Chapter 23: Dance of Shadows

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the BnHA/MHA Characters. And I am not attempting to say that I do while making this fictional, and fan-made, story. They are owned by Kohei Horikoshi.

Chapter Warning(s): violence, blood/gore, language, character death.

Edited By: Dreamy Wolf

(Uraraka)

"What do you mean you found her?" Uraraka questioned, her guard up. The mage sat in the War Room. Only herself, the master of War Todoroki and The King of Fire Deku stood in the executive chamber.

"Just as he had said." Deku stated. "We have found the location of the Shadow General Toga." Uraraka had to place a hand on the large round table in the center of the room to steady herself.

"We had no idea that Shadow had done these things to yourself and Bakugou…even to Sir Nighteye." Todoroki said, his eyes glancing down. "After the bond had revealed these events, I made it my mission to find her, and my labor has paid off." The Master of War drew a small rolled parchment from his coat pocket and placed it in front of Uraraka. "We have found her."

The mage's mind went blank as the world around her disappeared. The first thought to her mind was to take the paper and immediately go to whatever location was written on that parchment. But as her finger screamed out for her to take it, her heart beat another tune.

What would more bloodshed cause? Would the death of Toga end this war? No. Would the death of Toga fill the empty hole in her consciousness where Nighteye's soul once was? Probably not. But still, even though these two answers were negative, she found her hand reaching out, and grasping the small rolled paper.

"Thank you." She whispered. "You didn't have to do this."

"I know." Todoroki answered. "But it was the least I could do for your help in the upcoming battles." Uraraka stared at the tightly wrapped yellowing paper in her hands. Her eyes never pulling away from it. "I have already arranged for Bakugou and yourself to be…away for the next several days; if you wish to take the opportunity."

"Thank you…" Uraraka said quietly, her mouth drying. "Being…away sounds like the perfect thing for me at the moment."

(Bakugou)

"So where are we headed?" Bakugou asked. He had sensed the mage's turbulent emotions and headed to the War Room on a hunch. Luckily, his instincts payed off as he found Uraraka walking towards him. Her focus solely on a small piece of parchment clenched tightly in her hand. It had to do with some upcoming mission, and he was ready to assist her.

"To Jackel…"She said quietly. Her voice distant and distracted.

"Jackel?" Bakugou questioned. "What the hell is out in that wasteland for us?"

"Toga."

Bakugou stopped at Uraraka's flat and unamused tone. His usual angry expression blending out to one of a quiet understanding. Had Uraraka specifically asked for Toga's location, or had this information wandered its way to her? Either way, Bakugou understood her chaotic sea of emotions.

"So, when do we leave?" He asked.

"As soon as you are ready." She responded.

"Then let's not waste this moment of surprise."

(***)

The flight to the barren and nearly forgotten town of Jackel was quiet. Uraraka only speaking to mention that Toga would be nearly defenseless in this raid. She was to be escorting some prisoners to their new holding cells. And since Shadow was as confident as they were; the female general would be standing alone.

Jackel was as much of a wasteland as everyone had made it out to be. A dry and bleak desert that sat in between the boarders of Fire and Earth. Either country honestly not wanting to take command of the area. Making Jackel its own independent town and country.

Bakugou angled his body low, so that he could land safely away from the prying eyes of the villagers. Resting his belly on the hot evening sand, he could feel Uraraka slide herself off of his shoulders.

Transforming quickly, as to not arouse suspicion, he followed the mage into the cover of night to the unsuspecting people.

Just as their intel had informed them, Jackel was crawling with Shadow soldiers. Their thick black armor clanking through the thin air as their country's banners catching their torch's light. As the two scanned the area, their prize came riding in.

Toga sat atop a brown colored horse as a caged wagon followed closely behind. The wagon's contents was filled with wounded and exhausted prisoners, thirty or so in total. The feeling of homesickness began to flourish inside Uraraka and Bakugou's eyes turn towards her. Brown eye's searched through the captured people frantically when a thought crossed Bakugou's mind.

Could Uraraka's family be within that cage?

An uneasy and flustered feeling bubbled in Bakugou's chest. Fidgeting with his hands, his own red eyes began to scan the prisoners as well. Over half had her hair color. One had her eyes. One male and one female had her features…

Bakugou took a deep breath in, trying to calm this unexpected nervousness growing inside him. But as she recoiled back, her face had said that her search was in vain. Whoever she was looking for, was not in that cage, and finally Bakugou began to breathe again. A guilt ridden relaxation sweeping over his senses.

"So, how do you want to take her out?" Uraraka whispered, her battle pose coming back to the forefront of her emotional range.

Bakugou chuckled. "The quicker, the better."

"Good, so we agree." She gave him a sideways glance. Traces of a dangerous flirtation behind her eyes. Bakugou returned the stare with one of his own.

"Yeah, we do. I'll transform and then storm in. Sound good?"

"Only if I am storming in with you."

"Tsk, you got it."

On cue, Bakugou transformed quickly from their current location. Uraraka grabbed hold of his arm and the two were hurled towards Toga in one swift action. The soldiers were caught off guard, being downed before even starting as Bakugou's fire magic eliminated them as a threat. Toga, on the other hand, was less then taken by surprise, avoiding the fire effortlessly.

"Well now, I wasn't expecting you two to track me down so quickly." Toga's face blushed a deep red as she spoke. "It's not like you two longed for me or anything, right?"

"Cut the shit you crazy bitch!" Bakugou yelled, jaws snapping in her direction. "You know why we are here!" Bakugou leapt towards her again, but she quickly dove for the prisoners, making Bakugou abruptly halt.

"Now, now…we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, now would we?" The prisoners let out a scream of fear. Their eyes going back and forth on who to fear more. The woman holding a blade to them, or the dragon snapping and growling above them.

"Forget about someone?" Uraraka yelled out, summoning her Celestial magic. The mage was now fast enough to get in Toga's range without a counterattack. With a simple touch, Toga's body flew into the air, as it was no longer held down by the weight of the earth.

"Release the prisoners, then meet us up there." Uraraka said. Briefly touching her chest, the mage was also sent soring into the sky.

Grabbing hold of the cage, Bakugou ripped the barred metal door from its hinges. He could have freed these people in a less straightforward and safer way. But he didn't like the idea of Uraraka being alone with Toga. Even with her Celestial magic.

Bakugou leapt into the sky as a loud pop vibrated its way down to those below. A single flash of white and yellow was all that Bakugou saw before Uraraka's body was sent flying past him. Quickly changing his propulsion, the dragon was able to catch up to the soaring mage and stop her forward propulsion.

"Are you alright?" Bakugou asked in a rush. "What the hell happened?!"

"I'm not exactly sure…" Uraraka responded. Her voice shaken and confused. "My magical power, just suddenly stopped after she drank some liquid from a vile."

"Her damned blood magic!" Bakugou growled. "She must have gotten some new abilities-"

"How very perspective." Said a voice from behind them. Bakugou whipped around fast to see a young man standing before him. With his red short hair and clear blue eyes, the man stood absolutely still while staring at him. "I never knew you payed so much attention to me."

"Toga!" Bakugou snarled. "So you can now use the original person's abilities as well?"

"Very good." The man, Toga, smiled. "I knew when I saw this poor guy cancel out some mage's magic a few days back, I thought the ability might come in handy. I never thought I would be able to use his blood so soon."

Bakugou moved Uraraka swiftly around, so that she sat securely on his shoulders. "Well then, I guess it's a good thing I don't need my fire magic to rip you apart." With a quick flap of his wings, Bakugou was send hurtling toward the general. Securing her in his talons before she had the chance to escape.

"But how?" Toga said. Eyes wide in confusion. "You can't fly without her weightless spell!"

"Your not the only one who has been training!" Uraraka said from his shoulders. As Bakugou squeezed the tiny body that was clenched in his claws, he could feel the joy from Uraraka's body mixing with his own. Flashes of memories came to the dragon's mind. All of the torture and games finally about to end with one simple clenching of his fist. He had waited so long for this moment, and it was finally here!

With one decisive blood curling roar, Bakugou began to squeeze down tighter on the general. Though he did not get to see her death as a sharp pain pierced him. Looking down, Bakugou saw the blade for which Toga had stabbed him in the shoulder. "Damn you!" Bakugou yelled as he threw the woman's body to the ground.

"Bakugou!" He heard Uraraka yell as she slid off of his shoulders and stood in front of him.

"Do you think you can get it out?" He asked.

"I think so…" Uraraka said, but her strained and fearful eyes told another story. Her shaky hands took hold of the blade's hilt and she began to gingerly pull. Bakugou didn't need their bond to know her overwhelming fear about the situation. Without her magic, one wrong move could cause even more damage.

Droplets of his blood began to pour out onto her face and shoulders with the blade's slow release. Guilt began to wind its way into her complicated emotions. Bending his head down, he touched his snout against her trembling body.

"Don't worry, it's not fatal. I will be alright." Bakugou said quietly.

"But…If I hadn't went after her on my own, then she wouldn't have been able to trick me into letting her drink that vile." She said, her voice strained.

"There is nothing we can do about it now. Just learn for next time."

Uraraka's mouth opened, about to speak, when another woman's voice cut her off.

"You know, I think I have discovered the best way to kill the both of you."

Bakugou's head shot up from Uraraka to see Toga rising from the crater for which her body had made. Her previous transformation had worn off and her original body stood straight and tall. Damn, he was sure that he had thrown her hard enough to finish her off. A sickening and accelerated itch overcame him. He had to finish this woman off and fast!

She pulled another vile from her pouch. Determined to not allow Toga to get the upper hand again, he grabbed Uraraka and tossed her to the side, while also simultaneously fully ripping out the blade. In one quick gust, Bakugou was on the general again, fire magic gathering in his jowls, he could feel his attack readying itself. This was going to be her final moment; he would make sure of that.

The land around himself and Toga exploded into fiery chaos. But where Bakugou expected Toga to be sent into the air, it was himself who was now staring at the stars. The dragon's mind tried to process what had happened. Was it a recoil of his own attack or had she done something to counterbalance the blast? However, before he could fully remember everything, his body hit the ground. Coming to a sudden halt the dragon was nothing but arms, wings, and tail as his body tumbled violently in the sand. He also could no longer hold this form. Even though it was his original birth form, it was draining too much energy, and at this point, he needed to conserve as much power as he could.

Rolling over, now in his human form, Bakugou could see Uraraka standing still in the moonlight. "Round Face?" Bakugou asked. Normally she would have been running to his side, her emotions a frantic mess. But at this time she just stood there, not a single emotion transferring over.

But as the dust settled and Bakugou could see Toga, it was clear why Uraraka was in such a state. Toga had indeed transformed again, and this time it was in the shape of Uraraka's mentor, Nighteye.

"How dare you…" Uraraka spat. Toga only laughed at the mage's disgust. The air around them shifted and, as Uraraka's eyes glowed a bright green, her body began to levitate above the sand.

"Now, now little dove-" Toga said, raising her hands and stopping Uraraka's Celestial magic with her own. "Your not the only one with God like abilities anymore!" Then with a simple flick of Toga's now elongated wrist, Uraraka was sent flying effortlessly to the side.

"Damn it Toga!" Bakugou yelled, still holding his wounded shoulder. "This is a new low, even for you!"

Toga giggled back to him. Her gaze trailing over his vulnerable posture. "Oh, please, don't flatter me." She then began to walk towards Bakugou. "You of all people should know how far I am willing to go…"

"Don't you take another step towards him!" Uraraka's voice suddenly yelled. Both Toga and Bakugou looked where the girl's body had landed. Uraraka was standing once more, her strong silhouette carved out by the moon's light. A look that Bakugou found himself enjoying on the smaller framed mage.

"Or what?" Toga mused. "You going to come at me so I can throw you around some more?"

"No." Uraraka's words were stoic and dark. "You may have Nighteye's power, but you know nothing about it." Bakugou's ears perked up at the sound of the mage's now timbering voice, and he just couldn't help a hungry smile appearing on his face.

"What is there to get?" Toga waived Nighteye's long and slender arm up so that it was reaching out to Uraraka. "You just aim and shoot!" With another quick swipe, Toga had attempted to throw Uraraka again, but to Toga's and Bakugou's surprise, the girl remained perfectly still.

Bakugou stared wide eyed at Uraraka. What had she done to cancel Toga's attack? Had he missed something? Glancing over to Toga, Bakugou could see the confusion and panic seeping into her features.

"You see, we get our power from these gems." Uraraka started as she raised her wrist in the air. Exposing her own glowing jewel to Toga. "They bind to us, read our emotions and personalities, and they focus their power on its user in the most efficient way possible." Bakugou glanced up to Toga, who now looked sick. If Uraraka was willing to give up her most valuable secret, then Toga knew full well what was about to happen.

"Mine is located on my wrist, which symbolizes hard work and strong bonds with those around me. But Nighteye's was located on his forehead-" Toga raised her hand and quickly found the yellow jewel for which she was just now discovered existed. "And while this does symbolize knowledge…it also represents alliances."

"I still cease to see what this has to do with my power no longer working!" Toga yelled, her voice beginning to quiver.

"That gem is in alliance with me and all of the people of Fire. Now, since yours is simply a copy, I figure this is why you were able to attack me at first. But now that it has recognized me and Bakugou, you are no longer a threat."

Toga, who's worried face instantly turned to one of torment, directed her gaze to Bakugou. She quickly swiped her hand, willing Nighteye's power to come forth. Bakugou's body flexed, readying itself incase Uraraka was somehow wrong. But he had stayed perfectly still, and completely unaffected by Toga's magic.

Uraraka's body began to levitate and the air shifted around them. "You lost the moment you took that form." Uraraka said, her voice barely above a whisper. Bakugou felt the warm tingling sensation of her magic flowing into him and mending his wound. Uraraka was once again in control of the situation and Bakugou couldn't stop himself from thinking how incredibly attractive she was.

Uraraka raised her arm, and with it Toga's body floated equally apart from the mage's body. Uraraka's fingers began to curl into a ball, and instantly Toga began to gasp while pawing at her neck. All of Uraraka's rage and pain then came flooding into Bakugou, making his jaw involuntarily snap. She had done well to restrict her feelings while talking to Toga, but now she was able to let go. To direct all of that sorrow at something, and she wasn't holding any of it back.

Heart racing, Bakugou knew what Uraraka was planning to do, and a sinister smile made its way to his face. All the while he repeated in his mind, yes, do it! Finish her for good!

When suddenly, Uraraka's energy pulled back. Leaving Toga in a state of not quite unconscious, but also unable to do anything. Uraraka's eyes then made their way's to Toga's, or rather Nighteye's, and stared deeply into them.

Gilt, sadness, and pain crashed into Bakugou in waves. Each one more drowning than the last. The mage's sudden fear and uncertainty about ending Toga was plain as day, but Bakugou was not about to let this moment fade.

"Damn it, don't stop now! Finish her off!" He yelled. "Don't let her fool you! That is not your mentor! That is the one who fucking killed your mentor!" This did little to waive Uraraka's nerve, and she continued to stare down Toga. "Hurry before Toga's blood magic wares off!"

Then, Toga began to speak. "Do you know…how easy…it was to kill…him…" Her eyes gestured down to the form that she was still inhabiting. "Simplest kill…really. No…challenge…"

Bakugou felt Uraraka's rage filling him again. Pinning him to the ground with a bloodcurdling aura. This was it, his chance. "Do it! Fucking DO IT NOW!"

Toga only had time for one final smile before Uraraka's hand fully tighten down into a fist. The general's eye's then glossed over as her arms fell limp to her sides.

(Uraraka)

The mage sat frustrated under the silent pine trees of the forest outside of Fire's Capital City, Musutafu. The dark night and chilly air nearly matched the blackening hole in her chest. Even though she had killed Toga, the woman who had killed Nighteye and tortured Bakugou, she still felt no relief. All of her rage and pain only intensified as confusion and uncertainty mixed violently together.

"You alright?" Bakugou said quietly. Uraraka wiped a frustrated tear from her face as his human form stepped from the shadows. He was coming from the dragon fortress so that he could inform Lady Ryukyo of their return.

"Yeah…I'm fine…" Uraraka said quickly. Bakugou shot her a look of distrust on the subject and she knew that he didn't need their bond to know that she was far from fine.

"Is it about Toga?"

"Of course it's about Toga!" Uraraka snapped, suddenly losing her self-control. She bit her lip too late; it was already out. "I just…I don't know if I should have taken her life!"

"Do you regret it? Killing her?" Bakugou asked. He stepped closer to her, so that he was standing in front of her. His own calm and cooling emotions starting to weave themselves into her own. How was it that he was able to keep so level-headed in this situation? When it hit her, this was not Bakugou's first experience with death.

"No…yes…I don't know! I just feel…" Uraraka moved her hands around in front of her, trying to find the right word to describe her emotions.

"Empty?" Bakugou finished, and Uraraka nodded. He then pressed his forehead on top of hers. His facial expression was one of understanding while his red eyes softened. "Don't worry, this feeling will pass." His own emotions of regret and sorrow pouring over into her. "I shouldn't have pushed you to do it…it wasn't my place."

"No." Uraraka said, grabbing hold of his forearms. "If I truly didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have. Toga was an evil woman who I saw torture my people the day I fled to Fire…she was also the same woman I saw torture you…"

Bakugou snickered at this comment. "I'm already a lost cause. No sense worrying about me."

"But...I do…" Uraraka said, pushing back against his forehead.

Bakugou snickered again, before inching lower and placing his lips on hers. Reaching up, Bakugou grabbed hold of one of her arms, while the other hand slipped around her lower back and pulled her body into his.

The two kissed momentarily, passion and longing passing between the bond and intensifying the situation. Uraraka reached up, running her hands through his blonde hair. To feel how soft it was against her battle worn hands excited her. His hand, that was once on her arm, took hold of the back of her blouse and lightly tugged at it.

His tongue licked at her bottom lip, asking for permission to enter. When the mage gave into his request, he took it eagerly. Exploring every inch of her that she would allow. His hands staying respectfully on her back but pressed her possessively against him. Heart beating so fast, Uraraka believed that it could very well give out at any moment.

Falling deeper into him, Uraraka let out a soft moan. A sound that set Bakugou's yearning into a frenzied blaze. Uraraka could feel herself beginning to be swallowed by the emotion that Bakugou was producing. A fire so hot she thought that she would soon be burned if it was not quenched.

But as Uraraka closed her eyes, she placed her hands onto Bakugou's bare chest, and gently pushed him away.

"I'm sorry…" She said quietly, gasping lightly for air. "I just…" Uraraka couldn't finish. Her feelings of confusion and guilt were still too strong to allow herself to fall into Bakugou's arms. No matter how badly she wanted to.

"It's alright." He said, his voice a little huskier than normal. "I pushed you again." His head lowered and pressed against hers once more. His understanding aura and spicy sage scent grounding her.

"Did you know that Kirishima told me that you called me 'Uraraka' a few days ago." Uraraka said, trying to change the subject.

"Damn him!" Bakugou growled, taking his head off of hers. "Can't keep anything to his damn self!"

"You know, that's not very fair Katsuki." Uraraka teased. "Why is it that someone else gets to hear you say my name and not me?"

"Well maybe if were together more like this, I would say it more often." He then bent down, moving one of her bangs away from her face. "Ochako." He whispered into her ear.

Hearing him say her given name instantly brought redness to her cheeks. Mix that with his own teasing and forwardness, she could feel her mind go dizzy and her head spin. She wanted him. She wanted to fall into him and stop resisting. But, No! She had to stay strong. Releasing him, she stepped away and drew her hand through her hair in an attempt to calm herself.

"Oh, if only." She said quickly. "I'm not the one running off to my secret dragon fortress every chance I get." Uraraka sat down on the cool grass as she looked up to where the larger than normal mountain disappeared into the evening clouds. "What is it like up there anyway?"

"It's pretty amazing. I've never seen anything like it." Bakugou then sat down next to her, his legs crossed. "It's a place where the earth meets the heavens. A place were the laws of nature and man have no hold. The only law is survival of the fittest, and that suits me just fine." Bakugou's hands were raised, as if he were about to release his fire magic, although he never did.

But even with Bakugou's aggressive and assertive posture, his eyes told a different story. They were soft and gentle but also understanding and passionate. Not passionate like they were a few moments ago, but passion like that of a child. One that was dreamy, light, and full of wonder. As if anything were possible, they just simply had to reach out and grab it.

"Sounds like you really enjoy it up there. Almost like you consider it home." Uraraka said.

"Of course!" He snapped, leaning over to her from their sitting position. "There is nothing better than Lady Ryukyo's fortress. Any dragon would consider themselves lucky to call it home."

"Well, I hope I get to see it one day." Uraraka said shyly, gazing up to the mountain that Bakugou spoke so highly of.

Bakugou then stopped, as if caught off guard. He looked to the ground before quickly glancing over to the mage. "I hope you get to see it one day too."

This then took the mage by surprise, not expecting Bakugou to respond in such a quiet and docile way. Tucking one of her long bangs back behind her ear, she saw him staring at her. His eyes focused and yearning. Uraraka could feel the blush running hot across her face.

She blurted something out then. Something irrelevant and easily forgotten. But she had to say something, anything, to change the subject. To remove his eyes from her, no matter how much she longed for them to never leave. And, just as she had hoped, his intensity was broken.

He had responded to her irrelevant comment, with one equally as dull. This made Uraraka laugh and Bakugou reached out a nudged her arm with his elbow. This action broke the tension between the two. Feeling more normal, the two talked while sitting in the grass, about nothing in particular, for the rest of the evening.

A/N: I can't believe we have come this far! Only three more chapters to go! I don't know if I can handle it! :')