Chapter 13

Uraraka glanced down towards his hand, unsteady, but the smile of a friend decorating his face. She smiled, taking his hand, but taking the lead, "I may be a princess in your eyes, but I have the heart of a warrior." She pulled him forwards into the carnival with that warrior's strength. Uraraka glanced around at the stalls, the hesitation in her heart. It was fine. This was a carnival. It was supposed to be fun. The change was still in her purse from the last time she attempted to go to a festival. Her mind beginning to wander towards the last time she had attempted a carnival, pulling closer to Todoroki. She glanced towards Todoroki not seeming to mind her clinging to his arm. She could feel the bandages wrapped around his abdomen. He hadn't been bleeding when she found him, but they must've done something internally. A small frown formed on her face.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just stay close to me?" She shrugged, glancing away, hoping that he wouldn't be able to tell the reasoning of her fading smile. They were out here to have fun, she couldn't let her worries get to her. Todoroki glanced around each stall, ride, or attraction, his eyes slowly drifting back to her. "What's the matter?"

"I was looking for something that might seem the most normal for a human."

"You don't have to worry about that. Besides, I'd like to see what you considered normal growing up."

Todoroki glanced towards the side, then back towards her. "Honestly, growing up…most of my life was spent focusing on controlling my powers. My dad….there was a territory dispute and he didn't want us to lose." His hand moved to his neck as he attempted to resist glancing away from her, "We didn't come here much. My mom brought us once, but with a bodyguard that didn't leave our side, so it wasn't really…fun." Uraraka nodded as Todoroki's eyes slid to above her head before beginning to move, "I know a good start though."

Uraraka glanced towards him as he pulled her along the streets containing barely enough people to consider a crowd and enough to keep the streets from forming an eerie atmosphere of being empty. The leaves softly crunched under his feet as he moved forwards. Uraraka glanced up towards something totally normal-totally human. A Ferris Wheel. Uraraka's heels clicked against the metal of the ride, sliding into the seat next to Todoroki, as he leaned over the window towards the viewing of the rest of the carnival. She followed his eyes, Hawks impossible to miss with his brilliant red wings, spinning Fuyumi throughout the streets. The cart moved rotating them into the sky. Uraraka glanced towards him as Todoroki instinctively moved closer, "You know you're not going to fall." She smiled.

Todoroki shook his head, "I should be comforting you, not the other way around." His eyes slid down towards Hawks spinning Fuyumi in the streets, laughter still radiating from her. "Did you want to do that?"

"You want to spin in this cart? Where you just moved closer to me?"

Todoroki scoffed, holding out his hand, "I'm not scared."

"Alright, if you say so." She smiled, slipping her hand into his own. He pulled her hand, dragging her into the center of the cart. The cart swinging in the wind as he rotated her around. She pulled closer to him, attempting to watch her steps and the swinging of the cart.

"I thought you wanted to go to space and you're scared of being this high up?" Laughter escaped him.

"Gravity is still down here you know!" She attempted to yell over the wind, laughter blooming from her instead. "I'm guessing you came up here to find something to do?"

"I wanted to start with something that was most similar to the human experience."

"I said I want to get to know you, just take me wherever you would want to go. It's an experience we share together."

Todoroki nodded, his eyes gazing the world below him as if it was the first time, he had seen its existence.

"It's nice when everything's put in a new light." She smiled; the world seemed so much more joyful than she was told it was. She eyed the horizon the moon nearing the ending of its waning phase, she was sure that Katsuki wouldn't be able to take being trapped in that house much longer. He wanted out so badly, she could remember trekking to the bathroom in the middle of the night, seeing a door open only to peer in to see Katsuki surrounded by books running his hands aggravatedly through his hair. He didn't want them to see his weakness. He wouldn't ask to rely on them. Would it embarrass him to tell him that they were hunting a way to help him? Would that imply he was helpless? Trapped in a house that seemed to become smaller to him with each passing day.

"He's not going to be able to take it much longer."

Uraraka glanced back towards Todoroki, "We'll figure it out, we've all been working hard on trying to find answers. We'll find them."

They moved back to their seats, "How are you doing on Katsuki's murder case?"

"It's going alright, but I feel like we keep hitting snags. I did say I was going to do an interview with the officer that oversaw the case."

"Did you need help finding him?"

"No, while you were sleeping, I managed to schedule an interview, he said he'd collect the paperwork and we'd meet in a couple of days."

Todoroki nodded, a distant look in eyes, as though he were feeling that he was missing some vital piece of information or that he had missed something. "Be careful. We don't know who was involved or what happened." He paused, glancing the streets over, "vampires have a hierarchy, they tend to come back for those they created."

Uraraka nodded, glancing back towards him, "He's already established a home, what purpose would they have to take him?"

"Either they make him part of their own coven or hierarchy, or they kill him. It ensures there's no liability to the coven."

Uraraka nodded, glancing towards the crowd. She wasn't sure how strong Katsuki was, but that likely didn't give her a good idea of what it would be like to fight off a vampire. She wouldn't let them take him against his will or kill him. He was family now. Her hand tightened on the jewelry. It wouldn't be easy. She would just have to hope it was just one or two people and they wouldn't have to fight off whatever numbers a whole coven consisted of.

Todoroki leaned his head against the window, "I've told you before, the type of being I am….we're greedy. I'm not going to let them take him. I'm a demon just as much as I'm human, they're two creatures known for their greed. Only a fool would steal from such a creature."

"And if they are fools?"

"I've got claws for a reason."

Uraraka nodded, "I'm glad you understand how greedy humans can be too. Don't expect me to sit on the sidelines."

"I know. Do your best to get him out of there. Although, it's going to be a fight."

"You don't understand. I want to protect him, but not just him. You're both family. The thing about relationships, they're a two-way street. It's not a give and take like most want you to think, it's about putting yourself in the other's shoes, the thing about families is it's a messy time, struggling to understand each other, being comfortable enough to argue with one another without worrying that you'll never speak again, having each other's backs-" Uraraka's face heated as she glanced towards her shoes, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be the one lecturing on how families work at the moment."

A laugh that could've almost been mistaken for a scoff it was so light escaped Todoroki, "Guess a family can be a half-demon, a vampire, and a possible witch."

Uraraka laughed, patting him on the back as they exited the cart, "There we go."

The night continued on as they pulled each other from ride to ride as though they were in high school all over again, enjoying the atmosphere without any other care in the world, the way an amusement park was intended to be. Uraraka slid back into the car, pushing the stuffed animals they had won between them, and glancing towards Todoroki a pleased smile on his face and a look in his eyes that he was ready to go back. "When Katsuki is able to get out of the house let's bring him here."

Todoroki nodded, moving one of the stuffed animals into his arms, "That would be a good idea."

Hawks started the car soft laughter coming off of him, "You'll have to introduce me to your friend sometime. Keep me in the loop on how that vampire research is going."

Todoroki turned to Hawks, "If I'm honest….I'm kind of relieved about that it wasn't my fault he was trapped in the house. But I also feel guilty, because the answer to help him would've been so simple."

Uraraka glanced towards him, one of their prizes in her lap, "I think he wouldn't have settled with that as the answer. He would've kept looking. Honestly, he probably would've understood that as you calling him weak. There are times when each person is weak. And I don't think he really feels safe showing anyone his weakness."

Todoroki nodded, "That makes sense. Should we tell him?"

Hawks glanced in the mirror, "What if he doesn't have any psychic energy at all?" His eyes moved to Fuyumi, "Is there a way to build it up so he's able to leave the house?"

Fuyumi glanced towards him, "I don't know. And if the amount of psychic energy isn't the problem, he builds up the psychic energy and drops it while outside we might be risking his life. Honestly, while harder we should probably hope he got cursed or something. Without knowing the circumstances of the curse at this point it sounds a lot safer and easier to break the curse. There would be less of a backlash."

Todoroki nodded as Hawks swerved, the house beginning to come into view on the horizon, "I've got a couple of connections that might be able to help you out, I'll let you know if I get ahold of any good information that might help."

"That would be appreciated."

Hawks parked the car.

They waved good-bye to each other before turning to Todoroki's car, miraculously already packed with their belongings. Todoroki let out a soft smile, "It must've been Natsuo, he tries to avoid this place, but I feel like he feels that he wasn't able to be a decent elder brother. He does things like this. But they're always sly things that I never see him for."

"Did you want to go in and say good-bye?"

"He's probably long gone back to his college."

Todoroki pulled the car keys out of his pocket, as Uraraka threw the stuffed animals into the back, "Guess it's my turn to drive."

"Sure, you don't want me to try wrecking it part three?"

Todoroki shook his head, "I don't think I'd mind, but tonight, I'd rather get home in one piece."

Uraraka laughed, sliding into the passenger seat, "Alright, I mean me trying to wreck the car didn't end too poorly either yet though."

Todoroki nodded, sliding another case into the back.

"What's that?"

His eyes darted to the side, his voice quieting, "It's something from Fuyumi."

Uraraka nodded, trying not to eye the bandages barely being contained in the bag, and a bottle that looked like medication. He was trying to hide whatever it was because it was her fault that he got hurt in the first place. Todoroki slid into the driver seat, giving a soft wave to his sister and her new boyfriend, the conversation shift into soft conversation between favorite colors and birthdays and who could count the most cars in each color on their way home. It wasn't long until Todoroki pulled into the driveway of their home. They shuffled the bags into the doorway. Uraraka glanced towards Todoroki going back to the car, then back into the house, the atmosphere of the house not feeling quite right. The lights were all out and each of the doors were opened. The usually prim and properly taken care of household was trashed. No noise came from the kitchen. Uraraka found her hand moving for the knife that was on the counter. If it wasn't Katsuki for Todoroki to not notice their presence it must've been a weak one. But if it was Katsuki what had happened? "Katsuki?" She whispered, knowing that he was completely able to hear her, wherever he was in the house. "Katsuki?" She kept her steps so to the point Todoroki wouldn't have even noticed her movement throughout the house, following the trail of the mess, her muscles relaxing when she opened the door to find Katsuki buried in the books once again.

"Hey, we're back."

His red eyes flared up and he was in front of her without a second pause, a growl rumbled from deep in his throat, "What happened?"

Heat flared up her face, Uraraka glanced down, shame filling her chest. Katsuki might not take what had happened with as much grace as Todoroki had taken it. Her parents were a literal danger to all of their lives. Especially, since they knew of the existence of supernaturals, and the first thing they tried to do, the minute she brought one home was to kill him. Her voice cracked, "I-" Heat rising up her face further. There was no other way to explain it to him, but she couldn't hide that they had attacked Todoroki. "My parents….they attacked Todoroki."

Katsuki's eyes flared, fire swirling in it, but he was calm, his arms crossing, "Where is he?"

"I'm here." Todoroki set the bag down outside the door, "I didn't grab you anything while we were out."

"Clearly, you all went to a human house," his eyes flickered towards Uraraka, "From my understanding, it didn't go well."

"I'm sorry. I'll go finish unpacking the car." Uraraka whispered, moving herself to the other room.

Todoroki slid the bag into the room, a slight wheeze escaping him, as the pulse echoed on his chest, shutting the door behind him. Katuski glanced down to him, his eyes widening, "What happened?" He growled leaning down next to him.

"It's not that bad, it wasn't anything." Todoroki gasped, putting pressure onto his side, pushing the door closed behind him as he slid into the wall, further away from the door. "Go cook dinner, tell Uraraka that I'm just researching something in the library and will be out a little bit."

Katsuki sighed, kicking open the bag he brought in with him, band-aids, ointments, and remedies falling out of the bag. "Fine, my ass." He glanced down towards Todoroki, blood dripping through his shirt.

"It was supposed to last longer. At least until tonight."

"Then what? We're you going to drip around the house. What did you expect? What happened?"

"Her parents…they hired very competent exorcists. Fuyumi hasn't been able to do much for me. I think she's worried we left too soon, they had a diversion to attempt to get us from leaving, but…" Todoroki's eyes lingered towards him.

"I see." Katsuki sighed, pushing himself back up, "Move to your room, I'm telling her you went to bed. I'll be in, in a few minutes."

Todoroki nodded, pushing pressure against his side attempting not to let the sheer amount of blood that was leaking through the wound drip onto the floor. They had stabbed him, but he had spent most of his energy repeatedly healing the wound. Anyone else would've been dead hours ago. He was lucky to have Uraraka's quick thinking by his side who dragged him to his sister. The doctors probably didn't expect him to be awake for another week and likely wouldn't have checked on him soon. He pressed the back of his head to the siding of the room. If anyone outside realized how weak he was currently he was endangering both Uraraka and Katsuki he couldn't afford to leave his house in very different ways.

Katsuki moved, careful to make sure the sound of his feet echoed down the hall, the soft sound of tears dripping against the wood and fabric against skin from another room. He suppressed an annoyed growl, he needed to comfort her. Somehow. Uraraka took a breath, standing up. Katsuki pressed himself against the darkness of the wall watching as she moved back to the car dragging the supplies back inside. Katsuki sighed, grabbing the bag out of her hands.

"My parents, I don't know how to make it up….to him…or to you….it's like I've broken both of your trusts." Uraraka glanced down, "I wanted to protect you guys in the same way you protect me, but I've just been making things worse." Her hands tightened on the luggage she carried in, "Maybe it's better if I leav-"

His hand landed on her head, messing her hair, "Sometimes people are trying to do the best for others, but sometimes what you think is right for you is wrong for others."

Uraraka glanced towards him.

"Don't go anywhere. You're strong than you think. And just because you don't protect us in the same way we protect you makes you any weaker or not as if you are a contributing member of this household. Just keep moving forwards." He paused, moving forwards towards Todoroki's room, "Besides, who's going to report back to me on who's head needs the guillotine after a research paper? Come to Todoroki's room later, I don't think he'll mind."

Uraraka nodded, moving to her room to put her stuff away, the rest of the supplies strewn throughout the living room, "I'm going to put out stuff away, real quick."

Katsuki moved back towards Todoroki's room, opening the door and shutting it behind himself. He glanced Todoroki over, he had thrown his shirt to the side and enough bandages to create a mummy from scratch laid throughout the room. Todoroki was half leaned over panting as he reached for the ointment to change the bandages.

"Move." He snapped, placing himself next to him, "What would you two do without me?"

Todoroki sighed, "I know, I should probably hire a maid. But…" He glanced down.

"This isn't a question of if you should or shouldn't hire a maid. This is a question of you coming home like this all the time."

"This is only the third time."

"In the past month."

"Hey, better than last year."

"oh, shut up before I tighten your bandages too tight."

Todoroki let out a small scoff, "What do you think she's going to do when she figures out who murdered you?"

"Show him how to finish the job properly." Katsuki growled, glancing at what Fuyumi had given him.

"I guess we shouldn't let her finish her project then."

"What are we going to do? Stop her?" Katsuki laughed, knowing full well that one way or another once she had put her mind on a task, she was going to find a way to finish it. Even if they were the obstacles in her way.

Todoroki shook his head, "You can try, I'm staying far out of her way."

"Thought so. She'll figure it out." His hands tightened on the bandages reaching for more, the wound wasn't stopping. "Who'd they call to help you?"

"A couple family doctors."

"A bunch of incompetents. I'll go find the witch of the forest." He sighed, standing up.

"How do you plan to do that?"

"Summon her, somehow."

"If you invite her in remember to add circumstances."

Katsuki shook his head, "She's smart enough to not mess with us. Besides, she clearly regards our powers. And she's given you hints about Uraraka."

Todoroki nodded, "Remember witches look out for their own. She'll want whatever help she's offering in exchange for something."

Katsuki nodded, moving to the living room. He glanced towards Uraraka already asleep on the couch, some of the stuffed animals she and Todoroki had won wrapped in her arms. He sighed, scooping her up into his arms and moving her into her room. He drew the blanket up, her hand wrapping around the collar of his sleeve, "I'll do better."

He reached down, gently letting her hand off of his wrist and setting it down, "You're doing fine." Katsuki sighed, shutting the door as he left, his feet stepped back from the drawn curtains the barely-there waning moon still there, moonlight echoing onto the floor. He glanced towards the shadow that kept him from burning his feet when he left Uraraka's room.

The witch of the forest smiled down towards him, "You called?"

Katsuki glanced towards the moonlight that would make his feet begin to sizzle, it was a very dangerous way for one to introduce themselves, especially when they knew better. She was likely threatening him.

"I'm not threatening you, depending on what kind of witch, you're talking to they get their powers from different places. I'm going to need the moon's power to save that one."

"So, you'll save him? At what cost?"

She lowered herself, swinging herself off the broom, the posture and grace of a composed goddess or a seductress moving with her and a smile to match, her eyes lingered towards Uraraka's room as though she was waiting for him to tell her anything would be a decent price in the way most desperate people do.

"If you can't help us, I'll figure out the problem myself." He scoffed as the witch opened the door, testing her boundaries.

"I do not know if that girl is a witch or not, or something of a different kind. But I would appreciate as she grows more powerful you are shielding her. As someone who does not have a coven of her own, I have already come to consider her one of my own as long as she resides in this forest. And from now until the day she says she does not desire it anymore."

Katsuki let out a small scoff, "So continue doing what we're already doing," he paused leaning on the wall, "You don't plan on harming her? Even if she doesn't turn out to be a witch?"

The witch laughed, making her way to Todoroki's room with little to no instruction, "Has he ever told you who owns this home?" A smile twitched on her lips, "The deed is in my name. Although, I'm sure not a single one of you can speak it. But I am no fool, only a fool would steal from a demon. I would not harm any of you. It's best to get on their good nature."

Katsuki shook his head, "You're telling me you own the home, but are afraid of not being on Todoroki's good side?"

"We've had a couple entanglements of unreasonable variety." She held her broom behind her, "Speaking of which, little vampire have you figured out your moon problem?" She glanced over her shoulder, waving her hand and closing the curtains.

He sighed, "Not yet, but we're not going to ask you for that too."

She laughed, "I'm not just the witch of the forest for any reason. There's a reason there's such an abundant forest in the middle of this city."

"Supernatural research and herbal research are very different kinds of research."

"But oh, woo's to those who seek knowledge like it's their drug. Maybe I'll ask him to use the library at my leisure." She smiled before dipping into Todoroki's room and shutting the door.

Katsuki sighed, rolling his eyes. He didn't have time for the witch who was too nosy and too curious for her own good. It was surprising that she wasn't the one who was murdered with the vast variety of knowledges in her head. Katsuki shook his head, heading to the library to supernatural proof the room, Todoroki would give her, her way. Even if she had trashed the library last time fighting a goblin from the mines in the eighteen century over her necklace. A known kleptomaniac. And she had let him out. On accident. Katsuki sighed, thinking of the fact that the witch had the various knowledges of the world, that necklace storing one of the more deadly foes she had faced, and she had almost let them out in their house. Katuski sighed, glancing over the library he had been so particular about since arriving, knowing that it would be trashed by morning.