Before getting started here, I've got one thing to explain. This story along with one other fanfic I have in the works will act as stories I work on to take a break from my main one 'When Heroes Meet Huntsmen'. As such they will be updated relatively infrequently. With that said, let's get on to the first chapter.
Chapter 1: Fire in the Rain
The rain pleated the ground. The thunder roared in the sky, as the lightning bridged the gap between the two. The fierce storm had blown in suddenly and people rushed to seek shelter from the pouring rain. However not all sought to get out of the rain. In a lone alleyway sat a small girl. She was only eight years of age. Covering her were mere rags of a dress which did little to hide her scar ridden body. Covering her head, hiding her features, was a worn and ragged coat.
She shivered as the cold of the rain seeped into her bones. She refused to use her quirk to bring herself any warmth. She feared that she would be found if she did. This, she feared more than anything. As she sat there people walked by, completely unaware of the little girl sitting in the secluded alleyway. However one person did see her.
"Mama look, there's someone there." The voice of a young boy pointed out.
The girl looked up with eyes devoid of any kind of life. A young boy about her age was looking at her. His hair was forest green and fluffy. He wore a dark green jacket with blue jeans and a pair of red shoes. Next to him was a fairly thin woman in her mid-thirties holding an umbrella. Her hair was the same green as the boys but was long and straight. She wore a dark blue trench coat black stockings and heels.
"My goodness there is." The woman exclaimed.
She hurried to the little girl with her son following close behind her. The girl tensed up in fear. She didn't know this woman. She feared she would return her to the hell she escaped from. Before she could move the woman was already crouched down in front of her holding out a helping hand.
"What's a little girl like you doing out here. Come on, let's get you out of the rain." The woman called gently.
Her worried green eyes were met with fear filled grey and teal eyes. The girl tried pulled back with a gasp, much to the older woman's surprise. The girl tried to scurry away, only to fall on the ground. Her coat fell revealing short hair, the left half red, the right white. Both the woman's and the boy's breath hitched when they saw how scared up her body was. She looked back in fear. Before she could move she felt a small hand grab hold of her.
"Hey it's okay, Mama won't hurt you." The boy expressed earnestly.
The girl looked to the boy eyes still full of fear. Her heterochromia eyes meet his green ones. She saw the pure good nature earnest in them. They were the eyes of an individual ready to help someone in need. She looked to the boys mother and saw the same in her eyes. She looked back at the boy, her breathing slowed down. She relaxed, if only slightly. She let the boy lead her back to his mother.
"Good job Izuku, you really are such a kind boy." The woman complimented.
"Thank you Mama." The now named Izuku replied.
"I-zu-ku…" The girl repeated.
"Yeah that's my name. Mama's name is Inko, what's your name?" Izuku asked.
"My… name…" The girl muttered.
Fear began to course even more fiercely through her being.
"No name… only called… 'Fire and Ice'." She softly, and fearfully spoke.
"Huh… 'Fire and Ice'?" Izuku questioned.
"It's English Izuku. In Japanese it's 'hi to kōri'." Inko explained.
"Oh… then can I call you Hitokori? I think it sounds cool." Izuku asked.
"Hi-to… kori…" The girl repeated.
"Izuku, that's not a name we can call her. She needs a real name." Inko scolded.
"Hi-to-kori…" The girl again repeated.
"But I thought it was cool mama." Izuku expressed.
"Hitokori…" The girl repeated again.
"Even still you should let her decide what she wants to be called." Inko corrected.
"Hitokori…" The girl stated again. "Hitokori… Hitokori, Hitokori Hitokori HitokoriHitokoriHITOKORI!"
The mother, son duo jumped in surprise.
"My name… Hitokori…" She stated.
Izuku smiled.
"You like it?" Izuku asked.
The girl nodded vigorously with a light smile.
"See mama, she likes it." Izuku pointed out.
"I guess she does." Inko expressed nervously. "Anyways we shouldn't waste anymore time. We should get her to the police so they can help."
The girl tensed up again.
"Don't worry dear. We'll stay with you as long as you like." Inko assured her.
The girl relaxed.
"Alright let's get going you two. The police station isn't too far from here." Inko stated as she stood up right.
As they were about to leave the cold seeped into Hitokori even further and she shivered. Before she could move to grab her worn jacket, she saw a dark green one thrusted in front of her.
"Here," Izuku stated holding out his coat.
The girl gave him a confused look.
"It's for you it'll keep you warm." Izuku expressed.
The girl nervously took the jacket. She slowly slipped in on and zipped it up. She could still feel the warmth of Izuku's body radiating from the jacket. She smiled lightly.
"It's warm." She spoke softly.
Inko could only smile at the small kind gesture her son preformed. She held down her hand and Izuku grabbed it. Izuku held out his free hand to Hitokori. She merely looked at it for a brief second. Slowly she reached her hand towards his. She hesitated for a bit before she grabbed hold of it. With that she was lead out of the alleyway.
Later, at the police station…
Hitokori sat next to Izuku now fully dried and wrapped in a warm blanket. Inko had been talking with the police about what had happened leading up to them finding the little girl. Said girl liked Inko and Izuku. They caused a warm pleasant to well up inside her. With them she felt safe. Eventually a police officer walked up to her with Inko in tow. While she was told she could trust them by Inko, she still tensed up in fear. She leaned into Izuku for any sense of safety.
"Hey it's okay policemen are nice people." Izuku assured her.
"He's right little one your safe here." The officer added. "We just need ask you a few questions about what happened to you. Do you think you can do that?"
The girl relaxed slightly. She, hesitantly, nodded.
"Alright just know if it's too hard to answer you don't have to." The officer gentle stated. "Now, what were you doing on the streets alone?"
She didn't speak for a bit.
"Running…" She eventually answered softly.
"Running from where?" The officer asked.
The girl tensed up. Her breathing grew ragged. Fear coursed through her very being. She began to shake violently.
"Bad place… bad place… no go back no go back…" She muttered out.
Memories flashed before her. Burning demons walked around her field of vision. Other children could be seen, but no identifying characteristics could be determined. The demons looked an her with greedy eyes and malicious smiles.
"No no no NO! GET AWAY GET AWAY!" She screamed as she began thrash about violently.
Without even thinking Izuku and Inko rushed to comfort the crying child in a tight hug. She gripped onto them tears streaming down her face.
"Izuuuu… Inko…" She muttered.
"Shhh… we're here, we're here, don't worry, we're here. The bad people won't hurt you anymore." Inko assured her.
"Izu… safe… Inko… safe… Izu… safe… Inko… safe…" Hitokori muttered out as she began to calm down.
The officer for his part felt deep pity for the girl. Such traumatic experiences as she'd likely been through were not easily overcome. Once the little girl seemed to have fully calmed down, the officer went to talk to Inko.
"Excuse me, Ma'am? May I talk to you for a bit?" He asked. "When she's ready."
Inko nodded.
"Hitokori… I need to let go and talk to the policeman. Will you be okay?" She asked gently.
The girl didn't answer right away, she simply kept crying.
"Mmhmm…" She finally answered between sobs. "Izu… safe too…"
Inko slowly let go, being careful to make sure the girl was okay. Once she was fully upright she turned and went with the policeman a little ways away from the children.
"Okay, so… for now we won't question the child anymore." The officer stated.
"Obviously if that reaction was anything to go by." Inko pointed out. "So what are you going to do."
"For now we'll investigate around the area where she was found. Hopefully we can find something without having to ask her anything." The policemen stated.
"Okay but what about her?" Inko pressed.
"In meantime she'll need a safe environment to grow up in. She needs time to recover before we can ask her any major questions or run any kind of medical evaluation." The officer explained. "If it's not too much to ask, I'd like you to take her in. She's clearly very comfortable with you and your son."
"I'm alright with it. I was actually going to insist on taking her in." Inko replied.
"Excellent… just to be clear you'll simply be her legal guardian. Until we have a confirmation on her family, I'm hesitant to recommend adoption." The officer explained further.
"I understand, their could be legal complications if this is a case of abduction or something of the sort." Inko replied.
"Glad we're on same page. I'll start getting things sort out legally. For now you can take her home with your son." The officer stated.
"Alright, thank you for everything officer." Inko expressed with a bow.
"Just doing my job ma'am." He replied before heading off.
Inko went back to the two children. Hitokori had finally full calmed down and now wasn't crying. However she was still holding on to Izuku tightly.
"Alright you two let's get going." Inko stated.
"W-w-w-where… are we going…" Hitokori asked fearfully.
"We're going to mine and Izuku's home. You'll be staying with us for a little while." Inko kindly answered.
Hitokori looked at Inko with wide wondering eyes, trying to comprehend the words she'd just heard.
Later, the Midoriya residency…
A nervous Hitokori was lead into the Midoriya's quaint apartment. She looked about trying to take in everything.
"Welcome to our home Hitokori." Inko stated.
"It's nice isn't it?" Izuku asked with a smile on his face.
The little girl nodded lightly as she slowly and nervously walked in.
"Izuku why don't you show Hitokori around while I get dinner ready." Inko suggested. "I'll make your favorite."
"Katsudon!" Izuku exclaimed.
"Yep, now get to it little man." Inko stated.
"Okay mama." Izuku replied.
He grabbed hold of Hitokori's hand.
"Come on I'll so you my room first." Izuku stated.
The girl offered no resistance as she was lead about by Izuku. Inko smiled lightly before going to maker dinner. As she did she keeped an eye on the two children as they went about the apartment. After a little bit three steaming hot bowls of Katsudon were ready.
"Izuku! Hitokori! Dinner's ready!" Inko called out as she set them on the table.
"Coming Mama!" Izuku called back.
After a few moments, Izuku came into the kitchen leading Hitokori in by her hand. Izuku let go and sat up at the table. Hitokori only stared at the table, not doing anything. Inko pulled a chair out next to Izuku.
"Here dear you can sit up here." Inko stated.
Hitokori slowly made her way over and got up a sat in the chair. Inko state down across from the two. Hitokori looked on with sparkling eyes at the food before her. It looked far more delicious than anything she'd remembered eating.
"Let's eat!" Inko and Izuku stated simultaneously before digging in.
After a little bit, Hitokori slowly picked up her chopsticks and went in for a small bit. Plopping it into her mouth, she bit down. A euphoria of flavors stimulated her taste buds. Like the fresh arrival of spring it rush through her senses as a pleasant warmth rushed through her. She reached for another bit, than another, and another. She slowly began to to eat faster and faster. As she did tears began to bubble up in her eyes and stream down her face. Inko and Izuku stopped and looked at the now crying girl.
"It's good isn't it?" Inko asked.
"Mmhmm…" the girl answered with a nodded before she resumed eating.
"Why are you crying though?" Izuku asked.
"She happy, right Hitokori?" Inko questioned.
Said girl sniffled a bit.
"Mmhmm…" She replied with a nodded.
After finishing her bowl. The girl grew tired. With no spar bed, Inko lead her into her room so she could sleep with her for that night. It was the first restful night the little girl could remember having.
Six years later…
Hitokori smiled as she looked back fondly on the day she'd been found by Izuku and Inko. It had felt more like a dream than anything else. One she's glad is reality.
"Hito! Come on, let's get back to work!" Izuku called to her.
"Coming Izu!" She called back as she got up from the bench she'd been on.
It was a warm summer day. The sun was still high in the sky. There was a few clouds floating above, the perfect summer day. It was on this day the two of them found themselves at the trash filled Dagoba Beach.
"Hurry up you two we're almost done for now!" An emancipated blond-haired man called out.
"Coming All Might!" The two returned.
They ran up to the number one hero and went to work right away. Izuku was working on clearing the beach of the trash that had accumulated over the years to build up his strength. Hitokori on the other hand, was working on her quirk to increase her control and power. She ignited her left arm ablaze, being careful not to burn any of her clothing. With her right, she coated it in ice. With fire she continued to raise the temperature till it became a bright blue. With the ice she cooled it down as far as she could. She pushed herself right to her limit and held it there, not letting the flame get hotter, or the ice get colder.
She steadied her breathing and continued to struggle to hold it. All Might was nearby keeping watch on her. He held a timer in his hand. Slowly the clock ticked down. After five minutes had passed the timer went off.
"Alright power down." All Might ordered.
She melted her ice before letting her flames fad. She took deep breaths.
"Good job you've held yourself at your max for five whole minutes. How well that'll hold up in combat is something we'll have to wait till UA to see." All Might stated.
"Understood sir." She replied.
"Rest up a bit and then we'll go right back to doing this several more times till it's time to go." All Might stated.
"Got it." She replied with a smile.
The duo continued there training routines for a few more hours before calling it a day.
"Alright you two good work today. At this rate we should have the beach cleaned a bit before the Entrance Exam. And then, Young Midoriya will be ready to inherit One for All." All Might expressed.
"Yeah it's still hard to believe that this is happening." Izuku expressed.
"I know, it's hard to believe you'll finally be getting a quirk." Hitokori added. "You we're already gonna be a great hero but know you'll become the best hero ever."
Izuku smiled softly at Hitokori's words of encouragement.
"Hahaha… that's the spirit. Now…" All Might expressed before beefing up to his hero form. "I'll go on ahead to the police station. I need to do some hero work as well. See you there you two."
With a mighty leap and a gust of wind All Might flew away. Hitokori and Izuku merely looked off at the exiting hero. Not long after Hitokori began to take deep breaths to calm herself.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Izuku asked.
She breathed in and out.
"Yeah… I'm ready to tell my story. Even still…" She trailed off.
Izuku grabbed hold of her hand, firmly but gently.
"Don't worry no matter what I'll be here standing by you." Izuku declared.
She looked to Izuku with a soft smile.
"Thanks," She replied before going in for a quick kiss. "Your the best boyfriend a girl could as for."
"I know." Izuku replied.
Hitokori rolled her eyes.
"Come on let's go we don't want to miss the train." She stated as she ran ahead.
Izuku nodded in ran to catch up. As they made their way to the train, they did not realize someone was watching them nearby. Trailing them was a fairly tall girl with long black hair.
"I found her, she's heading towards the train station. There's someone with her. What are your orders?" She asked over a communicator in her ear.
"Keep trailing them. Once they're on the train they won't be able to escape easily. You can… dispose of them there." A masculine voice order the girl.
"You don't want me to capture her?" She questioned.
"No… she'll never join us why waste our energy. We just need to ensure they don't find out about us through her. That could… complicate things." He ordered. "Above all else though, avoid being captured. If you can't finish the job pull out, Gale."
The girl known as Gale smiled lightly.
"Don't worry master, I don't plan on this taking too long." She stated.
And that brings Chapter one to a close. Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think. Till next time.