Here's the new chapter! Got new followers but no review? Hoho~ anyways, have fun!

The night

The crackling sound of fire burning wood filled the dark and silent night of the people who retreated back into the safety of their homes. When the clocks struck eight, everyone made sure to already be back in their homes and locked every doors and windows. It wasn't because they retire very early in the night but because people found loitering beyond that time either goes missing or is found dead the next morning.

"Mother? What does the witch look like?" a child, who sneaked a peek outside their home through the glass window, asked his mother as they closed their doors.

"No one has seen her, my child, and it's better that way. They say that those who laid eyes on this witch dies immediately." The mother said and let the child sit on her lap. "But you know, I suppose it was a year ago, I think I saw the witch once."

The child, curious and enchanted by stories of this infamous witch, perked up in interest at this new information. His face lit up as his pair of heterochromatic eyes looked upon his mother with delight and excitement, which was odd since the witch was well-known for her mischievousness and mercilessness.

"You see, I was about to head home from the market when I saw these group of people lying unconscious on the ground. Amidst these conked out people was a maiden. She was laughing and yet she was also crying. I got scared of the scene before me and so, before she could even notice me, I fled."

His mother narrated as she gently caressed the boy's also heterochromatic hair—a mixture of the pure white of snow and the fierce bright red of fire. Her child's brow crunched together as if trying to ask why his mother had fled and also questions he's been holding inside him.

"What did the witch look like, Mother? Does she really have horns? Is she really ugly? Is her teeth sharp? Are her nails sharp and long like a scythe too? Is she really, really hideous?" he asked, unable to keep himself still as he impatiently waited for his mother to continue. Halfway leaning a bit more closer to his mother to somewhat 'intimidate' her into answering his questions faster.

"She's beautiful, contrary to what others say about her." His mother answered before she closed her eyes, trying to remember the maiden she saw that day. "She has beautiful green curly locks, freckles that seemed to form constellations across her face, but more than anything, she had this melancholic and crazed expression."

"I wish I could meet her some—"

"Shouto!" his mother raised her voice as she cut him off mid-sentence. The child jerked in surprise and fright at the uncharacteristic loud yell of his mother who was usually so calm and collected. "Never and I mean, Never! Say something like that again!"

"I… I'm sorry. I just… I just really wanted to see her once."

"My dear, if you do ever meet her… promise me one thing."

"Yes, Mother?"

"Run for your life."

"What are you doing here, boy? Go away." Izuku croaked as she shot a dangerous glare towards the child that slowly approached her immobile body.

Although it didn't mean that she's incapable of kill him despite her lack of mobility. She has enough power left to kill a little boy as small and weak as him. Anyone who has laid eyes on her, more so now as he stared at her pitiful form, must die.

"Well… you asked for help." He squeaked. He was afraid, that was sure, but there was something about the way he heard her call for help that made all his nerves seem a trick of his mind. He knew in his self, he needed to find her and help her in whatever way he can and now as he gazed at her, she was very lovely despite her ragged appearance.

Me? Ask help?

"Don't be ridiculous. Now run along, boy, before I change my mind."

While it's true that she kills people on a daily basis and even that leaves a poor after taste, she's not too fond of killing children either. It wasn't that she enjoys killing them. It's because they force her to. It's either they try to do foolish things to her, or they try to kill her, or another.

After a year of being a villain, she's seen the atrocities of the world and how the people around get to judge things and pass sentence on them without even giving the other a chance to defend their selves.

The judged were always those who were fundamentally different from them in certain ways. There was that quiet gothic girl, who was judged for being a spawn of evil just cause she liked the hue of darkness so much. Then a girl who applies too much make up on her face was judged to be a slut looking for its prey without even knowing that the make up was for covering the scars and bruises she suffered from an unforgiving family.

So you see? Society judges you to be like this and it turns into your own stigma. You become labeled as the way they see you and you bear it with you forever—both burden and pleasure—and she was done with it. If her being a maiden with peculiar powers makes her a witch then she was going to be one and she was going to be the strongest witch this rotten world has seen.

Izuku temporarily got lost into her world of rage and resentment against the world that she did not notice the petite little arms snaking their way across her back in a poor attempt to try and sit her up. The little boy was grunting with all his might. He was pouring every strength he had just to help her up.

"Stupid. I told you to go away." Izuku continued to grouse but he ignored her. "If you don't go away now then I will really kill you, you fool." She threatened him.

"Then you can kill me." The little boy said in between his grunts as he successfully lifted Izuku's upper body off the ground. "but after I help you!" he exclaimed in a one spurt of adrenaline and got Izuku up on her feet with him mainly supporting her as he wrapped Izuku's arms around his shoulders and dragged her out the alley.

Izuku watched how the little boy's earnestness and kindness reminded her of how she used to be. How that pure, unadulterated honesty, gentleness, and kindness was something she used to have—something that died along with her mother.

"Don't be too kind to others, foolish one." He heard her speak softly and almost forlorn. "You're giving people the chance to kill you." She whispered as soft as a little anklet bell.

"What?" he cried against the loud noises of cars trumpeting and speeding against each other.

Izuku slipped off the little boy's grasps and sat on the ground with her back pressed against the wall of whatever building it was. She was weak, yes, but she still had a little bit of strength reserved to at least make it back into her hideout.

The little boy looked alarmed when she suddenly slipped off his hold and with how labored her breathing had become. He needed to find someone able to take her to the nearby hospital and have her checked up because with how his own breathing and movement had become slogged, he doubt he could make it there as well. Worse, it might even end up with the both of them having to be admitted instead.

"Wa-Wait here. I'll-I'll find someone stronger to help you." He rushed and was about to run when Izuku caught his arm and made him stop.

"No. You stay here. Any more of you seeing me in this pathetic state will be annoying and I'll have to kill another more." She muttered before she pulled the little boy close and made her sit beside her. "What's your name, foolish one?"

"Sho… Shouto. Todoroki Shouto." He answered as he looked upon her with worry. She was growing weaker by the second and she was still stubborn about not wanting to be treated saying she was fine and all.

"Shouto. A nice name for a midget like you." She smirked but this didn't faze Shouto a bit. He was more worried about her being than whatever insult she was saying. "I'll give you a chance to live foolish one, so I'll let you go by erasing your memory of this encounter."

"Wha—Why?!"

"Are you stupid or something? You think I'd let you off with a memory of this pathetic me? Hell no. You should be thankful that I'm letting you off with just this."

"Bu-But! I don't want to—"

"Just be a good boy and come here." Izuku cut him off with a pull on his shirt and connected her lips to his to place the spell of erasing every memory he has of her.

"Remember Shouto, do not approach strangers too easily. Do not be too good. Think of your safety first and foremost. Be careful always." Were Izuku's parting words before she disappeared in front of the dazed little boy. He snapped out of it a minute later and looked around him wondering what he was doing sitting on the cold hard floor beside the street, tired as hell and looking so lost.

"What was I doing?" Shouto thought to himself as he dusted himself off and walked back towards his house's direction still bewildered of the fact that there was a blank in his memories.

"Because you're kind, I'm letting you live. Although, that kindness might be your undoing, Shouto. Be careful cause..."

"… the next time I catch you, I'll definitely kill you."