First of all, I am so incrediblely sorry for the wait guys. Honestly, my computer busted and I got distracted working on concepts for other works. Finally after months of on and off writing we've reached the end of my first full length story. I want to thank you guys for sticking around for so long.
It's been an absolute blast writing this you guys. Thank you all.
Also holy shit 10k+ reads guys that's freaking insane, I hoped yall liked it. Anyway, stay tuned for more updates others stories will be gettting new chapters. With a possible orginal one incoming? Let me know what you all think and feel and please enjoy Embering Lives's final chapter.
Chapter 23: Finale
Katsuki slowly approached Hana who looked at him with a mix of indifference and caution. Hana witnessed the look of despair in his eyes, he was enraged. If it were up to him he would also try to take her out in one move, she couldn't allow that. Not when she was so close.
"Katsuki."
Hana says simply before he is already on top of her dropping a powerful explosion from his palm. Hana swiftly dodges his attacks looking for openings of her own as Katsuki continues his attacks. Katsuki drops and tries to sweep her, but Hana jumps above him planting a solid kick to his face before backing off.
"I didn't want to kill you, you know."
Hana says as she blocks a punch from Katsuki who growls as he ignited his palm once more sending the both of them flying. Hana quickly recovers as Katsuki quickly gains on her not allowing her to counter.
He grabbed her arms and roughly pulled her off of her feet before driving her into the ground cratering it as he pinned her.
"I don't care if you had to kill me twenty or fifty times, I don't care if I'm the hero you've been looking for! The fact alone that you who wanted to preserve a life would end up taking so many out of spite! I promise I'm going to destroy you!" Katsuki growls as he goes to slam his fists on her as Hana kicks him off.
"Isn't that what you are doing right now?! I took away the love of your life and you are getting proper revenge for it!" Hana yells back as Katsuki blasts toward her with a kick that is stopped by her wrists as she winces blocking it. "You idiot!" Katsuki yells as he headbutts her with enough force to throw her head back causing her to grit her teeth. Hana touched the blood on her face as Katsuki advanced again. "
Momo fought her hardest against you! I refuse to say she's gone, so I ain't fighting for revenge. This is purely because you need to be stopped!" Katsuki yelled as he sent a large explosion toward her causing her to block it.
"YOUR FRIEND IS DEAD. FUCKING GET OVER IT!"
Katsuki yelled as he sent in a massive explosion behind the previous one. He huffed as he looked around for her, he knew that she moved. She's gotten faster than the last two times they had met, it must have been because of All for One. He had to stay on his guard, if he didn't she could damn well take him out quickly.
Katsuki flinched as he turned around to blast at Hana, however she swiftly moved past him landing a gut punch that knocked the wind out of Katsuki causing him to stagger. Hana grabbed him by the hair pulling his face up looking toward hers.
"Exactly, that's why I'm doing this. I have to, who would I be if I didn't?" Hana said as Katsuki looked at the girl with slightly widened eyes as she lets him go. Katsuki struggles forward as Hana sends a powerful kick into his body sending Katsuki flying through the air crashing into a nearby building, he stuck there firmly planted into the wall as he never lost the look on his face.
"Hana!"
Izuku called as he threw a punch at her as she dodged backward into a fire blast from Shoto. Slightly singeing her clothing, she flipped landing on her feet as she flicked her eyesight between the two boys. Time was running out, she only had so much time before her shot was gone.
All of this would have been for the sake of nothing if she didn't wrap things up fast. Hana had to win, even if that meant killing the both of them. Hana dashed toward the boys bloodlust fully instilled in her eyes.
Light peeked into her eyes as she slowly opened them, the taste of blood was in her mouth as she coughed. If she had to give herself a self assessment she would have guessed that she had a couple of broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, along with a hairline fracture on the left side of her skull. This isn't what concerned her however, no the real thing that concerned her.
The fact that she should have been dead. Momo coughed as she rose from her spot causing Yuri to support her from her back as she regained her breath. "I...I. How?" Momo stuttered as Yuri Looked toward her.
"My quirk allows me to rewind a person or objects current state back at most 3 mins." Yuri says as she begins tending to Momo's wounds with bandages. "So you rewound my body?" Momo said as Yuri nodded while wrapping her shoulder. "I'm sorry I couldn't heal you further, too much time passed." Yuri said as Momo shook her head.
"Where is Hana?" Momo asked as Yuri looked over at the battle on the far end of the city, "She's fighting with your friends down there." Yuri said as she pointed to the carnage. Momo tried to get up but she winced before falling back down. "I maybe down but I'm not out." Momo said as she began materializing something. "You are in no condition to continue to make stuff!" Yuri exclaims as Momo looks back at her.
"It doesn't matter, as long as I have even a little strength. I'm going to fight!" Momo exclaimed as she turned back toward Yuri to scope the city. Yuri looked on at her back as she saw her side glowing immensely. "What exactly is she making?" Yuri asked herself as the light glow brighter and the object began to appear.
Izuku slid across the asphalt as he narrowly dodged a high pressure air blast from Hana as Shoto approached rapidly on ice as he shot fire from his left side toward the girl. "Speed Multiplication x 4!" Hana exclaimed as she swiftly moved through the waves of fire being sent at her. Hana flipped as she sent a blast that destroyed the ice Shoto was on, Izuku sped in with a flying kick as he boosted his power once more.
"Full Cowling 30%!" Izuku exclaimed as he zipped around to a blind spot allowing him to get a hit off on Hana. Izuku went in for another attack only to be countered with the force of his own blow by Hana, Shoto caught Izuku with ice as they took a minute to catch their breath.
"Damn, she still is fully capable of using her own quirk alongside of the other quirks. All for One in her hands is nerve wracking!"
Izuku exclaimed slightly as Shoto placed a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down Midoriya, even when you were at 30% you managed to damage her. If the two of us fight together then she'll leave a lot more openings." Shoto said as Izuku nodded. "You're right but she still has plenty of ways to cover her defenses." Izuku said as he placed a hand to his chin. "We need a proper strategy and quick, I have a feeling she won't wait for much longer." Shoto said as Izuku looked toward her direction. "I have a pl-" Izuku starts as he gets cut off by Hana crashing through the wall they were hiding behind.
"You done yet?" Hana said as she smirked at the boys who retreated quickly as Hana came to a stop. "My main priority is collapsing this quirked society but that seems to be more of an issue with you guys still writhing around."
Hana said as she lost the smirk on her face, "I guess I've decided to kill you both." Hana said as she readied her hands. Izuku looked at Shoto as he nodded. "I'm still strained from my fight earlier with All for One, however I have to go beyond my limits in order to win!"
Izuku said as he activated his full cowling once more. "Even further! Full Cowling 45%!" Izuku exclaimed as Shoto shot ice toward Hana. Hana jumped as she ran along the side of the ice diving off the edge as she shot pressurized air blasts at Shoto. Shoto countered them with blasts of his flash flame as Hana got in close, Shoto covered his left side with the white core flames as Hana swung at him. Hana flipped as she kicked Shoto's left side allowing him to freeze her there as he blasted her with his right only to have thawed the ice giving Hana a chance to deliver a powerful kick sending the dual haired boy flying backward as he narrowly passed a speeding Izuku as he clashed with Hana.
Shoto recovered from the distance and shot more flames at Hana as Izuku threw punches and kicks. Hana slips her balance allowing Izuku to sweep her from her feet, he catches her by the leg and jumps upward as Shoto made a solid block of ice that Izuku flung her down into destroying it. Hana coughed up blood as she nailed Izuku with an air pressure sending him flying backward as she launched toward Shoto. Shoto shot more flames at her as she dodged them continuing her assault as she got a punch on him. Shoto froze her in place as Izuku wound up for another attack.
"I'm taking you out with this last shot Hana!"
Izuku exclaimed as he lunged at her. "FULL COWLING 120% DETROIT SMASH!" Izuku roared as he nailed the girl sending her clear through multiple building and destroying the path she flew down. Izuku winced as he grabbed his arm, "Damn it broke." Izuku said as Shoto started applying cold to the arm. "It looks like she's down but don't let your guard down."
Shoto said as his eyes widened along with Izuku's. "You bastards!" Hana yelled from her spot as her mangled body began repairing itself. "Shoto!" Izuku yelled as a thin but powerful shot of wind sent them flying apart, Shoto crashed into a car as Izuku slid down the street. Izuku groaned as he looked at the car Shoto hit only to see the boy unconscious, he grit his teeth as he stood up in front of the girl approaching him.
Hana panted as she looked at Izuku, "You're useless in a fight, don't even try to defend. I'll make it as quick as possible." Hana said as she raised her arm. "All for One's power… It's running out isn't it?" Izuku said as Hana gave him a look. "Throughout our fight you've been trying to output the least amount of power you could, though it was still strong that last attack wasn't even close to how it was originally." Izuku said as Hana grit her teeth.
"It's enough. This is over nonetheless. You are powerless with that broken arm." Hana said as she began changing again.
"This is just how it is." Hana said as she was abruptly headbutted by Izuku causing her to stagger. "And who the hell said that?!" Izuku said as he let one arm dangle as he clenched the fist of the other. "This fight isn't over in the slightest, cause i'm still standing!" Izuku said as he threw a sucker punch following with a kick to Hana's side. She swung back as she tried to hit him again but to no avail as she was only kicked across the face. Hana looked back to swing again only to find Izuku staggering toward her.
"He… He's unconscious." Hana said as she knocked away his body allowing it to hit the ground as she looked at the boy with shock.
"All of that to protect what? This society where those with quirks are revered and praised while the quirkless are pushed to the side and ridiculed? Heroes aren't gods they are human just like anyone else, they bleed, they cry, they give up."
Hana said as she dodged a car being flung at her. She tilted her head as she saw Ochako panting along with Kaminari who sent lighting at her. Hana merely walked forward and blew both of them away with a high pressure blast. Tokoyami showed himself with dark shadow being sent toward the girl as she opened her hand toward it. "Illumination!" She called as a flash of light blew away dark shadow and sent Tokoyami into a brick wall. Kirishima went unbreakable as he swung and punched at Hana, Hana dodged his attacks.
"Strength multiplier x7." Hana said as she smacked away his next punch only to throw a backhand toward Mina who was approaching from her side sending her roughly into the ground. "Mina! You bitch!" Kirishima exclaimed as Hana grabbed the fist he threw and cracked it in her hand. She pulled the boy in closer as she gave him a bone crushing punch into the chest.
"Die hards until the end. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but in order to save us and avenge the life taken. I have to-" Hana starts but stops as she looks around at the class attempting to get up. "By...By ourselves. We don't equate to much right now." Ochako said as Hana looked at her. "However just taking out the time to watch each other, reminds that that we aren't alone here." Shoto said as he struggled to get out of the car.
"As long as you are here standing in the ways of all of the same innocent lives you claim to want to protect. We won't even for a single second back down!" Izuku yelled as he got up in front of his friends.
"AS HEROES, WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND. PLUS ULTRA!" The class yelled in unison as Hana grimaced. "Just stay down, all of you!" Hana wound up for a large blast as they class stood in front of her unshaken.
'If they don't move, I'll really kill them.' Hana thought to herself as she got caught in a massive explosion. Her body flew back as caught herself along the road. She snapped her head up to spot a crater in front of her coming out of it was smoke and fire causing a pillar of it to flow out of it. Out of the crater came shoes as the ash blonde boy stepped out of it, his wrists were cracked the openings in them were like lava the way they glew a bright orange his hands were the same, as he looked up at the girl bloodlust in his eyes.
"K-Katsuki?" Hana asked as she looked at the boy and he glared back at her. "I don't think you fucking heard me the first time when I said it." Katsuki said as he exhaled letting out smoke. With a quick explosion Hana found herself flying through the air, when she tried to compose herself she was hit just as fast the second time crashing back into the street. She struggled to get up as she was blasted again.
"I told you. I was going to fucking destroy you!" Katsuki roared as Hana recovered and tried to fight back against Katsuki. Hana send blasts of air that Katsuki practically ignored as he kept up his onslaught from all sides. Hana coughed up blood as she slammed against the building she narrowly dodged one of Katsuki's attacks as she powered up an air blast.
"Die already!" Hana exclaimed as she was suddenly struck from behind breaking a couple of ribs.
She quickly looked to her side and spotted a light on the top of the clock tower, that light being Momo Yaoyorozu with an anti-aircraft rifle. Hana said nothing as the rubber bullet fell and was instantly melted when Katsuki's next explosion came out sending the girl flying through the air.
The two forces clash as Hana was being knocked around by Katsuki like a ragdoll unable to defend herself as she was kicked back into the street below. Katsuki grabbed her body from there and threw her upwards into the air as he let out a roar causing a volcano like eruption to come from his palms blasting her directly.
"I can't keep healing as fast as he's attacking!"
Hana exclaimed as she repaired her mangled body again as Katsuki landed in front of her his arms out to the opposite sides as he roared once more. "Repair yourself from this!"
Katsuki yelled as a super massive explosion that created a mushroom engulfed the both of them in light as it destroyed a large amount of the block. Shoto managed to protect the class with a barely hanging on ice wall as they looked toward the carnage. Momo dropped the blast shield she created and began limping toward the stairs.
"Katsuki!" She exclaimed as she made her way. Rain began to fall as the cops and the other pros showed up.
"It's raining. He changed the weather."
Kirishima said as he helped Mina up. "Just like All Might…" Izuku said as Aizawa ran over.
"Where's Bakugo?!" Aizawa yelled as he walked over to Izuku.
Hana pushed rubble off of herself as she deactivated the last quirk she had in her disposal stopping the brunt of the explosion. She struggled to stand as she began to limp away, when she turned back she spotted Katsuki's shadow in the mist behind her, she began picking up speed as she tried escaping the boy. He approached her as she found herself stopped at a ledge to a steep drop to the next city section below.
Katsuki finally came back into view as he stood in front of her wrist scarred but normal with only his uniform pants being intact leaving his bear chest to the elements. Hana tried weakly to swing at Katsuki who grabbed her fist and swept her feet before catching her by her torn shirt leaving her dangling over the edge. They both panted as the rain hit their bodies.
"You were the last person, I ever wanted to hurt throughout all of this. All of this time you were the only person who made sense to me as to why you fight. It was never about saving people or money with you, you fought simply because you had to in order to show this world you were worth something. You have always been my hero, Katsuki…" Hana explained as Katsuki held his grip on her.
"Never again."
He said as Hana gave him a look. "I will never let anyone go through what you did ever again. I ain't into any sappy shit like Deku and the other fucks are but, you were our fault. Why the hell should I kill you for something someone else did to you? That being said, I don't forgive you. I will never forgive you, for anything that you've done, you are going to answer for all of it."
Katsuki said as Hana looked at him.
"Do you promise?" Hana asked as Katsuki looked at her before speaking.
"I promise."
Katsuki said as Hana let tears fall down her face as she fell into the mist below from Katsuki's hand. Katsuki looked at his hand as he clenched his fist before walking away from the spot where it all ended. \
Katsuki arrived at the scene where everyone else was as they were being taken by ambulances, "Bakubro!" Kirishima exclaimed as Katsuki said nothing. "Kacchan where's Hana?" Izuku asked as Katsuki continued to say nothing as he walked past them. Momo smiled as she limped over to Katsuki falling into his arms.
"I'm sorry." Momo said as Katsuki held her in the princess carry. "Shut up Mo, welcome back…" Katsuki said as he placed his forehead to hers.
"Let's get out of here alright?" Katsuki said as Momo weakly smiled at him before passing out in his arms. Katsuki kept walking before a voice called out.
"Katsuki Bakugo! You are under arrest for the murder of Hana Stroheim!" Hound Dog yelled as everyone looked toward him. Everyone looked back at Katsuki scoffed and growled.
"Listen up you fucks! I'm Katsuki Bakugo also known as Ground Zero the future number 1 hero." "Before I barely had any clue why the hell I was fighting for so long, other than the fact that I had the whole goddamn world on my shoulders. That shit ends tonight." "I'm done fighting because i have to do in order to feel right, now im fighting so that the rest of the world doesn't have to be who everyone paints them out as." "As number one im going to make a world where it doesn't matter who you are or what you do that you can whoever the fuck you are! That's a damn promise!" Katsuki yelled as he looked back into his arms at the resting girl as he began walking again.
"I'm never going to let you go again."
Katsuki says to her as Hound Dog pulled up his gun toward Katsuki.
"I said stop damn it!" Hound Dog yelled as Hawks grabbed his gun.
"That's enough." Hawks said as Hound Dog growled at him. "He killed the girl." He said with venom on his tongue as Hawks lifted his wing revealing Hana being placed into the back of a police vehicle.
"These kids did a far better job then we ourselves could have. You are going to have to live with that." Hawks said as he gave the signal for the ambulances to move as the pros began to work on fixing the damages to the city.
2 Months Later.
'"Did you end up enjoying the Number 1 spotlight?" Endeavor said as he walked alongside Hawks who scoffed.
"Turns out being Number 1 is definitely your thing so glad you're back." Hawks said with a chuckle as Endeavor shook his head. "Those kids were actually the only reason we ended up winning in the first place if we are going to be completely honest."
Hawks said as Endeavor nodded. "And All Might?" Hawks asked as Endeavor kept looking forward. "He's still recovering he should be out in the next day or so." Endeavor said as Hawks nodded.
"So what's next for the number 1 hero? Going to bother your son for more training?" Hawks teased as Endeavor rolled his eyes. "From what I've heard he is doing fine without me, he also isn't responding to any of my text messages either. Who knows what that boy is up to?" Endeavor said as he walked forward. - "I ain't smiling for a damn picture!"
Katsuki growled as Mina frowned, "Come on Bakubro, this is the last time we are going to see you!" Mina whined as Katsuki rolled his eyes, "Its called summer vacation for a reason dumbass." Katsuki said as Mina took a picture anyway.
"Why China Bakubro? I mean you could go see all kinds of stuff in Italy or France." Kirishima said as Mina curled into him.
"That shits basic, besides Shanghai sounds less troublesome." Katsuki said as Kaminari began laughing. "Bakubro staying out of trouble? Thats insane! Also if you see any exotic babes tell them that you got a single and very handsome friend back at Japan." Kaminari said as Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"Fuck off Thunderdolt." Katsuki said as he felt a gentle slap on the shoulder as an arm wrapped around his.
"Katsuki, he's a friend." Momo said as she gave Katsuki a look. "That doesn't stop him from being a fuckstick." Katsuki said as Momo nudged him. "Fine… Dipshit." Katsuki said as Momo rolled her eyes, "That's no better." Momo said as Katsuki huffed.
"It's an effort so i'll take it! " Kaminari chuckled as Katsuki turned to walk away with Momo in tow.
"We are going to be late messing around with you assholes!" Katsuki exclaimed as they walked toward the plane area. There in front of the private jet Momo gave her goodbyes as she got on the plane while Katsuki mostly grunted at his peers.
"Yo Bakubro. When you get back i'm going to be crazy strong."
Kirishima said as he held a hand out. Katsuki huffed and smirked as he took it.
"Better be, I need a better punching bag." Katsuki said as he waved off the others and began walking to the jet. "Kacchan!" Izuku yelled as he ran up with Shoto. "The fuck do you want Deku?" Katsuki asked as Izuku gripped his fist.
"You passed me up again. That doesn't mean im backing down however. When you get back, i'll be the one who beats you!" Izuku exclaims with a smile on his face. Katsuki gives him a look as he finally cracks a smile.
"Whatever Izuku." Katsuki said as he turned around toward the plane, Izuku smiles slightly as he watched his old friend board the jet. "Oi IcyHot, if you slack off i'll kill you too." Katsuki said as he walked all the way in.
"Wouldn't dream of it… Katsuki." Shoto said as the door shut and the jet began to take off. The group of kids on the ground started waving toward the jet as it took off. Katsuki took another look at his friends as they departed, "Missing them already?" Momo asked as Katsuki grabbed her hand.
"Nah, I've you I ain't worried about any of them bastards." Katsuki said as Momo smiled at him while leaning into his chest. "Next stop Shanghai, I wonder what awaits us there." Momo pondered as Katsuki smirked.
"Private time." Katsuki said with a smirk as Momo gently slapped his chest with a blush on her face. The clouds zipped by the plane as the couple got comfy.
"I love you."
Momo looked at Katsuki as he turned his head away. "I didn't get to tell you earlier cause those fucks were around but-"
Katsuki is cut off by the warm embrace of Momo's lips as they press against his.
"I love you too. Katsuki."
