Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia, or anything related to it. All properties belong to their respectful owners.

Chapter beta'd by: Kylekatarn77

A.N: Camp will begin, and changes will be subtle if you aren't looking for them, but I will start making big divergences here. I hope you will all continue to enjoy my version of the story and keep reading. On a side note, I started food wars recently, I'm greatly enjoying it, and was surprised how deep the characters were if you followed their stories despite it being about food. Just shows how anything can be great if it's well developed and thought out.

Deep within the prison dubbed Tartarus, strapped tightly to a chair and unmoving, was Tomura Shigaraki. He was observed from all angles by various monitors and cameras. From the moment he arrived the man was eerily silent and unmoving. However, he had spurts where he went savage and tried with everything he had to escape and curse all around him.

His true prison wasn't the walls, glass, or the camera's around him. What bound him was instead his deeply conflicted thoughts. Tomura's own mind was a far worse prison to him than the equipment he was strapped to. Without being able to destroy anything or incessantly scratch at his throat, he was trapped in his worst nightmare.

'Who am I? Master said he would always be there for me. Why isn't he saving me? Did he lie? Can he not get to me because of his injuries?' Tomura suddenly thrashed violently as he cursed the world and those around him.

'What's my name? Am I Tomura or Tenko? I can't remember anything anymore.' All around the young adult the darkness of the world slowly encompassed him.


Izuku conversed animatedly with his classmates as they all built up their energy on the bus. He didn't recognize the surroundings he could see from the window, but he could tell they were headed deep into the mountains. Aizawa was being rather tolerant of their noise which he found slightly suspect but put it to the back of his mind.

After his encounter with the Hero Killer, his ideas and views of a Hero had shifted, but his desires were still the same. Tomura Shigaraki was a unique experience all together, the man was far less driven, but he inspired a different and deeper darkness. Just as there were many different Heroes, there was just as many Villains.

He had at first believed his goals and views needed a drastic change, but they didn't. His goals themselves were fine, he had added a few things to them, like being the best Hero he could be. Izuku also wanted to raise the levels of other Heroes as well, but what he had changed was how he viewed his goals.

Being a Hero didn't need any fancy reason, it was just like he had told Tenya during their fight against the Hero Killer. A Hero didn't act because they were wanted, but rather because they were needed. Even if they didn't want your help it was a Hero's duty to reach out and help anyone that needed it.

'I was so focused on everything else, that I forgot the most important thing. My reasons and goals are mine, but it's not about me. The dream of the Hero I want to be is helping anyone I can, I feel like I can see their pain. Whenever I see anyone hurting or in need of help, I will do anything within my power to give it to them.' He nodded proud of his resolution.

What it all came down to was what he already had. The true spirit of a Hero was butting in when they were needed but not wanted. He had already seen the effects of his actions through Shoto and Tenya, even Katsuki to a degree, Izuku had no doubt he had done the right thing. The mall event was still fresh in his mind and a nagging feeling was still there, but he placed it aside.

A loud whoosh of air was released as he listened to the wheels of the bus and its brakes squeak to a halt. Izuku looked out the window and noticed they were on a plateau that was wide open and halfway up the mountain. In the brief time he'd been talking and distracted they had gotten deep into what looked almost like jungle for as far as the eye could see. Once the bus came to a full stop Izuku noticed there was also a black car outside on the plateau as they all disembarked from the bus.

Izuku looked around and noticed they were near a cliffs edge with lots of space as they all spread out. He watched Mineta running around in circles looking for a bathroom, but he felt slightly bad as he knew there probably wasn't one around. A small tingle went up his back, and when he turned around the inner fanboy quietly resurfaced with stars in his eyes.

"Lock on with these sparkling gazes! We've come to lend a paw and help! Coming out of nowhere…Stingingly cute and catlike! Wild, Wild Pussycats; half version!" His eyes shined in wonder as he looked at the cat themed Heroes in their pose of power. They were after all one of the few Hero teams still working together in full circulation.

"It's the Wild, Wild Pussycats. I can't believe their here. They are so cool, as a team they've been together from the beginning and have twelve years' experience together. A great record of mountain rescue and teamwork, they are one of the oldest…" Lost in his thoughts mumbled aloud, Izuku was unprepared as a paw glove suddenly covered his face.

"I'm young at heart you know, it's rude to call a lady anything but eighteen. Now say it again, how old am I?" Izuku could see a terrifying gleam in her eyes as she looked at him with her paw around his face.

"Eighteen at heart!" He said.

"Oh ho, you catch on quick, give it another four, no maybe two years and you will be a prime candidate for marriage. Eraserhead, you have a pretty good selection here, you think I could steal one or two from you in a few years?" A red hue came to Izuku, as the words processed.

'Why is she talking about marriage suddenly?' Aizawa seemed to have the same question as he quietly asked Mandalay. From the side of her glove though Izuku watched a young boy in the back looking at them with what Izuku believed to be hate. Suddenly though Pixie Bob was face to face with him and gave a few small sniffs before she pulled back.

"Oh my, what a shame seems you're already taken." It was said in such a small voice Izuku barely heard it, but before his face could turn scarlet his situation only got worse.

"This should be fun to watch." Pixie Bob had a smirk on her face before she gave his cheek a small lick. He would have normally been a tomato, but a feeling of complete dread shot down his spine. One For All flickered to life and he suddenly surged backwards, he only got a few feet away from Pixie Bob before a much smaller gloved hand was wrapped around his face.

Izuku could do nothing to fight back against the hand before he suddenly found his head crashed into the ground and the world around him started spinning. With his power still coursing through him it didn't hurt that much, but it had still jarred him. Through the spread fingers of the glove he was able to see a dark wheat colored skin tone and warm red eyes piercing him. Grin in place and wide- she was exactly as he remembered.

"Seems you didn't forget everything I taught you. The reaction time was slow though. And if that's what you call a defense, I'm surprised you're still alive. Probably got a big head since you caught a Villain, I'll just have to beat humility into you!" The smile present on his face was blinding to anyone who saw it as the student got chewed out by his teacher.

"Rumi!" Izuku shouted in glee. His heart was beating hard, and his chest was warm. If he didn't know why he was experiencing the sensations, Izuku might have thought he was dying or having a heart attack. No matter what happened his smile wouldn't go away, he could see a small true smile in her eyes as well, but the wicked grin on her face was more apparent.

She removed her hand from his face and stood tall while Izuku tried to sit up. Before he could, her foot instead replaced her hand and his face was once more pinned to the ground. Izuku felt a great deal more pressure on his face that slightly hurt as he had dropped Full Cowl. His class watched on in utter shock, true they were awed to see Miruko, but far more they were afraid.

"I told you to call me Sensei or Miruko when on duty or training, didn't I?" She increased her pressure as Izuku had a slight cough.

"Ah, right, sorry Miss Miruko!" Izuku said. She let out a disappointed huff and lifted her foot. Before he could move, it came back down viciously and thumped him in rapid succession roughly five times.

"What did I say about calling me miss! Guess you did forget everything; I'll kick it back into you brat!" His vision slightly swimming Izuku finally managed to get up on wobbled legs, but his smile was still present. He looked around as all his classmates looked at him in slight worry and heavy fear of the figure looming behind him.

"You look healthy though, need to stop growing, I'm going to be left in the dust. I'm short enough dammit you don't need to make me feel shorter!" Miruko said. Izuku looked at her and noticed she did seem smaller to him, he felt that he was seeing her now as Rumi the woman. Before he had been focused on Miruko the larger than life Hero, although he hadn't grown much physically, he now felt the actual difference between them.

As much as discovering and admitting his feelings helped him see things clearly and with a new perspective, he also found it made several lines blurry and muddled. He was just as much conflicted as he was sure of what he wanted. What he did know was that he had been completely wrong about his feelings. Izuku believed they would taper off or lessen once he was away from her and had admitted them to himself.

They had instead left him confused and empty, only wishing to see her again. Now that she was before him, he was still just as confused, but instead of being empty he was fit to burst. Everything Izuku believed he had set aside or tempered down through his friendship with her was trying to break free. His chest felt like it could barely contain his beating heart.

"Maybe it's all the carrots you eat, they could be keeping you short. I know you enjoy them, but too much and the sugar will rot your teeth Ru…I mean Miruko." He couldn't help himself. Izuku was overjoyed to see her again and had a bit of teasing fun. Carrots were a nice treat for rabbits occasionally, but they were after all bad for them in copious quantities.

'Ah, I wonder how that applies to her though, she is after all hum…' Izuku had his thought cut off and his vision shifted towards the sky as he felt his legs be swept from underneath him. He landed on his back side with a slight oomph, once he realized what happened he broke out into large hearty laughs.

"I'll eat what I damn well please." Izuku was almost wheezing in laughter as Rumi crossed her arms under her bust and turned her head aside. Her gaze went over the rest of his class and they straightened up in fear. A wicked smirk was once more in place on her face that Izuku could see.

"Don't think you get any special treatment just because you aren't my students. I'll kick you all too!" Izuku had a small snort come out as the rest of the class stood in shock and looked ghostly pale. He recovered quick and stood back up in time to watch Pixie Bob and Mandalay walk over next to Miruko. From the edge of his vision he caught Miruko throw a small glare with her eyes at Pixie Bob, he wondered what had upset her.

Before anyone else could ask questions Mineta continued to run in circles holding his bladder as the beginning exercise was explained to them. Izuku knew it was a training camp, but he didn't think it would begin before they were at their destination. Mandalay pointed into the distance at the base of a mountain and told them they were expected to arrive before or at noon if they wanted to eat.

As she finished speaking, Izuku suddenly found his face once more crushed by Miruko. She had a look in her eyes that he couldn't place, but it sent a shiver down his spine in a pleasant way. It left him with hope for the future that his feelings might not be crushingly one sided.

"Make sure you survive Izuku." A sudden warmth reached his forehead as Rumi bumped it with her own lightly. He had no time to question her before he was suddenly hurled over the cliffs edge. Izuku plummeted down the cliff and twisted to land softly as he watched the rest of his class be thrown over by a surge of liquid earth.


Rumi began her day like any other, only there was a certain level of excitement coursing beneath the surface. She had left the office in the care of Himari and was impatiently waiting outside for the car that was supposed to retrieve her. After Nezu had called her using the number on her application from the sports festival, her heart had soared.

An opportunity to see Izuku again had been presented to her, and she wouldn't let it slip away. He asked her several questions and they had an interesting conversation, but once he got to the details she was slightly off set. It was one thing to take in Izuku and train him, but to act as a supervisor and helper for two classes of twenty students? She wasn't sure if she was up to the task, team training wasn't her expertise by a long shot.

Rumi had been intrigued by his choice of the other supervisors for the training camp. After she had agreed to his proposal and been given the details, Rumi found interest in them and researched her fellow helpers. They were quite different from each other, but she also found parallels in their work ethics.

Her slight displeasure at waiting became apparent as she crossed her arms under her bust, and her foot started to thump against the ground. A few minutes passed before the car arrived, when it did she watched Mandalay exit from the driver's door. From the back came Pixie Bob, both were very kind around her, but she could tell they felt like they were on eggshells.

Rumi had her bag filled with clothes and other supplies for the camp taken from her and placed in the trunk. She was then offered the open door for the backseat, once she entered Pixie Bob followed Mandalay and took the passenger's seat up front. Miruko turned to the side and noticed a small child was seated beside her with his seat belt already strapped in.

"Ah that's my nephew. Kota say hello." Mandalay called from the driver's seat. She turned to the side and looked at the small child. He looked at her with a complete lack of interest and even had a small scowl. Kota let out a grunt and scoffed before turning his head up at her.

"What a precious brat. Manners could use work though." Miruko smirked before she gripped his head and turned him to look at her. The previous look of uninterest was replaced with one of fear as she glared down at him with a smirk.

"Try again, this time from the introduction." She said with false anger. He gulped down his air and nodded in her grip.

"My names Kota, nice to meet you." Pleased with his words she released him. The boy was quick to turn away and rub his head through his hat. Their car ride was long and slow as they made their way deeper into the mountains. Miruko only half listened to Pixie Bob's explanation and plans for the next few days of training.

She only half listened, because the rest was nonsense babel about wanting to be married and find a good husband. Many Heroes, especially those who had been around for a long time had their own odd mannerisms and Rumi accepted that. The sudden voice in her mind caused her to sit up straight alert, however.

"I'm sorry about her. She won't always be like this I promise. Recently she's just had lots of bad experiences with dating and is worried about her age. It will be great to have such a strong and accomplished Hero such as you with us." Miruko saw Mandalay's eyes looking at her in the rearview mirror and nodded in acknowledgement. She wasn't one to join a team herself, but she wouldn't look down on others just because they were part of a team.

Despite her views on teams and dynamics, which she knew to be her own personal issues, she couldn't ignore the results. As Heroes and a team, the Wild, Wild Pussycats were just about the best around. Perhaps, with her time spent with them, they could even teach someone like Miruko teamwork she idly thought. She knew there was a difference between working alongside others at your own pace and working with them.

Initially, she had offered to meet up with the other Heroes, but they had gone out of their way to accommodate her. Rumi knew it was meant as a gesture to show how much they valued her as a top Hero, but it also bothered her. Respect was earned through merit, and she had plenty of that, but when people didn't see her as just another regular person that bothered her.

After a few stops for various things they needed, or a break to stretch their legs, the mountains were in front of them. She admired the various views and appreciated the brisk and clean smell of the woods and nature. It wasn't as great as her hearing, but Miruko's sense of smell was stronger than a normal persons. The various scents mixed into a pleasant aroma that she savored.

Once they arrived at a plateau, Mandalay turned off the lights but left the car running. She then explained to them about how they were planning to greet the students and how far away they were according to Aizawa. Rumi felt a slight increase in temperature across her body as her heart started beating faster. Her reunion with Izuku was fast approaching and she didn't know how to react.

'Just let it flow naturally. Don't force anything. You already decided no more hesitating. From the beginning I said I would have no regrets when I decided to become a Hero. I won't start now. Come what may I will find the time and express my feelings properly.' Her mind set, Miruko waited for the arrival of Izuku and his class that they had talked about over text.

When a bus pulled up beside them and Vlad King stepped out with his class she huffed and munched on a spare carrot she had brought. From her side she watched Kota as he looked over all the students and had a small glimmer in his eye before it died and went out. Once all the students were out and conversing, Mandalay and Pixie bob got out to greet them with their signature saying and pose.

Miruko thought it was slightly funny, but also creative and cute in its own way. Izuku wasn't there, but she had agreed to help all the students unbiased. She viewed it as the give and take, or rather, the price to see Izuku again. Rumi stepped out of the car, and all gazes faced her once she was in front of them.

Even Vlad King had a brow raised in surprise at the sight of her. Though he had been told ahead of time that she would be participating. Her best guess for the disbelief was that she was present and offering to help others in a team fashion. He was ignored as Rumi looked over all the students, most looked at her in fright, but she noticed a few that were awed.

"Welcome to Hell. I was told to encourage you brats, but truthfully I'm just here to improve you by breaking you down. If you can't handle that then quit being a Hero while you have a chance. This path is filled with death and loss, far more than some would like to admit." Her smirk was wide as she glared down at them and put them in their place.

"Oh, inspiration through fear. Does that mean you are trying to scare us straight? We won't fear things like that. I'll have you know we of 1-B are the far superior brood of students in comparison to 1-A. You are out of your element playing at teamwork aren't you Miruko the Rabbit Hero?" Monoma said haughtily. Miruko only titled her head at him as her ear twitched.

"I can't speak for the rest of your class, after all they are looking at you quite funny. You however, in comparison to the one person of 1-A I know are far, far below satisfaction. Courage is good to have, as apparent by your balls to talk back. Without the power or merit to back it however, it's more like the yipping of a dog looking for attention. So, tell me, if you're looking to be a Hero and help others, where's your humility?" Rumi took one quick movement and was standing before the boy.

His eyes were wide, and those around him quickly backed away in fear of her. Neito opened and closed his mouth several times but no words came. He was tall for a young man his age, but as he shrunk in on himself she seemed to tower him despite the nearly half foot difference between them. She turned her back to him and started to walk off.

"That's what I thought, until you can prove otherwise you should work on your attitude the most. Confidence is great, but for those not tempered it quickly becomes arrogance. Keep yipping until the end and you will have a defeat so horrible you'll never recover. I'm all about rivalry and striving to be the best, I wouldn't be where I am otherwise, but the top is far out of reach for you." Her ear twitched as Miruko heard him shift.

The noise was easily recognized as him lunging for her exposed back. Rumi wasted no movement as she spun low far before he reached her and swept his legs clean from under him. He fell back with a hard thud as she sprung into the air and spun like a top before she brought her leg down in a falling kick. Before it connected she caught herself with her other leg, her heel was inches from his face, but the wind pressure knocked him back down and tossed aside his hair.

"Being a poor loser is also a mediocre quality, if you truly want to get anywhere then learn from your defeat." She pulled her leg back and stood tall as Monoma turned ghostly white and laid down. To Neito, his whole life had flashed before him, and he saw his death in her heel. With nothing left to say to the other students that were stiff as a board, Miruko retreated to the car.

Kota eyed her with a small twinkle in his eye, but she could see it buried deep beneath other feelings. The boy had upset her greatly with his words, but from what she had seen of the others she thought they showed promise. From the files Nezu had provided she also had an idea on how well each student would pair against her training.

After Pixie Bob tossed the students off the cliff she and Mandalay returned to the vehicle and conversed lightly. While they waited the next thirty minutes for class 1-A to arrive, both looked at her once it was quiet.

"That kid was really rude, but that was an awesome move. Is it one of your Lunar specials?" Pixie Bob asked animatedly. Miruko shook her head no lightly and ruffled her hair from side to side.

"I wasn't actually going to use a move or anything on the kid just because he was a d…ah I mean jerk." Rumi coughed lightly as a small hue came to her cheeks when Kota looked at her. She always had to be careful around kids because of her language. Mandalay covered her mouth with one of her paw gloves and gave a light chuckle.

"The move was a mix between my Lunar Ring's speed technique, and Lunar Fall's kick. Should have scared him straight, haha, poor kid looked ready to piss himself." Rumi laughed at her own words. From her side Kota let out a small snicker as well, and she turned to flash him a smile. He saw it and then turned away again with a hue of red on his own cheeks.

Time passed idly and comfortable as conversation was passed amongst them. Miruko found herself opening gradually to the atmosphere and light conversation. Aside from Himari, she had few friends her own age, the Wild, Wild Pussycats were a few years older, but she didn't mind. She enjoyed talking with them and found the company relaxing, around all other Heroes, she always felt herself pulling away.

'Maybe that's what being a team is about? They remind me of my time with Izuku. I got along with him great and it was easy to be myself. Anytime I'm around other big-name Heroes it's all about waving around what you've done recently. This is nice, I feel comfortable around them.' Rumi leaned into her chair as time passed quick.

Class 1-B's bus with their luggage left on its way to the actual camp while 1-A was due any minute. Miruko felt her heart quicken again as anticipation built up in her. She was unsure if she fully agreed with Himari and what she felt for Izuku was love, but she did know an attraction to him was there. When she heard the whoosh of the shocks decompressing, she jumped in her seat lightly.

From her seat in the car she watched the students disembark and agreed with Izuku's texts. His fellow students and classmates were a unique and wide assortment of individuals. When he finally stepped off and was in her vison through the tinted window a hand was clenched in front of her chest. It ached and throbbed, but it filled her with a deep and pleasant warmth.

Mandalay and Pixie Bob left and once more performed their pose as the students watched them in awe. Kota stepped out to stretch his legs, and she saw him glare again towards the students. She had a chuckle as Izuku started spouting off facts about the team like the Hero nerd he was. When Pixie Bob picked him up and talked about his marriageability however, a small tinge went through her.

'Does she have no shame? She's older than I am and she's talking about the potential husband material of the students. I thought I had some conflict, but she's diving right in.' She opened her door and stepped out lightly. Her ear twitched slightly at her fellow Heroes words of being taken, and a red hue came to her. All thoughts broke however, when she watched the other Hero lick Izuku.

'That hussy! He's mine dammit.' Miruko dived right for Izuku as he surged backwards. Her hand gripped him roughly, and despite the anger, the moment he looked at her it left. The Hero smirk she had perfected was in place, but her eyes locked with his and softened. She tried to display through her look alone all the words she couldn't say. All the things she wanted, but mostly her joy to once more be with him.

A.N: Part 2 will begin in full force now, and out first glance at class 1-B. Monoma is as much of a jerk as always, but I hope to give 1-B its deserved time. They won't be a huge focus just like in the manga, but I do hope to spotlight them a bit. Also, if you enjoy my work and feel like supporting me please check out my Ko-fi under the same name holliswriting.