Description:
"Doesn't it get tiring having to always lie about your quirk?"
"I think the answer to that is pretty self-explanatory."
Once, twice, twenty million, by this point, Anzu has lost count on how many times she has tried to explain her quirk to someone, before getting called a liar. So in the end, she decides it's best to keep the truth hidden, that is, until the day she meets the person that will believe her.
Previously titled as: The Hidden Truth*
Prologue
The roaring flames was a sight to behold as the bright colorful orange, red, and yellow. Lighting up the dark starry night.
A frightful sight that most children would cower and cry at but that was not what Anzu Takahashi was doing. Instead she just sat quietly at the back of an ambulance with a blanket warped around her shoulders as she stared up at the flickering flames with dark green eyes. Apathetic towards the house the house that stood no chance against the violent flames that quickly engulfs the flames.
She couldn't feel any empathy towards the house that has felt like a prison to her ever since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was two. Never caring for the people that reside in there along with her.
Not that she ever wished death upon them either as she wasn't a cruel, evil person, despite what the kids and the adults had to say about her but she knew that the stares she was receiving was because she lacked the ususl reaction thag a ten year old would have.
They probably think I decided to set the place on fire.
The thought simply made her sigh. It was fine through, she was used to tsking the blame for things even through there was evidence that showed she didn't do it.
She was used to it. So it didn't matter.
But the ghosts around her had things to say that went against that. Saying that since she wasn't the one to start the fire and therefore they couldn't prove that she didn't do it.
But she knew, as well as the ghosts, thay only she could see, was that someone was going have to take the fall and what better scape goat then some quirkless orphan girl that no one likes.
The bright blue haired girl simply ignores the ghosts attempts at speaking to her as they tried to get her attention. Some speaking while others do hand motions as some of them couldn't speak unless Anzu was holding or in the place they were spiritually connected to. As speaking to them would only cause the people around her to farther antagonize her as they couldn't see what she could she.
They didn't understand it and so they feared it. Not only do they fear it but they are fear her and dus this becoming the cause of the girl's quiet and emotionless behavior.
Not that anyone cared to find out the reasoning behind her odd behavior. Simply writing her off as an odd quirkless child.
But the she was used to it. Is what the girl would tell herself and that this how things are always going to be. So in the end. It didn't matter. It shouldn't matter.
But just like the flames, a small flicker of hope was in her chest. Something she just couldn't snuff out no matter how hard she tried and as she listens to the cries of the children and the crackling of the flames along the hush voices of the paramedics and the foster care workers.
She couldn't help but wonder that maybe now that her foster home is the center of attention. The authorities will finally realize there something just wasn't right about the foster home of the caretakers.
"Please! There has be something you can do to help my sister! Hana is only five years old!"
The cry broke right through Anzu's thoughts causes her to shift her head to find the girl, whose voice sounded familiar along with a few other older kids, boys and girls the like as she tilt her head in mild interest watching as the older girl spoke frantically to the police officer.
Her empty and disinterested eyes fall upon a tall brown haired girl that had pale skin that caused her freckles to stand out, she one of the nicer kids. Hirose Ami, a fourteen year old girl whose quirk allowed her to grow and and retrack her nails while also making them extremely sharp. This of course causing the other kids to ask her to cut something for them if scissors couldn't be found or they just wanted to see her quirk in action. Which was fascinating to watch as quirks were a very interesting topic to Anzu. Probably due to her own quirk's nature but she never confronted Ami on her own despite the girl being very kind and always willing to help.
Anzu learned the hard way that it was best to let people to come up to her then to go up to them.
But hearing the girl's cries causes an emotion to stir in her chest. Hearing the name Hana rung familiarly in her head causing her to blink as an image of the cheerful brown haired little girl, always singing Christmas tones as she prances around with her hair decorated in flowers due to how her quirk allowed her to grow flowers anywhere she is as long as she can get hold of some dirt. Another person Anzu hardly knew. But the idea of the little girl becoming a ghost, a lost souln caused a painful twist in her heart causing sadness to fill her empty eyes as her neutral frown deepens.
If only there was something I could do.
"But she's not the only one! Mika, Akemi, and Akane are still in there!" Says another older kid, a boy this time. Anzu barely talked to him as he was super quiet to and so didn't know anything significant about him, except that he was extremely nerdy.
Anzu listens to the names that were listed off as she list them off herself. Remembering and knowing who each kid he named were.
Mika, a blond spunky girl and despite her being only 11 years old. She was sassy and always back talked to the adults when she didn't get her way and in the end, would always get her way which in turn caused her to become a very spoiled brat. Her quirk wasn't anything to significant through as all it did was allow her to breathe out ice but would boast about it if it was the greatest quirk. Usually that was done when Anzu was within ear shot.
All in all, Mika was an annoying brat. But she was only eleven and it didn't mean that she deserved to become a lost soul.
If only there was something I could do.
Amemi is an eight year old boy that was soon going to be turning nine years old in just a few days time. He was one of the few early birds and Anzu has had the pleasure of dealing with him teasing her and always making fun of her for being a quirkless liar.
He would also often join with Mika when it came to boasting about his quirk within of earshot of her as his quirk allows him to have a birds eyes view of around 30 feet wide when he closes his eyes but only when his eyes were close.
If only there was something I could do.
Akane was one of the older girls to. Being at the age of 17 caused her to be known as not only the oldest but also the leader among the orphans when the adults weren't around. Her quirk allowed her to change her skin color to whever color she wanted. Nothing more, nothing less. She would often use this to her advantage to make the little kids laugh.
She was kind to the orphans but would pretend that Anzu wasn't there. For what reason, Anzu wasn't sure but she didn't care enough to find out as it was probably because that she thought that she was a "quirkless liar that wants attention because she's quirkless".
But none of them, deserved to become lost souls if for whatever reason they couldn't pass on peacefully.
If only there was something I could do. But that's okay, because the heros sbould be here in a matter of seconds. There always right behind if not here before the police and ambulances.
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do until the heroes get here. The nearest ones are currently busy with a villain. The ones that are not busy and are heading here should be here within five to ten minutes." Anzu hears the police officer tell the kids.
"But if what there to late by then?" Was the frantic cry that caused Anzu's eyes to widen. Emotion striking across her face as her emotions swirl in her chest.
But if the heroes can't get here on time. Then there's got be something I can do. Right here and right now.
But what can I do? I can't breath in to much of the smoke and I don't know where those kids are in the building and I can't be wasting time searching for them if there trapped in there some where.
Anzu blinked as her fingers curled around the blanket that was still slung around her shoulders. She looks over to the ghosts that still hung by her side as plan formed within her mind.
Anzu smiles a little as she pulls the blanket off her shoulders, rolls it up side ways so then she can warp it around her neck like a scarf. Pulling up the top part of it over her face. Tucking the lose peices of it into her short sleeve pajama top.
"Mr. Hayashi, Mrs. Hayashi, Mr. Ito and Rena." Anzu finally spoke causing the four ghost people who were floating near her to fall silent with the exception of Mr. Ito as he was silent even before she spoke as he didn't have the ability to speak unless she placed her hand on his son along with Rena, how to speak to her is a knowledge that Anzu had yet to gain but Rena didn't seem to mind it so Anzu was alright with it.
She could hear Mr. Hayashi and Mrs. Hayashi through as Mrs. Hayashi use to be caretakers and loved working there with all their heart before they passed away due to old age. So saying that they didn't like the current caretakers was an understatement.
Rena was simply a girl that haunted her Elementary school and the girl appeared to hold no memory of her past from what Anzu was able to gather from the mute girl. But the girl enjoyed making funny faces behind the adults and kids backs and seemed content with following Anzu, which didn't bother Anzu at all. It was nice having another kid around she could talk to. One that didn't judge her.
"I need you guys to go find out where those kids are. Come find when you find them and lead me to them. I'm going in." Anzu says in a low whisper, not paying attention to their faces while she surveys her surroundings. Checking to see if any of the adults had there eyes on her. They didn't and so Anzu pushes herself off of the ambulance. Her feet hitting the ground makes a soft thud.
Shifting her makeshift scarf so that covered the lower part of her face and making sure it was tight and snug so that it wouldn't fall.
She made a mad dash to the open entry to the foster home. Ignoring the calls and cries of her names as she ran into the burning building.
The heat and smoke made her gasp as it stings her eyes. She could feel the heat on her bare skin as the flames licked the brown wood that her foster home was built out of.
Fallen beams and broken wood littered the first floor a she carefully maneuver herself through the flames. Watching to make sure she didn't step on any burnt toys that were left behind in the panic of getting out when first words and the first smell of smoke make there ways to the adults and the kids.
The building was an old building so it didn't have any fire alarms inside and the owner, the boss that runs the foster home, claims to not have enough money to install some. Whether or not that was true, didn't matter as it was to late for that.
But by the time the girl reached the wooden stairs that was surprisingly not yet completely burnt. Part of it has fallen but there were no open flames on it.
The blue haired girl takes this as her chance to run up the steps and onto the second floor, focusing on keeping her breathing shallow as to avoid breathing in more smoke as she pressed a hand to the makeshift scarf that covered her mouth and nose.
But upon stepping on to the second floor. The first thing that Anzu realized was that the air was much more clear which made sense as the fire had started in the room that was next to the living room on the first floor while they were all having their usual Thursday family movie night where the adults tried to force them to act like a family.
Anzu could see holes in the flooring and through holes, Anzu could see flames licking up the underside of the wooden flooring and Anzu was then thankful that she put on a pair of thick owl socks before the fire on started.
"Anzu! This way!" Anzu looked up at the familiar voice of Mrs. Hayashi causing her to break out of her thoughts causing the girl to nod before running away from the rickety stairs and runs around the small holes that were in the flooring.
"Don't worry! I got this! Just keep Hana distracted Akane!" It was then that Anzu heard a loud bang along with Akemi yelling as along with the sound of crying. "Mika! I could really use some help here!"
Anzu skids to a sudden stop after rounding a corner staring with wide eyes at the wide open gap that was in the floor boards that kept her back from achieving her goal.
She glares up at Mrs. Hayashi for the lack of a warning as she had almost ran right into the hole if her reaction tome hasn't been as quick as it was. This causes The old woman to smile sheepishly. "Sorry about that, I didn't noticed that there. You really do miss certain details when your old!"
Anzu simply blow air of of her nose to show her irritation as she bit her tongue to keep herself from sending a sharp response and opening her mouth in a hallway that was filled with a thin layer of smoke that was only getting thicker by the second.
Stepping back as Anzu looked over at the wall that was bare with exception of the creaks that showed that the house was made of wooden planks.
Anzu places her hands onto the walk curling her fingers into the walls creaks before placing a foot onto the wall. Lifting her other foot only caused for the foot that was on the wall to slide and for her to stumble back causing her to click her tongue as she couldn't climb the wall without proper footholds.
Looking over the open gap, she could see Akemi ramming his shoulder and side into a door repeatedly while Mika was huddled into a corner and her soft sniffles could be heard from her along with gasps of sobs.
Narrowing her eyes in a determination as Anzu begin to take a few steps back.
I won't allow those kids have a chance to become lost souls.
There wasn't time to hesitant.
And so she takes a leap of faith. Both figuratively and literally as she flew through the air. Before her arms went slamming onto the other side of the gap. The adrenaline rushing through her caused her not to take notice of the pain that shot through her arms as she immediately digs her short bitten nails into the wooden floor and rushes to swing her legs up onto the floor she was barely hanging onto.
The slam had caught the attention of Akemi as the boy stumbled into a stop as he was about to slam himself into the door as a wide smile of hope flashed across his face only for it to crumble as his frowns to find who he had hoped to be a hero. Only for it to be Anzu Takahashi, who was believed to be a quirkless liar that told tall tales of being able to see dead people.
But Anzu simply just rolled her eyes at this as she rushes to her feet after having to crawl onto her hands and feet after having jumping over a huge gaping hole in the floor. Of course that didn't seem to matter to the boy and Anzu decided that fact shouldn't concern her as that wasn't what was important and so she looks past the rude boy and towards the door.
"Is the door jammed...again?" Anzu choked out, her throat dry from inhaling the smoke. Jammed doors are a common thing due to how old and out of shape the building was. It's a surprise that building wasn't consumed in flames in a matter of seconds.
This causes the boy to roll his eyes that appeared to be watery. Whether it was because of fear and panic or if it because of the smoke. Didn't matter because in the end, it was probably because of both. "No shit sherlock!" The boy decided to so rudely remark causing Anzu to roll her eyes once more before rushing over to where Miku sat, huddled in the corner with eyes wide as saucers as she stared up at Anzu in surprised.
A plan was forming in Anzu's mind as she kneels down onto one knee as she stared the girl in the eye and pulls her makeshift scarf down to reveal her nose and mouth. Dark green eyes meeting with bright sapphire eyes.
"Miku, I need you to be brave for me for just a bit. There's something I need you to do that only you can do that could potentially save us all. Do you think you can do it?" Anzu choked out as best she could through the smoke filled room.
The girl shook her head. "My ankle hurts, I can't walk on it. I can't-I can't do anything!" The girl sobbed as more tears ran down her cheeks.
"That's okay, I'll help you walk. All I need you to do is freeze the door handle, that'll help weaken the handle as the ice would fill the creaks causing the creaks to expand and the heat hear would keep it from completely freezing. Allowing Akari to kick the handle down. Now, can you do that for me?" Anzu asked sternly, her eyes sharp with determination as Mika stares at her before sniffling and nodding her head.
Anzu smiles as looks down to check out the girl's ankles.Realizing then that she did have her right leg stretched out in front of her and was titled to the side. Showing that that her ankle appeared to be a little deformed.
Anzu nods before pulling the blanket that was around her shoulders off and warps it around the girl's ankle and foot and quickly ties it tightly causing the girl to scrunch her nose in discomfort.
"Here, focus your weight onto your good foot and onto me." Anzu says as she warps Miku's arm around her shoulders as she helped her up before walking the girl over to where Akemi stood with wide eyes as Anzu and Miku walked over to where he stood. Helping Miku lend over so then she could freeze the door handle.
Anzu then looks over at the boy. "I assmued you over heard my plan unless the smoke has your hearing clocked up." Anzu says, not wasting a moment for the perfect comeback. Still feeling a bit bitter from the boy's eailer reaction.
But the boy simply grins at her as he lifts up his foot. "About time things started looking up." Akemi yelled as he brought the heel of his foot down onto the handle as hard as he could.
A bang fills the air when his sneakers clad feet hit the handle but the handle was still stuck there with ice that that was slowly melting but appeared to have been cracked but the boy simply huffed as he brought his foot up once more, only to bring his heel down onto the handle once more.
The boy grins widely as the handle broke off. Giving a loud woop as the boy landed onto his left foot before coughing from inhaling some of the smoke. His right heel probably feeling bruised from that.
With her free hand, Anzu pushed the door open.
Akane sat on her bed with Hana in her arms. Tears streaked the older girls face as relief seemed to cover the girls face as she stood up and ran through the doorway, that the door had previously been jammed in with little Hana in her arms.
The relief disappeared the second she saw the gaping hole in the middle of the narrow hallway along with the flames that were starting engulf the flames of the hallway they were in. She swallowed as she stared a the hole with a frown. "We're still trapped." The girl stated solemnly as they all stood in the seemingly vacant hallway which causes Akemi to grimace while Miku let out a whimper.
Anzu blinked with a blank look. "No we're not." The girl stated causing all eyes to fall onto her.
The boy scrunched his face up. "What are you talk-"
Anzu then points at the window behind her. "That's what I'm talking about." Anzu stated. Honestly Anzu knew this house like the back of her hand and knew all the best ways to escape so then she could get away from the teasing when she couldn't handle it anymore.
They just all stare at her with looks of confusion on there faces causing her to sigh. Of course, they didn't know. "There's a fire escape outside of that window." Anzu stated. "But since Miku broke her ankle she's gonna have to hang onto one of us while we climb down and I'll say it now, I'm not strong enough to do it."
Akane sighs with the collar of her shirt over her mouth. "I'll do it. I should be fine with having her on my back while I climb down. Someone gonna have to take Hana through."
"I can take Hana onto my back." Says Akemi says with a look of determination and they all looo to Anzu.
Anzu smiles even through it couldn't be seen behind her shirt but she nods simply as the smoke was getting thicker by the second.
And even though she knew was going to get a stern scolding when they got out. She could still feel the swelling of a feeling in her chest. One she rarely ever felt.
The feeling of pride flew through her as, even if for just the day, she got to know what it felt like to be a hero.
Author Note:
I have finally got around to rewriting Anzu's story. I wasn't to happy with how I was writing it at first and for past several months. I've been working on another fanfic and working on my writing style and so now I have finally decided to come back to this story and try rewriting. So ya, I hope you all enjoy the rewrite and sorry about taking a long time to upload another chapter. I do plan on upating every Friday as best as I can.