stray Cat's powers so strategically. Hopefully, that helped make the wait a little more bearable.
Honestly, I agonized over how to handle this. I had so many different ideas with the police stepping in and so on, but none of them felt quite right. But I think this version gets across the core of what I was going for.
Anyway, I hope you still enjoyed the read, even if it wasn't the conclusion for this arc you were expecting.
I hope you have a great rest of your day and night! Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.