Chapter 3: Haunted nights

Inko was pacing in the kitchen while waiting for her son to come back. She was still trying to come to terms with everything that he told her, of how he went to some decrepit city in his sleep and had to fight feral animals to escape.

Even while knowing Izuku hadn't told her all there was to know, she couldn't exactly blame him though, just the thought of her son using the weapons Inko saw to put down an animal was enough to almost make her faint.

And then there's Nicola, the girl was now an orphan. By the haunted eyes of her son, Inko knew whatever circumstances led to it had traumatized the two children and made them cling to each other for comfort.

That was just one more thing to the growing list of problems they would have to face. The main one was how Izuku could keep away and never go back to Yharnam, just the name of the city was enough to strike fear at the woman's soul.

Her train of thought was then interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Inko just didn't know what to do of the scene that greeted her, but her son's words were a confirmation that her growing headache would only get worse.

"I can explain."

—

After another series of explanations, while trying to make his little charge comfortable Izuku was certain he was in way over his head. After having time to calm down from his confrontation with a yakuza member, Izuku had time to reflect on the consequences that his actions would have, he had to take care of the children while he wasn't even in high school yet.

Even while thinking in all the ways he could screw up, Izuku couldn't bring himself to regret it, he did the best he could in a bad situation and now all he can do is choose the best option from a list of horrible ones.

Nicola didn't even speak the native language and from what Eri told him she didn't have anyone else. That meant that the only one left to shelter them. So logically, even if a part of him said he was only doing this because of his own guilt, the better option was for him to foster both girls.

That's at least what Izuku told his mother, who reluctantly agreed with him. And after a long evening of trying to situate both Eri and Nicola to their new living conditions while both clung to Izuku as if their lives depended on it while trying to hide from each other, both now seemed calmer in regard to Inko, the house, and each other.

What was a great improvement compared to when Nicola saw Eri holding Izuku's leg and instantly glued herself to the other one while begging for Izuku to don't abandon her. Even if Inko and Eri didn't understand what she said, Izuku's panicked reply gave a general idea that it wasn't something good.

Nicola still didn't know half of what the things in the house did or their use but was too afraid to ask, while Eri tried her best to make herself small so as to not draw attention. Both signs of problems Izuku would have to solve less they evolve into something worse, but he didn't know even where to begin.

All these things piling would have made Izuku lose his mind, but fortunately, his mom helped Izuku with everything she had, from simple things like dressing the girls in new and clean clothes to soothing all of their fears of the mess they found themselves in.

In the end, they were putting Nicola and Eri to sleep in Izuku's bed, something that needed a lot of convincing on his part, "Eri is okay, Nicola doesn't have a problem with sharing with you, right?" He asked the girl in question, who responded in the language of Yharnam but accompanied by a reluctant nod that made the message clear.

"But what if I hurt her?" Eri's tone was neutral but with an underlined fear that seemed engraved in her bones.

That was a tone Nicola knew well, it was the same her father used when he was scared of being close to her because of the things that happened in the Hunt, so even while not knowing exactly what the girl that was so alike to her was saying she brought her to a hug, "It's fine, everything is fine, you're home now." While saying the words she spoke to her father hurt now, she found solace in knowing it would help someone.

And help it did, even if Eri didn't understand what the words meant, it eased her to the presence of the girl that had her arms involving her.

They both ended falling asleep while holding in each other, having found comfort in someone that understood the pain they're feeling.

Izuku was relieved seeing Eri and Nicola relaxing after everything that had happened, but unfortunately, he wouldn't be joining them. In his trips to Yharnam, the starting factor seemed to be the moment he succumbed to slumber, so picking his notebooks, the books from Yharnam, and a cup of strong coffee, Izuku resigned himself for a very long night.

—

The night was productive if nothing else. While the texts from the Hunter Workshop gave him a more in-depth knowledge of the Hunt, at least on a technical level. With strategic and analytical observations of how to dispatch beasts, they held little in how to solve his sleep problem (the one that involved abduction, not the selective sleep deprivation he was submitting himself to).

It was almost dawn when a call in his phone woke the other two occupants of his room while capturing his eyes that were darkened with the bags below them.

It was a call from All Might, so at least he knew who to blame for the two pairs of blurry red eyes that were now fixed in him.

The man wanted to meet him in Dagoba Beach to start his training, training that was extremely necessary if his last try on using One For All was any indication, he just didn't know what to do about the two small figures that were now holding onto him with a vice-like grip.

While making a note for touch starvation and separation anxiety on the ever-growing list of possible mental conditions he had for the three of them in his notebook, Izuku was planning on how to explain to Eri and Nicola that he would have to go for a few hours.

—

In the end, he didn't need to, as both refused to leave his side, which was another point to validate their separation anxiety.

This is how Izuku was now speeding down the street with his newfound velocity while carrying both girls in his arms, praying that All Might wouldn't ask questions and permit the girls to watch.

The man in question appeared after Izuku reached the shoreline and saw the mountains of trash the beach was now known for. The physical appearance of the man was enough to scare Eri and Nicola to hide behind Izuku, who was now looking at the confused hero with an awkward smile, "I can explain."

"Young Midoriya is good to see you on time, but your little friends shouldn't be in bed right now?" Toshinori tried to lighten the mood seeing the children scared, he knew his gaunt complexion could cause that reaction from time to time.

"They should but your call ended up waking them," Toshinori had the decency to look sheepish at Izuku's mild glare, "And they understandably didn't want to be left alone after everything that happened yesterday."

Toshinori brown raised to his hairline, that was concerning, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Izuku looked to his feet, should he tell him? It was fair after all the secrets the man had told him, and he had trusted Izuku with his legacy, it was his right to know, even if to just take the quirk back and look for someone more deserving, "It's a long story."

"We have time, your training would be cleaning this beach, why don't you start the job along with the story? I can keep an eye on your friends while you do it." Toshinori said while sitting on the ground, trying to make himself look smaller and non-threatening.

"Okay, just…wait until the end before doing anything, okay?" His successor question already told Toshinori he would not like the story, but he nodded, the boy didn't look good, so maybe letting it out would help.

—

To say Toshinori didn't like the story was a massive understatement, his successor had more problems piled on his shoulders than most pro heroes, and if what he said about his quirk activating when he slept to transport him to this alternative dimension, then the bags under the boy's eyes weren't from waking up earlier but from staying up all night. It was a little mind-boggling but he saw weirder quirks in his time as a hero

And what the boy had to do to protect himself, Toshinori's heart ached as how someone so young had to pass for that type of experience. Collecting his thoughts, he started to talk and hopefully cheer Izuku up a little, "You passed through a lot my boy, but you didn't give up and did the best you could with what you had."

Izuku paused his trash hauling to stare at the smiling face of his hero, that wasn't the reaction he was expecting, "Aren't you angry at me? For all I did, for using it to…end someone's life?" The emphasis he put on the word made clear what he was talking about.

Toshinori sighed, "No Young Midoriya, from what you told me you took a man out of his misery and made sure he wouldn't suffer by hurting another person," He glanced at Nicola, who was sitting next to Eri at a short distance from him, both watching Izuku carry the trash up to his truck repeatedly in silence, indicating who exactly he was talking about, "I know it hurt, but I also know Gascoigne would thank you for protecting the most precious thing in his life. I may not speak from experience, but every father I met that was true to the duty the word carried would say the same."

His words had an instant effect, Toshinori let the boy cry and sob his sorrows while remaining silent, Young Midoriya needed to put these feelings out before he drowned in them. After some minutes of the beach being full of the sounds of crying and sobbing, Izuku stopped the tears and raised his head, feeling lighter, he gave his three spectators a smile before throwing himself back on his training with renewed vigor.

Toshinori too was smiling, the boy didn't let the weight of his past challenges hinder his way that's for sure. Now that this issue was, at least partially, dealt with it was better to move the topic along as to not pressure him with reliving the traumatic event anymore for now, "About the specifics of your quirk, I'll be honest in saying I don't have the slightest clue of what to do," His words made the boy slow down a little, but as he continued the energy quickly returned, "Luckily, I know someone that will, he's an old friend of mine that will have the answers or how to get them at least. I'll make some phone calls after we end today's training session."

"Thank you All Might!" Izuku smiled brightly and truly for the first time in a long while, hope renewed for a way out of the nightmare that cursed him.

"Now let's try something a little more difficult! How about you trying doing a smash again, let's see what you can do with your power!" Toshinori knew the first experience with One For All for the boy wasn't a pleasant one, but he had to cut any fear he may have of using it now before it turns into a problem, especially with how it can help him survive this dreadful place he found himself trapped in.

As Toshinori expected, Izuku froze for a second before asking uncertainty, "You sure?"

"Yes, try to throw one good punch to the ocean, if anything happens I'm here to help." His words didn't carry the weight they did in his hero form, but the way the boy relaxed meant they were still effective. Toshinori calmly put himself in front of the two girls to be sure they would be safe, the poor kids already suffered enough, one lost her parents and the other was being chased by the yakuza for reasons he couldn't fathom but planned on finding out.

"Okay," Izuku took a shaky breath, "Okay, I can do it." Contrary to his words, the doubts creeping on his mind sprung to life, locking him into place.

Toshinori noticed, and with an understanding sigh spoke the words the boy needed to hear, now more than ever, "Young Midoriya, you are worthy, of this power and of being a hero. You already proved it to me, you already proved it to them," He glanced over his shoulder to the two girls that were watching with rapt attention, "If you feel that you still have to prove it to yourself, then raise your head and do it!"

Izuku didn't turn, but he was sure All Might knew that he was spilling tears. His hero believed in him even after what he did, he did not deserve his faith, but he would become someone that did.

He felt power flowing to his arm, a ghost sensation on his shoulder, almost as if someone was slightly squeezing it.

Izuku raised his head, took a step toward and launched his fist while yelling with determination to atone for his mistakes and become a hero worthy of the mantle trusted to him and neither Yharnam nor no one would stop him!

A tunnel of air pressure so strong was created by his punch, obliterating a path straight through the trash and then the ocean. When the wind died down, a clear view of the crashing waves and rising sun greeted Izuku, and he felt that maybe there would be a light at the end of the dark tunnel he found himself trapped in.

Unfortunately, Izuku's happy thoughts were interrupted by the literally painful reality. Looking at his arm, which was now completely purple and mangled, Izuku let out a pained grunt before falling to his knees.

"Young Midoriya!" He could hear over the painful raze of his mind, Izuku could swear that a hit of the Cleric Beast hadn't hurt as much. Tiny hands held his good arm, a golden glow flashed and the pain disappeared, giving Izuku back the clear state of mind to question what just happened.

After blinking the leftover tears from his eyes, Izuku saw Eri's face, her terrified, panic-filled face. Pain instantly forgotten, Izuku was about to ask her what was wrong when the girl turned her back to him and started to run. Surprise hit him but didn't stop his legs from moving, "Eri wait!" He covered the short distance she created in a blink, All Might's startled voice sounding behind him.

Thankfully, Izuku's enhanced physical capacity also included his reflexes and precision, so the boy almost graciously stopped in front of the girl just in time to pull her into his arms, the impact of her small body hitting him barely registering.

Eri struggled, trying desperately to escape, "Let me go! I don't want to hurt you too! I don't want to make you d-disappear too!" She was already sobbing at the end of her words, the image of clothes sprawled on the ground and an empty room resurfacing in her mind.

"Eri, it's okay! I'm here! I'm not going anywhere."

"You'll disappear too! I'm cursed, I'll make you disappear!" Eri's broken voice and distressing words were like a knife to the heart.

Izuku looked up, begging with his eyes for his hero to help him, only to see the man already had his hands full trying to calm a crying Nicola. Shooting him a grateful look for helping the girl, Izuku turned his eyes to his own pair of wet red eyes, "You're not cursed Eri, I know what being cursed is like and is not like that. I don't know who told it but they lied to you."

Eri stopped sobbing, even if her eyes still let tears fall, she locked her eyes with Izuku's own, the boy giving her a shaky smile, "I'm not cursed?" The words came out as a whisper, but Izuku's sharp senses picked it clearly, the boy nodded while his smile gained a little more confidence.

Izuku carefully picked his words, knowing he was about to trail the minefield the girl's fragile state of mind created to reach her heart, "Yes Eri, what you have is an amazing quirk! It made the pain I was feeling go away, that's a very kind power. If something happened before that made you scared of it, it's only because you don't know how to use it yet, but can I tell you a secret?"

Eri hanged into Izuku's every word, a growing hope starting to form. The question was answered with a small nod, her curiosity shining through her now more calm face.

Izuku lowered his voice and put a hand on the side of his mouth, "I don't know how to use my quirk either."

"You don't?" Eri tilted her head.

"No, you saw what happened when I tried to use it, I hurt my arm. I know it's scary trying to use a power you don't know how to control, I'm scared of mine too, but we can learn how to handle them together. How does that sound?" Izuku saw Eri stare at him, the girl's gaze lasted a while before she gave a small, hesitant nod.

Toshinori saw the scene play out, having calmed Nicola with what little he could make her understand of his words. The man gave out a content sigh, he made many mistakes in his life, some he regretted to this very day and would for the rest of his life, but choosing his successor was not one of those. The boy had more problems than most, but he still had the strength to offer his hand to someone in need, "I am sure I found the right one Nana, you and the others can rest assured of that."

—

Rappa let out a yawn while searching the fridge, the all-nighter he pulled thanks to his damn 'boss' made him more hungry than tired, which was expected since he kept walking aimlessly while pretending to search for the kid the man was so obsessed with.

He could still hear Overhaul fuming from here, which helped improve his mood, but after yesterday's fight, there was little that would sour it. And what a fight! Just remembering it made a smile spread on his face. Finally, he found someone that knew how to truly fight!

Hunter, that guy had it, he had the eyes of someone that would fight to the death, doesn't matter who's death it was. That along with the fact he could keep up with him, he had to hold himself back as to not just go seeking him right now. Unfortunately, he was also the hero type, so he had to wait for him to get a goddamn license.

He was sure the brat would get it, but the wait would be a drag. At least the fight would be even better after the wait. With happy thoughts of future battles awaiting him, Rappa picked a sandwich that someone left behind and made his way to his room, sleeping would help the time pass faster so that was what he was gonna do.

—

After the situation on the beach, Toshinori cut Izuku's training session short. The man lending the boy and his charges a ride back home.

Now on his own in his truck once more, Toshinori had time to think while driving back, and he sure needed it. The young and heroic boy he saw risking his life more than one time to correct his mistakes did all of that while plagued with a borderline insane problem. The boy was dragged for a city full of murderers and beasts, that would already be quite the conundrum, but he also tried to help people even then, another point in favor of his character if nothing else.

But look how the universe repaid his noble act, making the boy put down the man he promised to save, and then discovered he did it too late. The man had killed his wife, leaving his daughter all alone in an even more cruel word than the one Toshinori worked to protect.

But his successor proved once again he was a hero by heart by somehow using his quirk to bring the girl back to this reality, sparing her of a future Toshinori didn't have the stomach to imagine. The man laughed at the unintentional pun, he literally didn't have the stomach to do anything anymore.

Again Young Midoriya was in a situation he wasn't ready to face, and what he gets is for it to double in the form of another child running into him. The boy didn't even ask this time, he fought tooth and nail to protect someone he could, and the most surprising thing is that he succeeded. An accomplished pro hero would have difficulty with a villain like the yakuza, the members of the surviving ancient criminal group where all a danger, sometimes even a fatal one, but the boy took the odds and beat them.

All this, and his successor did not have a single day of formal training, Toshinori couldn't wait for the day the boy was a full-fledged hero, maybe he would be surpassed faster than he imagined. But that was in the future, in the present a teen still in middle school desperately needed his help, and Toshinori couldn't call himself a hero if he didn't go to the boy's aid.

Fishing out his phone, Toshinori pulled one of the contacts he knew by heart. The line quickly connected and he was greeted by a slightly hoarse and annoyed voice, probably, because of the different time zones, Toshinori had called the man on the other side on an ungodly hour again.

"Hello to you too David!" Toshinori chuckled.

"Toshi! I didn't realize it was you, sorry about that." The voice coming from his phone now sounded more alert and friendly.

"It's fine, I know it's probably way past the time you should be sleeping now." The embarrassed splutter on the other side of the call made Toshinori laugh, "So, how are things going? Everything all right?"

"Yes, everything is fine, if you don't count the council vetting my project, again!" The angry shout only renewed Toshinori's laughter.

"C'mon David, you know how things happen, you can't always win. Especially when a bunch of old and stubborn men are involved."

"Are you calling me old and stubborn?"

"Me? Never!" Toshinori's voice had such a fake innocence no man on Earth would believe his words were genuine.

"Har har, you too aren't all that young anymore. What about you, everything okay on the land of the rising sun?"

That was the perfect opportunity to move the subject to what would end in one big favor that he would be owning his friend from past times, "Unfortunately, I can't say it is. That's actually the reason that I called you, I have one big problem that only a man of your scientific expertise can help solve."

"Toshi what did you do?" The accusing tone was understandable considering Toshinori's history, but this time unfortunately he wasn't the one in trouble.

"Me? Nothing, but there is a boy even younger than Melissa up to his neck in shit that I don't know even where to begin to help, pardon my crass language. David, it's serious, it's bad, and if I don't help him soon then I don't know if there will be another chance later." The hero was now tightly gripping the wheel, his helplessness on all this showing now there was no one to see.

For a long second, the line was silent, but then the voice that came from the other side was one from a man ready to do something stupid, "I'm going there. No! Before you start, I don't have anything to do until the next meeting, and if we are going to help this boy, I'll have to be there anyway. So this is what's going to happen, I'll reserve a flight to Japan, get some hours of shut eye, then I'll start preparing my stuff to go when my brain starts to work on a decent capacity while you pass me the details, so wait for another call from me soon." Toshinori could hear the man was already moving to do what he told him, and once more he thanked whatever higher power gave him a chance to meet his friend all those years ago.

"Okay, thanks David, you always have my back and I couldn't be more grateful for it." Toshinori blinked the wetness out of his eyes.

"Don't mention it, now I have to go. Toshi, we'll help that boy, or die trying, so don't you dare blame yourself for all the problems he has, I know how you think and I'll be there to beat the depressing thoughts out of your thick skull!" Toshinori knew he would, he always did.

"You always had a soft spot for children, not that I'm any different. See you soon David." He finished the call.

—

After All Might dropped them on his house, Izuku was completely drained. A night awake plus all that happened on the beach left him physically, mentally, and emotionally tired. The only thing he wanted was to drop on his bed and sleep, but unfortunately that was impossible, as succumbing to slumber was a death sentence for him now.

At least it was only him, Eri and Nicola didn't have any problem crawling back to his bed and falling asleep immediately. Izuku quietly changed into his new and bigger school uniform and left his room. On the way to the door to face another hopefully boring day of classes, he met his mother in the kitchen, "Hey mom."

The woman let out a small yep and turned, "Izuku! You scared me, I didn't hear you."

"Sorry," He chuckled, "I'm going to school, can you keep an eye on Eri and Nicola while I'm gone."

"Sure sweety, stay safe." Inko's smile made Izuku hide his grimace at her words.

"I… I'll try."

—

Izuku was almost dead on his feet by the end of the day, after he stumbled his way through the day, he realized he would need something to help him face the sleepless nights that awaited him while All Might tried to find someone that could help him. The last registered world record of longest time without sleep was from before quirks, timing a little more than eleven days if his research was right. If Izuku would need to be awake and minimally functional for even half this time he would need to prepare.

So quickly making a mental list Izuku sent his mom a text explaining he wanted to buy a couple of things and he may come home late. The woman replied that she was fine with that as long as Izuku was careful and don't worry about the girls, after the day together they were starting to get along, so even while they might get a little anxious about him not being there for a little longer it shouldn't be a problem, at least for now.

With everything set, Izuku made his way to the shops with the supplies he needed, coffee, energy drinks and supplements, eye drops, and more ended in his backpack. With wallet lighter and bag heavier, Izuku started to make his way back home, using the side streets and alleys to dodge the crowded night streets.

Izuku hoped he could stay awake for the time needed to All Might to get him help, but with his luck, he knew it was improbable. So another trip to Yharnam could and probably would happen. In that case, the boy had to continue trying to find a solution on that side, his best bet was still the Healing Church, but if it proved to be a dead-end, maybe Eileen could help him...if he found her again.

Izuku's train of thought came to a crashing stop when he crashed on someone, both parts stumbled, he was about to apologise when their eyes met. Tired green and slitted yellow. A smile of sharp fangs made Izuku freeze, but then his hunter instincts roared, he moved, his hand already grasping his weapon, a silvery sword clashing with a glinting knife.

"You're cute, but you would be even cuter if you're covered in blood!" The cheerful voice didn't match the ominous words, the happy school girl's face didn't match the bloodlust she was oozing.

Izuku's tired and done brain supplied him with an answer, a pity that it was the wrong one, "I don't think so, when I'm covered in blood I look like a bad horror movie character."

The fanged smile only grew, "Really! Show me!"

Izuku deadpanned "I shouldn't have said that." The girl attacked again, Izuku quickly parrying her blade with his.

His brain already was analysing the situation he somehow found himself in, both were armed, he had the vantage in reach, but her had more speed with a smaller and lighter blade. More slashes, more sounds of metal clashing, he had to keep his distance and wait for a chance to run.

"You're not that bad, could use some work though, maybe we could do this more! If you bleed a little I can even give you some tips! My name's Toga Himiko, tell me yours now so we can be friends!" The girls happily said while lunging at Izuku.

The boy sidestepped, in his exhaustion he hadn't realized he started speaking, "I'm Midoriya Izuku, nice to meet you." When the girl slightly blushed and bashfully smiled, Izuku knew he made a mistake, 'I hate myself'.

"It's good to meet you too Izu-kun!" Her smile was too bright for someone trying to stab him, but at least she wasn't cursing him like Yharnamites, Izuku actually didn't know what was worse.

"Can you at least say why do you want to stab me?" Izuku was genuinely curious about the reason, even if his brain was working overtime for a way out of this mess.

"Why? Because blood is so cute! And you will be cute covered in it, if I can get a drop or two for me then even better! I'm sure it will taste delicious!" At every word she accelerated her swings, until finally, Izuku missed a counter for a millimeter, just enough for Toga to cut his cheek, a trail of red beginning to flow from it.

Toga took a deep, shuddering breath. Izuku blinked, and that was all the time the girl needed to be right in front of him.

His first instinct was to slash with his sword, but he held himself back, this wasn't Yharnam, he wouldn't kill anyone here. Izuku's mental dilemma gave Toga the chance to reach even closer, and with a fluid movement, she licked the blood on his cheek.

The girl opened her mouth to say something, but she never got the chance, her eyes glossed over, and Izuku's blood froze.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, the girl started to fall. Izuku abandoned his blade to catch her, praying to whatever higher being liked to torment him to prove his fears wrong.

As if whoever listened laughed at the boy suffering, the body in his arms started to spasm, from the edge of his vision, he could see mist creeping over them.

Blood Ministration, the two words echoing on his mind. Looks like another Hunter joined him in his torment.

Hehe, things about to get fun.

Silverbits is the reason this mess was readable.

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