Hello, everyone! First of all, thank you for coming by to check out my very first story. Second of all, since this is my first fic, of you have any suggestions for me on how to improve my writing I would be glad to hear them. Third, please read any footnotes I leave at the end of the chapter. Lastly, I own nothing and everything but the story line belongs to the incredible My Hero Academia!


Though my soul may set in darkness,

it will rise in perfect light;

I have loved the stars to fondly

to be fearful of the night

-"The Old Astronomer to His Pupil" by Sarah Williams[1]

People fear the darkness, but most of all they fear what lies within it. They fear the unknown, the unidentified creatures that lurk in the shadows. Very few are brave and strong enough to face these creatures. Even less have the capabilities to survive. Those who fight and live to protect humans from these dark creatures are called 'Heroes.' Special humans born with powers, or 'quirks' as many call them, who dedicate their gifts to protect humanity from witches, ghouls, werewolves, and creatures of the like.

Once humanity learned of the existence and the dangers of these mythical, dark creatures, people began to change. Many scientist theorize that these 'quirks' were a result of genetic mutation caused by the need for humans to evolve and survive their new environment and it's new predators. It has been over forty years since the discovery of mythical creatures and quirks. Much is still yet to be uncovered, but there are a few things that almost everyone is aware of. One, quirks can only be passed down from parent to offspring. Two, only fifty-eight percent of the population have quirks[2]. Three, not everyone who has a quirk is strong enough to become a Hero. Lastly, you must never be outside at night alone, unless your wish is to become someone's next meal.

For as long as Midoriya Izuku could remember, he has always been told to fear the dark. This lesson has been engraved into his head since infancy, so that he may always remember to cherish the light and avoid the darkness and all of its seductions. For years, the young boy questioned his mother why was everyone so afraid of the dark. Kacchan said he wasn't afraid of the dark, so why should he be afraid?

"Izuku, you must never EVER stay late out at night alone, ok? You don't know what sort of monsters are lurking nearby."

One night, at the tender age of ten, he finally got his answer as he was flipping through the channels searching for something good to watch that night. Suddenly, he saw something interesting on the news.

"Breaking news! A woman found raped and dismembered on the street. Unfortunately, the Heroes did not come in time to save her, but are in pursuit of the criminal." The female newscaster said solemnly to the camera. Her face looked pale. If you looked carefully you could see her body was trembling. Some would say she looks terrified. Perhaps her fear was from the crime scene behind her, or maybe it was because she was forced to come out to cover this story at night. Either way, Izuku paid little attention to her and more to what she was saying. "Given by the evidence we found, we have reason to believe that she was attacked by a bloodthirsty ghoul." The newscaster swallowed deeply. "The images we are about to show you may be disturbing for some audiences, but my producers say that it is necessary to show this so that everyone will know why we must remain within our homes during the nighttime. Viewer discretion is advised."

Just as the camera was moving to get closer to the crime scene, Izuku's mother gave out a distressed scream as she rushed to turn off the TV.

"Izuku! Why were you watching that!?" Inko shouted. Her eyes were wide with a mix of fear and anger, her body trembling uncontrollably as she neared her son. "You can't watch those things!"

"I-I'm sorry, Mom... I-I was just curious..." The little boy said tearfully. "I-I didn't mean to upset you."

Inko looked closely into her son's honest eyes. She sighed deeply as she closed her own. "I-I guess it's ok as long as you know to stay away from the news from now on. You're too young to see any of that stuff."

Inko gave another deep sigh. What kind of world do they live in that forced parents to be this paranoid? As much as Inko would love to live in a peaceful world where she could take her son out to go late-night star-gazing or ice-cream runs, it is not their reality. No normal human being can possibly hope to do those sort of things anymore, that's why that poor girl was killed. Inko thought of all of this as she made her way towards the kitchen to start dinner.

"Mom, what's a ghoul?"

Inko froze. "W-Why do you want to know that?"

"Because...even though I'm still quirkless...I still want to become Hero and protect people from monsters."

Ah, there it is...the only thing that Midoriya Inko feared more than the darkness was her quirkless son's desire to become a great hero like his idol, the Symbol of Hope All Might[3]. Izuku was only four years old when a doctor told them both that he will never develop a quirk. Naturally, you would think by now Izuku would have given up on his insane dream to become a hero, but this situation alone was enough to convince her that he still held on to hope, which only terrified her even more.

Please, please, God, don't let him become a hero...

"I don't want to talk about this anymore tonight, Izuku..."


The double doors of the police station opened abruptly, startling everyone nearby. Two battered heroes walked in as they dragged an individual with them. This individual was wrapped tightly in a bleach white straight jacket. His arms, legs, and mouth were bound by the jacket, leaving nothing but his hair, nose, and eyes to be seen.

His eyes...were haunting. Blood red slit irises and pitch-black scleroses searched the room, pleading for help that will never come from humans. Humans despised his kind. He is a ghoul...a creature that feast off of human flesh.

Every officer watched wordily, fearful that at any moment the ghoul might try to take a bite out of them. Each one of them reaching for their guns as they watched the two valiant heroes drag the offensive creatire to a holding cell. Once the ghoul was secured behind bars, everyone else visibly relaxed.

"Good work, you two." The police comissioner approached the heroes. "So, what is this animal in for? Was he caught trying to eat someone or desicrating a graveyard like all the other disgusting ghouls?"

"Actually, Comissioner..." The first hero responded while wearing a scowl on his face. "We just happened to be patrolling the streets tonight when we happen to run into this wretch feasting off of a woman's naked, bloodied corpse. Forensics and other officers are already there working on the crime scene. If they can get enough evidence, we might be able to connect this animal to the last four murder scenes we've all been investigating these past few weeks."

"Forget evidence. Bring this monster into the interrogation room." The commissioner said. "I'll have two of my best detectives come in and grind this bastard."

Before the two heroes could respond, a monotone voice filled their ears.

"And force a confession out of him?"

Th three men turned to face the owner of the voice. Once they saw her, they immediately were taken back. Before them stood a young woman, appearing to look like an attractive teenager of only thirteen years of age. She was beauty with half-white, half-red waist-length hair, heterochromatic blue and grey eyes, slender hour-glass figure, supple breasts, and smooth creamy legs. Her only blemish was a large scar over her right eye and cheek. Yet, to many people that only made her look more like an exotic beauty.

There was one thing that stood out the most to the three men before her was the large Rosario that hung from a chain collar around her neck. There was only one species that was forced to wear religious jewelry on their persona at all times in such a manner.

"Vampire..."

"I would like a few minutes in the interrogation room with the accused if you don't mind, Commissioner. Preferably before your detectives question him." The beauty approached the three of them. She bypassed them and their stares as she focused in on the sobbing ghoul behind bars.

She kneeled down and stretched her arm pass the bars, attempting to touch him. "It's alright now. I won't let anyone here hurt you." Her hands made it to the very top of his straight jacket. She loosened it just enough to allow his mouth out.

The ghoul raised his head to meet her kind mixed-matched eyes. "W-Who a-are you? I-I didn't k-kill h-her, I swear!"

"I believe you. You must calm down and explain everything to me. I am a friend."

"Wait a second now! Who the hell do you think you are coming in here and making demands!?" The commissioner gripped her shoulder harshly, trying to get her attention. "I don't care if you're some half-baked vampire...you have no right coming in here and interrogate my prisoner!"

Suddenly, a cold chill ran down his spine. Her heterochromatic eyes met his with a cold glare, daring the man to say more. Her lips were pulled back in a menacing snarl. Pointed fangs stared back at him. His hand left her shoulder while the other one reached to cover his neck.

"Forgive me, Commissioner." She turned to face him. Composing herself, she relaxed her face into a neutral expression. "I must have forgotten to inform you of our arrival."

"Our arrival? Who-"

"Commissioner Tsukiyama! Iron Fist! Iron Junior! It's been some time!" A familiar booming shouted from behind the group.[4]

The two heroes and commissioner turned to see none other than All Might walking towards them. The room fell into a dead silence as officers stopped to stare in awe at the massive hero.

All Might wore his signature grin as he approached them. By his side, followed a young man who the officers immediately recognized as one of them most successful detectives in the police force, Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi.

"All Might!? Why are you here!?" Iron Fist asked. "Are you with this vampire?"

"Her name is Todoroki Shoto, and she's no ordinary vampire." All Might placed a hand over Shoto's shoulders. "She is none other than a royal member of the vampire community. Princess Shoto. Fourth in line to the throne that rules not just over all vampires but over all demons and creatures of the night. But, most importantly...she is an advocate for her kind and for peace between demons and humans."

"That is why the government has given her the authority to be a part of any and all investigations pertaining with demons." Naomasa explained. "Actually, All Might and I also have this authority. With my Lie Detector quirk and all three of us present, I'm sure we'll be able to get to the bottom of this case before sunrise...or at least be able to confirm if this ghoul really did commit the crime or not."

"Comissioner…" All Might directed his sight directly to him.

"Y-yes?"

"We would very much appreciate it if you could just accommodate us just this once. We'll try very hard not to impose on you or your men."

"F-Fine. But you have ten minutes."

All Might nodded in understanding. He, Naomasa and Shoto were quickly ushered into the nearest interrogation room.

Shoto sat on one of the chairs, patiently waiting for them to bring the suspect. All Might and Naomasa stood behind her quietly. The two heroes dragged the restrained ghoul into the room and forced the sobbing demon to sit down across from her. Once he was seated, the two exited out of the room.

Shoto looked deep into the man's black-red eyes. Eyes she was far too familiar with. "What is your name?"

"F-Fukatsu-u K-Kaito…"

"Kaito-san...what happened to that girl they found you feeding off of?"

Kaito gave a heavy sigh. "I-I was walking down the street...when I smelled her blood. I was... so hungry... I followed the smell of blood and found her severed body spread out on the floor. I figures some other ghoul must have left her or maybe she had been attacked by some other demon. She was already dead so...I was just so hungry...so I just started to eat her. I mean, it would have been a waste to just leave her there, right!? This way, I could feed and no one else would have to get hurt! B-But the heroes found me and then they brought me here..." He closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears from coming down. "I know its wrong to mess with a dead body, but the hunger was just so overwhelming..."

"He's telling the truth." Naomasa said from behind her.

"Did you knew that that woman had been raped before she was dismembered?"

"I-I could smell traces of semen on her body, but I didn't really pay much attention to that..." He raised his fallen face to meet their stare. "I may be a ghoul, but I am not a monster! I would never do something like that!" His eyes fell to the ground again in sorrow. "But, no matter what I say...humans will always see me as nothing more than a flesh-eating monster. They'll blame this whole thing on me and lock me up forever. It's all over for me!"

"No, it's not!" Shoto stood abruptly from her chair. "I will not let them blame you for a crime you did not commit. Naomasa." She directed her gaze towards the detective.

"He has been truthful this entire time. He is not guilty of rape or murder. His only offense was interfering with a crime scene." Naomasa glanced towards Kaito. "Japan as a very alarming number of ninety-nine percent conviction rate and there's already a huge stigma against ghould, which will make proving his innocence all the more difficult.."

"But, it can be done." Shoto nodded. "For all we know this could have been the work of another ghoul or perhaps even goblins. Kaito-san, allow us to help you."

"Don't give up hope just yet, Young Kaito!" All Might boomed. "Princess Shoto has never failed to help her people out of sticky situations. We will make sure you get a fair chance to prove your innocence."

"Wait..." Kaito narrowed his eyes at Shoto. "Princess Shoto? The youngest living vampire princess? The very same princess whose been helping those damn heroes against us!?" His lips pulled back into a snarl. "The very same traitor princess who plans on helping the humans weaponize their children against us!?"

"Kaito-san..."

"Do you have any idea what you're doing!? You're helping those damn humans to get rid of us! You're no princess! You're a damn traitor to your people." He rose from his chair.

Suddenly, the commissioner and several officers rushed into the room. They armed themselves with guns and tazors, ready to subdue the angry ghoul.

"That's enough of this nonsense!"

"Commissioner!"

"No! I've had enough of this farce! Men, subdue this monster! And if he even so much as move one muscle in resistance...shoot him!"

The officers quickly moved to grab Kaito. Three men took hold of him as the rest stood ready to shoot. Kaito gave no resistance as they dragged him toward the exit. His glare stayed fixed on Shoto. "I don't care what they do to me. I would rather rot in jail than receive help from a bunch of humans and a traitorous princess!"

Shoto watched dejected as they exited. Her fist tightened. Her knuckles turning white from the pressure, yet she did not relieve the pressure. Her palms dripped with blood.

Traitor...


[1]"48 of The Most Beautiful Lines of Poetry." sarahgalo/measuring-my-life-with-coffee-spoons?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Books&utm_content=Books_f3be7859a07be1175d1d72caab530dc4&utm_source=BuzzFeed&utm_term=48#.hbqJLJlMw

[2] In canon, 80% of the population have quirks. In my story, only 58% are born with quirks.

[3] In cannon, All Might carries the title "The Symbol of Peace." In my story, he will be known as the "Symbol of Hope."

[4] Not actual heroes. Just some names I made up of two brothers with similar iron quirks. Didn't really wanted to use in the canon for this particular role.