『Arc Zero: Veiled Hues』

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"Move without a sound. You should only speak when it is time to say checkmate," were the words that Decadence said in the form of advice.

Under normal circumstances, say in a fight, these words would be fantastic advice, especially when they were given by a vigilante that had managed to evade the Hero Commission's gaze for eleven years. However, it may be better to say that the commission was not as competent as they say. Whatever the actual scenario was, it was of no use to Tanami. Trivial things should not be at the forefront of her mind. In the long run, the distractions were a hammer to the nail as a vigilante.

She had long since relinquished the cape once worn by a Hero to don a mask that revealed nothing but trickery. It was laughable, in a way. The one thing she wanted in the past was a fleeting dream burned to ashes. Lit by the match, she pinched between her fingers. Reminiscence flooded her chest, pricking at her heart to show that it was still alive within her. Her teeth slammed together in irritation. The past was none of her concern. It would be easier to simmer over the thought later.

The teenager pulled the tip of her fedora down to obscure her face. The violet mask covering the upper portion of her face should be enough to hide her facial features. Besides, the light green contacts and the enstatite coating her once amethyst hair worked exceptionally well in hiding her features. The one thing she could not conceal was the paleness of her skin, but the lusterless brown crystal pulled far less attention than the bright mixture of purple.

Still, she kept her gaze low, and her head dipped as she passed a few individuals. Her finger tapped at the handle of the object she held. If she could, she would have preferred to have cast aside the silver briefcase in her hand, but that was not an option.

Even though Tanami avoided scouring the area, she found herself preoccupied with counting the vibrations emitted by the people around her. The silver bracelet with light green fluorite was wrapped tightly around her wrist, and with every step someone took, she vaguely heard the sound of a pop coming from the crystal's inclusions. It was an abstract way of using gemstones but one that benefitted her greatly. Besides, who would think anyone would use small stones as a warning device?

One would think that you needed your vision to see where you were headed, but the path was deeply inscribed in Tanami's mind after coming here so many times. The buildings that curled around the street were crafted out of brick and concrete. Some stones were falling apart, while others only had a few cracks running through their surface. Planes of glass revealed many items, some more illegal and dangerous than others. Tanami had no interest in them, whether they were support items or weapons. It was not her job to care for the mess that lingered in the black market. If Heroes could not do it, then why should she? She was not stupid enough to fight a losing battle even if she had access to this place.

A shuttered breath managed to slither free from her throat as a sudden draft of chilled air flooded the area. If she listened intently enough, she could hear others complain of the cold. "A fight may have broken out. The particles in the air are freezing. A buyer not happy with a price?"

True to her words, the ground beneath her shook as spears crafted of glistening ice rained down from above a block over. Her eyes shifted in the direction of the brawl, and her breath stilled. The fluorite on her wrist emitted no sound. Whoever was fighting would not come her way, which was reassuring. Some part of her wanted to make her way over there to settle the curiosity burning inside her body, but she was quick to push it down. The only person she should care about was herself. How selfish for someone who wanted to be a Hero.

High above her, an abyss of darkness was the only thing that could be seen. Except it was not the inkiness of the night sky but the ceiling that seemed to stretch for eternity. If you glanced at it long enough, you might get lost in the nothingness. No lights fell from the ceiling, so the lamps jutting out from the top of the shops were the sole provider of illuminance. At times, they flickered like they were losing power and enveloped her form in obsidian before light revealed itself once more.

Quiet footfalls fell rhythmically, inaudible to those who walked by her. Like herself, they hid their identities by adorning a mask. Whether they held good intentions, it was easy for her to say they did not. After all, who came to the black market on a whim? Not even the best of Heroes would venture down here. But then again, she was not here as a Hero, was she? Tanami did not bother with peering around aimlessly as she did many times before. There was no time for sightseeing.

For someone who was sixteen, saying that taking a trip to the black market was not the first thing anyone would like to hear but to her, it was just another pastime. If this were still a year ago, if she were still at Mizu with Tomohiro and Akihiko, she would have never believed it. It went against her ideals. No, it would be better said that it used to go against her ideals. How easy did things change as those values were shattered.

She was just another Villain in the eyes of the public nowadays. Taking a short step to her right, her teeth lightly gnawed on her tongue. Swiftly, she exchanged the briefcase in her hands and ignored how the tails of her violet coat brushed against the clothed thigh of a man who vaguely attempted to steal the case from her. She resisted the urge to knock the man out as she peered at his reflections through one of the shop's windows. Her feet came to a halt with faux interest as she half-heartedly inspected the rifle displayed inside.

Drawing attention to herself would be unwise. In a place like this, she would be asking for someone to draw a knife at her throat. If it were possible, she would prefer not to use her Quirk. The lustrousness of crystals quickly caught the eye. At the merchant level of this place, it would be asking for trouble.

But even if she tried to label herself as another buyer wandering the Deep, it seemed like the man who wanted to make a quick move on her did not think the same. Her free hand pinched a single strip of coated hair before it fell by her side. The familiar sensation of sparkles simmering underneath her skin pricked at her with glee.

Mumbling under her breath, she huffed in discontent. "All I want to do is make a purchase here, and I get bothered just for breathing. I really need to tell Decadence that I'm not taking any more tasks zie doesn't want to do."

Swirling on her heels, Tanami instantly squatted at the exact moment that the same man released a wave of flames. Behind her, the glass illuminated with an orange hue before the troubling sound of cracks littered its surface. She did not bother to shoot a glance behind her, but that did not mean she was pretty fond of the idea of being impaled with glass. Would it not be great if she could easily convert that glass into something else?

For a moment, she felt envious of two people who could quickly turn the glass into something else. Unfortunately for her, she did not have that ability. So she would have to resort to other methods. In the depths of her coat's pocket, she registered the sudden weight of her pistol.

She abstained from the option of using it. She, like an idiot, forgot to bring the silencer, and frankly, she was not all that excited to embed a bullet into someone. Not to mention the blood splatter. Too messy and far too dirty to clean off her clothes. Also, she was not confident that she would not strike him in a vital place. A chuckle danced on the tip of her tongue.

Sometimes, she was frightened at how well she adjusted to the shadows. Especially since she was someone gifted a radiant Quirk. Yet that fear was not strong enough to force her back home. And the man in front of her was not scary at all. He was just another nuisance on her once tranquil day.

The only good thing about Villains that she learned was that they never interfere in a fight here in the Deep or the Abysm parts of the black market. Perhaps they would in the Shallow, but at least here, Tanami did not need to worry about being ganged upon. Not that they would win. Decadence and Chamaeleon were very adamant about her not losing any fights. One wrong move was fatal, and she was not about to lose her life over a stupid decision. She was not going to die before meeting Akihiko or Tomohiro in person. Even if it was just once. On top of that, she did not take kindly to someone trying to jump her.

"You brought this on yourself."

Her hand curled around the man's arm easily before her arms latched around his shoulder. With her other arm, she released the metal briefcase and softened its fall with the back of her heel. Content with the muffled sound, her now free hand flattened itself before the side of it connected with the back of the man's neck.

Releasing her grasp, her figure effortlessly swirled around his own and delicately grabbed the back of his jacket. His body fell limp in her grip before she dropped him without a care. A slight smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "Checkmate."

She scooped the case by the handle and brushed off the dust from her clothing. Tanami took a deep breath before looking at the man, now unconscious. She stared at him for a few seconds, scrutinizing any subtle movement he would make. He no longer moved as the strings of sleep had grabbed hold of him. Good, she did not need to be ambushed twice in a span of minutes. Given the heated shards lying on the concrete floor outside the shop, the man appeared only to have a fire Quirk. As long as it was not anything more troubling or something that drew more attention to herself, the sixteen-year-old could care less.

The piercing gazes of those who witnessed the fight drilled themselves like knives into her body.

Just as she was about to continue walking to the destination she had in mind, the sound of rapid footsteps vibrated in her eardrums from the fluorite. It was coming from inside the shop with the now broken window. A look of panic crossed her features briefly before she twisted her head to the left. Her green eyes brightened in relief. Without wasting another second, she jumped and, with one hand, gripped the silver pole above her.

Swinging her legs, she curled her body around it and heaved herself onto the roof of the ceiling. The female pressed her body to the roughness of the surface to make herself as flat as possible. As much as she wanted to check whether or not the shop owner had seen her, she was not in the mood to get into another fight or be forced to 'pay' a fine. Surely the Villain down there had some Yen on him. If not, that was not her problem. Quietly, she shuffled back but grimaced at the thought of her clothes being covered in filth.

How heartless of you, Tanami. Abandoning a helpless person. Well, it's fine if I don't lose the briefcase. I don't want to deal with that mess. She thought to herself as she tightened her grip on the handle. I think I need to avoid this street for a while. Or maybe this district of the Deep. I could probably find what I need in the Abysm, but that place is more problematic than this level. The merchants don't like negotiating there. And discussion leads to disputes, and more often than not, that leads to destruction, which means attention, which I don't want.

Hopping a few rooftops was easy to do, as expected. There were more flat surfaces to land on since the Deep was more of a merchant level in the black market. It was like walking into a lethal grocery store where you would go to buy illegal weapons or items rather than a can of broth. It was easier to connect with the merchants since they preferred making money rather than getting onto anyone's kill list.

Merchants were easier to bribe to hold specific items, which was a plus. If it was the Abysm- the lowest level- nothing was pleasant. The worst of the worst lingered down there. Frankly, it was not the place she wanted to go, and she was not going to anyway. No, she needed to visit a specific person. She only hoped that everything would go smoothly.

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A lethargic sigh managed to slip past Tanami's lips, although it was not like she was trying to withhold it. Such insignificant actions might give her more trouble than it was worth right now, but she was already exasperated, so what was the point? Onyx gloved fingers pressed up to her face, feeling the mask that veiled her face before brushing a strip of enstatite behind her ear. Raising her gaze, the green contacts in her eyes settled on the woman who smiled at her sweetly. A frown pulled at Tanami's lips.

"I'm not giving you sixty-three million Yen for the seven vials of Trigger you have." The sixteen-year-old girl placed all her weight on her right leg, lightly swinging the metal briefcase in her left hand. "Just because you're the one we do the most business with doesn't mean I have to accept your deal, Arcane."

"Oh, my dear Caeli, I would never lie to such a pretty face! Certainly, I wouldn't want to scam my best clients. It wouldn't do well for my business, darling, especially since I've been doing business with the Empyreans for so long. Never would I do such a thing." Dark locks fluttered into the girl's vision as Arcane pressed a hand to her chest. The woman's smile never wavered and stayed as perfect as ever. Her crimson eyes held no malice nor any ill intentions. They only reflected profound joy, which Tanami could never figure out how she could be so cheerful in this place.

The teenager's grip on the suitcase tightened. She was beginning to feel the needles of pain jab themselves into her head. It appeared a headache would settle faster than she had hoped. "Thirty million. No more, no less."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Caeli. Even if I find you cute, Trigger prices have skyrocketed from high demand. Under normal circumstances, I would allow myself to be charmed by your beauty, but I need to make money. You're such a pretty thing, though, and you know me, Caeli, I love pretty things. Trust me when I say this conversation hurts me just as much as you." Arcane's smile faded into a pout, and her hands fiddled with the ends of her hair.

One vial of Trigger is expensive for most people. That's why only underground organizations manage to get their hands on it because of its price. As far as I know, no new Villain organizations have popped up. The girl glanced at the merchant skeptically. Was Arcane trying to scam her?

"Don't frown like that. You're much too young to have wrinkles at your age, Caeli. I like it when pretty girls smile because it makes me happy!"

Although Tanami should have been fazed by the amount of flattering thrown her way, that was not the thing that caught her attention. Her brows furrowed in confusion. "High demand? Wasn't the demand low when I came last time?"

All the woman did was tilt her head in an amusing action. "It was but this man- oh, what was his name? Delphic! Suddenly, he appeared one day and bought nearly every merchant's supply! He tried to sweep me off my feet with his handsome looks, but I didn't budge! Sure he was quite good-looking, but I find Nero much more attractive. Besides, I knew Caeli would drop by one of these days, and I know you always want these!"

"Was it just in the Deep that Delphic bought vials of Trigger?"

"Nope, from my informants in the Abysm, Delphic bought all of them there too! I wonder what he does for a living to have so much money on hand! Oh, I wish little ol' me could be blessed with that much wealth."

"You're trying to scam me out of sixty-three million, and you're an illegal merchant who does business in the Deep of the black market. I think you're doing fine. Now let me pay thirty million."

"Caeli dear, I have no problem repeating myself continuously for your pretty self, but I can't do that! But I can't allow you to do business elsewhere either. Hmm, this is very frustrating indeed. What to do, what to do."

Then give me a discount, Tanami thought to herself with frustration boiling in her veins.

"Fine, since we can't agree just yet, I'll browse around until you change your mind." The crystal gestured with her free hand to the items placed around the shop.

"You're free to look around. I have no problems with that. I'm happy that you may find yourself interested in something else I carry! If you find something good, I might just be a good friend and give you a discount!" Arcane chirped with glee as she leaned forward on her wooden countertop. Her black lacy sleeves rubbed on the surface, collecting minuscule grains of dust.

"Can I have a discount on the vials?"

"Nope!"

Well, it was worth a try. Tanami shifted the briefcase in her hand, carefully weighing it within her fingertips to ensure the amount of money was still inside. The unease that made her stomach curl unraveled itself when she was confident it weighed the same as when she entered Arcane's shop. She was not entirely sure what to tell the rest of the Empyreans if she lost that much money.

Then again, she could always say that Arcane scammed her, which was the exact thing she did not want. But, Roisin would lecture her on being a bad negotiator and then come here herself to question Arcane. This situation appeared to be more complicated than she had hoped.

Her fingers brushed against the bottles of liquids on a wooden shelf, watching as the fluorescent lights from above made the glass glisten. No labels were attached, but Tanami had a good feeling that they contained poison or medication. She did not intend to find out whichever one it was, nor did she have any use for them. Roisin had an ample amount back at the base because Decadence had a short temper when it came to things and usually came back with an injury or two.

When she reached the end of the shelf, she held her hand still for a moment. Releasing a low breath, she grabbed the base of a white scabbard on a rack. The soft chime of the door hitting the golden bell at the entrance vibrated in the air momentarily. Her heart missed a beat as the image of a paper crane formulated in her mind. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her jawline. None of the Seraphim would show their faces here. She would not run into one of them here after hiding for a year.

Tanami ignored the feeling of the drop falling from her jawline. To distract herself, she twirled the katana in her hand. Inspecting how the auric vines curled around the scabbard delicately, the yellow tassel lightly brushed against her forearm. One, two, three, four, five-

The buyer's footsteps halted at the counter where Arcane was seated. "By any chance, do you have any scrapped pieces from leftover support items?"

"From support items? Yes, I do, my dear client. Do you have anything specific in mind? You know, the harder it is to get, the higher the price. So don't grow pale at the price! I wouldn't want you to faint from shock."

Readjusting the sword in her hand, Tanami lazily popped up the blade by the hilt with her thumb. With care, she inspected the tiny sliver of metal she could see. It was not her intention to look over a weapon, but idle small talk was not something she wanted to do. That and her heart was still pounding harshly against her chest. She forced her gaze back on the katana.

It was crafted quite well. It did not look like it would dull quickly, which was a plus. But does she need to buy it? Does she need a katana? Maybe she could haggle Arcane on the price and then argue about the vials.

"Do you have any circuit boards from Hatsume Industries? I was hoping to get a dozen or so." Hearing the voice a second time, it was easy to distinguish that a male spoke. As Tanami suspected, it was one that she did not recognize.

That meant that this person was one to be wary of. But it was better than anyone from the Seraphim. She felt the needles pricking her head dive in even more profound. The girl resisted the urge to flinch from the pain assaulting her skull. The thought of taking pain medication for a simple headache made her frown even more profound.

A short hum escaped Arcane's lips. "From Hatsume Industries? I'm afraid I don't have any from there. I'm so sorry about that. Would Amai Industries circuit boards work? I have tons of those that are waiting to be sold!"

The conversation between the two drawled on for a while, but it was more of the buyer trying to haggle down the price. Like Tanami, the woman was trying to scam him out of a few million Yen as well. Glad to know Tanami was not the only victim of Arcane. Or perhaps both of them were terrible at negotiating. Both options were understandable. Finally, the sound of Arcane shuffling to the back echoed across the shop. The crystal pulled away from the racks, the katana still firm in her grasp. She could not stay staring at the weapon for long before it began to look suspicious.

Although she did not wish for it, Tanami's eyes fell upon the figure. From the tone of his voice, she assumed the male was at least in his mid-twenties, but that was not right. Despite the white mask covering half of his face, she could still see the youthfulness in his features. If she guessed, he could be a year or two older than her.

However, that was not the most noticeable thing about his form. Perfectly carved and smooth arms protruded from his back, yet no modifications to his scarlet jacket could be seen. The four fake limbs twitched, creaking silently as the joints moved sporadically. Watching one of the arm's wrists flick back made her own hurt just from the sight.

Her mind instantly urged her to try and figure out what Quirk the other had, but she knew it was useless. Quirks never made sense, and they never will make sense. Driving herself mad over it was a waste of time. That did not mean she was going to drop her guard. This was the black market, after all.

"Are you planning to buy anything?" The masked man inquired before brushing a strand of light blue hair from his visible cerulean eye. "I didn't disturb your purchase, did I?"

"If you did, I would have said something. Clearly, I didn't." Tanami responded before clicking her tongue. Her grip tightened around the katana as one of the hands made a gripping motion toward the entrance. Another limb shot upward in fright, alarmed by something neither sensed.

"Oh, sorry about that. They do things like this all the ti-"

Low crackling noises shook within the inclusions of the fluorite, and Tanami's breath hitched in her throat. Shifting her attention to the door, her eyes widened slightly. She raised her right foot and slammed it onto the ground. Without wasting a second, a sleek barrier formed of lapis lazuli materialized in front of them both. A moment later, the ear-splitting sound of a bullet digging itself into the crystal was loudly heard. Gritting her teeth, the teenager grabbed the other's sleeve and shoved him onto the counter. The onslaught of bullets hitting the gemstone sounded like wind chimes.

The male released a confused noise which was quickly replaced by a yelp by Tanami shoving the end of the scabbard into his chest. Because of the force, he fell backward onto the ground with a thud. Placing her palm on the counter's surface, she quickly jumped over it just in time for the lapis lazuli to shatter like raindrops colliding into a puddle. She slammed her hand against the male's mouth, sending his a glare so he would stop his whimpering.

"Hey, Arcane, we need to talk to you!"

The crystal tilted her head in the direction of the other. She hissed in a low tone, "don't you dare make any noise. And don't get in my way."

She did not even give him the option to agree before she tugged at the mental string between herself and the shards of lapis lazuli scattered across the floor.

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Author's Note:

There you have it! The prologue of Vivid Decadence has finally been posted! While writing this and editing it afterward, I felt a bit sad because the way Tanami is written now mirrors Akihiko and Tomohiro in different ways. But a year has passed, and naturally, people and things change. How much exactly? You'll just have to read to find out.

Also, I have no idea how the black market works besides TV shows and movies, and I am not looking that up. So for this story, the market is divided into three parts: Shallow, Deep, and Abysm. I'll be going into more depth later on.

Character Spotlight:

Name: Tanami Mochizuki (Caeli)

Quirk: Sugar Crystallization

Likes: Anything with sugar (minus pie)