Chapter XII
The Ruins
School ended pretty quickly, then again; I wasn't there for the entire day. I sat watching the rest of the class pack their bags while Mr. Aizawa was sleeping behind the teacher's desk in his yellow sleeping bag. On occasion, the girls that crowded me after lunch had sent me worried looks but I only looked away gently picking at a random piece of wood sticking out of my desk. My thoughts traveled back to the three seniors that sat with me at the stairwell, back in America I was quick to make friends with seniors but here it was rare to even have an upperclassman speak to the first years. I should have considered myself honored that they even bothered to sit me down and listened to my problems though Hado seemed more excited about the fact that we fought villains.
Maybe they didn't really care, just wanted to hop on to the pity train so if I ever did bounce back as a Hero they could chime up and say, 'yeah I helped them.' The dark thought made me huff softly as I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair gently placing pressure on my back until I couldn't take it anymore. 'I need a swim,' I thought as I looked to my bag my eyes rolling then landed on the wall next to me my right leg starting to bounce, to a randomly fast beat as I stared my mind starting to wander slowly itching towards the battle, mini simulations running wild on what I could have done better. My head snapped up when I heard someone knock on my desk. My eyes narrowed towards the bi-colored hair of Shoto, biting my lip I uncrossed my arms placing my right hand over my knee applying enough pressure to force my leg to stop bouncing.
"You seem to be in a better mood than earlier," Shoto said as he rested his bag next to mine, I raised an eyebrow at him as I sat up straight.
"If you call having a break down after running into a group of seniors a better mood then I guess." I mumbled lowly watching as Shoto pulled out Momo's chair turning it around then sat down so he could face me, with the facial expression of 'please tell me.' Sighing I leaned forward to reach into my bag pulling out a notebook flipping over the last page, then pulled out a pen.
My throat still hurts so, suffer with reading my horrible handwriting. The Detective cleared me off all charges, then informed me that my parents were murder in a villain attack with my brother missing. They were going to send me to some children's home, but he managed to pull some strings to keep me with my Host family. I wrote sliding the notepad over to him, while he read, I started to fiddle with my pen, my eyes darting around the empty classroom save for the two of us. Shoto gently placed the book back on my desk sliding it back towards me making my eyes snap towards him. Though he held up a good blank face, his eyes held a small amount of sorrow. Before he could say anything, his phone went off making me jump, his eyes narrowed towards me as he pulled his phone from his bag. When Shoto looked down at the caller ID his blank face turned into a scold, as he pressed a button putting his phone to his ear.
"Yes, father." He said with a dark voice, just those two words were enough for me to know that this conversation was over. Sighing I packed up my book and gently tossed my pen into my bag standing up, I grabbed my bag placing it on my shoulder as I pushed my chair in. I was about to leave when I felt a hand grab my wrist, causing me to look back at Shoto as he stood up with his bag already over his shoulder, pushing in Momo's chair with his foot. He walked closer to me while still listening to his father talk over the phone. "Yes sir." He said ending the phone call then placed his phone in his pocket. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him then towards my wrist which he quickly released, "Sorry, I have to go home." He muttered sourly for some reason, but I only smiled as I started to walk towards the door.
"Thanks anyway," I said softly as we walked out of the school and towards the train station. The train was nearly empty save for a couple of people who quietly talked amongst themselves or had their head buried in their phone, unlike me and Shoto we just sat side by side until my stop came up. Slowly I rose from my seat and looked over at Shoto with a frown. "See you tomorrow I guess," I mumbled softly receiving a small nod from his head, before I exited the train pulling out my headphones I plugged them in playing some soft music before shoving my hands into my pockets and began the long walk to Izuku's apartment. The thought of being able to sleep in a comfortable bed for once sounded pleasing, enough for me to try and shorten then walk by taking paths through alleyways. Though I slowed my pace when the sun finally set, plunging the world into darkness, only to be more cautious as I was fully aware of the villains that crept around at night when the Hero's went home. Even though it was dark I still walked with my hands in my pocket with my head held high, unlike some who walked around holding their bags close to their chest as they quickly rushed to their destinations. I was no more than halfway home, even if it wasn't that long of a walk, I wasn't too keen on returning to a cramped space nor a bed, I wanted to enjoy my freedom and the fresh air.
When my music changed to a softer song I picked up the sound of footsteps behind me, slowly I looked over my shoulder seeing three large men walking. They quickly stopped next to a vehicle pretending that it was theirs rolling my eyes. I looked straight once again, pressing pause on my music to better hear the surrounding world. Once again, the sound of footsteps followed behind letting out a small huff. I paused bending down to pretend to tie my shoe, giving the people behind me to continue walking but they didn't. It was only then when I stood up did I feel an arm wrap around my waist while a white cloth was wrapped around my mouth. A sweet scent filled my nose when I gasped as I was lifted up off the ground and pulled backwards into an alleyway with two of the three following behind me, sick and twisted smirks on their faces.
"You're gonna give us a good time schoolgirl." The man holding me against his chest whispered into my ears sending a cold chill down my back as anger flooded my body. I pulled my head away trying to put distance between his hand and my head causing the cloth to move from my mouth, but this caused his grip on my waist to tighten.
"Yeah, and don't bothe callin a hero they aint gonna save ya." One of the villains in front of me said with a dark chuckle as he took a step closer, summoning up enough bile I spat at him even though he was eight feet from me, I was raised to learn how to spit distance, I managed to hit him in his eye making him cry out as his hand reached up to wipe away the spit. This caused the man holding me to put the cloth back over my face, giving out a small growl I bit down on the hand through the cloth, causing the man behind me to yell out in pain. Quickly the last guy moved in raising his right hand up in a matter of seconds my head was forced to the right with a deep throbbing pain filled my left eye.
"You're gonna pay." He snapped with a growl as I slowly looked towards the man with fire in my eye as my anger turned to a rage. Using the weight of the man behind I jumped up sending my left foot into the face of the man that punched me, this made him stumble backward tripping over the leg of the man that I spit on. The guy holding me let out a grunt as he acted like I was weightless and threw me to the wall, a small squeak escaped my lips caused by the air being forced from my lungs as I slid to the ground. I let out deep breaths as I looked up at the three men that stood before me, no these were villains and I'm about to teach them a lesson. I let out a small growl as I slowly stood up leaving my bag on the ground.
"No, you are gonna pay." I snarled towards the three causing them to howl in laughter, as they took a step closer to me. Their laughter died down as they towered over me, one of them shoved their fist into the palm of their hands just as spikes appeared out of his body.
"We'd love to see you try." The spiked man chuckled darkly, as he placed his hands on my shoulder and roughly threw me back into the wall causing my heart to race.
My eyes darted towards the other wall then upwards towards the moon and stars before landing on a shadow of a figure that sat against the edge of the building. The woman's scream of desperation sounded like a bell in the back of my head, blinking. I quickly realized that I was now in her shoes, scared and desperate for a hero to rescue me late at night when the heroes rested. No one was going to save me but myself, if I was to be a hero I need to defeat these villains without anyone's help. Closing my eyes I looked down towards the ground letting my body relax, as I mentally prepared the moves I would make to escape the villain holding me hostage against the wall.
"Giving up so qui..." The villain screamed out in pain when I kicked his knee cap, causing him to clasp on one knee grabbing both sides of his face forcing him to look up at me as a small smirk formed on my lips that dropped into a frown, before slamming his jaw into my knee cap. I winced a little when I watched his eyes roll to the back of his head, letting him go he dropped to the ground leaving me with two more attackers. Moving towards the center of the alleyway I twisted my body to face them.
"You'll pay for that school girl." Snarled the man that I spit at as he charged towards me with his buddy following closely after him. Ducking down under his fist I twisted my body with a leg sweep to the back of the first guy's legs making him fall backward as I continued to twist my body winding up to slam my fist into the gut of the second guy. The second guy grabbed his gut as he moved to the left using the wall for support as he purged the contents of his stomach.
Taking this opening I quickly grabbed my bag throwing it over my shoulder and took off out of the alleyway at a sprint not stopping for anything as I darted up the stairs of Izuku's apartment building. I finally stopped when I reached his door, taking in a deep breath to calm my racing heart as well as my erratic breathing. I could tell the adrenaline was starting to fade by the sting I felt on my cheek and the sharp pain I felt in my knee. Taking in one final deep breath I stood up straight, my eyes scanning over the street that I had come from to ensure that I wasn't followed. When the coast was clear I turned to the door finding it open with Izuku standing in the doorway with a look of surprise and relief quickly he grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside before pulling me into a hug as the door closed.
"We've been so worried." He whisper shouted, he held me close to his chest as my whole body tensed up, still in fight or flight mode. Seeming to sense my discomfort he pulled away and looked up. I could only roll my eyes when I noticed his cheeks were bright cherry red, quickly he backed away mumbling sorry.
"Izuku is that Mara?" Miss Midoriya called from the living room as she peeked her head into the hallway. Her eyes puffy and red most likely from crying as she rushed into the hallway and hugged me the same as Izuku but this time her head was buried into my chest causing my body to become tense once again.
"Sorry, I got sidetracked on the way home," I mumbled softly as I tried to pry the woman off of me. "Please release me, Miss Midoriya," I begged slowly, she released me, backing up to stand next to her son, her hands clasped together covering her mouth as she smiled.
"I'm so grateful that you are home, I was starting to worry when you didn't arrive with Izuku." Miss Midoriya cried, wiping the tears from her eyes only to quickly perk up with an 'oh' as she rushed out of the hallway and back into the living room. I huffed softly as I looked over to Izuku who held a worried frown, sighing my shoulders slumped.
"I'll tell you later." I said softly as I took my shoes off then started towards my room wincing when I felt a sharp pain in my knee, 'stupid villain.' I hissed as I tried not to show my limp too much into my room, setting my bag next to the desk. I moved over to my bed and flopped down, my face coming into contact with my pillow, for the first time I let out a sigh of content as I relaxed into the bedding my arms sliding up the mattress to hug the pillow closer to my chest.
"Mara?" Miss Midoryia called out in confusion, from the hall as she walked past my room pausing by the open door. "Oh, umm here." She said as she walked closer slowly I sat up crossing my legs over each other as she held a bag, with multicolored balloons flying the words happy birthday placed in the center in bolded lettering with white tissue paper peeking out of the top. "Sorry about the bag, they were sold out of the other types." She said as she held the bag for me to take frowning I took the bag still confused as to why she was giving me anything placing the bag in my lap. I stared at it for a second as she stood before me, trying to hide her excitement while Izuku sat in my chair. Slowly I pulled out the tissue paper until all that remained was a small box. Frowning once again in confusion at the brown box, I casted a look towards Miss Midoryia who begged me to open the box. Reaching into the bag I grabbed the box pulling it out then gently tossed the happy birthday bag to the edge of my bed as I stared at the wooden box.
For whatever reason, it felt so familiar to me as my figures traced over the wooden edge some of it flaked off leaving black on my fingertips. 'Ash?' I thought as I looked from my fingertips to the edge of the wooden box, my eyes scanning over to the faded golden latch on the front. Slowly I ran my thumb over the latch before opening it, my eyes widened in surprise when I was met with four very familiar faces. The first one was a man with black brown hair and silver eyes that stood in the back with a bright smile as he held his arms around the women in front of him, she had black hair with sky blue eyes and a wide loving smile on her face as she held the hands of the man holding her. The boy to the left of her had brown hair with blue eyes and to the right had black hair with silver eyes. I felt a lump form in my throat as I slowly pulled the picture out of the box gently I placed the box down as I held the picture gently as if it would fade away. Blinking a couple of times I swallowed the lump in my throat as a sad smile formed on my lips while I ran my thumb over the three of them.
"When we found out what happened to them I called around to see if anything had survived the fire, this box and everything in it was all that survived. I figured you would want them so I had them shipped here, I was going to give it to you before you left for school but they had only come in today." Miss Midoriya said slowly I placed the picture on my nightstand moving the wooden box off my lap. I stood up and wrapped my arms around her pulling her into a tight hug.
"Thank you." I whispered as I tried to hold back the sob that was threatening to start, I heard her gasp in surprise as she knew I wasn't much for hugs but after a while, she wrapped her arms around my waist and gently rubbed my lower back careful of my wounds.
"You are welcome." She said softly as I let go, wiping away a stray tear, "Oh you must be hungry, let me go get you a plate of food." She said as she disappeared back out of the door leaving me to sit back down placing my elbows on my legs I buried my head into my hands, as I tried to hold back to tears, I was done with crying.
Sniffing I turned around and grabbed the wooden box, looking inside it was a piece of paper and a small black velvet bag pulling both objects out I paused hearing the sound of metal hitting metal setting the wooden box down on the nightstand with the paper I opened the bag looking inside I saw two rings, tipping over the bag I watched as my parents wedding rings fell into my hand. My father's ring was silver while my mother was golden with three crystal shaped rubies placed side by side with the words 'My Angel' engraved inside my mother's ring, placing the rings back into the bag I then placed the bag inside the wooden box. I then grabbed the piece of paper, unfolding it I let out a choked sob dropping the drawing. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore as I placed a hand over my mouth and cried. It was a drawing that my brother made when we were little. It was a childish version of me with my black wings, the words 'My Hero' written at the top. I watched as the picture fell to the ground, its edges slightly burnt, as I cried my hands moving from my mouth to hide my face once again. This was all that I had left of my family. My shoulders tensed when I felt the bed shift next to me as an arm wrapped around my shoulder pulling me into a side hug.
"I'm sorry for your loss." I heard Izuku say from above me as I grabbed onto his shirt burying my face into his chest as I sobbed. At first, I felt Izuku tense up but after a couple of minutes, I felt a hand gently rubbing my arm. Slowly I felt the world drift my eyes even though closed felt heavy, all at once my body relaxed, as I drifted off into sleep.
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Much love from your Author Jackie