Chapter One: Ice Garden

The first night while staying in the Torodoki household was a restless night that was a first for many to come. I kept tossing and turning in the bed, and my head was filled with so many thoughts concerning so many different things. The thing I thought about most was my future husband's unique look. How one side of his face was so different compared to his other half. Then the most blatant thing that stood out about him was his burn scar. I kept wondering how he received it. Maybe from a fight?

I shut my eyes the image of that man who I didn't even know the first name of was pictured it such great detail. Why couldn't I forget his face and just go to sleep? Later down the line we were probably never going to end up loving each other like a normal married couple should. It most likely will be a use and take relationship and nothing beyond that. He would eventually cheat or I would since we're both unsatisfied with one another... I sigh. I don't want to think about things like this about the horrible fate we both will share...

'How could so much change in one day?' I had thought to myself while flipping on to my back and staring at the ceiling in the dark room. That bloody mess...Endeavor... the arranged marriage with his son. I couldn't even get passed what happened earlier today and now this. I'm sleeping in a bed that as of right now didn't even feel like my bed. The blankets and pillows were fresh, smelling of detergent meaning someone had washed them before I had arrived.

I regretted leaving my small home this morning. If I just stayed at home I wouldn't be here. I run my hands up and down the white cotton sheets, so this is where guests had slept previously. Though I wasn't a guest, I will be staying here for awhile until that boy or should I say man decides he wants to move into a house of his own. Shivers run down my spine at the thought of being his wife someday. I can only picture how cold he is going to be to me. Suddenly barging into his life like this...

The bed creaks as I sit up looking at the 'U.A' nightlight plugged into the wall. I wonder if it was something that boy got from the academy and decided to toss it but someone like a sibling kept it and put it to use in the guest room...or the boy himself did such a thing. However, I would never know.

I slide my legs off the side of the bed, the crickets loud outside my window that was partially opened. I can't sleep meaning my thoughts are going to torture me for the rest of the night, all the way into the morning. I should just go outside get some fresh air and hopefully calm myself down. Something about going outside always did that for me.

I stand on my feet walking towards the door and I open it as quiet as possible. Luckily the guest room or my room now was away from everyone else's. I didn't even know what the rest of the family looked like, besides Endeavor and his currently nameless son. I had no information about his wife or other children; he didn't really speak about them, just said that he had them and that was that. I walk down the hallway, the few wooden platforms across the floor creaking with each step I took. Being completely silent was futile in this house I suppose.

I eventually make it to the staircase and step down each step until reaching the bottom and then turning right and walking straight. If I remember correctly where I had taken a shower on the first floor earlier was where the courtyard was. It was in the opposite direction of where the kitchen was. I continue walking forward until I see the screen door partially open. A chilly air washing over my bare arms. All I was wearing was a black t-shirt and loose gray sweatpants with pink slippers.

I make a face at the sight of the cold mist evaporating into the air almost seeming like steam. It wasn't that cold out...meaning someone must have beat me to the idea of getting fresh air. I walk towards the partially open door and slide it right to see what was going on only to see the entire courtyard showered with ice. It would have been beautiful for the winter but the thing was, it was spring...My eyes glance around looking for the culprit but in my head, I already knew what was happening and who did such things to the courtyard.

That boy from earlier, Endeavor's son, must be at fault for this mess, he did take his frustrations out on the kitchen table previously. Then finally my eyes land on him. Seems I was right. The boy with two-toned hair and mismatching eyes is standing in the center of the courtyard and also the shrouds of ice that I could have mistaken for a skating arena. His chest is heaving up and down as he pants for air. His breath escaping from his lips coming out as a fog. His eyes narrow at the cherry blossom tree that was just beginning to blossom. The tree was the only thing that wasn't covered in ice, seems that he has spared it for now.

The boy then begins to grind down on his teeth and before I know it he shouts "Godammit! I want you to burn in hell!" As he screams he lifts his arm while more ice crawls up on to the side of the house and another layer of ice covers the grass in the courtyard. I sigh softly having seen enough and I step back and when I do the floorboard creaks underneath my weight. Then his eyes automatically glance towards the noise, his eyes bloodshot probably from lack of sleep and built up anger.

When his eyes catch mine in a heated glare I 'tsk' under my breath, being annoyed with myself from being caught by him. Why did I have to peek anyway? I was so stupid sometimes. His body turns my way before he says snottily to me cocking his head to the side "What are you staring at? Aren't you supposed to be in your room?" His face scrunches up before continuing "Why are you even here in the first place? Did he give you money or something? What did he bribe you with?"

I sigh heavily pushing my bangs out of my eyes, and I reply feeling annoyed at his anger which was now focused on me "First of all. You were making so much noise out here that it woke me and I was wondering what was going on..." An obvious lie since I didn't hear a thing in my bedroom and I couldn't sleep anyway but I continue "And second of all he didn't bribe me. My parents made an arrangement with your father. I wish he would give me money for all this trouble..."

I hear a soft 'Tch' come from him as straightens his back and walks towards me muttering "Whatever..."

As he grows closer, I ask not knowing why I'm asking "Hey what's your name at least? I want to know."

He stops in his tracks getting up on the porch giving me a surprised look "Huh..."

I make a face saying more quietly this time, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear "I asked for your name..." My eyes cast down to his chest feeling suddenly embarrassed for some reason.

He's completely rude to me and then I ask for his name...what is wrong with me?! I scream at myself internally, but my outer appearance remains sheepish. I look back up at him, and the astonished look had vanished from his face, it was not there for very long.

"Shoto," he replies finally but then he continues walking and brushes past me again not even bothering to ask me for my name. I purse my lips as I hear him walk further into the house and I turn around watching his back. That asshole...

I want to say something to him, but I keep my mouth shut. It wouldn't only make my situation worse if I said something to him. He already disliked me by the looks of things. Instead, I choose to go outside to get the fresh air I wanted but being outside was like being in an ice box. I take careful steps being cautious of the ice covering the ground. I shiver as I grow near the frozen over garden. It catches my eye as I stop. Strange...it looked even more beautiful covered in ice.

It was a shame the boy known as Shoto had such a beautiful quirk, yet his attitude was sour and unappealing. I walk towards the garden and once growing near it I kneel down to examine it better. I breathe softly trying to calm myself down from being angry. It really was beautiful. I reach out and snap a flower stem off one of the rose bushes that was covered in ice. I couldn't really pluck it in its state. I twirl it between my forefinger and my thumb liking the flower better than its original state.

Shoto Todoroki was a mysterious boy with a beautiful quirk. I'm sure he would have been a wonderful husband if he wasn't forced into marrying someone such as me. I purse my lips standing back out before glancing up at the night sky. I don't want to be here. I want to be back home with my family...I miss them already. Even if they are the way they are it was no helping my attachment to them.

...

...

Morning came quickly after that night and so did the days after, followed by lack of sleep. Each day that passed I waited to get my acceptance letter from the academy to actually do something other than cook, clean, and do nothing really. I felt strange being in the household and unwelcomed. Endeavor was busy and gone most days while Shoto wasn't to be seen in the household at all, then as for the rest of the family members...well I have caught a glimpse of one of the family members, in particular, this morning.

I look at the girl with white hair and some with some traces of red as she holds on to the black teapot. The teapot lid rattles as her shaky hands struggle to pour the tea into the cup calmly that was set on the table. She finally holds on to the top lid tilting it as tea pours from the nozzle. I felt kinda awkward as the nervous girl didn't really know what to do with seeing me in the kitchen and I was one never good to make conversation with a stranger either. I had just finished making breakfast when she walked in and she kept nervously glancing at me wanting to say something the entire time as she made herself tea.

The only thing I told her was that I cooked enough for the family if she or they wanted any which after she stuttered out a soft thank you. It wasn't really a conversation and I felt anxious being in the room with her. Since then we were sitting in silence as I poked around my plate and so did she. I have been glancing at her every so often waiting for her to make conversation. This was her second cup of tea that she was pouring as far as I knew. Well, the cups were small after all compared to the teacups my family owned.

"Umm uh...You..." she finally stutters out her eyes casting up from the cup to look at me before she asks "Father wants you to marry um Shoto c-correct?" I watch her from the other side of the table. She had grey eyes with a round face with hair reaching just about her shoulders.

Her black glasses slide down her nose and she's quick to apologize to me in a shaky voice "Um sorry for my odd behavior. I'm not good at talking to strangers...N-never was."

I feel a smile tugging at my lips and I reply, liking her already since she wasn't an overpowering man, "Yes Mr. Todoroki has arranged Shoto and I to marry. My name is Amaya Mori and you must be...?" The drink she was pouring starts to overflow and she quickly panics setting the teapot down and grabbing a few napkins in the center to clean up the spill.

"I'm really truly sorry about the spill and n-not introducing myself earlier. It was rude of me. I'm Shoto's older sister, Fuyumi Todoroki but you can just call me Fuyumi." she states giving me a sheepish smile as she cleans up the spill with the napkins. She stands up from her chair throwing the wet napkins away before she scratches the back of her head and asks almost being hesitant about it "So...How is Shoto dealing with all this? I haven't seen him around lately and I just found out yesterday."

I look down at my breakfast which was scrambled eggs and sausage. How should I reply to her? That he hates my guts and thinks that I was bribed with money to marry him...

I take my fork cutting into the sausage and reply "He's not to keen on the idea of marrying me..."

She sits back down at the table sighing before muttering "I see. I was expecting such from him. I guess for now just give him some space to let him get used to the idea. Um, how do you feel about the marriage, Miss Mori?" I take a bite of my food, chewing and then swallowing. I really want to reply honestly to her like something along the lines of 'I hate it and want to go back home.' but instead, I choose to act mature about it.

My eyes glance up at her, and I reply "Please call me Amaya. You don't need to be formal with me, but I'm okay with it as long as my parents are okay or happy with the marriage. I hope in the future, Shoto, and I can get along..."

She picks up the cup of tea she has poured blowing at the top before taking a careful sip from the cup. She tilts her head giving me a closed eye smile once swallowing the liquid "I'm glad you feel that way. I was worried for a second that the both of you weren't optimistic about it. You at least need one person like yourself to make a marriage like this work out in the end."

She sets her cup down on the table before continuing "You must be really talented for father to pick you out personally for Shoto to marry."

I make a face looking back down at my plate muttering "Not really..." The kitchen grows silent after that and just then a new figure appears in the kitchen. A figure I haven't seen since that night in the courtyard. He automatically glares at me which I believe is a threat telling me not to speak to him, not as I would anyway.

He must be starving since I haven't seen him at all at breakfast, lunch, or dinner for the last three days. He must have been pouting and refusing to leave his room or it's possible he snook out and crashed at someone else's place.

I see his sister brighten at seeing him and she smiles more "Good morning Shoto. Are you hungry? Miss- I mean Amaya here made everyone breakfast. Shes really a good cook." I feel proud because of her words. I wonder if I was a good cook. My father always said I was. I watch him curiously as I continue to eat what was on my plate.

He makes a face glancing at the food on the counter before scoffing "I don't like eating a big meal during breakfast. I always eat light. Anyway, it looks disgusting. I'm not eating it." He reaches up into the cabinet, and I feel irked at his words but choose to ignore what he has said, remembering to be mature...

He takes out the bread and starts to make toast and I see his sibling has sweat dripping from her forehead then she frowns. She says her voice losing every hint of nervousness in it and choosing to have some authority to it "Shoto that was rude. You should apologize to her."

His eyes narrow at her leaning against the counter before he states having a huffy tone "Huh? Why should I apologize to some floozy who was bribed to be here?" His words struck a bad chord in me, causing an imbalance in my quirk. The sink starts rattles making a funny noise causing Shoto's attention to avert from us at the table to the sink that was next to him.

Then before he knows it the metal bursts from the water pressure and sprays out making Shoto cover his face with his forearm but his body gets completely soaked in the meanwhile. I see his sister flinch and her mouth forms the shape of an 'O'. It doesn't take him long to figure out it wasn't a coincidence as his eyes immediately land on me being enraged.

"You! You did that on purpose!" he yells raising his voice some of the water that landed on him making steam leave his body. So he also had a fire quirk...it makes sense why his father grooms him so much.

I stand up from my chair not having any appetite any longer, and I glare at him walking past him "Oh you mean this floozy..." I scoff at him rounding the corner leaving the kitchen but saying loud enough so he can hear me "You deserved getting soaked. Have fun going to school in a partially wet uniform Shoto-kun."

This was just the beginning of our lovely relationship as I hear him cussing me out in the kitchen and his sister trying to calm him down which from what I was hearing was futile.

Authors note: I apologize for taking so long to update this. I'm in the middle of trying to move and stuff. Anyway thank you all for the reviews, favorites and follows!

Edited/Revised On February 16th, 2019.