Fractured Wings

The convoy rattled down the uneven roads toward Hamamatsu, the engine's sound was occasionally interrupted by the soft crunch of gravel beneath the tires. I sat in the back of the pickup truck, wedged between mismatched furniture and Eri, who sat quietly beside me, still shivering in fear, or maybe she was cold. 

I found a blanket and got one of my paper constructs in the form of small birds carry it over to her and wrap itself around her. She looked surprised and then turned to me, I only shown a slight nod before looking away. 

The air smelled of varnished wood and something faintly metallic—probably from the crates behind us. The four precepts accompanying us were named, Rappa, Chronostasis, Tengai and Sakaki. They filled the space with their conversation. 

Rappa, the largest one of the four, was the loudest, "Tengai, I want to know if your shield could really stop me if I went all out." He said pounding a fist to his palm. 

Tengai didn't bother to look up at his large figure, "Rappa, my barrier is impervious, you'd break every bone in your hand and wouldn't even make a dent." 

"Yeah?" Rappa leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a challenge. "Maybe we should test that once we get to the new compound now. bet you'd be singing a different tune by then." 

Chronostasis sighed, his tone clipped. "Both of you should save your energy, plus it's not a new compound Rappa, the boss said he grew up there with the last boss." 

Sakaki chuckled, brushing hair from his face. 

"Relax, let them brawl. It's not like anyone's going to cry if Rappa ends up with a broken jaw." 

Their dumb laughter was jarring to hear, they were talking about basically nothing. It was good for Kobe to learn more about potential quirks, for some they literally made it obvious in the name they decided to give themselves, like Chronostasis. 

Eri shifted beside me, drawing my attention. Her small frame was hunched and her knees were pulled in to her chest as if to make herself invisible. She didn't even flinch when the truck had hit a pothole, but her hands tightened around the blanket. 

I noticed it last night, Eri has a lot of scars, coursing her forearms. It was something Overhaul most likely caused. 

I reached into my bag and pulled out a bottle of water and a small packet of crackers. I nudged her gently with my elbow, holding them out. She glanced at me, her ruby red eyes wary, but after a moment, she hesitantly took the offering. She didn't say thank you, but the way she clutched them to her chest was enough. 

The conversation around us continued, but it felt like background noise, a meaningless hum. Eri nibbled on the crackers, her movements cautious, as if someone might snatch them away. I leaned back against the truck bed, letting my head rest against the worn cushion. 

*** 

We were close now, through the windows in the front, we could see a checkpoint. One problem though, it was barricaded by a small group of uniformed heroes. Gang Orca and his sidekicks. 

The driver up front got jittery, he cursed under his breath. "Shit," he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I forgot my damn record," 

"What are you talking about?" Rappa barked leaning forward. 

"I've got priors and, I'm wanted for a burglary," He was already wanted and didn't want to go back, "If they scan my ID we're screwed." Panic laced his voice, and without waiting for a response, he slammed his foot on the gas, swerving around the barricade. 

The heroes reacted instantly, Gang Orca, his massive and imposing form, stepped forward raising his left hand. The air thickened around us, and the sound of the trucks tires screeching against the road was drowned out by his commanding voice. "Stop The Vehicle!" 

The driver couldn't stop. Instead, he reached for something under his seat. 'This idiot is going to get us killed.' 

Before he could act, a second truck veered off the road, blocking the path of the pursuing heroes. 

Chaos erupted. 

Rappa whooped in excitement, punching massive holes and leaping out of the truck before it even stopped. "Finally some action!" He charged straight for Gang Orca. Tengai followed, his barrier shimmering into existence shielding Rappa and the front of our truck. 

I stayed where I was keeping a hand on Eri, my eyes scanned the chaos and only stopped when I saw her. 

Yuki. My sister. 

"What's she doing here?" Dumb question, she's doing a work placement with Gang Orca most likely, 

She moved with the eyes of a beast, how could bright purple jewels look so beastly. Her jet black curls were tied in a ponytail. Her hero outfit was a sleek combination of dark blues and silver. It only enhanced her cold features. 

"She's already putting her quirk to use." She could give life to inanimate objects to which she commanded. 

Street signs bent and twisted under her control, forming makeshift weapons and barriers to fight off both Tengai and Rappa as well as Chronostasis who was edging in closer. 

There was no way I was joining that battle, having her see me would be the wrong move. 

It had been over a month since I had last seen her. Not that it mattered, we weren't that close. Maybe we had been when we were just kids, but that was it. She'd always been the perfect one, while I... well, was the opposite. Seeing her now didn't fill me with any kind of longing or nostalgia, just frustration. 

I should get out of here. 

"New guy!" Sakaki's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Pick up Eri, we're leaving while they hold off the heroes. Now!" 

I didn't need to be told twice. I scooped Eri in my arms, her small frame trembling against me, and then I bolted. 

I was fast, much faster than Sakaki which made me slow down and allow him to keep up, it was to be expected, Sakaki was an alcoholic, his quirk kind of required it but that's not to say I enjoyed being slowed down by him. 

We ducked into the forests, the sounds of the fight were becoming more distant. A large paper bird formed and lifted Sakaki, "Hey, I didn't ask for this." 

Since I decided to move faster I needed him to keep up, he should be happy for my good will. 

"Hey, new guy! Our new ride is just ahead, off that road." Right, when travelling like this, with extra cargo, the Overhaul made sure there were multiple cars following each other, in case of incidents like this. 

"Let's move." We stepped in the car this time. A sleek black edition with two well dressed men in the front, instead of the big truck that stuck out on these otherwise quiet roads. 

As the car sped off, I realized Eri was still curled against me, feeling the warmth. She seemed exhausted. 

I thought on what could have happened, I could have gotten snatched by my own sister. If she had caught me, then what, would she even look for any reason I could give for being here. I don't believe she could. She would let the police take me away to a station and lock me up for operating in a controlled syndicate group. I don't even know the full extent of the Shie Hassaiki and Overhaul. 

Which was the original reason for me being here. I wanted to find out more about them and if they had any relation to Eden, the chances of that now were incredibly low, so now I just needed to learn more about them, dismantle the group and slip away unnoticed, and with Eri. No kid should be stuck in what was clearly an abusive situation with someone that may not even be her family. 

___

The compound in Hamamatsu was a blend of utilitarian design mixed with a lingering sentimentality. It's outer structure, nestled in a stretch of dense forest, seemed unassuming. A drab weathered house surrounded by thick, moss covered walls. 

A wrought iron gate marked the entrance, rusted but still imposing, like a sentinel daring you to question it's purpose. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, the quiet broken only by the occasional chirp of unseen birds. 

The first room we entered was warm, and held remnants of a place that used to be lived in. 

"This way," Overhaul led us through the space, an inconspicuous door at the end of the hall. 

We descended a steep staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly into the earth. Each step was colder than the last, and by the time we reached the bottom, the air was damp and metallic. Overhaul pushed open another door, revealing the compounds hidden underground structure. 

The space was the exact same as the last one. The only difference I could see was when we made it to Eri's room. More child-appropriate. 

Her room was painted in soft pastels, the walls adorned with stenciled flowers and animals. A small bed with fluffy pink blankets stood against the one corner, flanked by shelves stocked with toys and books. 

'What was the point of the books though?' I found out early on that the kid can't even read. 

This just seemed like a desperate attempt to make her feel somewhat normal, a jarring contrast to what her life actually was. 

Overhaul glanced to Sakaki and I, his eyes momentarily were devoid of any hostility. "Great work you two. Getting here without compromising the mission." 

"Thank you boss," Sakaki bowed and I nodded in acknowledgement, seeing no reason to bow. 

Overhaul turned to Eri. "This will be your new room. Enjoy it. I'll be back in a few hours to continue where we left off last time. It's been a while." 

Of doing what? I was starting to get the feeling that I was hired by a freak, if so I'd have to nab the kid and run off even sooner without my own little investigation. 

Eri didn't respond to him, instead her eyes darted everywhere but him, she even glanced over to me. Looking for what? Reassurance? Maybe, I gave her a small little nod and she hesitantly stepped into the room. 

I do wonder if that kid's mute. It wouldn't be surprising. 

___

The room is unnervingly clean, Overhaul had explained that he was a germaphobe but I never thought it could go this far. 

Overhaul wanted me in this room by a certain time, I asked him what it is he actually does with Eri. He just told me to come and watch. Once I stepped in the room, there was a coppery smell that I couldn't quite ignore. It pieced together so much that occupied my mind that I almost ignored the fact that some other Precept members were also in the room. 

Overhaul stood at the center of the room, his figure poised and clinical. Eri sat, strapped to a table, her small frame dwarfed by the machinery surrounding her. She held back her screams but tears still flowed down her face. 

She just sat there, no struggle, motionless and resigned. Her wide ruby-red eyes staring blankly ahead accepting this routine. 

I stood to the side, my back to the cold, sterile wall, arms crossed, every muscle in my body coiled tight. I was nothing more than a shadow in the room, watching silently. 

Overhaul's voice cut through the silence like the scalpel in his hands, "Hold her still." two subordinates in lab coats stepped forward and tightened the restraints, they wore face masks but their eyes showed nothing but an unfeeling resolve. 

The first needle, slid into her arm, and Eri flinched, a tiny, instinctive twitch she couldn't supress. I felt my jaw clench involuntarily. I stayed composed, and kept my breathing even. Play the part. Stay in control. 

"The child's blood," Overhaul started, his tone as precise as his movements. "Is key to erasing the disease that plagues this world. A cure for the chaos that quirks have brought forward. She is the cornerstone to that new era." 

Order. It was like a cold mantra that defined everything about this man. Yet as he worked there was no hint of cruelty. His actions were most certainly cruel, but he didn't see it that way, to him it was just a cure. 

The needle filled with crimson, the liquid catching the harsh light as it siphoned it away. It felt like a blow to my gut. Eri flinched again, her tiny fists curling against the straps. 

I looked away for a little bit, letting my eyes scan the room. There were steel counters, vials of what I assumed to be her blood, the feint dark stains in the corners that no amount of bleach could scrub fully clean. Everything in this place felt wrong, but nothing more so than the silence. 

"Focus," Overhaul said, his gaze flickering to my direction. A command, cool and impersonal. 

I exhaled slowly and let my eyes fall back on the scene in front of me. Eri's breathing had grown shallow, her small chest rising and falling rapidly. 

Overhaul stuttered in place, "Screw it. That's enough for today," He declared, He removed the needle and handed the vial to one of the doctors and watched as they stepped away without a word. The restraints were undone, Eri sagged against the table, her strength depleted. 

The room fell silent again, save for the feint hum of machinery. Overhaul straightened and turned towards me. 

"Kobe," he said, his voice cut through the oppressive stillness. "You've been useful, even for the short time you've been here. But you're not just a bystander, you've shown restraint, composure, and resolve. Qualities this family needs. You're not one of the eight precepts, but you'll have a role here. A title." 

I remained still, my expression had went unchanged. 

"From this day forward you will be Sōryū. Our blue dragon. A sentinel, guarding the integrity of our work. Reliable."

The name felt powerful, as Overhaul said it he gestured to Eri. 

Sure the name felt strong, nice even. But it was nothing more than a tightening chain to keep me close to the organization. 

"You'll operate outside of the standard hierarchy, but don't forget, you are loyal to me." 

"Understood boss." I replied. That was the first time that I had referred to him by that. 

I inclined my head slightly, acknowledging his words but revealing nothing. As he turned away, my gaze flickered to Eri, still trembling. Her wide tear-stricken eyes were on me, a silent plea for salvation I couldn't answer. Not yet. 

Sōryū. A guardian of a twisted empire. For now, I would wear the name and play the part. But deep inside, the resolve I had been nurturing burned brighter. Soon, I would turn their own shadow against them.