8:56 PM, at the Midoriya Residence...
Izuku's mind is full of distraction. So much so, that he can't focus on translating both his and his sister's notes that they'd taken in the Sports Festival and update it to their files.
...He can't help, but be worry for Sierra, ever since he received a text from her... Telling him that Jeremy was, at the moment, paralyzed from the waist down, after healing Ingenium's injuries.
Of course, thanks to his Quirk and only taking half of the damage Ingenium sustained from the villain that attacked him, it isn't permanent and will be able to walk again, after doing some physical therapy and some time off from work.
...Still... To hear that one of his loved ones, blood-related or not, was paralyzed, even if it's only temporary, is still pretty scary and would get anybody wiled up... Especially, for an Animal Quirk User.
He let out a tiring sigh, closing his journal and putting it on top of his sister's journal, which he took home with him when she requested that he takes her notes with them to keep them safe through the text.
'I hope Sis is doing all right,' he thought. 'I can't blame her for being so scared; this is one of the few injuries that's taking its toll on Moo... Besides that time, when he tried to heal Sis from-... That Bastard's poison and injuries she sustained from... THEM, and almost got himself killed. It must be stressing Sis out, even though she knows that he'll be okay... Still, I hope he gets better, as soon as possible.'
A knock on the door broke him out from his thoughts.
"Izuku!" His mother called out from the other-side of his bedroom door. "Are you hungry? I got dinner ready!"
His stomach growled for food, but his appetite wasn't there to encourage him to go eat.
"No thanks, Mom." He replied, turning in his chair to stare at his door. "I'm going to do some homework, and then go to bed. I'm pretty tired, from the Sports Festival."
She can hear her sigh, telling him that she didn't approve of his refusal to eat, but isn't going to push him.
"Okay, Sweetie. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I love you!"
He smiled at her last response.
"Love you, too, Mom. Goodnight."
Izuku heard her gentle footsteps walking away from his bedroom, leaving him ponder on his thoughts.
He slightly leaned back in his chair, letting out a tiring sigh.
'...Well... I got a few days off from school, to fully recover from my injuries... It's going to be a serious drag, since I won't be able to do some training for a while.'
A pulse of pain, coming from his right-arm and hand, along from his cast leg, made him winced. Clearly, his body didn't like the thought of training, when it's battered and damaged.
Taking a hint on what his body is possibly telling him, Izuku shut off his computer, grabbed his phone with his left-hand and hobbled to his bed.
Falling into the cushion, cradling him in its embrace, made him feel slightly relaxed... And yet, he can't bring himself to fall asleep just yet. So much was going on through his head.
'...I thought I finally gained control over it. -He lifted his left-arm in the air, staring up at his palm.- That fight with Todoroki, the first few moments in our fight, I was able to not break any part of my body... But then, when I grew desperate, I made myself use 100% of One for All, too many times... And in the process, I messed up my right-hand, leaving it crooked and scarred.'
He let his hand rest on the cushion to his side, while his right-arm remains connected to his chest.
'And because of that, Recovery Girl will no longer heal any injuries I would inflict upon myself from using my Quirk... Which means, once my body fully recovers, I need to focus on controlling the amount that I can use that won't harm my body, until it becomes second nature and won't require a charging moment. It may not be much of an idea, but it's the only one I got, in order to help me gain better control over it... Who knows? Maybe Sis and I will find another way to trigger my Quirk, which won't leave me vulnerable and open for attacks.'
He wondered if he should send her a text, wondering if she'll have her phone on to receive his message or if she'll have it off and would want to focus on checking over Jeremy... He decided to leave her a message.
If u head home, b careful. Also, tell Moo I hope he gets better. 3 u!- AMJR
Before he got his finger to the send button, he stared down at choice of name he labeled for himself. Lately, he felt like his name was too childish and, ever since All Might came into his life... He no longer desire to have that name, when he's been using it as a crutch to help push him and reach his dream.
...
...Smiling at the realization that his dream is coming true, he went to the option button to changed his name on his phone to something else... Though, he didn't have the slightest clue on what his new name should be on his phone... Of course, there is one person who can come up with good names.
And so, he sent her an immediate text.
Hey, Sis, I'm going 2 change my name on my phone... What do you think it should b?- AMJR
In two minutes, he received a reply... He was a bit surprised on what she suggested on.
"Strong warrior filled with love and hope." -"..." . This is the name I believe will best suit u, 4 ur phone.- Baby Sis
...
...
...He swear, she was going to one day kill him with her thoughtfulness and kind opinion towards him, as his heart felt like it was going to pop right out of his chest. He's just glad that he isn't bawling his eyes out... Though, a few tears did left his eyes, as he sent her the text he wanted to send to her.
...
...With his new name, proudly shown on the screen next to his text.
If u head home, b careful. Also, tell Moo I hope he gets better. 3 u...! N thx 4 the new name 4 my phone.- Barloc
"Are you sure you'll make it home all right, by yourself, Sierra-chan?" Tenya asked the fourteen year-old, as she exited the hospital and started walking.
Sierra turned to stare at Iida... And, with a confident smile, nodded her head. Since he doesn't understand Sign Language, she pulled out her phone and quickly typed up a message.
I'll b fine. My godfather's home is closer from here, so I'll meet up with my father there.
Tenya didn't seem that convinced, nor did it settle his worry for her safety.
"Are you certain? Because, I insist, that I don't mind to walk you there. After all, it's the least I can do to show my gratification, after suggesting for us to request for your Nīsan (Older brother) to help heal Tensei. And with the Hero Killer on the loose-..."
Sierra gave him a sad-smile, already figuring out to his hesitation to let her head out on her own.
'He's just as bad as Izu, when it comes to becoming the overprotective big brother.'
She deleted her message and typed up a new one for him to read.
U should b here, with ur mother. She mustn't b left alone... That, n ur brother would want 2 hear how u performed in the SF n that u've won 2nd place with Todoroki-kun.
She was right on it being best for Iida to stay with his mother; his father is out on patrol and won't be back until the next day to check up on his eldest son, which will leave him and his mother to head home on their own.
...Still, he was very hesitate on letting her go out on her own, fearing that the Hero Killer will find her and-... End up like his brother... Or worse.
...And yet, he can't really force her to accept his company, unless she request for his offer.
...The medal that rest against his chest, given to him by the girl before him, felt as if it was pressing a heavy weight against his heart if he let's her go and not know if she makes it to her destination, unscathed.
So, he settled with an ultimatum.
"Will you at least text me, when you make it to your godfather's residence? Just to let me know that you got there, without any trouble?"
Sierra let out a silent sigh, but she did smile and nodded her head, confirming that she will do so.
It eased Iida's fear when she agreed, smiling and nodding his head in approval.
"Very good," he said. "Then, I'll let you take your leave."
Sierra nodded her head, and bowed politely to him...
...
...She soon found herself being pulled to the older-teenager's chest, enveloped into a firm, yet gentle hug, her head touching the bottom of his medal.
She wasn't expecting this to happen, especially not from her serious Class Representative... Nevertheless, she slowly brought her arms up and returned the embrace, gently patting him on the back.
"...You saved my brother's life, Sierra-chan." He whispered, placing a hand at the back of her head. "Both you and your brother, saved Tensei... I tell you this: The Iida Family, are now and will always, be in your debt. -He pulled away from her, his hands resting on her shoulders.- I would be happy, and be honored, to call you as my own sibling... As my little sister. And I promise you, that we'll, also, help your brother with his medical expenses, for preventing Tensei from ending up paralyzed."
She was completely taken back by his words and quickly shook his head, telling him that he and his family didn't had to do that.
He gave her his confident smile.
"My mother insisted that we do so, and it would make her very happy to repay your bother this way. And, in a way, you can consider this as a Life-Debt being repaid to you and your family."
Sierra pulled up her phone and quickly typed up a response to his declaration of repaying a debt. She held up the message to him.
U r part of my Pack. Even though we only know each other 4 a few weeks, I already imprinted u as Kin, just as much as Izu had been my brother since my birth. N through u, Tensei's wellbeing is just as important 2 me, as he is ur pack. There 4, u don't owe me a Debt... However, if u n ur pack wish 2 repay a debt 2 my brother, then u may do so. Just no, he'll try n refuse.
Reading the message, twice, and Tenya still couldn't get it through his head that she, despite not knowing his older-brother in actual life, she was willing to help him and his family, and not because Tensei was a Pro Hero.
With stunned eyes, Iida simply nodded his head and let her go when she backed away from his grasp.
Sierra gave him a smile and a final nod, before she closed her eyes and morphed into her white-wolf form, picking her phone up from the ground with her fangs, happy that her siblings got her a phone that won't break from the small-strength she puts into her fangs.
She twisted her body and took off into a sprint towards the darkness.
"Sis!"
To the sound of Iida's calling and using her name, Sierra forced herself to a stop, turning her head to stare at the fifteen year-old and waiting to hear what he wants to say.
...His fists were trembling into tight fists... Then, he forced himself to bow. His medal dangling in the air, remaining connected around his neck.
"I will make this up to you! You have my word! I won't let your brother's sacrifice go in vain!"
And with that said, he made himself walk back into the hospital, leaving the white-wolf to take in his final words to her.
...
...
...
...Both her heart and mind didn't settle well to his words.
'...He wouldn't...' She thought to herself, her right-ear twitching to the side when she caught the sound of rumbles coming from the sky. 'His brother is alive, he'll fully heal and will continue on as Ingenium... He shouldn't have any reason to-... He wouldn't dare...'
She didn't know if her fear will come true, or if she was worrying herself over nothing. She can't predict the future, can't know what may or may not happen.
...All she can do, is to prepare herself for anything that could happen... And hope that her fears will never come to be, in reality.
*Drip*
A single drop of rain landed on top of her head, slowly sinking through her fur.
She looked up, her nose catching the clear scent of moisture traveling through the air.
...The classic sign that rain is coming.
With that thought in mind, Sierra made herself go back into a full-sprint, starting her quest to head for her godfather's household.
Seven Minutes Later...
She knew that the quickest way to Raiden's home is to fly, but she needed to give her arms a break from flapping all day. Even though they ache as she kept on sprinting down the sidewalk through the rain, she can endure aching muscles from running much more than dealing with arm, back and chest pain from flying. Apparently, even in her dragon-form and able to run on all-fours, her collarbones take the brunt on be overused from flapping her wings and cause tightening muscles to her upper-arms and chest.
...And because the poison chose to trigger in the middle of the day and is still recovering from the few burns she still has from her fight with Bakugō, her back is very sensitive to whatever touches her skin and won't be able to resist cold raindrops pelting against her exposed back for very long. So, being an animal with fur will better protect her scarred and burnt back than her school-uniform would.
Plus, as she runs, her burning muscles in her limbs will get her paws warmed up and will focus on wanting to keep them warm as she dashes through the small-puddles and cold pavement beneath her.
Taking the train would, also, be a rational idea for time and temporary shelter from the rain... However, many would recognize her from the Sports Festival and all the excitement would take its toll on her empathic-like ability. The only reason it didn't overtaxed her in the Sports Festival, was because of her adrenaline giving her extra energy and strength, and her mind focusing on the promise she made to her friends' family that kept her from succumbing to the many emotions.
Even in the rain, there are still a lot of people outside on the street of the city. Many of them watch her run past them, most of them mistaking her for a stray white-shepherd or a very large Berger Blanc Suisse. Since she didn't turn into a wolf at the Sports Festival, nobody recognized her to being one of the two first place winners of U.A. High.
In her jaw, her phone vibrated, prompting her to take a short break and seek shelter underneath an awning. There was nobody around when she morphed back into a human, as she quickly pulled up the text.
R u coming home? I'm giving ur meal 2 the cat if u don't, n I'm pretty certain she doesn't like soup.- Night Raven
She smiled at her father's message.
'If he's threatening me to starve, that tells me he's worried sick. Can't really blame him, after watching my performance in the Sports Festival went... That, or something else could be bothering him to have me return home.'
She reached a finger to reply... Only for the wind to blow into her face... Carrying with it, a certain scent that makes her want to keel over.
...
...
...It was blood.
She narrowed her eyes towards the direction it was blowing from, placing her phone sideways in her mouth and morphing into her wolf-form, pushing her body to sprint through the wind and rain.
She follows the trail that can't be washed away, that humans lack the mind to rely on their senses and detect the scent of Life... Of Death, itself, as it claims what won't satisfy its hunger for Wine of Life and continuous greed to consume all into darkness.
...
...
...She finds herself at an alleyway, about six kilometers from the current crime scene... From where Ingenium was attacked by the Hero Killer.
...
...
...
... She's in one of Raiden's claimed territory of Hosu City, finding his Family Symbol behind the dumpster underneath the building's emergency fire ladder.
...
...
...
...She knew and heard from the news, about a week ago, a Pro Hero was found dead in this very alleyway...
...
...
...Her godfather had to cancel their training session, when some of his scouts gave him the grievous news and had her and Izuku to train at the beach, on their own, for two days.
...
...
...
...He was angry... And yet, also sad... More like in mourning.
...
...
...
...
...There was still some blood left on the wall, behind the dumpster...
...
...
...A small-scent of blood came from somebody else...
...
...
...
...
...A scent she recalled smelling... Eight years ago...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...She dropped her phone from her mouth, morphed into her human-self, and was left vomiting bile, and digested food underneath a downspout...
...
...
...
...
...Tears ran down her face...
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...
...
...With shaky hands, she crawled to her phone and grabbed the small-device, struggling to write an emergency message to the one person she needed to see, as soon as possible...
...
...
...
...
...
...Seven minutes later, three people, wearing black, stood before the trembling girl...
...
...
...The instant they got her on one of their backs, they vanished in a poof of smoke...
Twenty-Nine Minutes Later, at the Horiuchi Abode...
In the dojo, the once former Lightning-Rain Pro Hero couldn't calm down, the instant he received the text message from his goddaughter... Sending him the exact coordinates he didn't want either of his god-children to walk by...
...
...And unfortunately, she happens to be there, alone... No doubt, she smelt his scent.
Soft footsteps drew him from his thoughts, looking up and staring at a younger-version of himself, with shorter, wavy hair and Icy-blue eyes, wearing all black and dripping wet from the rain... His twenty-four year-old son, Raijin Horiuchi.
"Father," he greeted.
Raiden nodded his head to the younger-man.
"Any news?" He asked, though having a feeling that his answer will be what he fears to be so... And when Raijin shook his head, Raiden let out an irritated sigh.
"We've searched nearly all of Hosu City, and still, we can't find him, Father. -He was just as frustrated at their failure at looking for their target, as his father.- And with the rain going on, we're gonna have to call off our search until the weather clears up. We can't risk anybody getting sick."
Raiden nodded his head in agreement.
"When it does clear up, we'll search all over Hosu City, again. Hopefully, we'll find a clue the next time we search. -Raijin nodded his head, already thinking the same thing on doing.- And what of your sister?"
"We've just received word that Yuki (Snow) and her group should be back right about-"
Just before he could finish his sentence, a poof of smoke spread on the dojo... When the smoke finally cleared, three figures kneeled before Raiden.
...On one of their backs, is a barely conscious Sierra, who was slightly panting for breath. A blush of red covered her cheeks, indicating a fever.
"Now..." Raijin said, before getting to his feet and sweeping the fourteen year-old off of the back of whom he knows to being his twenty year-old sister.
"Yuki?" Raiden said, walking over and checking over his goddaughter, wincing from the heat radiating off her forehead.
"A serious fever," the girl covered in black reported. "Stress and being out in the rain finally got to Ra Ra. She, also, appeared to had thrown up whatever meal she had at the alley and, on the way here, just threw up the water we gave her."
"And for the fact that she's still underweight, isn't much help to aid her to fight off the sickness." Raijin added in, gently rocking his god-sister in his arms when he heard a faint whimper.
"Get her out of her school uniform, and put her in something warm and dry. Have somebody dry her school uniform, too." Raiden firmly instructed, as Karasu, part of the group to find the girl, took her out of Raijin's hold and swiftly, but carefully, took her to a room to do so.
As she was taken, Sierra was left in a coughing fit.
"Best get her some cough medicine, too." Raijin added in, as he followed Karasu out of the dojo, needing to get out of his wet Shozoku. "And again, why can't we find any shozoku that are waterproof?"
"Because Dad insisted on staying traditional and wants to see us suffer from the rain," his sister called out the answer to him.
Raiden blushed at her words, pouting.
"You know that's not true," he said. "I just couldn't find a decent material for our shozoku, to improve their resistance against the elements."
His daughter simply rolled her eyes, removing the mask of her shozoku, revealing a young-woman that easily shows to being his daughter: Same hair-color like him and her brother, only shoulder-length long and straight. Same color eyes, with a hint of blue in the center of the iris. Light-skin, but more paler.
She is Yuki Horiuchi.
"Best get out of those clothes and go change, as well, Sweetie." Raiden gently ordered, heading out for the shōji door to leave.
"What are you going to do, Dad?" She asked, catching up with her father and going through the door when he held it open for her to exit.
His eyes slightly narrowed at her question, but the expression wasn't meant towards her.
"I need to contact Eraser Head, and inform him that Ra Ra will stay the night here."
Yuki returned the glare to her father.
"...It's hard to get my head around that," she said. "All this time, being told that your parent died when you were only a baby and dealing with the lack of any parents in your life-..."
"Uh, godfather. Right here." Raiden replied, pointing both his metal-fingers at himself, a slight hurt expression on his face when she smirked up at him.
"Godparents and blood-parents are two different things, Dad. Plus, Izu acts more like a responsible, mature older-brother than you act like a man-child, whenever they call you 'Rai-sama' instead of 'Uncle Rai'."
Again, Raiden pouted at her words.
"Why must you be so cruel to your father?"
Yuki smiled at him, standing on the tips of her toes and, playfully, patted him on the head.
"Because somebody needs to give you a hard time. After all, I took after Mom." She replied, lightly giggling when Raiden hunched over on the ground, quivering and having a gloomy cloud hang over his head.
"Akira, my beloved, where did I go wrong with our children?"
To that, the twenty year-old woman kneeled down and encouraged her father to get back on his feet.
"Well, I would have to say, the moment you gave us Mochi when we were five and nine, and didn't warn us to let them thaw a bit, before we each took a bite. We had to go to the dentist to get our teeth checked out when we complained about toothaches, only to find we lost two of our baby teeth and found them still stuck to our Mochi... You still have those very Mochi, that still has our baby teeth in them, on the shelf in your bedroom, after taking them to a friend of yours to permanently freeze them in ice."
He gave her a sly-smile, as they both left the dojo and walked outside, both enjoying the feeling of rain in the air and staying dry underneath the roof of their home.
"It was a special moment we had together, especially since they were your first two baby teeth to lose."
Yuki glared up at her father.
"And it's because of that moment, that I could never bring myself to eat another Mochi. -Seeing they were getting off track, she refocused back to the topic.- The point is, Eraser Head hasn't even gotten her back for an entire month and, during their short time at U.A., she and Izu had gone through villain attacks and both basically damaged their bodies in the Sports Festival!"
Raiden can see where she was leading with this.
"You're questioning, on whether or not, he can protect her and is fit enough to become her father. Let alone, if U.A. is the best place for her and Izu to be in, with All Might teaching there."
She nodded her head, stopping in her tracks from entering the household.
"I know they both dreamed on going to U.A. to become heroes, but ever since All Might entered Izu's life and became a teacher at the school, nothing but trouble seems to always wait for them: Students had been harassed by reporters and paparazzis, both at the school and in the city, should somebody recognize them. And then, a few days after the school's defense system was bypassed and damaged from an unknown source, villains attacked a class that All Might had been teaching. And, from what we gathered, Izu had damaged his body, on multiple occasions, from the Quirk Toshinori passed down to him... And to learn that the ones who plotted the ambush at the U.S.J. were the ones who hurt Ra Ra, the same people that bastard that killed her mother had sold her to, may very well be planning on taking her back with them, should be just enough reason that we should consider getting them out of U.A. and someplace more... Well, safer for them to learn how to become heroes. Especially since Izuku hadn't gotten control on using his Quirk yet and Sis can, somehow, breathe fire and, from Eraser Head's own claim, ice, too, when she never showed any signs on being able to do so."
Raiden can tell what she was suggesting they should do, especially when she put in much emphasize on the word 'safer'... He didn't like what she was saying they should do.
"...You want them to go to Fox Hound," he plainly replied.
Yuki didn't look happy, but nodded her head.
"It's secluded, they can learn how to control their Quirks and better understand the limit of their abilities-"
"At the price of being treated as Testing Experiments, put through stressful simulations that could scar them mentally beyond repair, and being closed off from society until they're Marked... Exactly how Ra Ra was treated, when she was forced to be with the League of Villains at the age of four, exactly when she first got her Quirk."
The twenty year-old looked away from her father, hating the pain reflecting off his platinum-eye.
"The old Director of Fox Hound died twelve years ago," she explained. "The current Director, Conall Conan, The Alpha Wolf, had taken over the facility and changed it for the better... They no longer go through the same procedure they did when Talon Erkan, Snake Tongue, was running it. -She walked up to her father and, standing on her toes, laid a hand over his left-eye.-... Not like how they treated you, when you went to them for help from your own ordeal with villains, after they tried messing with your head and destroyed parts of your body that needed to be reconstructed with machinery."
He didn't like his child bringing up the past of his time in 'recovery'... The very reason to why he was no longer 'fit' to continue becoming a Hero, and forced into early retirement. Even if Fox Hound is now being run by a different Director, that does prove it won't go through the same procedures that he went through, the damage had already been done.
...He would never put any of his children, blood children and godchildren, to go to a former Hell of his.
He laid a hand on his child's right-shoulder... A sad-smile spread on his face.
"...My Snowdrop, you are right to be concern for Izu and Ra Ra's safety. You have every rights to question on whether or not Eraser Head can raise our White Wolf*, if he should have any rights to be her father. You even have the rights to question if U.A. is the right school they should be going to, while villains target them to get to All Might... However, to decide on how to help them reach their dreams and become Pro Heroes, is not your decision to make. -He lowered his gaze to the ground, his smile gone and replaced with a frown... A stray tear seeped from underneath his eyepatch, gliding down his face.- ...Even if they end up losing their lives, the decision is theirs, and theirs, alone."
Yuki clenched her hands into tight fists, her teeth tightening against each other... As tears ran down her face, as she bowed her head.
...She knew he was right, and can't find any word to argue with his words... After all, her own mother made her choice to go assist a matter with a Muscle User Quirk, even when others warned her that she may not make it out of it, alive... And still, even when it costed the woman her life, she made her choice and was able to help the other heroes capture the villain, before she succumbed to her injuries.
She was only five at the time, when she and her big brother lost their mother, Akira Horiuchi.
...The twenty year-old woman couldn't stand to lose anybody else since then, even when she knew she can't always be there for those she cares about most.
Her father gently ran his finger against her cheeks, wiping away her tears.
"I'm not asking you to immediately accept this, but to understand that this is the path they choose to follow. And you may not come to accept Eraser Head as Sierra's father... But what you can do, is be there for Ra Ra. Be there for both her and Izu, as their big sister."
She stared into her father's eye, the tears no longer leaving her Platinum/Icy-eyes, taking in his request for her to accept... Then, she nodded her head.
"Very well, Dad." She answered, laying a hand on his mechanical-hand on her right-shoulder. "I'm still not comfortable on the fact that All Might gave his Quirk to Izuku, without properly teaching him how to use it, and Eraser Head needs to prove to me that he can be the father Sierra deserves to have... But still, I'll keep an open mind about it."
Raiden beamed down at his daughter, proud that she's willing to give the Eraser Hero a chance to prove himself and to not do anything drastic that involves taking the two god-siblings to Fox Hound.
...A pair of running feet broke the two's moment, both turned to see Raijin standing before them, sporting on a grey-Yukata... His icy-blue eyes held fear.
"Father!" He cried. "Come quick! It's Sis!"
Immediately, father, son and daughter sprinted into the household, heading for the one room reserved for Izuku and Sierra, whenever they come by and stay over.
...When they reached the room and pulled the shōji door open, all stared down the fourteen year-old girl, laying on her left-side, in a white-Yukata that was slightly bigger than her petite size...
...
...
...They were horrified on what they saw...
He stares up at the clock hanging on the wall near the kitchen, seeing the time being 9:38.
...It's been thirty-one minutes since he sent her a text message to come home... Since then, she hadn't returned any kind of message that she was coming home.
Shōta glared at the clock, then looked down at the phone, seeing no new messages had came and that the time is exactly as the clock on the wall just said.
"Rraaow!" Jade jumped to the couch, pawing at his right-hand, looking up with her Jade-green eyes... She, too, was worried about Sierra.
"Still no word from her?" Coming out of the kitchen, taking his spot to Shōta's right-side, is his nephew, Hitoshi Shinsō.
The adult kept his gaze on the device.
"Nothing," he replied. "And if you use your Quirk on me to get information for her mom and grandma about Sierra, I'll have my class use you and your classmates as Sparring Partners for three months, with specific instructions on how to locate and exploit your weaknesses, while erasing all of your Quirks."
Hitoshi gave him a blank look. Clearly, he's used to his uncle's threats and since, long ago, no longer feared them. That, and his own mother gave him useful information from their childhood and which one to say to get the Eraser Hero to back down from his threats.
He shook his head to his uncle's words.
"I'd rather hear from Sierra, herself, about her past, or at least from Midoriya... Without using my Quirk on them, of course." He added in, sensing a warning glare form his uncle. "...I owe her and Midoriya that much, for helping me press on to my dream... That, and I wouldn't dare use my own Quirk on my own family."
A small-smile appeared on Shōta's face when he heard his nephew refer to his daughter as 'family', just as his parents and siblings are very eager to finally meet her and properly welcome her into the Aizawa Family.
Though, that smile went away when he checked his phone and still, like before, found no new text from his daughter. And with the rain pouring much harder and thunder rumbling in the air, it made his patience on waiting for her run even shorter.
"A villain had better gotten her, or so help me, I'm actually going to make her bedroom into a padded room and put her in a straitjacket."
"Didn't you actually put Uncle Hizashi in a padded room that one time, after he drank some of that over caffeinated coffee of yours and didn't shut up for days?" Hitoshi asked, snickering at the tired glare his uncle sent him. "Mom told me about it, when you, her, Uncle Hayate, Aunt Nemu and Uncle Hizashi were patrolling nonstop, seven years ago. And that you were able to 'bribe' Nezu to built a padded room underneath the school, when Uncle Hizashi wouldn't stop yapping and kept tapping his foot like a rabbit."
Shōta let out a low moan, bowing his head.
"Why did she had to tell you about that?" He muttered, as a slow-smile spread on his face. "Since then, he wouldn't dare touch the coffee maker in the Teacher's Lounge and dubbed it as 'Sugar-Tonic Apocalypse'."
Hitoshi gave him an awkward expression, his stomach a bit upset from the thought of how much sugar his uncle would actually put into his coffee, always wondering how Hizashi didn't go into a Food Coma from all that sugar coursing through his body.
"...I hope to never end up being Sleep Deprived, like you, that would result on having to ingest enough sugar that could liquify my esophagus to extinction... Though, from hearing how skinny she is, it might help Sierra with improving on her blood-sugar."
His uncle chuckled at his nephew's words.
"She isn't really much of a sweet tooth, but at least she loves vanilla-flavored sweets."
...Hitoshi flashed out the Aizawa smile.
"...Yep, it's official, she's definitely one of us. Mom and Grandma were worrying on what if she didn't like vanilla, like the rest of us do. They'll be more than happy to hear she has the same liking that we all do."
Shōta nodded his head, flashing out his Aizawa smile.
"She's still a picky eater, but she enjoys just enough of our taste that we'll be able to get her to eat, when we come over for our Family Gathering."
Jade, looking between the uncle and nephew, let out a very loud "Rrrrow!", lightly kneading on the couch, sending obvious hints that they pay attention to her.
Shōta gently ran his fingers through her black-fur, earning a purr of comfort and happiness.
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...
...Then, his phone vibrated in his hand.
Both Shōta and Hitoshi stared down at the phone, seeing a blank image on the screen...
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...Caller ID: Raiden.
The thirty-one year-old father glared suspiciously at the Caller ID, before pressing the Answer Button and bringing it to his ear.
"Raiden." He slightly growled.
"Shōta, good to hear from you." He heard the forty-six year-old man on the other-side of the line, which sounded calm and slightly cheery when he interacted with the Former Pro Hero. "Listen, I need to tell you something. It's Ra Ra."
Immediately, Shōta got to his feet.
"What happened?!" He replied, surprising his nephew at the angry and worried look on his face and tone of voice.
"...She's okay, but listen. My son and daughter just returned home from their training and, while on a patrol run, my daughter found Ra Ra sitting at an alleyway... Apparently, she caught a slight fever from the rain. So, Yuki, my daughter, brought her over at our home."
Part of him was very relieved to hear that somebody he knew I found his daughter, but most of him is panicking when he heard that she had a fever.
"I'll be right over," he said.
"Dame!" Raiden immediately replied. "The rain is going to get worse, tonight. Plus, going out in the rain, even if she were to get dry clothes, will only worsen her fever. And right now, she's fast asleep. It's best for you come by, in the morning."
The Eraser Hero glared down at his phone, an annoyed tick can be seen on his forehead.
"What is it that you're not telling me, Raiden?" He demanded, already heading for the door. "It couldn't be just the rain that caused her to develop a fever. What's wrong with my daughter?!"
He heard the forty-six year-old let out a stressful sigh, which silently pleased him on having to bug the former Assassin Hero.
"...Shōta," he started. "We saw Sierra and Izuku's performances, during the Sports Festival... You may not think it at that time, but many things were going on that, no doubt, had made her sick: First off, with so many people there and many emotions going on, she must've been relying on her adrenaline, meditation and other techniques she and Izuku learned, in order to fight off from being overrun by those emotions."
The thirty-one year-old father clenched his teeth together, as he paused from putting on his boots.
"Second, she overused her Quirk from shifting, too many times. While most shapeshifter Quirk Users would end up feeling famished and need to eat to keep up their energy, Ra Ra ends up getting extremely tired and has a high risk on passing out, especially from heat exhaustion in the warm season, should she keep pushing herself to keep changing from one animal to the next. I'm just very surprised, after her fight with that Bakugō boy and only having fifteen minutes to sleep from her stamina being used to heal her body from Recovery Girl's Quirk, that she was still able to stand and not collapse, during the Award Ceremony."
Shōta swallowed at the lump that suddenly lodged itself in his throat.
"Third... After Hizashi blurted out her true last name to the entire world and hinting you as her family relative, she fears for your family to being searched and located... Mostly, from the ones who hurt her."
'Of course, Hizashi would end up being part of the reason why she got overrun by stress and is, right now, at Raiden's Household. He can forget about any chances of her going over to his place to spend the night, after that stunt he pulled at the Sports Festival!'
While he was very much with the plan... He knew, that deep down, he'll end up allowing her to go over to his pseudo-brother's house for a night or two... Just as soon as Present Mic receives his just deserved punishment.
"And then, there's the fact that she just went over to the Hosu Hospital, completely distraught and concerned for one of her new friend's well-being, who was dealing with the aftermath that a family member of theirs just ran in with a villain that, nearly, killed them. Before you ask how I knew that she went to check up on her classmate, she sent me a text, while she was heading for the hospital. She, also, text me that she was worried about her brother overdoing his Quirk, and new that Izu would explain to you about her brother's Quirk... I'm guessing you don't know what happened at the hospital, do you?"
One thought immediately popped up in his head, fearing on the possibility that his would-be stepson overdid his Quirk and, as Izuku just told him if Jeremy overused it for too long, had his life put in danger... Or worse... Died, while saving Iida's brother.
"...Is Jeremy okay?"
"If by 'okay', you mean 'alive'? Then yes, he is. -Shōta let out a relief sigh of breath.- ...However, Ra Ra told us that, due to the serious damage to Ingenium's spine, her brother will be needing physical therapy and force on leave from the hospital, while healing from temporary paralysis from the waist, down... So, there's that stressful shit that, no doubt, caused her to make herself ill from worrying for him... That's why, after she gets some rest, food in her belly, take some medicine and the storm calms down tomorrow, it would be best that she stays here, for the rest of the night. By then, she'll probably be well enough to come home. Will you be all right with that, Shōta?"
From behind him, Hitoshi held Jade in his arms, waiting and watching to see what his uncle is going to do, not wanting to interrupt the conversation going on between the two adults.
Shōta very much want to go see his daughter, now more than ever, to have her home and cared for... But, even before hearing the roaring of thunder setting off outside of his home, he knew that the older-male was right.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to calm down and to not get stressed over the situation.
"...Do you want me to bring her spare clothes?" He asked, stepping away from his boots.
If he were able to see the Former Pro Hero, Raiden would certainly be smiling at his acceptance to let the fourteen year-old stay over at the Horiuchi Abode.
"Best do so; people will certainly recognize her, if she's walking in her school uniform. And, because she will still be recovering from being ill, she'll avoid morphing, unless it's absolutely necessary of her to transform. Animal Quirk Users choose to avoid shapeshifting, to allow their bodies to recuperate faster... Do you want me to give her a message, before I hang up?"
Because he isn't one to reveal his true feelings to those he doesn't want to share with, her couldn't tell Raiden to tell Sierra "I love you" or "Get better".
So, he chose something that she will know what he means.
"Tell her, 'The sleeping bag is now off limits, and that the cat wants catnip'."
Clearly, it sounded very odd, but Raiden swore to pass on the message and, after bidding each other a goodnight, both hanged up the conversation.
Hitoshi raised a questioning eyebrow at his uncle, as he continued petting Jade.
"She does know that you still have your sleeping bag, right? And that you wouldn't give it up, even if you were to promise to get rid of it?" He asked, as Shōta started heading for his bedroom to sleep.
"She does," the adult answered. "...What she didn't bother on telling me, was that she dissected it and add in extra stuffing into the head area... I blamed it all on Hizashi, thinking he was searching my sleeping bag for my stashes of sugar packets, again, and used the extra stuffing to act as decoy until I found all my stashed sugar packets completely replaced by the stuffing. Chased him all over the school, until Hound Dog asked me why Sierra was taking all sugar packets of the school to Lunch Rush."
...Unable to help himself, Hitoshi Shinsō let out a snort of a laugh, releasing the black-cat from his grasp to cover the lower-half of his face.
"She found your sugar stash in your sleeping bag? All of it?" He asked in giggles, snorting behind his right-hand.
When his uncle nodded his head... He allowed himself to fall to the ground and let out a boasting laugh, holding his stomach with both arms.
Shōta glared down at his nephew, a twitch from his left-eyebrow showing his irritation, as Hitoshi continued to laugh.
"She, a fourteen year-old girl, was able to steal from you, an Underground Hero, your sugar packets and left no trace that she did it...?! Oh my GOD, that's so priceless! -He immediately sat up, pulling out his phone from his pocket.- I need to tell mom and the others this! They are going to flip!"
"Do that, and I'll make certain you end up gaining my sugar addiction and then, after going through the same withdraw as me, you'll learn to never let anybody steal your precious supply of sugar!"
Of course, Hitoshi had already sent the text to his sister and knew that his uncle wouldn't do anything to harm him. Not unless, he's up to face his mother and baby-sister.
It was no secret that he has a serious sugar problem, which includes adding so much into his coffee. So, to hear that somebody stole his stash, it's very serious and something that nobody was ever able to accomplish, without getting caught for doing it.
So, not really feeling any strength to attack his nephew and wanting the day to be over with, Shōta went to his bedroom and allowed himself to fall into the comfort of his mattress.
He let out a tiring sigh, slowly rolling his body to the pillows and getting himself under the covers, not caring that he's still in his Hero Clothes.
'If I could, I would marry my bed... Though, it would be creepy, if it were to come to life... Besides, nothing could ever replace Cici.'
His heart constricted from the thought of his fiancée, reminding him of the devastating news that Jeremy is paralyzed, even though it will only be temporary.
He buried his face into the pillow, groaning into the material.
'I shouldn't get worry over something I'm not directly involved in... Still, I can't help but worry for those kids of hers. They're all Sierra has left of their mother... Just as she's all I have left of Cici. And should anything happen to her-... -He lifted his face off the pillow, flopping to his back and glaring up at the ceiling.- Damn it, Shōta! Don't think like that! Nothing is going to happen to her! She's safe, with her godfather. And tomorrow, you're going to pick her up and bring her home... And finally, present her to the rest of the Aizawa Family... So, stop thinking like she's going to get herself killed or kidnapped by the League of Villains, when she'll be back and can keep watching over her, as her father.'
He can feel just how tired he was, and wanted to give in to the blissfully sensation of sleep... Yet, as I slowly closed and he finally went to dream, his heartfelt troubled.
...It knows, no matter what he tries to tell himself, his child will always be in constant danger... And he won't always be there, to stop it from happening.
The Next Day, at Eight in the Morning...
...Something feels off.
...She knew that something wasn't right... About herself.
Her eyes slowly opened from the darkness, but her mind still felt very muddy. And with the continuous pounding against her temples and brain, it made it harder for her to concentrate on remembering what happened.
She slowly lifted her head up, wincing from the pulling and uncomfortable sensation of muscles tightening, as if trying to restrict her of any kind of movement. Her throat feels very dry, and sorer than how it felt yesterday.
...And then, there's her back... It feels as if a boulder rolled on it, crushing her spine into dust and somebody left porcupine quills and sharp thorns all over the skin of her back and shoulder.
Sierra opened her mouth, trying to get some word to come out... All it left her, was in a coughing fit and curled herself into a ball, feeling the pulsing feeling traveling in her chest and heart.
Her eyes widened at the tightening feeling in her chest, clenching tightly to the robe she soon realized belonged to her god-sister.
'Yuki?! Raijin?! Uncle Rai?! Somebody! Help!'
Her prayers was left unanswered, as tears ran down her face when the tightening feeling increased, making her silently gasp for breath.
In her desperation, she forced herself to crawl out from under the blanket and off the soft mattress she slept in and banged her head against the tatami mat beneath her.
The pounding sound was soft and light, but she knew somebody within the household will hear; they've been trained to enhance and rely on their senses, so somebody was bound to come in to discover why she's making that sound.
...Just as she hoped, seven seconds later, pounding footsteps came her way.
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...The one to had found her, was Karasu.
"Ra Ra!" She shrieked, kneeling beside the fourteen year-old, who finally stopped slamming her head against the mat.
Again, Sierra tried to speak, but Karasu gently shushed her, laying a finger over her lips.
"Don't speak," the woman ordered. "Recovery Girl informed us of the condition of your throat, and are not to speak for the next few days. -Sierra calmed down to the news, reminding her on what occurred yesterday. After guiding her back to her bed, Karasu got to get feet.- I'll go get Rai-sama."
She didn't want to be left alone, but is unable to voice out her fear and, knowing she won't be left alone for very long, allowed the Raven Quirk User to go retrieve her godfather.
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...The headache kept pounding in her head... But the pain coming from my head, couldn't be compared to the tightening feeling from her heart and chest.
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...Her memories were already coming back to her, recalling the reason why she isn't back home with her father and ended up at her godfather's abode, wearing her god-sister's robe.
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...She remember the hurt that pierced her heart, recalling the scent that made her insides tie up in knots...
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...She now knows who the Hero Killer is.
'It has to be him,' she thought. 'There's no doubt... Izu and I hadn't seen him for eight years, but there's no forgetting that scent of his... I never forget a scent.'
Multiple sounds of footsteps came her way, and she knew one of them would be Raiden. She, also, believe that, with her wearing her god-sister's robe, that the other followers would be her god-siblings, Raijin and Yuki. And to her silent delight, when the shōji door pulled open, she sees all three of her Horiuchi God-Family before her eyes.
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...Tears gathered in her eyes, getting her god-family to kneel beside her.
"Ra Ra, are you okay?" Raiden asked, kneeling beside her head, gently laying a metal-hand on top of her head.
She shook her head, slowly raising her hands from beneath the covers.
...Not right... With me... Something... Very wrong... Can't speak-
"We got you something for your throat, and to help with the pain you're going through."
She narrowed her eyes into her godfather's platinum eye.
Raijin and Yuki, also, glared at their father.
"Father, she didn't say anything about being in pain!" Raijin alerted.
The forty-six year-old widened his eye, shocked that he allowed himself to let important information slip like that. Still, he took the cup from his daughter and gently, while wincing when moving his hand to go against her back, lifted Sierra to sit up, resting against his right-arm.
"Drink, Sweetie."
She jerked her head away from the cup, her eyes still glaring warning daggers at her godfather.
What happened?
He tried to reposition the cup back to her lips.
"Honey, you need to drink or you won't get bett-"
It was him, wasn't it?
Raijin and Yuki looked away from her words, knowing precisely who she was talking about. Raiden slightly pulled the cup back, his gaze shifting to sorrow, as the fourteen year-old pressed on.
Uncle Roka... He's the Hero Killer. I found his scent in an alleyway, where the Scout Hero, Tracer, was found dead... Why didn't you tell us that he became the Hero Killer, and stopped going by Stendhal?
Raijin and Yuki were quite surprised to her claim, more so that she recognized the scent of the one she calls Uncle Roka.
...Raiden let out a tiring sigh, tipping the cup back to her lips.
"...I'll tell you everything, Sweetie... Both you, and Izu, about Uncle Roka." He swore, greenly getting the green-colored liquid to enter her mouth. "Right now, you need to drink this and get your body to relax. The stress got to you, last night... You underwent an epilepsy... A seizure."
This time, as she slowly drank the herbal tea, when it was halfway empty, she turned into his shoulder, burying her face into the soft material.
Her silent, shy-like response was very concerning to the three Horiuchi.
Raiden narrowed his eye down at his goddaughter.
"...Ra Ra?"
He didn't need to use any more words, as she pulled away from her godfather and, with her head lowered, signed to her God-Family.
...They were all completely horrified to what she said to them.
...This is the second time it happened, since two weeks ago. Recovery Girl informed me that my health is deteriorating, because the poison showed signs of changing and not completing on gaining more weight than I should've packed on... It's now attacking my stomach, and when combined with severe stress and very low blood sugar, I'll end up undergoing through seizures. Most specifically, Tonic-Clonic Seizures.
TBC
*:...This name will be brought up, in future chapter(s), and will be explained. So, keep an eye on this name.
R&R