Hello everyone and welcome to the first chapter. I'm really excited to write this. This is a Sekiro inspired fic. Great game by the way. I want to welcome everyone. This is a new fandom to me. I've been writing for RWBY a bit before, but its hard to find the time to write at all. I'll update when I can, but don't expect high frequency. I want to say too, that I speak English and am writing this in English so chan, san, kun, sama, yeah, none of that. English uses prefixes to distinguish relationships between people not honorifics. I'm using prefixes to distinguish relationships. Nothing against people that do, I'm just not one of them.

!PLEASE READ AT LEAST THIS PART- The only real universe change for this story is that UA is a College, not a Highschool. Other than that, characters will be the same. Maybe more mature personalities, I mean they're all gonna be 18 in this. Izuku will be the most OOC, you'll see why later. Enough of the part that nobody reads, these little intros where I monologue will be almost inexistent in future chapters. ENJOY

DISCLAIMER – All rights to characters and content go to their respective owners. I own none of them. Also, want to recognize a friend of mine for co-writing this with me! Just call him John Doe!

Chapter 1

"I'm Sorry"

He never knew the man, not really. Izuku supposed he should be grateful that his father worked to feed them. Spending time away from family so they are taken care of is an honorable sacrifice. It's difficult to leave loved ones behind. Hisashi must have missed them dearly. Izuku's mother would often tell him how much his father loved him and how proud he should be of his father. By all rights he was. So why? Why did the man laying in the coffin in front of him not fill him with grief? His mothers' cheeks ran red with streaks from tears that wouldn't stop falling. Shouldn't his? Of course, Izuku felt for his mother, he hated to see her sad. But, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't bring himself to shed a tear for his newly deceased guardian.

"Sweetheart, do you want to say anything."

Izuku's eyes met his mothers' and grew wide in surprise, before he looked down at the ground, dejectedly while playing with the hem of his shirt.

"W-what am I supposed to s-say?"

"Whatever you want to Zuku. This is the last chance you'll have to look at your fathers face and speak to him." Hopeful eyes looked at him, piercing his heart.

The young boy didn't know what to say. How should he talk to a man he barely knew? Still, for his mother he felt he should say something. It hit him like a truck, he would answer like a hero.

"I'll take care of Mom now, so don't worry about anything Dad." Determination shone brightly on his face until he looked to his mother.

He expected his mother to dawn a face of disgust and disappointment in him for his obvious lack of remorse. Instead, a soft smile greeted him.

"Was that okay Mom?"

"It's ok sweetheart. I know you're a little young to understand, but in time, you will. Thank you for telling your daddy goodbye. It means a lot to us adults."

Izuku felt like a weight had been taken off of him. He rushed to his mothers' side and latched onto her hand; a soft smile plastered on his face.

The rest of the service was uneventful. Inko had shed enough tears and Izuku was ready to help his mom smile again, no matter what. That's what hero's do after all! Save people with a smile on their face! Just like All Might! His determination steeled upon seeing his mother break down again, as Hisashi's casket was lowered into the ground.

Small crowds lingered after the service. Most approached Inko to give her their condolences. However, one man with a scar over his right eye, and a prosthetic right hand approached the small boy.

"Your father died honorably, if for no other reason than that, be proud of him."

Confusion was the obvious emotion. Izuku figured this man must know his family somehow though. Why else would the stranger attend his father's service?

"Uhm?"

"I was a friend of your father little one, just call me Sir."

"Ok sir." He slowly answered, still confused by this man, but strangely enamored.

"Run along young one. Your mother is waiting for you."

His pointer finger, his non prosthetic one, extended in the direction of Inko, seemingly searching for her son. Izuku smiled wide and ran towards his mother, stopping half way to turn and give a small bow of appreciation.

"Thank you." He turned back towards his, now only, parent. "Mom! Here I am."

"Goodness, where did you run off to?" She greeted him as he leapt into her arms.

"I didn't go anywhere Mom; I was talking to that man." Izuku pointed back to the place the stranger had approached him, but no one was there. The small child looked around quickly, only to find that he and his mother were the only people in sight.

"Woah! How did he do that?! So cool!" Impressively the man had disappeared into thin air.

"Did you see him mom?!" Eyes sparkled brightly, looking up at his mother to sate his curiosity, as soon as they did, his green orbs lost their luster. Plainly visible was a look of pure horror on Inko's face.

"We need to leave now Zuzu."

"What's wrong Mom?"

"Nothing!" She lashed out in panic. The apologetic look on her son's face overriding her fear. ". . . I'm sorry sweetheart. Nothing. We need to go." Izuku looked confused before obediently keeping up with his mother.

"Please, don't take him. Not yet." Repeated in the woman's mind over and over as she buckled her son into the back seat. "A little longer. Please let me keep him a little longer!" The engine turned over as the mother and son sped towards their humble home.

Nothing had changed in the small apartment. Why would it be different? It's not like Izuku had ever really seen his father during anything more than passing moments. They never talked, and Hisashi didn't keep any of his belongings at home.

"I'm going to lie down for a little while sweetheart. If you need anything please call for me." She tried her best to give an honest smile, but she had just lost her husband. The only emotion overriding the grief was the fear of losing her son now too.

Inko hurried to her room and locked the door. Looking around the room she noticed a small frame on her nightstand. A humble picture present in most homes, the only picture of their whole family. They were all smiling happily. Izuku was held in his fathers' arms looking up at Hisashi with a smile that could rival All Might. Recalling the day brought a genuine smile to the no widows face. A moment of nostalgia passed and her look changed to one of determination as she pulled out her phone and dialed a number Hisashi had made sure she memorized. Two rings.

"Hello?" A gruff, clearly male, voice answered.

"Yes, this is Inko Midoriya."

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry for your loss ma'am, but I assure you, your family is taken care for the rest of your lives." He answered, his words sounding practiced.

"Thank you, but that's not why I'm calling."

"Oh?" A playful question, like the man on the other end suddenly knew why she called. "That's a tough one to answer." A sigh escaped his lips.

"When will you take him?" Inko desperately asked.

"We can come get him now if you like."

"No! I want the opposite! Didn't Hisashi do enough!?" Her words pleading desperately.

The line was quiet for a moment.

"That's now how it works Ms. Midoriya. I'm sure you know that."

"I do! I. . . " Her voice breaking before another word could spill out. "He's all I have. . . please. . . please don't take him."

An audible sigh, again. "Listen, Ms. Midoriya, we will come for him. It's his obligation, a duty his family has served for ages. It's not really about the need for it anymore, Hisashi made sure to deal with the biggest threat, but if another threat surfaces he must be ready. We can't wait and hope he gets strong on his own, he needs to be trained from a young age. I sympathize with you, but that's how it is. I'm sorry."

"Four years, that's all I ask. . . please. I beg of you. . ." Sobs rocked the woman's body. She knew that one day her son would be taken from her to serve the same way her husband, Hisashi, did. It was his family duty. A promise that extended countless generations back, but that wouldn't stop her from trying to stay with her son a little longer.

"How old will he be in four years?" His words rang with understanding and sympathy.

"Eight, eight years old." Hope filled her voice.

"The same age as the young miss huh? That. . . might work. Alright, you've got a deal. On his eighth birthday though, he will come with us."

"I understand. Thank you. Thank you so much." Joyful sobs replaced her painful wails.

"Don't thank us Ms. Midoriya. You'll hate us the day we take him anyway." He said before the line went dead.

Inko didn't have time to mourn for her husband. She had to make the best of the time she had left with her son.

Months passed and Izuku had still yet to develop a quirk. Inko had taken him to the doctor, and much to their disappointment, they were told that Izuku would never develop a quirk.

"I'm sorry kid, you're just one of the unlucky few. No sense in getting upset about the hand you were dealt." The doctor answered to two hopeful faces.

Before Inko could respond her sons' voice shook out, weak and defeated.

"I can. . . I can stil be a hero. . . . . right?" Tears threatened every syllable.

"Sorry kid. You'll have to give up on that one." Emotionless. The doctor had said it like it was the most obvious fact in the world.

"Come on Izuku, we're leaving." Anger oozed out of the woman's words as she grabbed her son's hand and stormed out of the clinic.

As soon as they reached home Izuku bolted to his room.

"I've got the perfect thing!" Inko said hopefully.

Katsudon for dinner would cheer him up, it was his favorite after all. She would cheer him up, Inko Midoriya would not let her son be defeated here. She knew of course that the doctor's words were true, but not for the reason he said. Izuku could not become a hero, not out of powerlessness, but because the family he was born into had another duty for him. She wished her son could have a better life, not for his quirkless nature, but born into a better family.

After cooking she rushed to her child's room to cheer him up. There he sat at his computer, watching All Might rescue people.

"Mom. . . Can I . . . Can I be a hero like that?" His voice was shaky, tears streamed down his cheeks endlessly. Inko had no idea it had hit him like this. Izuku had admired heroes, but now his Mother saw just how desperately he wanted to be one. She knew the truth though. He couldn't. She would never tell him that though, so instead, tears escaped her eyes as she held her son and repeated over and over.

"I'm sorry."

Well, that's that guys. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter.

Don't expect super frequent updates, but I like to post when I feel like writing. When I say don't expect frequent though I mean it. My job has me out of the country a lot. Like half the year sometimes. If I can write I will, but work and personal life comes first. Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest!

-StasisRage