Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

All for One growled, shattering the screen. He had enough. Many people have tried to ruin his plans to transform this rotten system, from the short-sighted followers of his younger brother to the government mongrels (as if they weren't the ones who put him on the throne of the Underworld), but this mercenary who calls herself Themis has crossed all the lines. He swore that even the damned All might hadn't caused him so much trouble. Recently, Themis had destroyed a major branch of his business, leaving behind only a burning building and a pile of corpses. He could restore his financial flow, but if this damned mercenary didn't stop attacking, all his resources would go to hell again. He clenched his fists. It was decided: he would deal with this little pest personally. 

The familiar sinister grin returned to his face. This little mercenary will rue the day she ever decided to contact him. By the time he's done with her, not even the dust will remain. Garaki probably wants to claim her body for his new experiments, codenamed "Nomu," but he'll have to accept the loss. All for One won't let anyone bully him. 

Hisashi rubbed his eyes as a sharp wave of pain pierced them. Due to the loss of his platonic soulmate a century ago, even with his many Quirks and the good doctor's constant care, he was now nearly blind. Such was the price for not having his platonic soulmate by his side—his eyes became empty, white, and sightless. With each passing day, he was increasingly forced to rely on echolocation as an alternative way to see the world, and this would continue until he could at least regain what little remained of his soulmate—the Quirk One for All. Yoichi, his younger brother - words couldn't describe the agonizing pain Hisashi felt when Yoichi died. It was his fault. He shook his head; there was no point in dwelling on what was lost. First, All for One would destroy this scurrying parasite, and then he would take away the Quirk of his brotherly soulmate from All Might. 

He had studied all the attacks in detail to understand what to expect from this new enemy. Themis was intelligent, well-trained, armed, and powerful enough to destroy an entire gang of his pawns single-handedly, and her Quirk… All for One suspected it had something to do with molecular control. He rubbed his chin. Probably something telekinetic, judging by the few surviving CCTV footage. 

Having studied the enemy thoroughly, All for One began to think of a way to lure the mercenary into a trap. She wouldn't show up if she knew he was there (the clever little devil knew the King of Crime was no match for her) and would try to escape if he showed up. No, this little parasite was attacking stealthily, methodically destroying valuable assets. So his presence had to be hidden, or better yet, officially, he'd have to be somewhere else entirely. Well, he had a Quirk for just that, which needed testing. 

*** 

Inko slipped silently into the depths of the warehouse where a deal was to take place between one of All for One's pawns and a notorious drug lord. The Commission's orders were crystal clear: destroy the warehouse along with all available Trigger, sparing no one. She would complete the task; after all, Inko owed everything to the Hero Commission. No one wanted to take the blind girl from the maternity hospital where her own mother had abandoned her without even a name, but the head of the Commission saw potential in her—the daughter of the legendary heroine Nana Shimura. 

Blind people were of no use to anyone—that was a fact, because in this world, you can only go blind if you don't have a soulmate. Such people have completely white, empty eyes. People like her are called Soulless. People usually become like this when their soulmate consciously sever their bond with them, which usually only happens if their soulmate does something their soulmate can't accept (something truly terrible), or if you're responsible for their death. Inko was born this way—she'd never seen sunlight, her eyes white and empty from the moment she took a breath. She was born with a hole in her chest that no one could fill. But the Commission had a role for her—that of an assassin, cleaning up the mess they left behind. All for One was the apotheosis of that mess, though she didn't know the full story of his relationship with the government, and the Commission in particular. She was simply presented with a fait accompli—she had to destroy his assets so that the rising Symbol of Peace could defeat All for One once and for all, and they could live in a bright future untainted by the darkness of the past. She didn't really care; she had a job to do, and she did it, and in return, she was provided with everything she needed. Point. 

Inko crept between the rows of crates, relying solely on hearing, touch, and her quirk, which she'd developed from simple telekinesis, effective only on small objects, to the point where she could sense the slightest vibrations of molecules. Themis eavesdropped on the conversation: All for One's pawn was discussing the price of the Trigger imported from America while his henchmen moved crates of the coveted drug. Time to act. 

She set explosives on the crates containing the Trigger, set to five minutes. That would be plenty of time. Inko stepped out from behind the crates, clenched her fist, and with one motion began strangling the drug lord. All for One's pawn didn't even move. He watched his business partner gasp with idle interest, as if he were watching an interesting performance. Inko frowned behind her blindfold. Strange. Usually, the pawns would either immediately rush into battle or flee upon seeing her. Well, it doesn't matter. The drug lord's men were attacking. 

Themis dodged the shooting spikes of one and the laser of another, then, attuned to their heartbeats, clenched her fist, ripping their hearts out. Another big guy attacked from behind. She dodged. The big guy growled, the air trembled, and the big guy began to distort, transforming into something more massive. Inko listened to the vibrations, dodging attacks from several more small fry just in time. The All for One minion remained motionless. Good, that would make killing him easier. When the big guy tried to strike her again, she touched him, and in an instant, he turned to dust. Inko dealt with the rest of the small fry with the same ease. 

The All for One pawn began to applaud. The claps were sharp, cold, and mocking. "I'm impressed, Themis. You've seriously messed things up for me, but today it's all over. Today you die." Suddenly, the air trembled and filled with a oppressive, bloodthirsty atmosphere. The servant began to change: judging by the vibrations of the molecules around him, he had grown taller and more muscular. Inko didn't need sight to recognize who stood before her. The King of Crime—All for One himself. 

She swallowed visibly, but showed no fear. "What a meeting! I didn't expect a special reception from the King of Crime himself. You're supposed to be in America, aren't you?" Sweat rolled down her forehead. All for One shouldn't be here. Had the Commission given her the wrong lead? 

"Let's just say plans have changed; my servant will be replacing me," All for One chuckled, waving his hand. The air trembled sharply, and alarm bells rang in Themis's head. Inko soared into the air before the ground she stood on exploded. Damn, he wasn't kidding. 

"Let me guess, your Quirk is something telekinetic? If I had to guess, it's probably some form of molecular manipulation. Am I right?" 

Inko gritted her teeth, dodging another attack. The timer continued counting down; if she didn't get out of here in the next two minutes, she'd be blown up along with this dilapidated warehouse. Themis pulled several speakers from her belt. This would hurt her too, but she had no choice. "You talk too much, old man." 

She threw a grenade at him. He brushed it aside like a pesky fly. Bang! The bomb exploded somewhere outside the warehouse. However, that was enough time for her to throw it at his feet and activate the speakers. All for One covered his ears with his hands. Inko tried her best not to wince at the sharp sound, like claws scraping on glass. It bothered her, too, but she had no choice—this was the only way to disorient All for One. Everyone knew All for One was Soulless. Rumor had it he'd killed his soulmate and gone blind because of it. Well, he deserves it. 

Inko flew away at top speed. Faster, this trick wouldn't distract him for long; she had to get away. She felt a sudden shift in the air, but she didn't have time to react—All for One caught up with her and attacked with a blast of compressed air. Themis lost her bearings and began to fall. At the last moment, she managed to land on her feet, but then another explosion almost caught her. It seemed her action had seriously enraged All for One. Damn. 

Inko turned up another speaker at full volume. Her ears were pierced by a sharp pain, and the sound made it impossible to focus on All for One's heartbeat or breathing. She couldn't squeeze his heart or larynx, but she had no choice. She couldn't be heard by him; she couldn't allow another attack. All for One's massive figure landed with a loud thud a few meters away, roaring like a wild animal and covering his ears with his hands. This was her chance! She extended her hand, closing the distance sharply—if she touched him, he would turn to dust. It would all be over, and Inko might even receive a reward from the Commission. That's it. Just a little more. All she had to do was touch him with five fingers... 

Grab! At the very last moment, All for One grabbed her arm. Had she miscalculated? Had All for One really found a way to see while being Soulless? Inko's shoulders slumped. Well, dying in battle wouldn't be so bad. That's what she thought until All for One ripped the blindfold from her eyes. Pain! The darkness suddenly gave way to... light? The blackness gave way to something Themis had never seen before—a multitude of what humans call colors, and the brightest of them all were All for One's eyes. What color was that? So bright and soothing. Inko saw his face in every detail, from his smooth skin with the barely noticeable dots right on his cheeks, his eyes that were definitely not soulless, though she didn't know what color they were, to his seemingly very fluffy hair. He was beautiful (not that she understood beauty). All for One simply froze and stared, not looking away or loosening his grip on her hand. 

"You... What did you do?" she asked, trying to catch her breath. "Is this some kind of Quirk?" 

"What did I do?" All for One frowned (Inko had never seen anyone frown before). "What did you do?! Why am I seeing you? I haven't seen anything since..." He bit his tongue. 

Her stomach sank. There was only one explanation. But no... No! This can't be! "Oh, for Kami's sake, it's impossible!" Inko began shaking her head from side to side. "You can't be my soulmate!" she cried as the warehouse exploded behind them, engulfing them both in a wave of heat. 

*** 

Soulmate... Just one word froze Hisashi. He didn't even notice the explosion behind him. It couldn't be. It was impossible! He already had a platonic soulmate—his beloved younger brother, Yoichi, and he'd died a hundred years ago! 

All for One took a sharp breath, trying to process the situation. He knew soulmates came in many forms—platonic ones: brotherly, friendly, parent-child—and romantic. But could one person have multiple soulmates? In theory, yes. Hisashi had never been interested in the subject, and there was no reason to. Yoichi was his entire world—his brother, and in a sense, his child, since their mother died. He never thought fate would grant him a second chance—having two soulmates was a rare thing, and, even with all his delusions of grandeur, All for One never considered himself one of those lucky few. He paused. Perhaps his age had played a role in this? But why, of all the people on the planet, did his soulmate have to be the one who had destroyed half his criminal empire? 

He closed his eyes. After so many years of absence, the light hurt. Everything around him was too bright, too vibrant, too… unnatural. Hisashi glanced at Themis again—she looked like a petite green-haired girl with the most beautiful jade eyes he had ever seen. All for One had never paid much attention to beauty before he went blind, but this girl, she was beautiful. The thought made him uneasy. 

“Hey, if you're not going to kill me, maybe you could let me go already?” She snapped at him. She had quite a temper for such a trivial matter. "My hand is already numb from your grip." 

"You're not going to try to kill me?" He raised an eyebrow in question. 

"Why? To become incomplete again, but through your own fault?" Hisashi reluctantly released his grip, and she turned away. "Kami, why? Why you, of all people? I've always hated you!" 

Hisashi crossed his arms. "Well, you know, I'm not a fan of you either. You've ruined everything for me with your endless attacks!" 

"I'm proud of that!" Themis crossed her arms. "You are the embodiment of evil!" 

"So, you're an angel from heaven?" All for One sneered. "Have you even counted how many people you've killed? Believe me, not all of them were utter villains." 

"You killed my mother!" 

"And the Commission you serve killed my brother, who was everything to me!" he exclaimed in response. Hisashi froze. Why was he even making excuses to her? All for One never stooped to justifying his actions, using the image of absolute evil to his advantage. She was his enemy! (She was his soulmate.) 

For a moment, there was a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of the warehouse collapsing behind them. 

"You're not going to kill me, are you?" Themis asked hesitantly. 

 He sighed. "No." 

So, what should they do now? She was his enemy, working for the Hero Commission, and he was the Symbol of Evil, the King of Crime, sworn to destroy this hypocritical society that had taken everything from him, driving him into deep darkness. How could they be soulmates if just a moment ago they were about to kill each other? 

"Then... perhaps we could discuss the current situation over a cup of coffee?" she suggested with a nervous laugh. 

Hisashi froze. He stood and watched. For a long time. The warehouse behind them was quietly burning. 

"What?" All for One finally asked, completely at a loss. 

Chapter Text

Hisashi drummed his fingers nervously on the countertop, hunched over in a back booth in the darkest corner of the café. He still couldn't understand how he'd gotten into all this mess, how his entire life had changed drastically in a matter of hours. Just recently, Hisashi knew who he was and what his future held. He was All for One, the fearsome Demon King, and his future promised greatness, triumph, when he would defeat the Heroes, reclaim the last piece of his brotherly soulmate, and lead a new world. Greatness, triumph, and... loneliness. Eternal loneliness, because his brother cannot be brought back. His Quirk was all he could get. And he didn't even have a grave to mourn Yoichi - the damned lynch mobs dragged his body away while Hisashi choked on his own blood on the cold, rain-soaked sidewalk. His eyes closed in pain. It was his fault—he couldn't protect the only thing that made his life bright, and for that, he remained in eternal darkness. 

At least, that was until Themis burst into his life… Inko Shimura, as she asked him to call her when they played civilians. Like now. He paused. Why did the name seem familiar? Shimura. Shimura, hmm, maybe that was the name of one of his pawns? While he was trying in vain to recall the identity of his new soulmate, the bell above the front door rang, announcing a new customer. Inko Shimura entered the café in unremarkable civilian clothes: a beige blouse and a pencil skirt. He wondered where she'd hidden her bulletproof vest under all that civilian clothing. Finding it, she slowly approached. He noticed she was wearing sunglasses. Hisashi chuckled. Apparently, regaining her sight hadn't been a smooth process for her. And for him too, to be honest, since he habitually navigated in space mainly with the help of echolocation. After so many years, in what was essentially the dark, visual information felt too surreal, unnatural. Unusual. It seemed they both would have to learn to see the world through their eyes. 

"You still haven't answered what I should call you when we're among civilians," Shimura said, sitting down on the sofa across the table. 

He thought for a moment, then replied, "Midoriya. Hisashi Midoriya." 

"Is that your real name?" She scraped her nails on the table. 

“The name is real, but the surname is not quite right,” he shrugged. "I took my mother's last name from her second marriage; my younger brother had it, but I never officially had it myself." 

"And what's your real last name?" 

"Shigaraki."

Shimura chuckled. "Suitable for you. So, Midoriya," Shimura emphasized his last name, "have you decided what we're going to do next?" 

"I thought your cheeky offer to grab some coffee meant you'd be the one making the decision," Hisashi chuckled, raising an eyebrow. 

Shimura looked embarrassed, visibly cringing and hanging her head. "Someone had to extend an olive branch, right? And it certainly wouldn't be you, Mister King of Evil." 

Hisashi snorted contemptuously. And here is the former insolence and sarcasm. That's better, otherwise he'd thought he'd have to restructure the entire dynamic of their relationship. "I have a couple of thoughts," he said, leaning back in his seat with a tired sigh. 

"I'm listening," Shimura folded her arms over her chest. 

"Not now," Hisashi pointed to the waitress approaching them. 

A friendly girl with black hair and bunny ears approached them, smiling warmly at Hisashi. "Have you decided what you'll order yet?" 

"I'll have an espresso without sugar, please," he said, giving the waitress a flirtatious smile out of habit, only to receive a very embarrassed look from her and a very cold, disdainful look from Shimura. 

He chuckled to himself; watching Shimura's reaction was pure pleasure, although he had no idea what exactly had angered her this time. Shimura shook her head. "You're so boring! Even the coffee you choose is the blandest," she said, turning to the waitress. "I'll have a large caramel latte, with plenty of syrup, and a chocolate cheesecake, please." 

"Okay, your order will be ready in ten minutes," the waitress said, leaving them alone. 

Shimura slammed her hands on the tabletop. "Give me your ideas, let's end this farce." 

He shrugged, but otherwise didn't show that her abruptness had offended him. "For a girl who so brazenly invited her enemy, who, ironically, turned out to be your soulmate, to have coffee, you're a bit too tense. Relax." 

“Don't beat around the bush, All for One, spill it.” 

Hisashi sighed wearily. "Good. First of all, you need to sever all ties with the Hero Commission." 

"Why?" Shimura scratched the tabletop. “I owe everything to the Commission, they raised me, gave me shelter, helped me survive in a world that rejected me because of my blindness, which, I believe, I owe to you!” 

Hisashi laughed loudly. Who was she trying to convince? Shimura couldn't seriously be such a naive fool. "Wake up, Shimura, they simply used you. They gave you nothing, they took away your chance at a normal life. What do you think will happen when they realize you're no longer blind and that you're my soulmate?" He heard Shimura's pulse quicken with mounting anger. She didn't want to hear it, but Hisashi wasn't about to spare her wounded heart. This was a matter of their future fulfilling lives. "I'll tell you: they'll either kill you to weaken me, or they'll use you against me." 

Shimura gritted her teeth, then forced herself to lean back in her seat. "As if you wouldn't use me. You only need me to keep from going blind, as you deserve." 

"Of course," he waved his hand. "But it's mutual. Tell me, don't you want to see this world with your own eyes? Don't you want to be complete? With me, you can have a full life, and that's exactly what I'm offering you." All for One extended his hand. He had made his move, and the decision was hers. 

*** 

Inko clenched her hands under the table. She knew perfectly well what All for One was offering her—a deal with the Devil. If she agreed, she'd lose everything in pursuit of the unattainable. However, the alternative, becoming a sacrificial lamb for the benefit of the Heroic Commission, didn't appeal to her either. Still, with All for One, she had more room to maneuver—the Commission knew all her weaknesses, while she herself didn't know enough about their shady dealings to bargain for her life and freedom. With All for One, with Midoriya, the situation was different. 

"You will give me everything I desire: money, status, protection—and under no circumstances will you bully me. Those are my terms." 

“Why is that?” Midoriya chuckled. 

She closed the distance and whispered venomously, "Otherwise, I will sever our connection, leaving you deservedly in darkness and solitude forever." 

She heard his teeth grinding, his heart pounding furiously. Apparently, the great and terrible Demon King didn't like the taste of his own medicine. Let him get used to it, he won’t be able to do it any other way with her. Inko wouldn't let anyone turn her into a docile puppet. 

"You understand that this will affect you too, right? When the connection is severed, you won't go blind, but the world will lose all color, become gloomy and colorless, and your eyes will turn forever gray. And this won't just affect external differences; your very soul will slowly lose its color and fade, until eventually you'll either wish to reconnect or die." 

"I'm willing to take the risk. And you?" She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. 

Midoriya frowned. He stared at her for a long moment, then sighed, giving in. "Fine. I agree, but we'll have to come up with some kind of cover story about why I not only didn't kill you when we met, but am willing to give you so much without asking for anything in return. I can't just tell everyone you're my soulmate. That would instantly paint a target on your back for all my enemies." 

Inko snorted. She didn't see any problem with him making up a cover story. "Just say you fell head over heels in love with me at first sight and decided to give me the whole world." 

"W-what?!" His face changed color, and his breathing hitched. If Inko hadn't known better, she would have thought the formidable Demon King was as embarrassed as a teenager. "Why should I say that?" 

She shrugged. "What's wrong with that? People love sappy romantic stories." 

“I can't stand you! You destroyed a good half of my empire, and now…” his face became even more intensely colored, he ran his hands through his short, fluffy locks, muttering, “now I have to pretend to be crazy about you?” 

“If it’s any consolation, I’ll have to pretend too, because it means I’m betraying the Commission for you.” Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the thought of pretending to be crazy about him. Naturally, her heart pounded with anger. Sure, he was incredibly handsome (Inko obviously knew nothing about beauty), the color of his eyes, though she had no idea what color they were, had already become her favorite, incredibly charismatic and powerful, like the Devil himself, but Inko swore to herself she’d never fall in love with him. Never! 

Midoriya opened his mouth, but was interrupted by the waitress appearing in their space, carrying their order. She indifferently placed Inko's latte and cheesecake in front of her, then leaned toward All for One with a decidedly flirtatious air, placing his tasteless espresso and... another scoop of cheesecake in front of him? 

"Thank you," Midoriya said, making another face that made the waitress's heartbeat quicken and her face change color, becoming brighter. For the first time, Inko saw what embarrassment looked like, and it irritated her. Midoriya, meanwhile, frowned (if she was correctly interpreting that emotion visually), looking at the second scoop of dessert. "I don't remember ordering cheesecake." 

"This is from me," the waitress whispered, clearly hoping Inko wouldn't hear, then ran her hand down Midoriya's jacket and, judging by the rustling sound, shoved some paper into his pocket. "Call me, handsome." 

Straightening up, the waitress winked at Midoriya and hurried away, swaying her hips seductively. Inko wanted to dissipate something into molecules. How dare All for One deceive an innocent fool who fell for his pretty face while they were in the midst of a meeting? 

"You certainly have nerve, Midoriya," she spat sharply as the waitress left. 

All for One blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?" 

"Don't be a fool. How dare you seduce naive fools when we're practically having a fateful meeting here?" 

"I assure you, I didn't do anything. People, especially girls like that—naive fools, as you call them—flock to me like flies," he shrugged indifferently. "I never understood that." 

Inko snorted contemptuously. "Yeah, of course, that's what I believed." 

Midoriya tilted his head, baring his teeth, just as he had done with the waitress, but much more naturally in front of her (based on social interaction and purely visual perception, Inko could tell it was a smile). "Are you jealous?" 

"Why would that be?" She grabbed her glass and sipped her incredibly sweet latte. The sweet, slightly tart taste of coffee filled her taste buds. Just how Inko liked it. Sweets were one of the few pleasures in a life filled with training, assassinations, and various Commission assignments since childhood. 

"So," Midoriya sipped his vile, bitter coffee, "we'll have to pretend to be a couple. How do you envision it, Shimura?" 

"First, we'll have to call each other by our first names, Hisashi-kun." The name All for One rolled surprisingly easily from Inko's lips. For such a monster, he had quite a resonant name. 

"Okay, Inko-chan," he replied after a moment's hesitation. 

Inko's heart sank. No one had ever called her by the name she'd given herself as a teenager, unwilling to be just Project Themis, as the Commission called her. She never thought something as simple as calling her by her first name could make butterflies flutter in her stomach. What was wrong with her? Inko wasn't herself today. Had All for One used some kind of Quirk on her? Or was it just the euphoria of regaining sight and connecting with her soulmate that was taking its toll on her? 

"What are we supposed to do as a couple, other than this?" - Midoriya, Hisashi was fussily drumming his fingers on the table. 

"What kind of childish questions are you asking?" Inko protested. "Have you never been on a date before?" 

She expected him to laugh at her, to say he was just making fun of her, and that he had a wealth of experience, including numerous dates and, Kami knew what else. Instead, he slouched, his face changing color again. Was he... embarrassed? “I didn’t have time for that,” he admitted, taking another sip of coffee. 

Inko's eyebrows shot up. For some reason she found it very funny. “Seriously? You might as well tell me you're still a virgin.” 

But Mido... Hisashi cringed in response, crossing his arms over his chest. "For your information, it wasn't for lack of offers. I've simply never been interested in sex, that's all." 

“I have no doubt,” Inko said, laughing. 

Lack of attraction to people other than one's romantic soulmate wasn't common, but she couldn't deny the possibility that All for One might experience it. If she remembered correctly, this phenomenon was common among those who had difficulty forming attachments to people outside their soulmates. Because of this, such individuals became fixated on their soulmate, to the point of obsession. Inko would have to take this into account. 

"And you?" Hisashi looked at her intently. "Do you have any experience with relationships?" 

"No," she admitted honestly, tasting her cheesecake. "No one would date a Soulless, not to mention the Commission wouldn't approve of such a distraction from work." 

"So, this is a first for both of us." He leaned back in his seat. "Any ideas what we should do?" 

Inko shrugged. "If neither of us has any experience with relationships, then we'll be acting like they do in those cheesy romance novels." 

"I hate to break it to you, but I've never read a single cheesy romance novel in my entire life."  

“Well, then, you’re lucky,” she said, looking away, embarrassed. “I went through a period when I devoured audiobooks about love.” 

Hisashi laughed, not mockingly, but rather genuinely amused at her expense. “Are you a romantic at heart? I find that hard to believe.” 

She was embarrassed, her face heating up. “I had a… period,” Inko admitted quietly. “I also wanted to dream of something other than endless Commission missions, blood, and death!” She slammed her fist on the table. “And what’s wrong with that?!” 

He touched her hand, squeezing it in his huge palm. “Calm down, I wouldn’t dare judge you for something like that. I understand.” From his voice, from the way Hisashi looked into her eyes, she was convinced he wasn’t lying. 

Inko visibly relaxed, realizing that, unlike the Commission members who criticized her for any hint of weakness, he wouldn't judge her. Hisashi would understand, and this realization made her breathe a little easier. Then, however, she reasserted her stoic warrior persona, wrenching her hand from his gentle grip. "It's good you're so understanding, otherwise I'd kick you in the ass for daring to mock me." 

He raised his hands in surrender. "I won't even think about laughing at you." 

"Excellent," Inko nodded. "Let's rehearse." 

His eyebrows shot up. "Rehearse? How exactly?" 

She considered. What exactly could they do in this situation that wouldn't look inappropriate. She immediately put aside kisses and hugs. Firstly, she had no desire to hug, much less kiss, All for One, thank you very much, and secondly, in their society, such public displays of affection were considered bad form. Then she glanced at his untouched cheesecake. "I can feed you cheesecake." 

"What?!" Hisashi was dumbfounded. "Why? I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself!" His face changed color again. 

"It's considered a romantic gesture to feed each other," Inko explained, her expression unperturbed. "What's so worked up about this?" 

"That's ridiculous!" 

"It's to make the story more believable, that's all." She adjusted her sunglasses on her nose. "Don't take it so seriously." 

He ran a hand over his face, sighing wearily. "Fine. But it's just for business." 

Inko snorted. “As if I would feed you for nothing,” she took a spoon, scooped up a piece of cheesecake and brought the spoon to his mouth. Midoriya looked at her with obvious displeasure for a moment, then opened his mouth and allowed herself to be fed. A soft groan escaped his lips, after which he licked the remaining cream from the corner of his lips, causing Inko, extremely embarrassed, to almost drop her spoon. She hadn't expected such a sound from All for One, and his lips looked so enticing (then again, Inko had no idea, having never seen a man with her own eyes before). 

"This is quite tasty," he remarked after chewing. 

"Have you never had cheesecake? You're such a bore," Inko chuckled, hiding her ragged breathing from him. 

Hisashi shrugged. "I try to eat healthy. I need to maintain a certain appearance; I don't need extra rolls of fat." 

“Are you saying that those steel-hard muscles you hide under your business suit are natural, and not the result of some Quirk? I can hardly imagine All for One going to the gym.” 

"I don't go to the gym, but the endless battles with Heroes and rival Villains keep me in shape. Plus, I enjoy studying martial arts and kendo in my free time." 

These words caught her attention. She was very interested to see All for One fighting without the aid of his many Quirks. "Do you master martial arts and kendo? In our battle, you mostly showed off your Quirk power; I never imagined you were a fighter." She finally finished her cheesecake and took a final sip of coffee. 

"Martial arts and kendo are something of a hobby," Hisashi finished his cheesecake. "An old habit, a hangover from a past life, to put it mildly. I rarely use my skills in battle; it doesn't fit my image as the King of Crime." 

"You're strange," Inko concluded. 

"It is what it is," he wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up from the table. "Well, I think we can end our conversation here. I have other things to do, and it's late." 

"Wait!" Inko grabbed his lapel. "There's one more problem we haven't solved." 

“Which?” He turned, listening intently. 

"I... have nowhere to live," she looked away. "I lived in the security apartment, but..." 

"You can't go back there, since they're probably under 24/7 surveillance and wiretapping," Hisashi rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. "Okay, then, here you go," he tossed something at her. 

She reflexively grabbed what turned out to be a set of keys. "What is this?" 

“The keys to my house. It's in Musutafu City, right next to Tatooine Station, a private residence. Midoriya's name is written on a sign, including in Braille. You should be able to find it without any trouble.” 

"You're giving me the keys to your house?" Inko frowned. She didn't see the logic in this. "You do know that just a couple of hours ago I wanted to kill you?" 

Hisashi snorted. "You have no interest in betraying me, Inko-chan. Besides, I hardly ever spend nights at home, mostly staying in rented apartments all over Japan or abroad. It would be useful to have someone watch the house in my absence." 

She clenched her fists. How could he just hand her the keys to his own house? Did he underestimate her? Didn't he consider her a threat? This infuriated her. "I'm your enemy, and, in case you've forgotten, I don't like you!" 

He looked into her eyes. He stared for a long moment, intently, and then said, "If you can't even trust your soulmate, then who can you trust? Think about that at your leisure, Inko-chan." Hisashi turned and headed to the counter to pay. 

Inko watched him go for a long moment. 

Chapter Text

"If you can't even trust your soulmate, then who can you trust?" His own words played incessantly in his head, haunting him. Hisashi truly believed it. For him, the bond between soulmates was sacred. His entire eternal life, which had stretched on for over a century, had been dedicated to his brother-soulmate. He had done everything for him: he killed his yakuza father when he began threatening Yoichi's life, considering Hisashi's soulmate a weakness; he endured years of bullying and humiliation from the Metahuman Control Commission, later renamed the Heroic Public Safety Commission (but which remained true to its rotten essence); he led a vigilante network; he built a city where their kind could live in safety. After the Musutafu incident (which he would rather not even think about—it was too painful), he protected his brother with all his might, as the only thing he had left in this life; he finally gave him his Quirk. Hell, the moment Yoichi, his foolish, idealistic little brother, extended his hand, begging Hisashi to abandon his plans for revenge, he'd have been willing to do anything to get his soulmate back. And then came that fateful shot, piercing them both. Hisashi vividly remembered reaching out to his brother through the pain of a ruptured lung, watching Yoichi's emerald eyes fade along with his own, and how the cruelly cursed Kudo had taken his little brother's limp body without even giving him a chance to say goodbye. From then on, his life was dedicated to two things: the return of the only living part of his brother and revenge on the Commission. 

That was until he met Inko Shimura. Inko—what a beautiful name for a woman who, with her mere existence, had accomplished what he thought impossible—brought back the color of the world to him. She was his soulmate—a new meaning to his existence and, at the same time, a second chance to do everything right. But it wasn't that simple. Hisashi had never believed that fate would grant him a second chance. He hadn't sought love, hadn't wanted a family, and had deliberately avoided getting close to anyone for over a hundred years, focusing solely on his own plans. So what now? Was All for One supposed to abandon all his plans and devote himself entirely to his soulmate? Hisashi shook his head. He'd be a fool to simply throw all his plans away, inspired by thoughts of happiness and love. Firstly, that damn Commission would never leave him alone, and secondly, Inko hardly tolerated his presence in her life. 

His own feelings were quite conflicted: on the one hand, he wanted to know everything about her, make her the happiest girl in the world, and protect her like his most cherished treasure. Anything, just so as not to be left again with a hole where my heart was and emptiness in my eyes. On the other hand, Hisashi couldn't forget that this impudent girl had ruined a good half of his business. In their brief meeting over a cup of coffee, she irritated him more than anyone else had in the last hundred years, except perhaps his brother's annoying followers. Inko Shimura had deliberately irritated him, gotten under his skin, and made him lose the control he'd honed over decades. She was dangerous to him, and he couldn't forget that for a second. Yes, Inko was his soulmate, but she herself had declared that she still considered him an enemy. All for One had to be careful—one wrong move, and Shimura could easily stab him in the back, regardless of the harm she might inflict on herself. She was raised by the Commission after all, he shouldn't forget that. 

That's why he'd given her the keys to his house. Hisashi would watch her, watch her like a hawk. He wouldn't lose his soulmate a second time, but he wouldn't let himself get carried away by his feelings and fall into a trap. All for One would take control. He switched the monitor to the cameras from his house. Inko hadn't arrived yet. Hisashi drummed his fingers impatiently on the tabletop. What had taken her so long? Was she lost? In trouble? Or had she simply decided not to accept his offer? Perhaps he should have gone with her? To make sure Inko arrived safe and sound? 

"Master, are you listening to me?" Garaki interrupted his thoughts. 

Hisashi glanced at the doctor, who was chattering incessantly about his new project, "Nomu." 

"Garaki, what do you think of Themis?" 

The good doctor frowned, his glasses gleaming maliciously. "About that parasite that destroyed a good half of your business?" She certainly has exceptional abilities; she'll be the perfect test subject for my project. With luck, she'll make a top-notch Nomu. I just need to get my hands on her body… 

All for One slammed his fist down on the table. "Forget it, Themis is under my protection. If a single hair falls from her green head, I'll skin you alive. Do I make myself clear?" He wouldn't allow anyone to threaten his soulmate. No one. 

Garaki visibly shuddered, turning as white as a sheet. "Y-yes, sir. But may I ask, what are you planning to do with her? She won't stop attacking, will she?" 

"Don't worry about it. We came to a..." Hisashi smiled mirthlessly, remembering the terms of their agreement, "a compromise." 

"A compromise?" 

All for One nodded. "Yes, she will cease her attacks and sever all ties with the Hero Commission, and in exchange, I will give her whatever her heart desires." 

Garaki was silent for a moment, but then finally dared to ask a question that obviously made his bald head boil. "That's not like you, Master. You usually don't seek compromises with your enemies, but rather make an example of them. May I ask, why did you decide to act differently with Themis?" 

Hisashi sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Garaki, how long have we known each other?" 

"More than a century, Master. One hundred and two years, if I'm not mistaken." 

"Over these years, I've entrusted you with the most important thing—my health. You are the only one who knows the truth about why I became Soulless, the only one I've trusted with the truth about my platonic soulmate, and the only one who knows the true meaning of One for All to me. You are devoted to me and me alone; over the years, you've never given me a reason to doubt you, so to you and you alone I will tell the truth," he took a deep breath and finally said. "Themis is my second soulmate." 

For a moment, the shelter was deafeningly silent. Garaki remained silent, clearly struggling to process what he'd just heard. "Is Themis your romantic soulmate?" he clarified. 

All for One frowned. Why did Garaki look so worried? "I suppose so. She's definitely not related to me, and I don't seek her friendship. Why do you ask?"

"Sir, you do realize that romantic soulmates are different from platonic ones, right?" 

Hisashi folded his hands thoughtfully. "Different? How exactly?" 

"Physiologically, first and foremost. Romantic soulmates are incredibly drawn to each other. You've never experienced attraction before, have you?" 

"That's none of your business, Garaki," he said, crossing his arms. Yes, Hisashi didn't experience attraction, which is partly why he always rejected the numerous suitors who were literally ready to lick his shadow. He found it repulsive. He never desired physical intimacy with anyone, and he despised those who couldn't live without it. His criminal organization boasted a wide variety of ways to break the law, but sexual violence was not one of them. He considered such people animals, incapable of controlling their lust, and he tormented them in every way possible. 

"I suppose that means 'no,'" the kind doctor adjusted his glasses. "Well, then, congratulations, Master, you will now understand attraction in all its forms." For some reason, Hisashi thought there was not an ounce of joy in his faithful servant's words. 

"What do you mean? What does attraction have to do with it?" 

"I'll explain. Romantic soulmates are created for the purpose of procreation and starting a family, so at first, the attraction between such couples is practically irresistible. All other desires and impulses fade into the background until the birth of their first child, and sometimes even longer. Romantic soulmates typically start a family and have children within the first year of meeting. Rarely can they last longer," Garaki spread his hands, looking extremely annoyed. "Simple physiology; you can't go against it, unfortunately. This is very unfortunate for our plans, but I'm afraid your thoughts will now be entirely occupied with this girl."

All for One snorted contemptuously. "Nonsense. Physiology has never dictated my terms, and that will not change. You have nothing to worry about, Garaki." 

But the good doctor was adamant. "What did you experience when you first met the girl, Master?" 

"What difference does it make?" 

"Your breathing and heartbeat quickened, your cheeks burned, you felt a tingling sensation in your stomach, your thoughts became confused, and you felt a wild desire to touch the girl?" Garaki listed the symptoms indifferently, and with each word, Hisashi paled, because everything the doctor listed was true. But his servant didn't even think of stopping. "This is only the beginning. From now on, you'll think about her constantly, separation from the girl will become unbearable, and also... your vision will rapidly deteriorate with prolonged separation."

All for One rubbed his eyes. This was too much. How did people ever live with romantic soulmates? It felt like the worst kind of curse. "And what should I do about it?" 

"I advise you not to resist this, Master. It's an unpleasant time, no doubt, but it's all temporary. In a few years, when the attraction has subsided a bit, you can return to your plans. Who knows, perhaps it's all for the best? Just imagine the offspring your union will produce. Limitless possibilities for experimentation." A mad glint lit Garaki's eyes at the mention of All for One and Themis' potential children. 

Hisashi shuddered. Though he'd never thought about family, he swore he'd never let a madman like Garaki lay a finger on his child. This would be his flesh and blood. His and Inko's. Before, the very idea of a family beyond his younger brother had disgusted Hisashi. Probably because his own parents had been at best cold, like his mother, who abandoned him shortly after birth, and at worst bastards, like his father, who had trained Hisashi for the life of a crime boss practically from the cradle. Perhaps now was his chance to learn the true meaning of the word "family"? For some reason, the thought kept swirling around in his head. 

*** 

Inko finally reached the right place. There it was: a two-story building with a sign carved into the fence that read "Midoriya." The Japanese characters meant nothing to her, of course—she couldn't read with her eyes—but she recognized the braille immediately. She ran her fingers over the sign to make sure she had the right address. And indeed, the braille confirmed it was correct. Green Valley—Midoriya. Inko chuckled: the name didn't suit the King of Crime at all. Not like Shigaraki. But apparently, All for One wasn't too fond of his birth name. Well, if he wanted to be called Midoriya, she wouldn't object. She doesn't really care what to call him. 

Inko shook her head, pushing thoughts of All for One away. She pulled out her key ring, fumbled with the right key out of habit, and unlocked the gate. She stepped inside. The courtyard seemed well-kept: the grass was trimmed short, the few bushes were well-tended—but empty, clearly lacking life. It was immediately clear that the owner was terribly lonely. And also an incredible bore, obsessed with order. Inko moved on, her heels tapping a steady rhythm on the gravel path. She stopped in front of the front door, inserted the second key, and, unlocking the door, entered the house. The space inside was as sterile and dreary as the outside. Inko sighed. Home sweet home, she would live here from now on. Knowing Hisashi as Inko had during their brief conversation over coffee, she was certain he would never allow her to live anywhere else. At least not unless she threatened to sever their connection, which Inko definitely wasn't about to do. If she was honest with herself (and she rarely was), living in All for One's house wasn't the worst thing that had ever happened to her. Inko grinned slyly; it had its upsides: the more she learned about a potential enemy, the easier it would be to deal with them, you never know. What's that saying? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer? 

With a sigh, Inko took off her coat, took off her shoes, and entered what appeared to be the living room. Without thinking, she sat down on the huge leather sofa and, fiddling with the remote, turned on the television. The brightness of the screen amazed her; she was still getting used to her newfound vision, to the colours. Soon, she'd need to learn at least the names of the many colors around her and finally figure out the color of Hisashi's eyes. Inko snorted disdainfully as thoughts of All for One filled her mind again. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him? A stupid soulmate connection... 

Inko flipped through the channels until she accidentally stopped on a news program. 

“...a skirmish broke out at the docks between a notorious vigilante and an American criminal organization. The vigilante ruthlessly eliminated all members of the criminal organization transporting the Trigger, after which she engaged in a fight with an unidentified villain; further developments remain unclear. This is the third attack in a month; the vigilante, officially dubbed Themis by the press, is apparently on the warpath against some crime boss. This footage shows her fighting an unidentified villain.” The report switched to footage from one of the cameras, which showed her battling All for One in mid-air, whose image was blurry and indistinct. He apparently used some kind of Quirk to avoid being captured on camera. Then the footage abruptly ended, and the reporter appeared again. "The head of the Heroic Public Safety Commission made a statement." 

A man in glasses and a suit appeared on camera. His voice made Inko instinctively shudder. "While her actions are clearly for the good of society, it is important to understand that vigilantes are illegal. In the past, before the establishment of the licensing system, it was vigilante actions that led to the infamous Musutafu tragedy. This was and remains an important lesson for our society. Themis must bring to justice those who use a Quirk illegally, commit murder, and commit robbery. She's a criminal who's quite likely an accomplice to the rivals of that same crime boss. We're officially placing Themis on an international wanted list. Anyone who aids her will face severe punishment..." Inko turned off the television. 

Her heart pounded, sweat pouring down her back. She'd been declared an outlaw. It was to be expected, but still... She threw the remote control with all her might. Bastards, how dare they?! Her actions are illegal? Ridiculous. They entrusted her with this job, and now that she dared disobey their orders, the first time she'd decided to do things her own way, they've unleashed all their might on her. Hisashi was right. They saw her as nothing more than a tool. Treacherous tears rolled down her cheeks. Damn them... Her former life had just crumbled to dust as fast as she could turn a body to dust. All for One, Hisashi is all she has now. 

*** 

Hisashi unlocked the front door with a spare key and walked inside. After several unsuccessful attempts to fall asleep in one of the rented apartments, he decided to give up the torture and go home. He always slept better at home, probably because he still cherished memories of Yoichi. Hisashi knew Inko was there; he'd seen her enter his house on the security cameras. He just wanted to make sure... of what? Hisashi wasn't sure what exactly. Damn this soulmate bond, it made him a sentimental fool. 

"Inko-chan?" he asked, entering the living room. The last time Hisashi checked the security cameras, she'd been sitting there, but now the room was empty. 

He frowned. Hisashi scanned the kitchen, but there was no sign of anyone else. Where could she be? He went up to the second floor, made sure his office was securely locked, and then moved on to the unused room. Empty. There was only one option left, and Hisashi absolutely didn't like it. Sighing, he finally stepped into his bedroom, and there she was: sound asleep in his bed. Hisashi wanted to scold the impudent girl for sleeping in his bed, but he froze when he noticed the tear streaks on her cheeks. Was she crying? Why? Perhaps because of him? But he hadn't done anything wrong to her (except for attempting to kill her and hiring numerous assassins to kill her, but that was before he learned she was his soulmate). 

"Inko-chan..." Hisashi approached slowly, as if afraid to hurt her. His hand hovered in midair for a moment, then hesitantly touched her cheek, brushing away a strand of green hair. 

Shimura's eyes snapped open and she threw the knife she'd been hiding under her pillow at him. Hisashi snatched the knife between his fingers; fortunately, his reflexes were working perfectly, otherwise he would have lost an eye. 

"Hisashi, what the hell are you doing here, especially at this time of day?" Inko asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes. 

“This is my house, if you haven’t forgotten, I can come whenever my heart desires.” 

"You have a heart?" Inko sneered. 

"Yes, and if the legends about soulmates are to be believed, it's a reflection of your own, my precious soulmate. You're sleeping in my bed right now, by the way." Hisashi frowned. What an impudent girl. And he wanted to console her. 

"Well, I'm sorry, but you'll have to huddle on the couch. At least until you deign to get me my own bed."

"Are you kidding me?" A vein throbbed on his forehead. "You think I can fit on the couch with my size? Get lost in the living room, I want to sleep." 

"That's not my problem," she shrugged and lay back down, as if nothing had happened. 

He sighed. "Fine, have it your way." He grabbed his lounge clothes from the drawer and wandered into the bathroom to change. If she didn't want to leave on good terms, then she'd leave on bad terms. After showering and changing, Hisashi returned to the bedroom and, without thinking twice, climbed onto the bed from the other end. 

"Hey, what are you doing?" Inko was indignant, jumping out of bed. 

"Can't you see? I'm going to bed," he replied, falling back onto the pillow. Hisashi could already feel a pleasant drowsiness drawing him into its embrace. That's better. 

Meanwhile, she blushed like a boiled lobster, and then cried out at the top of her voice, "Get lost!" 

"This is my home, I sleep wherever I want. If you don't like it, go away." He expected an argument and shouting, but instead, Inko slumped, clutching her pillow to her chest, and turned away from him. Hisashi frowned; something was clearly wrong with her. "What's wrong with you? I thought you'd want to rip my head off, not just accept defeat." 

"It's fine," she muttered, burying her head in the blanket. No, something was definitely wrong with her. 

"Inko, I'm serious. You're my soulmate, I have to take care of you."  

He reached out to touch her, but she hissed sharply. "Touch me, and I'll disintegrate you into molecules!" 

Hisashi grinned. And here is the former insolence. "For what? To become Soulless again, but this time through your own fault?" 

"You won't die, you'll just lose an arm." 

"You do understand that any harm you cause your soulmate will affect you too, right?" 

Inko responded by muttering some very uncultured words, cursing their bond. Where did she learn such phrases? This girl could put seasoned sailors to shame. After a few minutes, she apparently exhausted her supply of curse words. 

He exhaled. "Have you calmed down? Maybe you'll finally tell me what's wrong?" 

"None of your business," Inko said, hugging the pillow tighter to her chest. 

"I'm serious. What's wrong with you? You're acting strange." 

She sighed wearily and turned to face him. Her face was so close to his that his heart skipped a beat. How beautiful, and those jade eyes, Hisashi could have drowned in them... 

"I've been placed on an international wanted list," Inko finally answered. 

"That was to be expected." 

"I know! But..." She pressed herself into the pillow. "The Commission raised me, so after everything I've done for them, they're just going to get rid of me?" Inko looked into his eyes. And you? You too..." She looked away, then turned away. "Never mind." 

He already knew what she wanted to ask him. Silly girl. Did she really think he'd want to get rid of her? She was his soulmate, his other half, and even if he wanted to get rid of her, he couldn't. Hisashi wouldn't. Never. He'd been alone in the darkness for too long; the mere thought of returning to that state terrified him. "I won't abandon you, don't even think about it. You won't get rid of me that easily, Inko-chan." 

"Don't expect to get rid of me either. I'll haunt you until the day you die, even from the depths of Hell," he heard the smile in her voice. 

 Hisashi chuckled, closing his eyes. "That's great." 

*** 

Inko woke up in his arms. His strong, muscular arms held her petite body close, her forehead pressed against his massive chest, and she could hear his steady heartbeat in her ear. Inko inhaled his masculine scent, with a hint of expensive cologne and something barely perceptible, intoxicating. She pressed herself closer to him, feeling butterflies in her stomach. Perhaps having All for One as her soulmate wouldn't be so bad after all? Hisashi might be a monster, but at least he was handsome, and also... caring. No one had ever cared for her. Perhaps, in the Demon King's arms, Inko would experience for the first time what it felt like to be truly protected? With these thoughts in mind, she closed her eyes and, for the first time in her life, allowed herself to relax. 

Chapter Text

"No! Absolutely not!" Hisashi was adamant. 

"We agreed, Midoriya!" Inko crossed her arms, a fierce fire blazing in her beautiful jade eyes. "You promised to give me everything I could ever want, and more than anything in the world right now, I want to destroy the Hero Commission." 

“Inko, no means no,” he pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. This woman... 

A month has passed since Inko was placed on the international wanted list. For the first few weeks, Inko remained relatively quiet. She was settling in. They went shopping (though Hisashi couldn't understand why, when they could order anything online, as he always did), they argued, he helped Inko furnish the empty room next to his bedroom and office, they argued again, he taught her how to cook (he nearly lost his mind when she told him she was ordering takeout), and yes, they argued. Constantly. So, they were slowly getting used to each other. At least until something went to her head and she wanted to destroy the Commission. Hisashi tried in vain to explain that his criminal empire was none of her concern, but Shimura seemed to have no idea. 

"It's been a month since our agreement, Hisashi! It's time for me to introduce myself to your subordinates as your companion." 

"They're all nothing more than pawns to me. I don't see the point in introducing you to them." 

"I'm tired of sitting at home. I'm a professional assassin, not a housewife." 

He snorted contemptuously. "Not that you're very good at that role, my soul. You only recently learned to cook." 

Inko gave him a very nasty look, then grinned slyly, as imps danced in her eyes. This meant only one thing: she had come up with a witty retort. "Well, you go be a housewife, since you're so good at it, and I'll run the criminal empire. At least I'll look presentable, unlike you, Mr. 'I'm over a hundred years old but I still can't tie a tie.' At least I'm actually learning to cook, and I'm learning pretty quickly, whereas you're still as inept as ever at tying a proper knot," Inko shook her head. "To think that a hundred-year-old Underworld boogeyman can't handle a piece of fabric. I learned how to tie a tie from some amateur YouTube video, and ever since then, I've had to tie that damn tie for you every time." 

A vein throbbed on his forehead. It was a low blow. He turned away, continuing to get dressed (the damn tie had been "accidentally" burned). "My answer is still no." 

"Then I have no choice but to continue my work of destroying your business. Get ready, I'll blow up another one of your warehouses today." 

Hisashi froze for a moment. "You wouldn't dare." 

Inko grinned slyly. "Want to argue?" 

He ran a tired hand over his face. This woman had clearly come into this world for the sole purpose of irritating him. "Fine, you can accompany me, but no nonsense," Hisashi shook his finger at her, but she was completely unimpressed. Inko was practically beaming with happiness. 

"Thank you, my soul," she floated into the air and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "I'll change in a jiffy. Don't you dare leave without me, or I'll hunt you down like an animal." She threatened him and disappeared, leaving him standing there like a fool, unable to move. 

Hisashi rubbed his cheek where her lips had touched his. It burned. What was this girl doing to him? 

*** 

Inko practically skipped along the dark, winding corridors. Finally, after a month of inaction, Themis had returned to action, but this time not as a pawn of the Commission, but as the one who would bury them all alive. After weeks of grief and careful consideration, she had come to a logical conclusion: she had simply been used, and then, when she became too much trouble, discarded like garbage. The very thought of it infuriated her. So Inko decided to make revenge her life's purpose. After all, she hadn't had anything else in this life, and couldn't have anything else. 

She glanced at Hisashi. He looked tense; it didn't take a telepathic Quirk to understand that Hisashi absolutely didn't want her here. They had grown closer over the past month, certainly, but they were still far from being lovers. Hell, Inko couldn't remember a single day when they didn't fight. It probably would always be like that. Emotional and physical intimacy were out of the question, let alone a family. Inko's heart sank painfully. She hadn't allowed herself to think about family before. The Commission wouldn't let her marry—it would distract her from their endless assignments—and who would risk starting a family with the Soulless? But now that she had a soulmate, it seemed everything should be different. No way, for her soulmate was the Demon King himself, the merciless monster All for One. Family was the last thing he cared about. He lived only for power and revenge; such a man would never want to settle down, marry, or start a family. Inko had already come to terms with the fact that she would never have simple feminine happiness, which meant she would be able to overcome the renewed longing for the unattainable for the second time. 

They entered a spacious hall with a huge table; his servants had already assembled in full force, awaiting only their Lord. When she followed him in, the attention of All for One's servants turned to her, and not in a good way. Many looked at her as if they wanted to tear her to pieces themselves. She chuckled, let them try. Inko noted that more than half of those present were either mutants or Soulless. Themis snorted, unsurprised. 

Hisashi sat at the head of the table. "Bring an extra chair, we have a special guest," he ordered one of his pawns. 

Inko grinned. It was time for introductions. "That's not necessary, my dear, I think I fit perfectly right here," she said, sitting directly on his lap. 

Hisashi pretended not to care, but she heard him grind his teeth. Inko was clearly irritating him. Excellent. 

"So, what's on the agenda?" All for One turned his gaze to his servants. 

Everyone present openly stared at them. One of the minions, the one who resembled a crocodile, suddenly cleared his throat. 

"Yes, Croc?" 

"Excuse me, Lord, but why is the mercenary who destroyed half your business and whom you swore to skin alive if you ever saw her sitting on your lap?" 

Hisashi opened his mouth to reply, but Inko interrupted him. "Isn't it obvious? My dear fell head over heels in love with me the first time we met, and promised to take over the world for me and get rid of that damn Commission that enslaved me." She turned her head toward him. "Isn't that so, my soul?" 

She noticed Hisashi's eye twitch. "Something like that." He cleared his throat. "In any case, I want you all to understand once and for all: Themis is under my protection, and anyone who touches her will be subjected to the good doctor." 

The bald, fat old man sitting to his right, who was obviously the doctor, was very pleased. His eyes, hidden behind his glasses, practically glowed with joy. The others visibly flinched at the mention of the doctor. Inko, however, made a mental note to stay away from him. 

"So, if that matter is settled, let's get down to business." All for One clasped his hands, gazing intently at everyone present. Inko regretted that he hid his true eye color with a Quirk; she missed their green (yes, she finally knew her favorite color). 

They launched into a lengthy discussion of Hisashi's illegal activities: murder, drugs that enhanced or suppressed Quirks, theft, blackmail, illegal genetic experiments, and much more. Inko didn't really care; it was no different from what the Commission was doing—the same rottenness. The only difference was that the Commission was officially supported by the government. Inko began to realize she was working for something no less evil than All for One. She could hardly claim sainthood with her murder record, but she had previously believed she was fighting for the right cause, or at least that's what she had been led to believe. Now Themis knew that was a lie. 

"Themis, do you have anything to add?" All for One suddenly addressed her, interrupting her thoughts. 

"Huh?" She turned her head toward him. Hisashi looked at her expectantly. 

"We were discussing the Hero raids the Commission conducts, my soul. Since you were part of them, I assume you must have useful information about them." He grinned ominously. "Or am I wrong?" 

Inko raised an eyebrow under her eyepatch. What kind of game was Hisashi playing? "There are three types of raids: public, secret, and illegal. As you understand, I was in the latter. Public raids involve top Heroes, and such raids always turn into public spectacle—it's the Commission's way of promoting its regime. Secret raids involve little-known heroes, while illegal raids involve Commission agents and mercenaries. I doubt raids on your organization will be public at this stage, so don't expect any top heroes," she added thoughtfully. "Although some heroes don't report to the Commission when organizing such raids." 

"Like the All might?" Themis couldn't help but notice the hatred with which Hisashi uttered the name of the rising Symbol of Peace. It seemed his hatred was more personal than just playing heroes and villains. She would have to ask him about that later. 

"Exactly. I don't know the details, but for some reason he dislikes the Hero Commission. Either he suspects them of foul play, or he simply finds bureaucratic red tape pointless." 

"I see," Hisashi ran his hand thoughtfully across his chin, a wicked glint dancing in his eyes. "Kano, I want you to investigate and find out more about the spat between the Commission and the All might. This knowledge can certainly be used against our enemies." If she wasn't mistaken, Kano was one of the spies embedded within the Commission. An interesting guy. All for One, meanwhile, looked at her again. "Do you have any more information about the Commission or ideas on how to ruin their lives?" 

Themis grinned slyly. She certainly had ideas. "Well, if you ask, my dear..." The discussion continued. 

*** 

Hisashi felt unexpectedly... happy. Happy that he'd allowed Inko to participate in the organization of his criminal empire. He'd had his doubts, of course: he didn't want to drag his soulmate into this part of his life. Frankly, Hisashi didn't think she'd understand. He'd been convinced that full knowledge of his criminal organization's activities would repel her. Hisashi was glad he'd been wrong. Not only had Inko not turned her back, but she was actively assisting him in achieving his goal—the destruction of the Hero Society. He'd always known the Hero Commission swept the dirt under the rug, but today Inko had made it clear that his organization was no less effective in this regard. Otherwise, Inko would have been inclined to resent him. But no. She didn't even bat an eyelid, proving once again to All for One that he'd had a point in rebelling against the government a hundred years ago. Perhaps, deep down inside him, the same vigilante the Metahuman Control Commission had tried to eradicate was still alive... 

All for One shook his head. What nonsense! As if he cared about heroism! Hakuma died in him a century ago, just bury him and forget him, Hisashi! He glanced at Inko, walking beside him. Hakuma had let everyone down because he was too weak, and All for One was a monster, living only for revenge. To provide for her and protect his soulmate, he needed to become someone else. He needed to become a man worthy of her, and the first step was to open up to her, to tell her about his past, about Yoichi, no matter how hard it was. He just didn't know how to take that step yet. 

*** 

That same evening. Headquarters of the Heroic Commission for Public Safety. The city of Coruscant. 

Kaina Tsutsumi wiped the sweat from her brow. She had spent the entire day honing her Quirk, calibrating its range with various projectiles. The result was quite impressive - eighteen hits out of twenty, all fatal, even if there had been people in the place of the faceless robots. Kaina frowned. She didn't like the thought of killing people; she wanted to be a Hero, after all, but the head of the Commission assured her that such skills would be useful. She would be assigned a special role: eliminating rare bastards so that the Heroic Society could thrive. 

"Lady Nagant," the head of the Commission called her by her codename. 

Kaina turned to face her benefactor. "What is it, Tanaka-san?" 

Tanaka-san smiled, pushing his glasses up his nose. "You're making tremendous progress, Nagant. Your accomplishments have been recognized. The time has finally come for you to truly shine." 

Kaina's heart beat faster. Finally, she would be released into the field. She would become a true Hero. 

"Here," he placed a large manila folder on the table. "Your first mission." 

Kaina skimmed the information. Her lips curved into a smile. This promised to be interesting. "Her? Seriously?" Kaina looked up at her benefactor, food or capable of believing in her luck. Depending on her resourcefulness and skill, the mission could be either very easy or incredibly difficult. This was the Commission's test, she realized. 

The Commission's leader stared at her, his glasses gleaming ominously in the dim light of the shooting range specially designed for her Quirk. "Remember one thing, Nagant: the target must remain alive; they are vital to our long-term goals." 

"It will be done, sir." 

 Themis won't be free for long. Lady Nagant was already on her trail and would soon present her to the Heroic Commission on a silver platter. With these thoughts in mind, she loaded her rifle and fired, hitting a moving target. 

Chapter Text

Ever since Inko had been introduced to his subordinates, she had become his constant companion. Wherever All for One went, Themis followed. Even now, she was inspecting one of his warehouses with him, despite the ungodly hour.

"Lady Persephone," one of his henchmen addressed her (their henchmen now, apparently).

In the Underworld, Inko had acquired a second alias that pleased them both—Persephone, the Mistress of the Underworld. Hisashi smirked; it seemed his servants were endowed with a certain sense of humor. They believed that he, like Hades, had stolen her from the Commission and somehow bound her to himself. Opinions diverged on the matter: some thought he had simply brainwashed her using some mind-manipulation Quirk (he would never do such a thing, but to maintain his reputation as the Demon King, he did not deny such rumors); others believed All for One was blackmailing her; while a third group, the particularly romantic ones, believed the opposite—that he had saved her from the clutches of the Commission, like a knight on a white horse. All to make her his Queen. Part of this story resembled the truth: in a sense, he had indeed kidnapped her and made her his Queen—it was just that there was little romance in their story. It simply so happened that they turned out to be kindred spirits and now depended on each other. Apart from that, their entire romantic life was pure farce. In reality, they barely tolerated each other—quarrels were their constant companions. There was no talk of any kisses, embraces, or hand-holding. Not that he even wanted that; only occasionally did a slight longing for a normal life wash over him, but Hisashi had learned to live with that fairly quickly. Inko was beside him, and that was enough.

"Boss, have you invited Lady Persephone on a date yet?" one of his henchmen distracted him from his thoughts.

"What? Why?" All for One frowned.

The henchman with a mutation that made him resemble a shark, whose name he hadn't bothered to remember (and why should he, they constantly changed anyway), shrugged. "Women love that sort of thing," the shark-like henchman grinned with all three thousand of his teeth. "Although, knowing you, you probably keep her too well-fed and satisfied in your bed for her to complain, if you know what I mean."

Hisashi felt very uncomfortable from the shark's lewd comments. For a moment, he even considered strangling him and giving his body to Garaki for experiments, but then remembered that this henchman was still needed and let the situation go. Let him live. For now. However, his words about a date made sense. He and Inko needed to maintain the image of a couple. Dates were an inevitable part of this farce.

"I'll think about it," he said, watching Inko. When she looked at him with her jade eyes, his heart stopped. This girl would be his undoing.

"I have no doubt, Boss," the henchman smirked. "No doubt at all."

***

"A date?" Inko was genuinely surprised by Hisashi's proposal as she sat in front of the TV at their home. She couldn't believe her own ears. He was asking her on a date! Her! Inko could barely restrain herself from jumping with delight.

"It's only for the sake of our cover," Hisashi averted his gaze, thoughtfully scratching his white-haired crown (his hair was incredibly fluffy and soft, why did he have to cut it so short?).

His words sobered her somewhat. Inko crossed her arms over her chest and snorted contemptuously. "Of course, it's for the cover. As if anyone would agree to go on a real date with you. You're such an insufferable nerd, muttering incessantly under your breath, that any person within a hundred-meter radius automatically wilts at the ears."

"Ha! As if I would agree to a real date if it weren't for the sake of our cover. Wasting a whole day on some meaningless entertainment, like going to the movies, a restaurant, and other nonsense. Like I have nothing better to do!" he mirrored her stance.

"Good that we cleared that up right away, Mr. 'A hundred years old at lunchtime, and social skills as absent as ever'," she said angrily.

Hisashi rolled his eyes. "Pff, come up with something better if you want to insult me, Miss 'I've been killing people since I was twelve, but cry like a child over overcooked rice'."

A vein pulsed on her forehead. How dare he?! "That was just one time! And besides, at least I'm still capable of feeling something, unlike you, you insensitive cracker!"

Kami, how Midoriya irritated her. Inko was ready to swear that he was the most arrogant, narcissistic, and insufferable person on Earth. Of course, he had things to be proud of: he was smart, cunning, well-spoken, as handsome as the Devil himself, with a body that could only be compared to ancient Greek statues—but, damn it, what an ass he was. Sometimes she just wanted to strangle him (preferably with that damn tie she was forced to tie for him every morning). She was quietly seething, periodically spitting out curses, when he picked her up like a child.

"Hey! Put me down!"

"Alright, calm down," Hisashi took her by the underarms and lifted her to his face level (this was quite timely; Inko's neck hurt from talking to this two-meter-tall statue).

"Or else what?"

He brought their faces as close as possible, his hot breath searing her skin. "Or else I'll punish you," All for One whispered in a dangerously seductive tone.

Inko's throat suddenly went dry, and her face flushed. She seemed to recall hearing a similar dialogue from the main male character in one of her audiobooks marked 18+, which she had accidentally stumbled upon as a curious sixteen-year-old teenage girl. In that book, the method of punishment was... quite specific, involving a trip to a forbidden red room with a bunch of... Inko's vision swam at the mere thought of it. Was Hisashi planning to punish her in a similar way? After all, he did have a locked room, the contents of which she could only guess at. Shivers ran down her body.

While she was immersed in her fantasies, each more indecent than the last, Hisashi frowned. "What's wrong with you? Do you have a fever?" he lowered her to the ground and felt her forehead.

"N-nothing," Inko waved him off.

"I see you've calmed down," Hisashi smiled. "I knew the threat of punishment would work."

Inko swallowed. She was still tormented by thoughts of the possible punishment. What did he mean by it? A whip? Clamps? Or something... more interesting? "What makes you say that?"

Hisashi shrugged. "It always worked with my brother. All I had to do was threaten Yoichi with taking away his favorite comics or locking him in his room, and he would instantly become obedient. Not that he was often disobedient, except in the last years of his life," he continued muttering thoughtfully, paying not the slightest attention to her.

Her mood instantly plummeted. And that was his punishment? And here she had been hoping... Although, what else could one expect from a century-old virgin? Inko sighed. He was definitely not the main male character of an erotic women's novel. Except in appearance. "You're an incredible bore," she grumbled discontentedly.

"And what did you expect?"

Inko snorted contemptuously, crossing her arms over her chest. "From you? Nothing, obviously," and only her tomato-red face betrayed her completely.

Hisashi did not look convinced, but apparently decided to drop the subject. "So, where shall we go? A restaurant or, perhaps, the movies?"

"I have a little idea," Inko grinned ominously. He would pay for unintentionally arousing her. Dearly pay...

***

Hisashi felt his stomach drop into the sneakers he had put on today instead of his usual dress shoes. Why had he ever allowed himself to be talked into this kind of madness? Inko, meanwhile, was squealing with delight, obviously, unlike him, completely unbothered by the rising nausea. Curse her! Curse this day! Curse everything! Another drop caused a painful spasm in his stomach. Hisashi whimpered like a dog. Kami, was this really his end? How humiliating; he had hoped his death would be an epic battle with the forces of good, not... this. The last ascent, the highest one, made him breathe raggedly. Cold sweat rolled down his body. Maybe if he closed his eyes, it wouldn't be so bad?

"Hisashi, don't close your eyes, you'll miss the loop-the-loop!" Inko exclaimed joyfully as they began another descent. Merciless woman.

Of all the places on Earth he could have taken her on a date, she had chosen this one. A damn amusement park, the mere sight of which made his stomach clench. But as if that wasn't enough, this damn park was All Might-themed. All Might, for crying out loud! All for One could fly at incredible speeds, leap over buildings, do barrel rolls in the air if needed, but the damn roller coaster forced the fearsome Demon King to bend over the nearest trash can, emptying the contents of his poor stomach. For the third time that day. Although Hisashi used many Quirks to prevent the highly undesirable effect of aging, deep down he was an old man, and old men have no place on amusement rides. And yet, here he was.

"Feeling sick again? Does the fearsome Demon King really have such a terrible vestibular system? How can you even compete with Heroes if you can't handle a roller coaster?" Inko was openly mocking him. Why? He wished he knew. Perhaps because he hadn't had the courage to admit a simple fact: Hisashi wanted to go on a date with her. But certainly not one like this.

"Have mercy, I'm old!" he was practically begging. "You're constantly joking that I'm a hundred years old at lunchtime, but still dragged me to a damn amusement park! Why do you hate me so much?"

"How was I supposed to know you have such a weak stomach? I just always dreamed of visiting an amusement park, that's all," she surprisingly looked repentant.

"Yeah, right," Hisashi didn't believe it was the truth for a second. Another wave of nausea rose to his throat, forcing him to bend over the bin again.

The truth was, he could have left or, even better, used the deadliest combination of Quirks in his arsenal and turned this place into ruins. But then Inko would be upset. So he endured it. For her.

"Sorry," Inko seemed to finally realize she had gone too far, and as an apology, began tracing soothing circles on his broad back, which was clad in a plain gray hoodie. For the sake of their cover, he had dressed in light sportswear and donned glasses, which caused his companion to raise her eyebrows. It took her some time to get used to such a sharp change in style.

Hisashi exhaled, the nausea slowly receding. Thank Kami. He wiped his mouth with the napkin she offered, then turned to face her and asked, "Do you still want to ride, or will you finally stop tormenting me?"

"I think you've had enough, my soul," she lightly kissed him on the cheek, which, he had to admit, somewhat eased his suffering. "Let's go to the fairground; you can win me a couple of trinkets," Inko smirked slyly again, squeezing his forearm. "Or maybe I'll win you an All Might dakimakura."

His eye twitched. Insufferable woman.

***

They (well, mostly she) ate at a stall with various fast food, like takoyaki. Inko once again stuffed Hisashi with food, something he was clearly not happy about. It was turning into a sort of tradition between them. Then they went to the prize booths, where she easily won him a plush All Might toy, which he "accidentally" incinerated with a sneeze. Now Inko was watching with genuine interest as Hisashi effortlessly shot down all the targets with a rifle that fired plastic bullets.

"Congratulations, winner, choose a prize for your lovely lady," said the man running the booth.

From the multitude of Hero merchandise, which included the ill-fated All Might dakimakuras, Hisashi chose a useless, disproportionately huge plush bear, which the owner was clearly happy to be rid of. With a triumphant smile, All for One presented this plush monstrosity to her. However, Inko did not complain; after all, he had done everything for her. It made butterflies flutter in her stomach and her cheeks redden.

"Thank you, Hisashi," Inko made the bear levitate, discreetly for those around her, so as not to strain herself. "Where did you learn to shoot so well?"

He shrugged. "My father was a yakuza boss, and he raised me as his successor practically from my very first breath."

Inko felt that the topic of his father was unpleasant for him, but still, she couldn't help asking questions. Hisashi was a mystery; she knew practically nothing about his past, besides what he had already told her. "Is that why you got involved with crime? To continue your father's business?"

"Pff, no, of course not. My old man can burn in Hell, where I personally sent him at the age of twelve. I was never interested in his plans for my future."

"And yet you followed in his footsteps," Inko couldn't help but feel the contradiction. He obviously hadn't wanted to be like his father, but still became the head of a criminal empire.

Hisashi winced. They approached a relatively deserted alley; he sighed, then said: "I wasn't always like this, Inko-chan. At the dawn of Quirks, I was a vigilante. In fact, I was the leader of a vigilante cell; you've probably heard the legends about me. I was called Hakuma."

Inko's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She could hardly believe what she heard. "You were one of the co-founders of Musutafu?! The legendary White Demon himself?!"

Hakuma—that name was known to everyone. One of the two vigilantes who restored stability to a Japan drowning in anarchy, co-founder of the city where the first meta-humans could live in peace, one of those who organized a network of vigilantes across the world, which became the forerunner of the current Hero society. And now, this same vigilante—All for One—was the King of the Underworld, the sworn enemy of the Hero Commission and Hero society as a whole.

"What the hell happened to you?! Why did you turn from an Icon of Heroism into the Symbol of Evil?!" it was the only question ceaselessly circling in Inko's head. How could one change so drastically?

"I had my reasons for becoming what I became," Hisashi bowed his head, evading the answer.

"I see not a single reason, other than your complete senility, for changing in such a fundamental way!"

He opened his mouth, about to answer something, but suddenly, his eyes widened, and Hisashi abruptly shielded her with his body. Several strange-looking bullets pierced his body; one went straight through and grazed her shoulder. Inko gritted her teeth from the pain. It burns, damn it. She recognized the bullets. Lady Nagant. Hisashi turned around and, extending his hand, sent a compressed blast of air mixed with explosions towards the suspected sniper. Panic instantly erupted in the park; people began scattering in all directions. All for One held her tightly in his arms; the plush bear was forgotten in the chaos. There was no time for it; a hunt had been declared on Inko and Hisashi.

"Let go, Midoriya, we need to..." then she noticed that his gaze was absolutely vacant, as if he wasn't there. "Hisashi?.."

Suddenly, Hisashi scooped her up in his arms and soared into the sky. They flew no less than twenty miles before he finally set her down God knows where. All for One was not himself, muttering something incessantly about his brother.

"What's wrong with you, damn it?!" she was starting to get angry.

"Don't die," she finally made out his words.

"Calm down, you idiot, I'm not dying, it's just a light scratch!"

But he didn't seem to hear her. "Don't die, I... I love you..."

Inko's heart stopped beating. She must have misheard; he couldn't have said that. He couldn't have! Hisashi spat blood onto the asphalt; only now did Inko realize the severity of his injuries. One of the bullets had hit a lung, the second must have hit his stomach. And he had been carrying her all this time? He staggered, then fell flat on his back, blood soaking into the stonework of the sidewalk.

"Hisashi!" Inko rushed to him.

"I love you... Yoichi..." were the last words he said before losing consciousness.

Chapter Text

Inko sat by Hisashi's bed like a faithful guard dog. The room, hastily converted into a hospital ward, was dark, but that didn't bother her in the slightest. After all, she was accustomed to the absence of sight. Two days had passed since their interrupted date, since Hisashi had taken a bullet for her... since he had confessed his love to her. Or had he? He had spoken words of love, but then called out the name Yoichi a second time. His younger brother. He must have been delirious about his younger brother, Yoichi Midoriya, who, in all likelihood, was his previous soulmate. He hadn't meant her. And why would he? All they ever did was quarrel; she constantly snapped at him and threatened him, and not long ago he himself had said he couldn't stand her. Their love story was pure farce and nothing more, however much she wished it were otherwise. Inko had to accept it.

Out of habit, she listened to the steady sound of his breathing, the rhythmic dripping of the IV, the barely perceptible sound of Hisashi's heartbeat. Garaki had said that if they had delayed even slightly, Hisashi might not have survived. Her relentless memory vividly painted images of the fearsome Demon King, the indestructible All for One, lying helplessly on the cold asphalt, bleeding out. Because of her. He had nearly died because of her carelessness. Her hands trembled. Just like then, when she clutched the phone, dialing Garaki's number from memory. Inko leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. This was no time for self-recrimination. The Commission had declared a hunt on her, and only Kami knew who else besides Nagant they had sent after her. With Hisashi unconscious, she would have to take control of the situation into her own hands.

***

Kaina sighed, leaning back in the chair of the cooperative apartment. She was exhausted from trying in vain to find any trace of Themis. Nagant struck the armrest with her fist. If only Themis had been alone, she would have succeeded. Her companion had ruined everything; moreover, his retaliatory attack had injured many people, and only Kami knew how many had died. This was exactly what she had feared. That was why Kaina had wanted to catch Themis in an unpopulated place first. But the order had been crystal clear: neutralize the target the moment she was in sight. Nagant did not understand why Tanaka-san had given such an order. Isn't the very essence of heroes to ensure the safety of ordinary civilians? But she already knew the answer: you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. A few civilians were a relatively low price for eliminating a threat like the vigilante Themis. And yet...

At that very moment, the encrypted cooperative phone rang. Kaina sighed, then, with a heavy heart, forced herself to pick up the receiver. "Yes, Tanaka-san?"

"What happened, Nagant? Did you manage to capture the target?" The voice of the Commission's head held undisguised displeasure.

"No, sir."

"You disappoint me, Lady Nagant. I expected more from a high-class operative like you. Not only did you fail at an elementary assignment, but you also endangered civilians. At this rate, a Hero license is something you can only dream of. Do you realize that?"

Kaina gripped the phone tightly in her hand. "With all due respect, sir, allow me to remind you that it was you who gave me the order to shoot in a crowded place. If I had waited until Themis was alone..."

"I don't need your excuses, Nagant. I need results, and you are obviously incapable of providing them."

"I would have managed if Themis had been alone!" Kaina exclaimed in frustration. "You didn't warn me that she might be accompanied by someone as powerful as that villain. I wasn't prepared! I was lucky I managed to wound him severely enough; otherwise, her companion would have killed me on the spot."

The voice on the line fell silent for a moment. "Companion?..." Tanaka-san seemed intrigued by the new information. "Describe him to me."

"Over two meters tall, short, slightly curly white hair; his face, though quite handsome, was somewhat unremarkable, pale skin, and I think I noticed freckles on his cheeks. He was dressed in a sports hoodie, sweatpants, red sneakers, and bulky glasses. I never figured out what his Quirk is, but he's very powerful. This guy noticed my attack, shielded Themis with his body, blew up an entire building with a wave of his hand, and then, despite his severe wound, soared into the air and disappeared at supersonic speeds with the target. Who is he, sir? If I have to deal with him as well, my mission will become practically impossible."

"I don't want to frighten you, Nagant, but in all likelihood, that was All for One," Tanaka-san's words sounded like a death sentence.

"All... for One?" An instinctive shiver ran down Kaina's spine.

All for One. The number one enemy of Hero society, the King of the Underworld, the most powerful Quirk user who ever lived, whose strength could perhaps only be matched by the rising Symbol of Peace. And she had managed to wound him. Seriously wound him. She could only hope that the great and terrible Demon King had not survived two serious hits; otherwise, he would seek revenge. And not just revenge, but a bloody massacre.

"W-what should I do, sir? I can't handle this kind of assignment. Not alone."

"You said you wounded him," Tanaka-san seemed not at all worried. There was... interest in his voice. "How seriously?"

"I definitely hit one of his lungs and probably grazed his stomach. If he were an ordinary person, he would certainly have died. However..."

Tanaka finished for her. "However, we are dealing with a monster who possesses a multitude of different Quirks. Among them, there is surely at least one regeneration ability. He is alive."

Nagant squeezed her eyes shut, the hand holding the phone trembling. "What do you intend to do, sir?"

"Your assignment remains the same, Nagant. You must secure Themis. Alive."

"But..." Kaina wanted to object, but Tanaka-san interrupted her.

"Don't worry about All for One, Kaina. I will contact the person who will finish him off once and for all," the Commission head's voice sounded soft, paternal.

Lady Nagant exhaled, then answered confidently, "It will be done, sir."

***

Twilight reigned in the office. On the coffee table, right next to the couch where the weary hero was sprawled, stood an unfinished cup of already cold coffee. The work desk was, as usual, piled high with a mountain of reports, which he detested. He would never understand why it was necessary to report on every life saved and every villain defeated. It only distracted from his primary duties. The hero leaned back on the couch and sighed deeply. This day had thoroughly exhausted him. The incident involving All for One, which had occurred two days ago, haunted him. Why would the King of the Underworld attack an amusement park? Yes, the park was dedicated to All Might, but still, All for One was not the type to do something simply because he disliked something. There had to be a reason for this attack; he just hadn't found it yet. The hero clenched his hands into fists. If only he could find the lair where All for One was hiding and put an end to his tyranny once and for all. That was why he had been given his Quirk.

The ring of the landline phone interrupted his thoughts. The hero reluctantly got up from the couch and picked up the receiver. "All Might's Office, Yagi Toshinori speaking."

"Good evening, All Might," came the voice of the Public Safety Commission's head through the receiver.

Toshinori's mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom. "What do you want, Mr. Tanaka? To scold me like a naughty boy again for saving someone without your permission?"

"Enough of that, All Might. We all have our duties."

Toshinori tried his utmost not to crush the phone in his hand. The Commission preached peace while doing everything in its power to hinder that very peace. Sometimes, All Might felt that the Commission benefited from villains running rampant and heroes standing idle. It was the Commission that threw a wrench in the works, constantly preventing Toshinori from putting an end to organized crime. This hypocrisy was simply astonishing.

"What is the purpose of your call, Tanaka?"

"I have information that will likely interest you. It concerns All for One."

All Might narrowed his eyes. "I'm listening."

***

Hisashi slowly opened his eyes. Consciousness gradually returned, along with the awareness of what had happened. He sat up abruptly. Inko! Inko was wounded! His wounds protested with a dull ache. Hisashi winced, then began hastily looking around. Where was he? But more importantly, where was Inko? The answer to the second question came quickly. Inko abruptly swung open the door to the hospital room, carrying a cup of freshly brewed coffee in her hand. Hisashi exhaled. She was alright. He had managed to protect her; she had not repeated the tragic fate of his brother.

Inko shifted her gaze to him. Her face, filled with undisguised worry, instantly smoothed out. "You're awake. Thank Kami," she exhaled with relief.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"Over two days," Inko sat down on the chair next to his bed and placed the cup of coffee on the table.

"Are you alright?" he scanned her with one of his Quirks for injuries. "You were wounded too."

"It was a scratch, Hisashi. You should worry about yourself; unlike me, you really could have died."

Hisashi averted his gaze. "I'm not so easy to kill, Inko. I have a regeneration Quirk; not a strong one, but powerful enough to survive injuries of this kind."

Inko lowered her eyes to the floor, her hands clenching into fists. "You... were delirious about your brother. He was... your previous soulmate, wasn't he?"

He leaned back on the pillow, closing his eyelids. Yoichi was his open wound, one that had not healed for a whole century, causing unbearable pain. It was this very pain that had turned him into the monster named All for One. Hisashi could not accept, could not forget, could not forgive. He was forever stuck in the ruins of Musutafu, where not only his former life as the vigilante Hakuma had tragically ended, but also the life of his younger brother, his first soulmate.

"Yes," Hisashi exhaled with difficulty.

"They say..." Inko hesitated for a moment, then, gathering her courage, continued, "they say that you killed your soulmate and went blind because of it, but that's not true, is it?"

He took Inko's hand in his and, looking into her eyes, into those beautiful jade eyes, stated firmly, "I did not kill Yoichi, Inko. I've told you before, the blame for his death lies with the Meta-Human Control Commission, which later transformed into the Hero Commission."

"But... then why did you go blind? If you are innocent of the death of your kindred spirit, and he didn't sever your bond, then you shouldn't have gone blind. Your eyes should have simply dimmed and lost their pupils, not completely lost their color. Even considering that your soulmate died over a century ago, you shouldn't be blind."

Hisashi sighed. "There are several ways to go blind. The first is if your kindred spirit severs the bond with you; the second is if you kill your kindred spirit; the third—the cruelest—is if your soulmate is forcibly deprived of their sight. As you know, such a crime is the most despicable of all a person can commit in our world, where eyes serve as a reflection of both your own soul and the soul of your soulmate. Even I have never stooped to such a level of depravity. However, there is yet another way to go blind—to experience an indescribable feeling of grief, loss, guilt, and mental and physical agony. That is exactly what happened to me. My soul was literally scorched. I began to go blind even before Yoichi died; he was my only anchor in the ocean of despair my life had become. When I lost him, when my last link to humanity was severed, I went completely blind," he looked at her again. "That was the case until I met you."

Tears welled up in Inko's eyes. "Is that why you became All for One? Because your soul drowned in guilt, grief, and despair?"

"It's a long story," he took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

Inko gave him a sad smile. "We're in no hurry."

Hisashi smiled back, beginning his tale.

***

Inko held Hisashi's hand, refusing to let go. Out of habit, she wanted to yell at him for making her worry so much, but seeing him finally awake, all her anger had vanished. How could she be angry at him? It was because of her that he was hurt. Yet Hisashi hadn't even mentioned it. Perhaps, somewhere deep down, he really did care for her? Inko shook her head. He cared for her only because she was his second kindred spirit. A replacement for his deceased brother. Nothing more. These thoughts caused her pain, but she pushed the hurt away. Hisashi's life had been terrible if his eyes had lost their color and gone blind; Inko had no right to demand anything from him. The very fact that he had decided to share his story with her was a breakthrough in itself. She should be happy with what she already had.

Meanwhile, Hisashi took a deep breath and began his story, "I was born one hundred and thirty-two years ago, at the dawn of the Quirk era, into the family of the yakuza boss, Zen Shigaraki. From a young age, he taught me a wide variety of ways to break people, both physically and psychologically. Weapons handling, torture, killing, daily training that pushed me to the limit, and the study of various sciences—that was my everyday life. I never had the chance to be a normal child; to my father, I was a thing, a useful tool, despite my congenital albinism," he paused, looking into her eyes again. "I think you understand perfectly well what I went through."

Inko nodded. She understood. Better than anyone. To the Commission, she had never been just a child—she was a weapon they needed to calibrate for their own selfish purposes. It was striking how similar their lives had initially been. However, one question remained. "And what about your mother?"

Hisashi hung his head. "As long as I can remember, my mother was always... cold towards me. I'm not sure she ever loved me. She abandoned me when I was still a very young child, then remarried a childhood friend, changed her last name to Midoriya, and soon gave birth to my brother, Yoichi. She never even remembered me."

"How did you find out that Yoichi was your soulmate?"

For some time, Hisashi was silent, hiding his face in his hands. It seemed it was very hard for him to recall this. All Inko could do was place a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort and wait for the story to continue. Finally, he sighed and answered hesitantly, "When Zen told me my mother had abandoned me, I didn't believe it. I tried to run away, and after a year and a half of futile attempts, I finally succeeded. I tracked down her address. Then I saw a picture that broke my heart: my mother with her new husband and another child. I felt betrayed: how could she just forget about me and leave me at the mercy of a tyrant father while she lived happily with a new husband and another child? I... wanted revenge and, under the cover of night, sneaked into the nursery with one single purpose: to kill the child I considered my replacement," he averted his gaze shamefully. "I'm not proud of what I intended to do, but in my world, filled only with blood and violence... it seemed logical."

Inko's heart clenched with sympathy. She understood the pain of an abandoned child like no one else: her own mother hadn't bothered to give her even a name, leaving her at the maternity hospital. But Hisashi hadn't just been abandoned. He had been replaced, left to rot alone in a world of darkness. What would she have done in his place? Could she have raised a hand against a helpless infant? Inko didn't know, and this realization was genuinely frightening. In what impenetrable darkness had she been living all these years? Meanwhile, Hisashi continued his story.

"However, the moment I touched Yoichi, I felt the soulmate bond. At that very moment, I realized what I had just been about to do. I hated my father, despised him, and yet I was his exact copy. It was no wonder that my own mother felt nothing but disgust for me."

"Oh, Hisashi..." More than anything in the world, she wanted to assure him that he was not a monster, but the right words couldn't be found. And where would they come from? Until recently, Inko herself had been firmly convinced that Hisashi was a monster, a stranger to all things human. How deeply she had been mistaken.

"When I touched Yoichi, my eyes opened, and I understood that my purpose in life was to protect my younger brother. However, this gave my father leverage over me: every time I dared to defy him, he threatened the lives of Yoichi and his family. My brother and I did not see each other often in the first years of his life; had our mother had her way, we wouldn't have seen each other at all, but you can't go against the law of the universe, according to which soulmates cannot be separated for long. This continued until I turned twelve and my brother four, and my father went too far when his men killed Yoichi's father before my eyes. I realized that as long as Zen Shigaraki was alive, my brother would never be safe," his gaze darkened. "So I killed him by cutting the brakes on his car. I was not suspected; my father had made too many enemies over the years, and who in their right mind would suspect a twelve-year-old child of murder? Because of my status as Yoichi's kindred spirit, custody of me was given to our mother, although she was not happy about it. Every day, my mother looked at me with undisguised disgust, but I didn't care. My soulmate, the meaning of my life, remained close, and that was enough. But just a few months later, the glowing baby appeared, and the persecution of anyone who didn't fit the norm began. Because my brother, mother, and I were albinos, we soon became targets of harassment. I used the skills my father had taught me and his money to protect my family. One day, during one of my illegal operations, I met a boy who became my best friend and loyal partner," a shadow of a smile flickered across Hisashi's face, which, however, disappeared just as quickly. "You know him as the vigilante codenamed Fox, but to me, he was simply Toshitsugu Kudo, or Toshi. We formed a special bond, known as the bond of kindred souls."

Inko sighed. She had heard of such a bond—it arose between people initially unconnected by fate, who somehow managed to become so close that their souls began to resonate. In theory, such a bond could even replace a lost soulmate, but this was such a rare phenomenon that reproducing it artificially was practically impossible. Yet Hisashi had managed to create such a bond with Fox, the very vigilante who, together with Hakuma, would later build Musutafu.

"When did your Quirk manifest?" He hadn't yet mentioned his power, even though he had already faced harassment and dealt with at least one person with a Quirk. This puzzled her. How could a Quirkless child protect his family in the era of meta persecution?

"I was fourteen. The persecution of meta was intensifying; they were outlawed. Toshi organized a gang of teen meta; I secretly helped him as much as I could. That day, I was returning from school and witnessed a clash of meta gangs in which Toshitsugu was involved. When I saw my friend wounded and then almost killed, I couldn't force myself to turn away. I rushed into the thick of the battle. I fought with all my might, but what could a pathetic albino runt do against a group of meta? Naturally, I only became a burden. In desperation, I grabbed the gang leader's head and wished for only one thing—to have the power to protect what was dear to me. My Quirk answered my desperate wish. I took my first Quirk—Fire Breath. Toshi's gang fought them off, but the worst was yet to come," Hisashi fell silent again.

Inko felt his sadness. Something was clearly gnawing at him from within.

"What happened?"

"The meta-haters recognized me. They attacked our house, set it on fire, and killed my mother. She died cursing me. I burned the attackers with Fire Breath. There was not a drop of compassion in me for them; they threatened what was dearest to me—my brother. However, I was not destined to win that fight. My brother and I were taken to Tartarus."

"To Tartarus?" Inko was surprised. It was officially believed that the prison for the most hardened scum with powerful Quirks was built after the dawn of the Hero Era. "It already existed back then?"

"Originally, Tartarus was created as a place for detaining, studying, and turning meta into weapons. The Meta-Human Control Commission took an interest in me. I became their favorite project. I owe the power I possess now to them."

She frowned. She didn't like how that last sentence sounded. "What do you mean?"

"My Quirk, like my body, was not originally so powerful, Inko. My initial limit for holding Quirks was around thirty, but now I can store and use over a thousand Quirks simultaneously. What you see before you now is the result of several years of painful, inhumane experiments and various manipulations of my body and mind," Hisashi shifted his gaze to his hands; his look became empty, distant. "I was torn apart and reassembled dozens of times. I don't remember those times well; my memory has blocked out most of it, leaving only the sensation of endless torment. But that wasn't the worst thing the Commission did to me. The worst was what they ordered me to do when I finally became the perfect weapon they were molding me into. I had to either kill the meta Toshi protected, my friends, or watch the Commission's people torture Yoichi. My brother was sickly and fragile; he wouldn't have survived torture. Besides, he was not even seven years old. I... I carried out their order. I killed most of Toshi's gang, his friends, his family. There were little children among them, even younger than Yoichi, but I showed no mercy to a single one."

An instinctive shiver ran down her spine. What Hisashi had revealed to her... it was a nightmare. What the Commission had done to him—was unimaginable cruelty. It was terrifying even to imagine what Hisashi had felt then, and what he felt now, remembering it all.

"And your friend? He didn't die in that battle."

"Unfortunately, or fortunately, Toshitsugu was not in the hideout that day," Hisashi clenched the starched sheets in his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. "I betrayed him, my best friend, my kindred soul. That crime fell upon my shoulders as a heavy burden. At that moment, I had no way to escape the Commission's control, but that doesn't change what I did. Deep down, I always knew I was a monster; what happened that day merely served as irrefutable proof."

"But afterwards, you became Hakuma! A hero, a protector, the co-founder of a utopian city! Monsters don't protect or save anyone, Hisashi!"

Hisashi only chuckled mirthlessly in response. "Hakuma is a lie, Inko. A mask I wore after I finally managed to escape Tartarus. A role I played before Yoichi and my best friend, whom I looked in the face and brazenly lied to every day. I thought... that I could be a monster who protects others, I convinced myself of that every day when I went out on patrol as a vigilante, desperately suppressing the feeling of guilt. What foolishness! Monsters always remain monsters, regardless of how well they pretend or what they try to do. I should have realized that sooner and just... just died. It would have been better for everyone."

"You... thought about death?" Everything inside Inko went cold. Hisashi spoke so calmly about taking his own life. Her own life hadn't been easy, but she had never, not even for a second, contemplated suicide.

Hisashi nodded. "Many times. But..." he clenched his teeth. "First, I had to avenge Yoichi. And Musutafu."

"What happened in Musutafu a hundred years ago? Official sources claim that a rift occurred among the vigilantes protecting the city, leading to a bloody massacre, but considering everything I've already learned, the puzzle doesn't form a complete picture. What truly caused the tragedy?"

"Toshitsugu and I built Musutafu, a city where meta and non-meta lived in peace and harmony, as an act of resistance against the government that hunted meta and outlawed them. We organized a network of vigilantes, restored order in a country engulfed by chaos. The government, and the Commission in particular, did not like this. We became not just their enemies, but competitors in the struggle for popular loyalty. The final nail in the coffin was the Quirk Licensing Law. Some vigilantes—mostly corruptible, easily controlled ones with flashy heroic Quirks—supported the law, received licenses, and officially became the first Heroes. Toshitsugu and I believed that Quirks should be used freely for the good of society, not suppressed to maintain normality. We were on the brink of open war, but Yoichi, naive, idealistic Yoichi, believed everything could be resolved without bloodshed. He convinced Toshitsugu and me to meet with government officials and discuss everything at the negotiating table. Toshitsugu agreed, and they, together with Yoichi, went to the meeting in Corusant City, while I stayed to protect Musutafu. It was a trap; the Commission never wanted peace with us. They used the negotiations to divide us. While Toshi and Yoichi were at the talks, I was captured, using traitors in our ranks, brutally tortured, and then they used a mind-control Quirk on me and ordered me to destroy all the inhabitants of Musutafu with my own hands. I was too weak and couldn't resist the Quirk's control."

Inko was now openly weeping, unable to hold back, but Hisashi continued, paying not the slightest attention to what was happening around him. His mind was wandering somewhere far away.

"When I came to, Musutafu was already in ruins. In a rage, I killed the traitors and went straight for the Commission members, but Toshitsugu stood in my way. I reached out to him, hoping he would understand that I had been set up, that he would help. That... he would save me... But instead of salvation, I got a bullet. There was not a drop of the former warmth for me in his eyes, only hatred and contempt. Only later did I learn that they had told him the truth about what I had done, the truth that I had killed his friends, members of his original gang. His reaction was justified. My body fell from the bridge into the river. I should have drowned that day. But villainous fate preserved my life. Dying in agony, I realized that being a monster was all that was given to me in this life. The thought of death seemed more tempting than ever, but I had a brother, who had fallen directly into the clutches of the Commission, whom I had to protect. And there was also an unquenchable desire for revenge. So I forced myself to move on. I crawled onto the shore, but no longer as Hakuma. That day, All for One was born."

"Your brother... did he perish at the same time as Musutafu?" she asked, suppressing sobs.

"No," Hisashi shook his head. "That happened several years later. After Musutafu, our relationship... deteriorated. He couldn't understand or accept what I was becoming, how I used people as if they were my pawns. My brother was always an idealist, believing in goodness; I had overprotected him. Yoichi couldn't comprehend my actions; he begged me to stop, and then began actively sabotaging my newly built empire. I, in turn, became paranoid and cruel. I restricted him more and more; he resisted more and more actively, and finally, I reached the boiling point. I locked him in the vault against his will. Wanting to be his protector, I instead became his jailer. He refused food to such an extent that I had to literally force-feed him, but Yoichi still resisted. I forcibly gave him a Quirk just so he wouldn't die. That was the last straw; he could no longer bear me and severed our bond. I descended into madness and became even more cruel. I started taking things away from him: any means of recreation, then his bed, and then deprived him even of light, all just so he would renew our bond. I don't know what I was trying to achieve by that. I was personally destroying what was dearest to me. I just... wanted him to look at me again, not as a monster, but as his older brother. I wanted him to understand, but at the same time, I didn't want to reveal to him the reasons for my behavior, my pain."

Inko was silent. She had no words. For her own safety, she should have just silently gotten up from the chair, walked away, and severed her bond with Hisashi forever after hearing all this, and yet her heart somehow clenched painfully at the thought. They say love is blind. And, apparently, also deaf and incredibly foolish. She sympathized with a monster, but... also with what still smoldered beneath that monster. The man who had suffered his entire life, knowing no peace.

Hisashi continued. "Then Yoichi escaped with the help of Toshitsugu, who led the resistance against me. Kudo and I fought; I chased after Yoichi like one possessed. This went on for about a year, but then Yoichi himself arranged a meeting in the ruins of Musutafu. He believed I could still be saved, renewed our bond, and, begging me to stop, extended his hand. By that point, I was ready to do anything just to get him back. I reached out to him, and it was at that very moment that the fateful shot rang out. A sniper, sent by the Commission to kill me, shot us both with a single bullet. We fell to the ground; Toshitsugu dragged my brother's body away while I lay on the cold asphalt, choking on my own blood. I felt my brother's life fading, and along with it, my sight faded as well. I was left alone in the darkness."

"You lost everything that day. How did you force yourself to move on? Why didn't you..."

"End my life?" he finished for her. "I wanted to, but the hatred within me was stronger. I couldn't just die, letting the damned Commission win and not avenging my brother. Besides, I soon discovered that Yoichi's Quirk had not fallen into oblivion: it was being passed from one person to another, starting with my former friend Toshitsugu, with one single purpose—to destroy me. I spent the next hundred years in endless battles with the Commission, simultaneously hunting the only living remnant of my brother—the One for All Quirk."

At the mention of Hisashi's younger brother's Quirk, a vague guess dawned on Inko. He had said he pursued the holders of One for All, and what a coincidence—for some reason, All for One had also pursued and then killed her mother. She couldn't help but ask. "Is this Quirk connected to a Heroine named Nana Shimura?"

His eyes widened instantly. "She was the previous holder of One for All. How do you...?"

"She's my mother."

"What?" Hisashi went pale before her eyes. He clearly hadn't expected this kind of revelation.

"You said you pursued the holders of One for All. Did this pursuit extend to the holders' families?" Inko narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Threats or even direct harm to victims' families weren't out of the ordinary for All for One; she knew that, and yet...

"I..." he opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water.

His hesitation infuriated her. She slammed her fist on the table. "Answer the question, Hisashi! If you had known that Nana Shimura had a daughter, what would you have done?"

The deathly silence served as a very eloquent answer. Inko averted her gaze; looking at him at that very moment was physically painful. "She abandoned me, you know. I don't feel any naive childhood love for her, but... I always wondered why she did it. I thought it was because I was born Soulless—which I also owe to you, by the way!—but it turns out she was protecting me all this time... protecting me from you, Hisashi!" Her anger burst forth. Then Inko sighed wearily, suppressing the emotions that had surged up. That wouldn't help anyone now. "You're not a monster, Hisashi; having heard your story, I clearly realized that fact... however, willingly or unwillingly, you cause harm to everyone around you, especially your soulmate."

"I'm sorry..." he hung his head.

She straightened up, feeling the tingling of stiff muscles, and moved towards the exit of the room. The cup of cold coffee was left forgotten on the table by the bed. Opening the door, Inko froze for a moment and said, "I won't sever my bond with you, and I won't leave you alone, but... something has to change. I can't continue this farce; I want... more... And I'm not sure that All for One is capable of giving me that." Then Inko walked out of the room, leaving him alone.