1,058Dabi had to admit, his sister's plan had some serious merit. She wasn't being idealistic...she was being ruthlessly pragmatic about her intentions. Neither of the siblings ever wanted to be a pro hero...particularly on the off chance that they would have to one day work with that asshole.
She even had a way of getting them semi-legitimate jobs to help build their reputation...all difficult as hell, but the rewards were more than worth it.
"Explain to me again why we're guarding some kid?" asked Toga.
"The Yaoyorozu family are rich, well connected and highly respected. Their daughter is going on a school trip soon and there has been some vague threats against the family in general. The father wants to make sure his child is protected until they're dealt with by the heroes, without interrupting his daughter's school life with an obvious bodyguard," said Sakura.
"So how did you get this job? I doubt they're going to hire some kids without a license," asked Dabi, genuinely curious.
Sakura snorted.
"You're forgetting something important. The asshole never filed a missing person report on his 'intern'," said Sakura.
Dabi blinked.
"What?"
"My provisional license as a intern for the asshole's office is still valid. The family only checked to see if the license was an active number...they never checked to see if I was still working with him. After all, who would think to question someone like him over an intern trying to make a little extra cash on the side?"
Dabi cackled. His baby sister was incredibly devious and by the time that particular bit of miscommunication was cleared up their name would be out there as discreet bodyguards for the underage. Most of the rich families would be more than happy to pay for a semi-legitimate protection for their brats that wouldn't disrupt said kid's personal life.
And by the time people figured out the truth, there was a chance their reputation would have grown that no one would really care about it.
"How did you learn this stuff anyway?" asked Toga.
"That...is a secret~!" said Sakura mischievously. Seeing the looks on their faces, she cackled. "I'll tell you later, once we're done."
A few hours later...
Yaoyorozu Momo was less than thrilled hearing she would be getting bodyguards for her school trip. She hated being the center of attention like that, and the other girls always got so snippy whenever her wealth was brought up.
That or they tried to worm their way into her good graces to earn 'tidbits' as her mother had once put it.
The guy didn't look very heroic, in her opinion. He had scars on his face and he was rather intimidating. And for some strange reason he didn't really stick close to her at all.
She was happily chatting with her few casual friends on the bus when it happened. A car came speeding past, before blocking the front of the bus while a second came up and prevented them from backing out. As they were inside a tunnel, they were effectively trapped inside.
Momo was freaked out. She had just recently gotten a recommendation spot at UA, and she vaguely knew there had been some threats made against her family because of it, but she didn't know that something like this would happen!
Were people really that cutthroat about getting their kids into UA without having to go through the entrance exam?
"Stay down, princess. I'll take care of these idiots."
"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be guarding me? Why would you confront them directly?" said Momo confused.
He smirked.
"Who said I was the only guard on the bus?" he countered. "I'm just the bait for anyone stupid enough to attack."
Momo blinked, before she watched as he practically decimated the idiots trying to kidnap or hurt her.
If he wasn't the only bodyguard on the bus, who else was here? Her father had only introduced her to the odd masked man before she left for school.
Unnoticed, the two 'extra' girls kept a close eye on the heiress who had no idea they were so close.
"Dabi's doing really well out there," commented Toga, completely confident in whatever trickery Sakura had going to keep them unnoticed by everyone else.
The plan was elegant in it's simplicity. Dabi would act as the 'bodyguard' and draw out anyone stupid enough to go after the girl, while Sakura and Toga would stay close to their paycheck and keep an eye on her discreetly. While everyone was busy looking at him, they'd miss the two girls coming in from behind.
With the idiots dealt with, the bus continued on it's way. The local hero had been alerted, so the fools would be arrested soon enough. With such a capable bodyguard on board, the teachers felt secure enough to continue the trip.
"I can't believe they're going anyway," said Dabi in annoyance.
"They're spoiled rich kids, nii-san. They wouldn't know real danger unless it bit them in the ass. Once we're at the destination I'll stick closer to the girl, but the next best chance to attack would be the return trip..." said Sakura.
"Agreed. Have fun," said Dabi.
Considering Sakura had fled the house so young, this was likely the first time she had ever been on a school trip like this. She had become home-schooled by her own choice at an early age out of necessity.
The trip was boring enough...with the bloodthirsty Toga around, any would be opportunists soon found themselves on the wrong end of a knife. It was ridiculously easy to pick them off...thanks to the donation of blood from the parents, she took the form of the target and walked off into discreet alleys to eliminate the would-be kidnappers. The idiots never saw her coming.
Meanwhile Sakura kept the heiress safe with her friends while Toga and Dabi worked.
If she quietly enjoyed the trip, well, neither of them were going to say anything about the matter.
The only real annoyance during the remainder of the trip came on the way back. There was a second attack...only this time the local heroes were alerted to the issue and had decided to grab a bit of extra glory by sticking their nose into things.
"Nii-san, what's going on?" asked Sakura, wandering over to where Dabi was arguing with the local heroes.
"These idiots are keeping us from completing the mission," said Dabi irritably.
"If you could just hand over your license and prove you're legitimate..." said the hero suspiciously.
Dabi looked ready to burn the fool into a crisp. Anyone could tell the hero was only doing this because he wanted to endear himself to the client's parents. After all, he was so small time that he was just barely out of the side-kick stage. This sort of thing could easily promote him enough that he could start making real money.
Sakura sighed, and pulled out the provisional license.
"Dabi, let me handle this idiot. It seems a few misconceptions need to be...cleared up."
Dabi took one look at the expression in his sister's eyes, and almost pitied the moron. Almost.
Anyone that stupid and greedy deserved whatever his devious baby sister was certain to come up with.
He didn't hear what his sister said, but he could see the cringe and the way the hero back-pedaled rather quickly easily enough. So did the client's daughter.
Which was why the girl approached Sakura immediately after, out of hearing of her little group.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the person who convinced your father to hire a group of unknowns," said Sakura bluntly. "It's rather hard to dispute our ability when I kicked the ass of the hired thugs he had on his payroll without breaking a sweat."
"So if you're the bodyguard, then who is..."
"That's my older brother, the official 'face' of the group so to speak. It's easier to pretend he's the leader and ignore the fact it's a thirteen year old giving the actual orders," deadpanned Sakura.
"Why did that hero back off?" asked Momo. Even she knew what that idiot was really after.
"He realized he was about to irritate someone that was so far above his league that it would get him into more trouble than trying to endear him with your parents was worth."
That plus the sheer level of concentrated killing intent, but that was more of an incentive after he verified that her license was in fact registered to Endeavor's hero agency. He did not want to piss off Endeavor, especially over something as trivial as his intern making a little side money.
Once Momo was dropped off at her parent's mansion, Dabi checked their bank account after a few hours. The client had been more than generous, especially since Momo had no idea how closely she was protected until the end.
Like Sakura predicted, once word spread of a three-man group able to guard a client that closely without disturbing their daily routine that was semi-legitimate, they soon had several more requests.
It didn't take long for others to hear of how successful they were being and to take an interest in their operations.
Sakura looked at the seven mercenaries laid out on the floor groaning. They had mistaken Dabi as the leader and humored her request for a sparring match, never realizing their error until it was far too late.
"You... how did you beat my men?" demanded their leader, who had been standing next to Dabi the entire time.
"Who ever said my brother was the leader of our operation?" said Sakura, staring him down without fear.
The man laughed coldly.
"You're good, girl. I'll give you that. But give me one good reason why we should consider joining your group?"
"I want to organize the fringe groups before a war sparks and they're turned into cannon fodder," said Sakura bluntly.
Seeing she had his full attention, Sakura explained her plan.
"Let's face it, All Might is old and he's been acting as the pillar for the current society so long that once his support is gone, the villains who have been hiding their real strength are going to have an absolute field day. Any idiot that takes him out is going to score one hell of a propaganda coup against the hero class. And with how pathetic they are now, a lot of people are going to die in the process... especially those in the fringes like us, who do the dirty work that the cops and the heroes can't do because of politics and the fact the press would eat them alive."
"You may have a point, but what does that have to do with us?" asked the leader.
"Who are the heroes and villains going to hire out first to do their dirty work? Lets face it, the mercenaries are scattered and divided, and it would be all too easy for either side to justify our loss as 'expendable' because we're not one of them. After all, we're only in it for the money," said Sakura. "But...what would happen if they had to hire to a large group of mercenaries who sent out people who were trained and had people who can and would come after their ass for betraying us?"
Seeing she had the undivided attention of the men, who were slowly picking themselves up, Sakura smirked.
"Who cares about the petty squabbles of heroes and villains? We're the people who work in the shadows because it's the only place we fit in and we do it for damn good money in the process. We're not some shiny pro hero who's in it for the fame and glory who's paycheck is contingent on how popular they are. Nor are we villains who are in it to make the world pay for whatever grievance we fell is owed to us. We're the anti-heroes, who do good deeds because we're paid, not because we actually give a damn about morals," said Sakura.
Dead silence. Then, the leader of the mercenaries who had challenged her did something unusual.
He started laughing.
"I like you," he said simply. "You're our sort of brat, and you clearly know the name of the game. But give me one good reason why I should put my men under your banner?"
She smirked.
"Actions are louder than words. There's nothing I can say to convince you I'm a decent leader for you or your men, but what about a collaboration effort? Let me lead a few of your men in one of our missions and let their words convince you," said Sakura sensibly. "At the worst you lose a paycheck or two."
Seeing the intrigued gleam in his eyes, he made a decision.
"One month. I'm giving you one month of joint missions to convince me you're worth our time."
Sakura would be rather pleased that by the end of the month, she not only had the nine men who had come to investigate their group, but thirty more who had heard through word of mouth from the first group who were interested in what she had planned.
Mercenaries might be in it for themselves, but even they couldn't ignore what she already knew to be true. The world was standing on the precipice of a powder keg about to blow, and unless they were careful they would end up dead and forgotten on the sidelines.
Even they had their pride and dying like cannon fodder after being picked off by either side was not something any man wanted for their ending. Even if their only other option was to group up and follow the orders of a barely-minted teenage girl.
Izuku was positively terrified, but he still kept following the strange girl who helped him like a baby chick. It was one thing to seek out villain fights...this was like walking into a den of battle-hardened wolves.
Hearing the men jeer and call him a bunny was not helping his peace of mind.
As if the situation wasn't surreal enough, the girl who saved him...was the one the leaders were all looking to!
"What's this? Our esteemed leader brings us a little bunny?"
"Before you dismiss the small rabbit, I suggest you look at this."
Izuku watched as she tossed him his missing notebook. He had looked everywhere for it after she saved him, but he had never been able to find it. He never thought she had picked it up or found it interesting enough to bring him here!
"Hmm? This is...!"
"Pretty good for a civvie with no training, wouldn't you agree?" she said calmly. "Imagine how good he could get if he were taught what to look for."
Izuku felt a strange sense of pride at the way the man was looking at him.
Also, a distinct sense of trepidation.
"You, boy. Did you make this or did someone give it to you to hide?" asked the man.
"I...wrote those. I like seeing heroes at work, and picking apart their quirks," he admitted quietly.
"What's your quirk?" asked the scarred man, leaning against the chair the girl was at.
Izuku mumbled under his breath. Seeing the expectant looks on their faces, he repeated himself a bit louder.
"I don't have one."
"Neither do a third of the people in the room kid. Why else would they become mercs in this shitty society?" scoffed one man to the side.
Izuku's head whipped in his direction in shock.
He got up and walked towards the kid, a sympathetic look in his eyes.
"Most of my men don't have any fancy pants special tricks, and yet they're still the most dedicated and fierce fighters you'll ever meet. Just means you have to work a bit harder to whatever goal you want to accomplish. Also means the capes and the idiots they fight rarely take you seriously unless you kneecap their ass."
Seeing the dawning hope in the kid's eyes, Sakura smirked.
"What do you say, Takeshi-san. Should we take the kid on and teach him how to really fight? From what I can tell he has a lot of potential waiting to be unleashed."
Something told him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn his life around.
"Please, let me join you! I don't want to be useless Deku anymore!"
The men all looked at each other, while Sakura smirked...though there was a hint of empathy in her eyes.
If someone had given her this sort of chance in her past life at any point before she turned seventeen, she would have jumped on it just as fast.
"You sure kid? We won't take it easy on you, and you'll curse us more than a few times before we consider you ready. Mercs like us don't have a long life span, and some might consider us villains," said the scarred man.
Izuku felt his resolve strengthen.
"Everyone seems to think you need a quirk to be a hero. I want to prove them wrong and join UA on my own terms, even if I don't have one."
"UA?" said the scarred man.
"I think we should do it. The more 'legitimate' heroes we have in our group the less likely the capes are to try and call us villains," said Sakura. "After all, were going to be competing for the same source of income, but we don't have as many restrictions. Besides...this means we have someone who can act as our public face for the masses if we need it."
"Hell, let the kid in. At worst we'll just have to move the public base to another district later," said one of the men.
The scarred man smirked.
"Welcome to the Shades, little bunny. I hope you're ready to get your ass kicked repeatedly."
Izuku had a dawning sense of doom, but there was also a bit of hope that he could prove Bakugo wrong once and for all.
