The Okami Hero: Amaterasu
Arc 6: Birth of a Hero
Chapter 3: Good Morning
[Saturday23rdApril 2281]
[Musutafu General Hospital]
Eri couldn't honestly remember the last time she'd been so comfortable around other people. She was sat in a hospital bed with an IV in her arm and a Doctor not five steps away from her, yet she couldn't help but feel safe and secure. She was surrounded by people; more than she'd ever been surrounded by before, and every single one of them was kind and friendly, including Eri in their conversations and treating her almost the same way Izumi treated her. It also helped that Izumi, still in her Wolf Form, slumbered behind Eri, making a furry backrest for her, and filling the small girl with a feeling of safety. Eri could feel Izumi's breathing and if she pressed her cheek against the Wolf's side, she could also hear her heartbeat, which was remarkably relaxing for her.
The idea that only one week ago, Eri had been a terrified and tortured little girl was almost unbelievable!
But here Eri was, idly chewing on a tasty apple while listening to all the people chattering around her. Uncle Kacchan and Auntie 'Miko were chatting with Jin-chan about some "extra" at their school, while Uncle Dabi and Uncle Kei were discussing some kind of homework assignment Dabi had gotten from his college. Granny Flower and Doctor Sakamoto were talking in hushed tones, but Eri could just barely make out pieces of what they were saying; it was about Izumi and Eri, and the connection between them. Eri assumed it had something to do with their fusion/possession, so she didn't focus on it. The Onikawa Brothers were standing guard over the door still, both stood completely still like statues… Eri would have thought they WERE statues, it she couldn't see them blinking and breathing. Lastly was Toshi, who was smiling softly at his phone, exchanging messages with people Eri didn't know.
As Eri polished off her apple, she began to wonder about things. She wondered what would happen now that she was free; Eri hadn't really thought about what her life would be like after escaping the Shie Hassaikai, as she hadn't thought it was possible before Izumi appeared. But now she was free, so what would she do? Eri didn't know anything outside of what Izumi taught her… could Eri go to school too? Where would she live? Himiko had mentioned taking her in, which sounded nice, but Eri didn't want to get her hopes up. Eri's expression began to fall into a frown as she stared down at the apple core in her hands.
Himiko, taking notice, gently poked the small girl's cheek; "Hey Eri, why do you look so glum? You can have another apple if you want."
Eri shook her head; "It's not that… I was just thinking, what's going to happen to me now?"
That got everyone's attention, and many of them frowned; they didn't know all the details, but they knew Eri was effectively an orphan. Her father was dead and her mother had given Eri up to her own father and then killed herself. Her father, Eri's Grandfather, was the former boss of the Shie Hassaikai and had been in a coma since shortly after Eri had been placed in his care and Chisaki took over the gang. He was still recovering from the drugs Chisaki loaded him up with, and the after-effects of Orochi's possession, and while the Doctors believed he would regain consciousness, they didn't expect him to live to the new year. His terminal illness was bad enough, but the effects of the drugs keeping him Comatose, as well as Chisaki's attempted treatments and Orochi's Possession had made his condition significantly worse. With her grandfather on death's door AND a Yakuza Boss, there was no way Eri would be sent to him, and there was no other family, leaving Eri effectively an orphan…
Or at least, that was what the state thought.
"Well, it hasn't been legally decided yet." Sakuya began, "Under normal circumstances, a child in your position would be placed in either an Orphanage or a Foster Home until a new family adopted you. But because of what you went through, the State wants to make sure you go to people who'll take care of you properly. People who'll make up for the bad things the Yakuza did."
Eri's face became downcast; "What if nobody wants me?"
"No way that'll happen." Himiko said, shaking her head and waving her hand in front of her face, "You're really cute and sweet. Anyone would want to take you home."
"It's not just up to the State either. You'll be given a choice; they won't make you live with people you don't like." Dabi added.
"Really?" Eri perked up, "I'll be allowed to pick?"
"Of course, Eri. Everyone wants to make sure you grow up happy, so they wouldn't force you to go with people you didn't want to." Sakuya said.
Eri blushed and poked her fingers together; "Then… can I stay with Mama 'Zumi?"
The members of the Konohana Group smirked knowingly, while Toshinori felt his heart clench at the earnest request. Eri's blush grew larger, until her whole face was red as a strawberry; "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked. It's selfish… Mama 'Zumi's done enough for me already, and you've already got a big family… I'd just get in the way!" she blurted out.
Sakuya put a gentle hand on Eri's head, stopping her self-deprecating mumblings. "Well, to tell the truth Eri..."
The little girl closed her eyes and braced for disappointment.
"… the chances of anyone other than Izumi taking you home is about zero."
Eri gasped; "R-Really!? Y-You think she'll want to keep me!?"
It was a clear sign of how badly she'd been hurt that even after all the love Izumi had shown her, Eri still couldn't quite believe she could be wanted.
Sakuya gave a joyful laugh; "Of course she wants you! You call her your Mama already, and if I know Izumi, she thinks of you as her child. You saw what she did a while ago, remember? Even while unconscious, she sprung to your defence! She loves and cares for you so much that she even snapped at us when she thought we might be a threat to you. Once Izumi wakes up and confirms it, we'll work to get those stuffy suits in the Government to approve it. You'll be Eri Midoriya, Izumi's daughter, Himiko's niece, and mine and Inko's granddaughter!"
The thought made Eri almost deliriously happy; living with Izumi and her nice family all the time, and without the fear that came with living with the Yakuza? That sounded like a dream come true!
"Besides, Dabi already prepared one of the rooms in Izumi's wing of the manor to turn it into your bedroom! If you didn't come home with us, that'd be a lot of wasted effort!" Himiko smirked.
"You already made me a room!?" Eri gasped, looking up at the burned man.
Dabi grinned and poked the child's cheek gently. Eri was a little undernourished thanks to the yakuza, but her cheeks were still round and plump, making them feel a little like Mochi when he poked them. "Of course I did. You're part of the club now."
"Club?" Eri tilted her head.
Katsuki groaned; "Oh god, it really is becoming a Club..."
"What Club? Izumi said they were groups you joined in school! Are you all in the same one?" Eri asked, remembering some more of the lessons Izumi had given Eri during their time together.
"Yep! We're the "We got saved by Izumi" Club!" Himiko giggled.
Eri looked at the trio of young people with shocked eyes; "Izumi saved all of you?"
"I am too, technically. Izumi was the same age as you when she saved me!" Hawks grinned.
"You were kidnapped too!?" Eri exclaimed.
"No dear." Sakuya cut in, "Your situation was very different, but it is true that Izumi helped Keigo, Himiko, Katsuki and Dabi when they were at low points in their lives."
The Tree Spirit turned to the four people in question, who each silently agreed to tell their story, so Eri would feel like they were all in the same boat. Of course, with Doctor Sakamoto and Toshinori in the room, they had to edit their stories slightly, so as to hide the exact nature of Gods and Demons.
Hawks was first; "When I was the about your age, I was bought from my family like a cheap toy by a Commission Employee. The Employee was being controlled by someone with the same kind of power as Orochi and Izumi, but unlike Izumi; the bad guy didn't care about what they used that Employee for. They wanted to train me as a Hero, so they'd get fame and rise through the ranks of the Hero Commission, until they were in charge. Then the Bad Guys would be in control of the Heroes! But when Izumi was your age, she got adopted by Sakuya, the Head of the Commission, which upset the Bad Guy's plans. They tried to kill her, and while I tried to save her, I failed and she was killed in front of me… the Possessed Employee was going to take the blame for the murder, while I was going to be possessed by the Bad Guy in their place. But then Izumi came back to life and helped me beat the Bad Guy, saving me and the possessed Employee. Thanks to that, I wasn't a tool or puppet any more, and got to become the kind of Hero I wanted to be."
Other than Eri, Doctor Sakamoto, and Toshinori, everyone in the room already knew this story, but it was still hard to think about. Many had seen the tapestry of Akuma-Yomi that Ishiko had drawn, and the idea of a ten year old Keigo and a five year old Izumi fighting such a monster was horrifying, especially since Izumi had already been killed in that fight and didn't have her healing powers yet. Eri was completely bewitched by the tale, imagining her Mama as a child her age, fighting a monster like Orochi and saving people. Doctor Sakamoto and Toshinori were more hung up on the idea of being possessed by a Villain, and the fact said Villain had successfully murdered a five year old, even if the murder didn't stick.
The next tale came from Katsuki, though he decided not to mention his own Possession: "When I was a brat just a little older than you, I lost control of my quirk and did a lot of damage. My quirk lets me make explosions, and I hurt people with it by accident. The teachers all thought I was a villain in waiting and wanted me locked away… I couldn't blame them, since I hurt Izumi with it too, and ended up running away in shame." Katsuki admitted. He didn't like making himself look weak or vulnerable, but Eri was only five and looking at him with the same glistening eyes Izumi always did… she triggered his protective instincts, and telling his story might help Eri feel better about her own story. "Izumi healed herself and ran away from the hospital to find me. We ended up fighting, and I actually lost to her for the first time in my life. But then she made me talk about my problems and helped me feel better about myself. She came with me to therapy, and now I'm a total badass!"
Sakuya gave Katsuki a disapproving frown for his language, but she didn't scold him, seeing as how Eri was enraptured by his story. Eri could sympathise with people thinking you were bad because of your quirk… before Izumi, she had thought hers was only good for bad things too. Toshinori had actually heard a portion of the story before; he correctly guessed the explosive boy was related to the Hibana Incident, which he'd been told about by Nezu when he first came to the area. Next came Himiko's tale, and she too decided not to mention the Demon element.
"My situation was actually a tiny bit like yours, Eri. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as what you suffered, but it still meant I was left in the care of people who hurt me." Himiko said, her smile never wavering even as her eyes became sad; "Because of my quirk, I have a fascination with blood, which sometimes compels me to do things that most people find creepy. I never hurt anyone, but my birth parents hated it and soon came to hate me. They took me out of school for a whole year to beat me until they thought I was normal." the blonde girl lifted a hand to her own shoulder and squeezed it lightly, "My back has a lot of scars, not unlike the ones your Mama's got, Eri. My parents hated what I was, and hurt me to try and change me… I became like a Doll; a fake smile and a fake laugh so I could live a "normal" life without my parents hurting me. But Izumi saw through it all, and when I did something bad to her out of desperation, she didn't judge me and instead got angry on my behalf. She forced my parents to give me up to Auntie Sakuya, then adopted me into the Midoriya Family and has been my best friend and sister ever since. It's thanks to her that I accepted myself, and now I can smile and laugh for real!" Himiko capped off her story with a brilliant smile, her golden eyes shining like the sun.
Eri listened intently, amazed that these strong looking people could have suffered too. The idea that Himiko had been beaten by her parents made Eri feel both angry at the girl's old family, and sad that Himiko had been hurt by people meant to love her. She was glad that Himiko had been saved, and had Izumi to love her just like Eri did. Toshinori also felt glad that Himiko's situation had turned around, though hearing how she'd been treated because of a seemingly "Villainous" quirk did make him feel guilty about his original reaction to Izumi's ability to give and take quirks.
"Ooh! Me next!" Jin cheered.
The "Saved by Izumi" club turned to him with smirks; "You're not a part of the "Saved by Izumi" Club! You're the first member of the "Saved by Himiko" Club!" Keigo pointed out with a cheeky grin.
Jin pouted; "Oh come on! You're all telling the Cutie about your backstories, I want to as well! Izumi was there when I was saved, and her saving Himiko led to Himiko saving me. I should count." Twice finished.
The quartet chuckled, and gestured for him to continue, so he did.
Enthusiastically.
"So! Back when I was a midget, my parents died in a Villain attack and I ended up in Foster Care, but it wasn't the puppies and rainbows kind of Foster Care like Lady Sakuya offers. When I was 18, I was kicked to the curb and was all alone! We languished for a year or so, 'til we got a job. But an accident caused by someone else made our boss beat us and fire us, and we lost our home. I'm not proud of it, but I was so hungry, I took to stealing… I didn't want to hurt anybody, but a man's gotta eat you know? Eventually, a Bad Guy like Orochi saw what I could do with my quirk and possessed me, making me a Super Villain! We stole from and threatened a lot of people while possessed. We terrorised the country with an army of clones. But we were apparently too stubborn for the Villain possessing us, so he orchestrated an incident to drive us insane. It's what made Jin and I split into two people and gave us this." Twice pointed a thumb at his forehead scar, as Jin took over; "I stopped being able to tell if I was real or not and ended up on the streets again, committing petty crimes to survive. I met Himiko when I tried to rob her… but she turned the tables on me and then took me to dinner! She eventually brought me to her family, and between her and Izumi, they drove out the Bad Guy and I was myself again! They even went to a Detective with lie-detecting powers so I wouldn't go to prison for the stuff the Bad Guy made me do! It's thanks to them that I can live a happy life as myself. I'm still in hospital until they fix my brain, but when I get out, I'm gonna do a bunch of good stuff to repay society for the bad stuff I did." Jin finished.
Eri's eyes sparkled as she looked at Jin-chan with new respect. He was a good guy that did bad things and genuinely wanted to make up for them… it made Eri want to try harder and be a good person like everyone else present. Izumi had saved Himiko, and Himiko went on to save Jin. By the same token, Izumi had saved Eri, so Eri had to go on and save others too! As for Toshinori, he actually knew most of Jin's story inside and out, though he hadn't been fully aware that Himiko had been the one to stop the Super Villain Twice, or that Izumi had been involved. He'd been told the official government story, and a few of the insider details from his friend Naomasa, but the Detective had been tight-lipped about a lot of aspects of the case. Toshinori hummed quietly to himself; it seemed that many things involving Izumi were shrouded in mystery.
Last, it was Dabi's turn; "My story is a lot like Himiko's. I had a bad father who hurt me to train my quirk. My quirk was already strong, but the stress of what happened made my quirk stronger, and it hurt me more, giving me these burns." he said, putting a thumb against the marks on his eyes and jaw. "I don't really want to go into details; it's a long depressing story, but long story short, I ended up homeless and living in a junked RV on a beach near here. Izumi came along and wanted to clean all the trash on the beach, and the moment she met me, she wanted to help me too. She kept sneaking me food and clothes, then a bunch of things to make the RV better. Finally, when I lost control of my quirk and was going to die, Izumi dove into the flames in order to save me, manifesting her own ability to take quirks for the first time. She took my quirk and despite being badly hurt, used the last of her powers to heal me instead of herself. To top it off, she and the Midoriyas took me in, giving me a real home and a real chance at life. It's thanks to her that I'm not an outcast of society any more, and its thanks to the Midoriyas that I have hope that I'll fix my broken family."
Of all the stories she'd heard today, Dabi's resonated with Eri most. He'd been hurt by a Bad Man because of his quirk, a quirk that hurt people, and had hated himself until Izumi had appeared to help him, taking his pain and his quirk on herself, then offering him a home. It was very similar to Eri's situation, and it made her feel like she understood the burned man better. Toshinori looked at the ground and refused to lift his head, having another example of Izumi using a seemingly evil power to save a life. Izumi had twice taken quirks from others, to her own detriment, just to save someone… Toshinori didn't know if Izumi's power truly was All for One, or some lesser version or even a mutation, but he didn't care; the child was a Hero… perhaps one worthy of passing on the torch.
After hearing the other five's stories, Eri felt compelled to tell her own story; to return the favour and bare her heart as they had bared theirs.
"I don't remember anything before my life with the bad people. Every day was the same there; I'd be alone until someone came to bring me food, and then at some point, I'd be taken away to the lab. The Bad Man would strap me down and cut me up, then use his power to fix me. Because of my quirk, he wanted to use my blood to destroy other people's quirks. Then Mama 'Zumi was kidnapped… she was supposed to just heal me, so the Bad Man could hurt me more before I needed a break, but she refused. She promised me that she wouldn't let them hurt me again, and then every time they wanted to, Mama 'Zumi made them hurt her instead. Mama 'Zumi couldn't fight back or defend herself, 'cause the Bad Man threatened me. When she found out about what the Bad Man was doing to me, she took my quirk and replaced me in the pain. But even though they were hurting her now instead of me, she still took care of me! She taught me how to cook and helped me learn reading. She showed me how to play with toys and told me all kinds of stories! She taught me how to love my quirk and made me want to become a Hero, so I could be like her! Without her… I don't think I'd want to be alive any more. Every good memory I have has Mama 'Zumi in it." Eri confessed. It was remarkably cathartic to tell her story, even though she cried through much of it and had to be held and comforted by Sakuya and Himiko. Eri felt a little bit guilty, but she imagined it was actually her Mama holding her; Sakuya and Himiko were nice, but her Mama was her favourite.
After a few minutes of silence, Himiko smiled nervously; "Wow, that got...er, a lot heavier than I thought it would. We all ended up spilling our tragic backstories." she half-joked, trying to bring up the mood.
"We're all the same, kind of." Eri said, managing to give a small smile. She'd just realised that all six of those who told their stories had a lot in common, and it made her a bit happy, even though the situation wasn't ideal. All six of them had been hurt in some way because of their quirks, abused by someone that was supposed to care for them (parents in most of their cases, with teachers in Katsuki's, and his boss in Jin's), and ended up directly or indirectly harming Izumi because of it, only to then be saved by her. Jin was a little different, since Himiko had been his saviour, but Izumi had still been heavily involved. They had each left their mark on Izumi, and she had left her mark on them.
"I think I understand Mama a little more." Eri said, looking at her sleeping saviour, "She'll save anyone who needs it, no matter how much it hurts her… is that what being a Hero means?"
"Depends on the person." Katsuki said, "I want to be a Hero that defeats all the bad guys; that makes Villains too afraid to do evil because they know I'll swoop in and kick their asses. Himiko wants to be a Hero that makes people feel the same way she felt when Izumi accepted her. Izumi wants to be a Hero like All-Might, who saves everyone with a smile no matter how hard or painful it is."
Eri nodded and looked to Dabi; "What about you, Dabi?" she asked.
Dabi waved his hand, "I wasn't originally interested in becoming a Hero. I saw a lot of society's underbelly while I was homeless and it left me kind of jaded. I didn't think I could ever become a real Hero while the current system exists, but seeing how a couple of True Heroes act has made the idea seem not so bad, plus if it all works out, I can spite my Old Man and save people while I'm at it. Not that it matters though; being a Hero is all well and good, but don't let anyone tell you that being a Hero is the only way to do good. If you've got the guts and are willing to risk everything, you can always do the right thing. I chose the path of the Hero after a lot of thought, but I'm glad to be walking it."
Eri listened carefully, then went and flopped back in her bed, leaning on Izumi and staring at the ceiling in thought. Everything she'd experienced today was a bit much for her to process; there were a lot of new thoughts and feelings to sort out, and there was still so much more she wanted to know! How did one act with a family? What did it mean to be someone's daughter? What should she say to her Mama when she wakes up? What kind of Hero did she want to become? About the only things Eri were sure about was that she wanted to stay with these people; her family, that she wanted to be a Hero, and that she wanted to experience a lot more of life.
"My head's all spinny..." Eri admitted.
Sakuya grinned; "I know the feeling! You get used to it after spending enough time with our crazy family. For now, don't worry about anything. You're five years old; your only job is to play, learn and recover from your ordeal. Everything else can come later."
Eri rolled over so she was on her side, nuzzling into Izumi's fur, then smiled softly at everyone in the room; "I'm glad I met you."
The other occupants of the room all smiled or smirked.
"Love you, Eri!" Himiko chimed.
"You're not so bad for a kid, Pipsqueak." Katsuki smirked.
"Hang in their, Snowball. I bet your Mossy Haired Saviour is going to want a lot of hugs when she wakes up. It's kind of her thing." Dabi said wryly, remembering how hard it was to deal with a sleepy, cuddly Izumi.
"Enjoy your life as much as you can. When you get big and strong, and become a hero; we old timers will be able to take it easy!" Keigo grinned.
"We'll be great friends from now on! You've a kind heart, like Himiko and Izumi." Jin and Twice added.
The Onikawa Brothers smiled gently and bowed their heads in reply, and Toshinori smiled softly at her; "Young Eri, I'm glad a Hero was able to save you."
Sakuya giggled and stroked Eri's hair; "We're all happy to have met you too, Eri. Rest for a while. We'll all be here when you wake up."
Eri smiled and snuggled deeper into Izumi's fur, smelling her scent and thinking about what a life with her would be like. Sakuya lifted the covers over her, so she would stay nice and warm while she napped.
Only time would tell, but for now, Eri could sleep content in the knowledge that everything would be alright.
[Sunday24thApril 2281]
When Izumi had succumbed to unconsciousness after defeating Orochi and releasing her possession of Eri, she had done so without a single bit of regret or worry weighing her down. She'd defeated Orochi and given him some peace before sending him on his way. She'd ensured Chisaki was both quirkless and a prisoner for his crimes. She'd crushed Roku-Ju for the crimes of stealing her mother's soul and cruelly beating her and her child. She'd recovered her mother's soul, which now slumbered peacefully within her until she could reunite it with the woman's body. And last but not least; she'd ensured Eri was safe and healthy, with no more scars to remind her of her ordeal and the fulfilment of her promise to show the child the stars. Now that her energy was slowly returning, enough so that her mind regained some awareness, Izumi began to worry about quite a few things.
How was she going to explain what happened with Orochi to the Heroes? Surely All-Might had heard enough to have come to some conclusions of his own, and all the other Heroes and Police Officers had been exposed to parts of her true Divine Nature. Was Izumi's secret out? If so, what would happen to her now?
Then she worried about the aftermath of the fight with the Demon. Strictly speaking, the damage to Corusantu by the raid on the Shie Hassaikai wasn't her fault, nor was the creation of the sky arena, but Izumi HAD grown a gargantuan tree that rivalled some skyscrapers right in the middle of the street. What if the Police got angry with her for it!? Removing or working around the tree would be a massive undertaking and probably very expensive! Would Izumi be fined for it? Would it effect her career?
Of course, her biggest worries revolved around the people she loved; namely Hawks and Eri. Hawks had been badly hurt by Orochi and Izumi was out cold so she couldn't heal him! Would he be alright? He wouldn't die from those injuries without her, right? What if Orochi did something she couldn't heal!? Poor Keigo could have lost his career and Izumi would have slept through it!
And Eri… sweet little Eri. Izumi couldn't explain why she'd gotten so attached to the little girl; sure Eri was sweet, innocent, and just about the cutest thing Izumi had ever seen, but that didn't explain quite how fast Izumi had grown to love her. Eri had called her Mama a few times, and Izumi fully embraced that role; Eri was hers now! Her daughter! Her pup! But therein came the worries… Eri was 5, and Izumi was 14. If Izumi had been her blood mother, she'd have given birth when she was 9, which was wrong by every conceivable measure. There was almost no way the Government would let Izumi take Eri as her own child; the best she could hope for would be having Sakuya foster her and be her mother on paper while Izumi was the real parent. But the worst possible outcomes? Eri could be taken away from her, placed with bad Foster parents like Izumi had been, or left to rot in an orphanage because of her quirk! Maybe the Government would try to use her and her powers, turning her into a tool because of the amazing capabilities of Rewind! All manner of nightmare situations haunted Izumi's mind, disturbing her rest.
At some point in the miasma of dreams and worries, Izumi was sure she heard Eri cry for help. Izumi had automatically flared out her Divine Power, and the cries ended soon after to be replaced by soft giggles. Izumi assumed it was just another nightmare born of her worries, but it did make one thing very clear to her.
No matter what anyone said, so long as Eri wanted her, Izumi would not let her go. She didn't care if the Government tried to seperate them; Izumi wouldn't allow it regardless. Izumi wanted to be a Hero who helped people and did the right thing, and if the Government wanted to take Eri away or use her, then that wasn't helping anyone but themselves, and it certainly wasn't the right thing to do; so Izumi would fight back.
Izumi almost laughed; to think she'd grow so close to Eri that she'd genuinely rebel against the Government for her… Not that it would be much of a rebellion. Izumi wasn't stupid and neither were the people in charge; after what happened with Orochi, questions would be asked and when they learned what Izumi was, and what she had to do, they'd have no choice but to leave her alone.
It would be a simple choice; let Izumi take care of the little girl who clearly wanted her to raise her, or deny them and risk the world falling to Demons.
Defeating Orochi had emboldened Izumi, and seeing his creation had hardened her heart against those who callously exploited others. The fear that gripped her at the idea of revealing herself, the same fear that had plagued her back when trying to find a way to help Jin escape the crimes he was forced to commit, had vanished. Izumi had seen and experienced a true hell, and it had galvanised her resolve; she would give anything and do anything necessary to protect people, no matter how much she suffered.
That was the resolve Izumi had forged for herself; her own conviction. With her conviction beginning to form within her heart, Izumi's resting mind drifted from worries to excitement. She looked forward to seeing all her friends and family again, and seeing how they acted around Eri. She looked forward to seeing Eri growing up happy and loved. She looked forward to becoming a full-fledged Hero. She looked forward to waking up her Mother, and having their reunion.
Slowly, Izumi began to awaken.
When Izumi finally drifted back to the waking world, she felt so comfortable and warm that her eyes didn't want to open. She could hear quiet chattering going on around her, and a part of her wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, until a childish giggle caught her attention and forced her to stay awake.
"Ugh… Eri?" she asked groggily, only for her words to come out as a tired whine. Surprised, she began opening her eyes and looking around blearily.
As the fog cleared from her eyes, Izumi found herself in a hospital room, surrounded by people and flowers. Izumi found she was in her Wolf Form, and it looked like she had somehow cast Bloom in her sleep, causing flowers to sprout from every surface in the room. Combined with the midday sun streaming in through the window, and the soft breeze that came with it, it looked like Izumi had fallen asleep in a meadow. Izumi reverted to her Human Form and repeated herself, getting everyone's attention.
"Mama 'Zumi!" Eri shouted, jumping from Himiko's lap to Izumi's and hugging the older girl; "You're finally awake! You've been asleep for so long!" she cheered.
"'m sorry Eri." Izumi said, still a bit dozy, "I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Are you okay?" the older girl asked, taking a good look at Eri. The little girl looked much better; Eri wasn't as pale as before, and her hair had been braided. She was wearing a light blue hospital gown and, to Izumi's amusement, she had a little crown of flowers and was holding a large sunflower like it was a staff. Eri had cheered up a lot since meeting her Mama's close friends and family, and had gotten to play with them a fair bit, including all the pretty flowers Mama 'Zumi had made grow while she slept. Doctor Sakamoto had even taken the IV out after dinner the previous night, so now Eri could bounce around the room happily. Eri wouldn't have usually felt so relaxed, but knowing that her Mama would jump to her defence even in her sleep, and knowing she hadn't been hurt once since her Mama came into her life, meant the little girl was much more confident.
Of course, now that Eri had greeted Izumi, it was time for everyone else to swarm her, so following a huge cry of "IZUMI!" the poor girl found herself clutching Eri to her chest as Sakuya, Katsuki, Himiko, Jin, Dabi, and the Onikawa Brothers surrounded her bed, with Sakuya and Himiko embracing Izumi as tightly as they could without crushing her and Eri.
Sakuya was smiling broadly, tears of joy and relief as she embraced her daughter, her new granddaughter squeezed happily between them. "Thank goodness you're finally awake! It's been four days since you were rescued!"
"I'm okay Mom. I'm sorry I worried you." Izumi said bashfully, enjoying the hug. After spending so much time hugging and comforting Eri, it felt good to be held and comforted herself.
Sakuya almost choked hearing what Izumi had called her, and pulled back enough that she could look the girl in the eye without releasing the hug. "M-Mom?"
Izumi blushed crimson and nodded; "Y-You've raised me for most of my life… you've loved me and been my Mom that whole time; going on 10 years now. I-I thought you deserved to be called that. I-Is it weird?" she asked nervously.
The Wood Sprite beamed so brightly that she could have been mistaken for the Sun Goddess herself! She pressed Izumi and Eri against her chest and smiled warmly, tears of joy once again flowing freely down her cheeks; "It's more than okay. I'm so happy… I was afraid you wouldn't want to see me in that way, since you still have your own Mother."
"You're not replacing my Mama, but… well people can have more than one Mom, right? Blood alone isn't what makes a mother. Besides..." Izumi put a hand against her own chest, feeling the second soul that was resting there; "I know Mama is okay with it."
The group exchanged a look, remembering what Eri had told them about Inko's soul. Sakuya's smile grew even larger, glad she had Inko's seal of approval. Himiko, who was wearing a flower crown, smiled too. She'd been trying to work up the courage to call Sakuya "Mom" as well, having always called her Auntie Sakuya since Himiko hadn't really had any good experiences with mothers before her. The idea of calling someone "Mom" or "Mama" was a bit of a psychological barrier for the girl who's own Mother had been abusive for 13 years. Still, Himiko was determined to get there soon and until then, she could try and take courage from Izumi and Eri, who'd managed to call others "Mom" and "Mama" even after their own bad experiences.
It took Sakuya a few moments before she could compose herself enough to start speaking again. "My little Hero… I'm so sorry we couldn't do more to help you while you were in trouble. After you were kidnapped, we all felt so useless. You had to go through something so hard all by yourself." she said, sitting beside Izumi on Eri's bed (where she still was after the previous day's incident with Kanetsu). Eri shifted slightly so she was still on Izumi's lap but could face the room too, and Himiko moved to sit on Izumi's free side.
Free from the hugs, Izumi looked at everyone else in the room. Katsuki and Dabi were on either side of her bed, both wearing flower crowns too (though they looked a bit embarrassed when Izumi's eyes swept over the rings of daisies and buttercups). Jin was at the foot of her bed, smiling giddily and wearing three flower crowns at once, while his signature mask was sticking out of his pants pocket. The Onikawa Brothers, who had stepped back a little so as not to crowd Izumi, lacked crowns, but they did each have a rose in their lapels matching their signature colour. With the hulking bodyguards not around her bed any more, there was a gap Izumi could see through, allowing her to see that two of the other beds in the room were occupied by Keigo (naturally sporting his own flower crown), and her comatose Mother, waiting patiently for the return of her soul.
"Keigo! Are you okay? I didn't get to see your condition properly after the whole thing with Orochi." Izumi asked urgently. She tried to get to her feet, but everyone else forced her back on her butt.
Keigo grinned; "I'm fine. My wings are toast, but they'll be fine after some of your patented Rejuvenation Massages!" he winked, "But don't go rushing to heal me. I'm doped up enough that I'm not in pain, and Ingenium has his whole agency covering for my patrols in the city, so there's no need to be hasty, you know?"
For a moment, Izumi was relieved by Keigo's usual casual smile, but then the currently wingless man frowned. "I'm sorry I couldn't do much with Orochi. Me, the Onikawas, All-Might, and all the U.A teachers came to your rescue, with Tenji even getting his cousin Ingenium involved, but you still had to do most of the fighting yourself while I was taken hostage. I was supposed to have your back, and I failed you completely. I'm sorry." he said, wincing in pain as he forced himself to bow awkwardly while still sitting up in his bed.
Izumi felt her heart ache for the man; "Keigo… you're my big brother, and it meant the world to me that you came to try and save me! Don't blame yourself for what happened with Orochi; even All-Might couldn't do that much on his own, and you were caught by surprise. I'm just glad all the good guys got out alive."
"Nice as ever, ain't ya Lil Pup?" Keigo smiled sardonically, "I appreciate it, but it doesn't change the fact that I screwed up. I'll do better next time."
"We all will." Himiko cut in, "Little Sis, we're really glad you and Eri got out okay. When we heard you were kidnapped, Kacchan and I were ready to go and hunt down the Yakuza ourselves! Dabi was too!"
Izumi blushed at their care, but she also frowned a bit; "You didn't actually do it though, right? I'd hate for you guys to get in trouble for Vigilantism because of me..."
Katsuki rolled his eyes; "God, you and Snowball really have issues with guilt, you know that? No wonder you became her "Mama" he smirked wryly; "Don't go blaming yourselves for other people's stupid choices. Auntie Sakuya made sure we all sat our asses down like useless pricks while the Cops and Heroes did the real work. All we've done is take notes for you in class and be glorified bus boys for the Police."
"Thank you, Kacchan. I'm glad you let the Police and Heroes handle it; if you interfered and it got on your record, it might have messed with your dreams for U.A! Oh, and please don't curse in front of Eri!" Izumi said, smiling and playfully waggling her finger at him.
Katsuki blushed, but kept smirking; "Fine fine..." his expression softened, "I'm glad you're okay, Izuchan. Eri woke up just yesterday; we took care of her while you slept."
Eri nodded enthusiastically; "Uh huh! Granny Flower hugs sort of like you, and Auntie 'Miko showed me how to make crowns with flowers! It was really pretty; you started growing them in your sleep! Uncle Kacchan teaches me lots of words, but I'm not allowed to say some of them. Then Jin-chan showed me his quirk and made a copy of you, and Uncle Kei told me stories about Heroes, and Uncle Dabi's been showing me more reading and telling me what all the flowers are! Oh, and Ishiko showed me how to draw better and I made a picture of Toshi, but I can't show you 'cause he took it home with him." she chirped, acting just like a normal little girl after a fun day at school.
"It sounds like you had a lot of fun!" Izumi grinned, patting Eri's head, "All your days should be like this from now on! But that reminds me; where is Ishiko? And who is Toshi?"
Sakuya smoothly cut in before Eri could answer. The child's way of speaking at the moment was excitable and cute, but not the most concise. "Toshi is Toshinori Yagi, an associate that you'll be meeting later. He's at U.A on business this morning. As for Ishiko, she's actually over there."
The Tree Spirit pointed a dainty finger to the corner of the room closest to Inko, where a small collection of Sunflowers had grown. One of the Sunflowers had been harvested for Eri's little flower wand, but on another sat Ishiko, who was busily drawing on a sheet of parchment. Izumi giggled slightly; when Ishiko got into her art, she was completely oblivious to the world around her. At present, the Poncle was drawing a portrait of Inko, sleeping in a bed almost overgrown with flowers; it looked like something out of a fairy tale, and there was no way Ishiko was missing out on painting it.
When Izumi saw Ishiko had paused in her drawing for a moment, the girl shifted into Demi-God Form and pointed a mischievous finger at the Sunflowers. She grew a vine between the one Ishiko was on and a shorter one next to it, then manipulated the vine to pull Ishiko's sunflower over a bit before letting the vine go slack. This made the Sunflower spring back and launch Ishiko like a catapult. The Poncle squawked indignantly as she was sent sailing through the air, before she was effortlessly caught by Izumi.
"Hey! What's the big idea, Izumi!?" Ishiko demanded angrily.
There was a beat, and Izumi raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, IZUMI!?" Ishiko shrieked, suddenly realising what was happening; "When did you wake up!?"
That got everyone laughing, embarrassing Ishiko who pouted for a few moments, before she too began to see the humour and laughed along. It took quite a while for the laughter to fully end, especially for Izumi and Eri, who found that they had needed the laughter a lot more than they'd thought. When they finally began to calm down, catch their breath and wipe the tears from their eyes, Izumi and Eri were snuggled together even tighter than before.
"I'm really glad you're okay Izumi. I know I was with you through most of what happened but… I'm glad it ended well for you and Eri. Thanks to you, no one but Orochi and his Demons were killed." Ishiko smiled; "Now, just like Issun and Ishaku, I can say I bore witness to the defeat of Orochi, but unlike them, I can say I witnessed his final defeat and the end of the grudge that created him. I'll be making a truly epic masterpiece when we return to the manor… once I've finished this one of course." she said, gesturing to her current incomplete work.
Izumi gently took the parchment and examined it; it was well done, but it was mostly outlines with a few sketched details and no colour. She bit her lip.
"Ishiko? Could...could you finish this work from memory? Or perhaps a photo?" Izumi asked, her eyes flickering over to where her mother lay.
Ishiko smiled kindly; "Just gimme a second. Himiko, mind taking the photo for me?"
Himiko nodded and hopped up, grabbing her cellphone as she did so. Ishiko hopped on her shoulders and directed her to the perfect spot to take the perfect picture of the slumbering Inko. Once the picture was taken, and Ishiko was sure she could use it to complete her portrait later, the Poncle gave a thumbs up to Izumi. "I'm finished. Do what you need to, Izumi."
Everyone but Eri immediately grasped what was happening next, so moved out of the way while Izumi returned to her Human Form and slowly got to her feet. She wobbled a bit as she struggled to get used to her legs again after so long asleep, but she adjusted quickly and began walking over to Inko's bedside.
Eri looked at her with confusion; "Mama, what's happening now?"
"Do you know who this is?" Izumi asked, looking at the child in her arms with a smile.
Eri nodded; "Uh huh. It's Grandma, your other Mama like Granny Flower."
"Well, she's been asleep for a long time, like I told you. Now it's time for her to wake up." Izumi explained. Eri gasped and began almost vibrating in excitement. She was a little bit scared that her Grandma might not like her, but then she remembered the words Inko's soul had spoken when it appeared before Izumi and Eri's fused state;
"I look forward to meeting my granddaughter too!"
Izumi didn't have any children, so she must have meant Eri!
Once they'd made the slow walk to Inko's bedside, Izumi carefully handed Eri to Sakuya, so she had the hands free to do what she needed, then sat down gently beside her mother. Izumi gently took one of her mother's hands in one of her own, then placed her other hand against her own chest and coaxed out the soul that had come to rest there.
There was a blinding flash of light as a small white ball of flame emerged from Izumi's heart and nestled into her palm. The tiny light, Inko's soul, began to quiver with anticipation, sensing its body so close, but it didn't move of its own volition. Instead, it remained still as Izumi stooped and gently kissed the soul. It felt almost like a small furry animal against her lips, and Izumi felt the love pouring out of it.
"Time to go home, Little Soul." Izumi whispered, before placing the speck of life over her mother's heart, then pressing it down so it phased through the sleeping woman's skin. There was another flash of light and the soul completely melded into Inko's body, briefly causing every one of Inko's blood vessels to glow white, as if her blood had become white flame.
Immediately, a change began to come over Inko's body. Colour returned to her pale skin, and her skinny limbs appeared to swell slightly; the energy that the soul had absorbed within Izumi feeding Inko's body and restoring it to a better condition. Inko was still far skinnier than was healthy, but she didn't look like she was on death's door any more.
Then, Inko took a deep, slow breath and opened her eyes.
Everyone but Izumi held their breath as Inko and Izumi locked eyes; two pairs of emeralds exchanging countless emotions that could never be truly described with words alone. Tears began to flow freely down Izumi's cheeks, and a few began to build in Inko's eyes.
Then, in a soft but undeniably loving voice, Inko spoke. "Good Morning, my Darling Girl."
Izumi choked back a sob as a brilliant smile covered her face. "Good Morning, Mama."
And like that, the dam broke. Both Mother and Daughter burst into tears and for the first time in ten long years, they embraced. Each sobbed and smiled, filled with so much emotion from their long awaited reunion.
The others in the room smiled widely and felt tears in their own eyes at the beautiful sight.
After ten years asleep, Inko Midoriya finally awoke, and the first thing she saw was the face of her daughter, smiling down at her with the same eyes full of hope and love that Inko loved so much.
As they embraced, Inko couldn't help but whisper; "Thank you for saving me. You're my Hero!"
Izumi wept harder, her cheeks growing sore from the unbeatable smile on her face.
