Chapter 1. The Day Everything Brightened.

Tekka Todoroki had it all. A nice set up lifestyle painstakingly paid for by her mother and father, a car, and a house most people could only dream about. Yet she felt like her life was little more than a joke. The young woman rolled her tired shoulders and yawned. Her brother was all over the news yet again, as the hottest bachelor in the country. He refused interviews and fan service and just did his job, leaving Tekka with the footnotes.

She wasn't a hero, so that was a gigantic smack in the face. The young Todoroki was grabbing at the waning time of fame. Tekka never wanted to depend upon her family for anything. The parking garage was silent, just for her thoughts to choke her down and for her mother to echo in her mind.

Worthless.

Fat.

Old maid material.

The gaze of scorn blazed azure from behind her as she slowly heated with sheer rage. Her hands tightened into fists. She lashed out at it, feeling the caving in of soft flesh, "Hahh!" She yelled, seeing the shadow crashing onto the pavement.

Then she blinked, eyes beholding who she struck. Golden hair with dark orange highlights that was fluffy and long, flowing down towards his shoulders, sharp but wide eyes with an oddly red, orange hue, an ill-fitting suit that was out of sorts and glasses that looked seconds from crumbling to dust were on his face. He held his nose, blood oozing from between his fingers and staring at her with a brilliant twinkle in his eyes.

"Whaah! I'm sorry! I uh…" Tekka mumbled, trying to not make the man she Little Mac'd freak out. He stared at her, still twinkling eyes and an awed smile.

"Amazing…" the young man said, his voice like a warm breeze, but with the heavy tone of a hero. He shot to his feet, shorter than Tekka by only coming up to her chest. Tekka couldn't fight the blushing on her cheeks at his remark.

"Tch! What do you want?" She asked, her voice dripping with venom. The young man gave his best smile.

"I wanna make you a star!" He exclaimed, pumping his free hand into a fist. "You're a perfect fit for a leading lady!" Tekka blinked, thinking that this man was part of some weird sexual activity thing.

"Not interested! You're probably gonna lead me to some warehouse somewhere, and do god knows what to me," the man balked harshly.

"Whoa! No! Not at all." He denied, "My name is Sengoku Kaenshita, my card." he bowed, giving it to her. She looked down at it with an unimpressed look.

"Intern?" she asked.

"Yeah… but now… lemme just.. Schoo…. And… boo! And… stick! Boom! Director!" He got out a labeller and made machine didn't know if she should be impressed or embarrassed. She snickered a little.

"So uh… gimme a ring if ya wanna come join the showbiz, uhh…" Sengoku muttered, walking away.

"Tekka, and don't count on it," Tekka stated. It overran her thoughts with confusion. One second she was apologetic, and now she was stumped on how to deal with guys like him.

Sengoku just smiled and waved to her, "See ya later then, I hope you consider it!" He called, whistling. Tekka just looked down at the card, oddly enough intrigued.

Tekka had her doubts, maybe it was legit, maybe it wasn't. But she still called him. It rang once and twice and three times over and then he picked it up.

"Hey! How are you, Tekka? Are you free to talk?"

Tekka sighed, remembering all the other times she couldn't. Today was one of those rare days of freedom, "Yes, I am, Sengoku," she said.

"Great! So about the movie, let me break it down for y-"

"How about we do it face to face? It's strange to do it over a phone," she said. The other end went silent.

"Well… Sure!" Sengoku exclaimed, "I know a good place to meet, outta the way… quiet… without any outside stuff!"

"Why, Sengoku, it seems youre going to murder me somewhere~!" She joked.

"… No. I… I'd never do that." His voice darkened behind a cloud, "Tekka, don't joke about that," his voice sounded heavy and Tekka's chest constricted with guilt, her heart hammering over and over, she put her hand on her forehead, rubbing it softly with a couple of fingers.

"I won't, Sengoku, I promise,"

Sengoku cleared his throat, the warm friendliness returning, "So… how bout I pick you up… let's say…"

"Seven. Not a minute more or less," Tekka said, "I have… a meeting to go to with my brother and mother so that time would be nice,"

"Hey, Tekka. You don't have to go, ya know, I used to dodge meetings with my family all the time," her friend said, "I mean, it's just me, but… you seem like the kinda lady that got hurt a long time ago, and built a whole-"

Tekka's heart stabbed with a bit of rage, "Sengoku Kaenshita, DO NOT patronize me! Do not psychoanalyze me!" She growled harshly, her voice low and boiling with intensity, her hair doing the same, straining against the asbestos suit-like hair tie. Jaw set, eyes narrowed.

"Okay. I have made errors. Just… look, it's normal for people to worry about their friends, Tekka,"

"Are we friends?" she asked.

"Kinda."

Tekka snickered, her shoulders jolting a little before a laugh spilled out of her mouth, long and warm and actually sort of pretty. She could only imagine Sengoku on the other end, his reaction or the thought of it made her a little more giddy.

On the other end, Sengoku sat there, cheeks flushed in his dingy apartment with the hole in the floor covered haphazardly in duct tape, a building barely edging out with the Code but whatever. Tekka's laugh made Sengoku feel lighter, his chest bubbly and his mind filled with just joyful things. Thinking of Tekka smiling, or at least the dream he had of his ideal family…

He sat there in dreamland at least a little longer, imagining her telling him she was pregnant with his baby, imagining the life they could have together. Sengoku loved having his head in the clouds. It was often better than reality.

Tekka halted her laughter as Sengoku rebounded quickly, his serene smile spreading to his lips, his voice being found again.

"So… hey, survive that meeting, ours is gonna be great! I promise!" He exclaimed, waiting for her to answer.

"Sure." she said, hanging up. Tekka breathed deeply, almost letting her rage get the better of her was not intentional. It was always there. The need to destroy, to rot and ruin, razing everything to the ground. Everyone knew her in the ring as The Volcanic Beauty. Yet she didn't like the feeling of it.

She worried that she might have hurt Sengoku's feelings. With her brother he'd give less of a shit, but Tekka had to play the emotional gambit. She stood up from her couch, her eyes determinedly staring into the mirror in her bathroom. She stared at her muscles flexing, looking at them. Her body was solid, a wall of muscle compared to most women. Other than her mother being the picture of feminine beauty, Tekka wanted to be beautiful in other ways.

Yet, when she reached up to undo her hair, she hesitated. Her eyes tightened, her jaw firmly set, her lips scowling. It shouldn't be that hard to undo her hair. It's just a small pull, then it falls down, right? She pulled at her hair, her smooth locks fell to her thighs, and she looked at herself in the mirror, feeling like she was going to give it a good punch. She hated how much she looked like her. She pulled on her leather jacket and she got it from her father.

Tekka smiled at feeling the leather on her hands. The smoothness was a comfort to her. She just aligned everything and started to make her way to her car. It wasn't too fancy, an SUV her father gave her.

She didn't want to go back to that damn house. The closer she drove to it the more she felt nervous. It was an old modern house with clean lines, newer than the childhood home she and Enji remembered growing up in.

Tekka saw her brother's car. It was a slick Lambo or a Ferrari. Completely weird and absolutely flashy as hell just like him. She went up the pristine walkway, her boots clunking. She let a smile on her face, remembering what her new friend said.

Tekka faced the door and knocked, opening it. At the door was a little taller woman with blazing blue eyes and with long lava hair like hers. Wrinkles were under her eyes and she sized her up.

"Tekka," The woman greeted.

"Mother," Tekka answered.

"You look decent."

"Thanks."

The mother and daughter went inside, the foyer was like the outside, modern and functional. Waiting for them was a man around the same height as the other two. Short red hair and a strong face. The older brother, Enji. His blue eyes met Tekka's orange, and he had a small smirk on his face.

"Sister,"

"Hey, ya big lug," She laughed.

"Hm. Is that jacket father's?" he asked.

"Yeah,"

"Okay. It looks fine on your monstrous frame," he shot out a barb that caught her. She just walked over and whacked him on the shoulder.

"Oh jeez, En! Harsh!" she chided gently.

"Heh!" Enji let out a small laugh. "Still, It's good to see you're looking well, Tekka,"

Their mother watched that with a disinterested stare. Her eyes just smoldered into the two of them. It made Tekka flinch harshly and Enji to stiffen a little. Their mother was lithe, tall, more toned than muscular. Her lips turned up in a smile.

"It's nice to see you two. Now tell me, how are things?" she asked. Enji began.

"Well. My hero work is going well, Mother. More villains than I can count and they all keep on doing it over and over. Although… I do have other news!" He brightened up, "Rei's pregnant!"

"Oh. Your wife." Their mother said with an air of displeasure. Enjis's good mood brightened even more.

"Nine months from now, and you'll be a grandmother! And…" he turned to Tekka and nudged her, "You'll be an Aunt!"

"Aww! Cute!" Tekka cooed. "My big brother is a dad!"

"Tch, how about you, any men in your life?" he asked.

Tekka crossed her arms. "No. Not right now, I'm taking a break from the spotlight," she said, pouting a little.

"No. I can tell when you lie, dear. You get defensive," their mother commented, "Who is it, and be specific."

"Mother, its none of your business," Enji said.

"Kaenshita, his name is Sengoku Kaenshita, he's a movie director… well, he was an intern," Tekka admitted, "He's… kinda cute, I punched him in the face but he didnt… well…"

Her mother looked shocked. Getting to her feet, she walked over and laced her hands on her shoulders, "Tekka, sweetie. Marry him," she whispered.

"Mother! We just met a week ago!"

"And you were blushing, sis," Enji supplied.

"I am NOT marrying Sengoku like you married Rei, En!" Tekka snarled. "Just… look… I'll give him a shot but it's my choice, okay?"

"Alright, that's all," her mother said

"What's so special about him, though?" Tekka asked.

"His family is rather impressive. He is… Well, I guess you'll find out," her mother hinted. "Good luck, honey,"

Tekka felt odd going home. She didn't know how to feel. She sighed and turned on her phone, hesitating. Hovering her thumb over his number. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

'It's my decision.' She thought.

This day was hell. Two weeks from her due date, worried sick about it, Tekka Todoroki, now Tekka Kaenshita, couldn't sleep. Her eyes glued open, her hair lukewarm as she sat on the bed, very pregnant.

"Mm… babe… get some sleep…" Sengoku groaned next to her, one of his eyes open, "Come on… the baby's gonna be fine."

Sengoku kissed her neck, "Come on, lay down~"

"Sweetie, if you keep doing that I'll- hggh!" she groaned, feeling a sharp pain.

"Oh shit, okay… babe, breathe,"

"It's not… his due date!" She hissed, "Why is he coming now!" her eyes shut.

"Because maybe he's excited to meet us!" Sengoku exclaimed, leading her outside, holding her hand and going slow.

"How the fuck are you this positive! Like that time on set!" She growled.

"I'm positive because someone needed me to be! That someone was you!" he declared. Sengoku got in the car with Tekka in the back. "Alright, sweetie, Imma Vin Diesel this!"

"Shut it… about those… agh! Dumb action movies… they have twenty…" she groaned, "Shit…"

"We're gonna make it this time, Tekka! I got a good feeling about this one!"

"I won't know until he's here, Sen!" She groaned in pain, Sengoku floored it with the hazards on the whole ride, his glasses off and his stress levels through the roof, "Come on… come on… he mumbled, Not this time. Not this time…" Once they got to the hospital they got into a bed, after three hours… a warm bundle was in her arms, holding it. The sunlight shined gently through the window, illuminating the new mother and the squirming baby in her arms.

"He's… so… so perfect, Sen, I… I can't…" she felt tears sting her eyes, seeing the baby looking around, his tiny hands bunched into little fists. His eyes were just like his fathers, but they stared at everything other than his father and mother. Until their eyes locked, Mother and Son.

"Hey…" she sniffled. "Hey sweetie…" she held him close. "Hi… its Mommy,"

Sengoku watched his wife and son together. "Hey buddy, I'm yer Daddy! Oh man, you're so cute, Kyojuro!" He cooed, "That's his name, Kyojuro! Has a nice ring to it, right?"

"Kyojuro, huh?" Tekka asked, looking down at her son, "Whaddya think, Kyo-Ju-Ro?" she continued. A tiny smile was on the baby's face.

Look at him! He likes it!" Sengoku exclaimed. "Haha! Man, he's gonna fall in love with the sweetest girl or boy ever! I mean, just look at that face! Handsome!"

"Mostly from me," Tekka said, cuddling him as he nursed.

"Nah, he's got my chin," Sengoku denied.

"And my eyebrows, love," she shot back.

"Right… my beautiful wife and handsome boy!" Sengoku kissed her on the forehead, "He's so small,"

"He's here early. Is my family coming?"

"No, radio silence," he said.

"Yours?"

"Nah, they hate me," he sighed.

Tekka smiled. "Good, the hero world is no life for my boy, if my brother is a top ranker… then Kyojuro doesn't need to know him for what he did to Rei,"

"Look… Tekka… he's gonna run into them one day, and he's gonna ask us why we didn't let him see his cousins."

"We're NOT Todorokis, Sengoku. We're a family of our own and I won't let our son go down the same road. Is that clear?" she asked.

"Crystal," he said, "But if he wants to… can he?"

"Sure," Tekka said, "But you and I both know its a glorified cop job, and we'd be worrying our hair gray over him,"

"Wait, what happens to your hair the older you get?"

"It hardens into obsidian," she said, "Just… look at him. Did he really come out of me?"

"He did, and I know everything is going to be okay," Sengoku reassured her.

"What if I'm… not a wonderful mom?" she muttered. "What if… he ends up like Touya and I could've stopped it? What if I end up like my mom and he hates me? I love him so much, Sen!" she rambled. "I love Kyojuro, and he's worth it but…"

Sengoku grabbed her cheeks. "Tekka. You are going to be the greatest mom in the universe. I promise. I've never been wrong about you. I've always believed in you… like you believed in me, and look at our son. Look at what we made…"

Tekka looked down at her baby boy who was reaching for her hair, his eyes so bright and innocent, his hair just fuzzy, but his smile was worth it all.

"He believes in you too, you're his mommy! Of course he would! We love you and care about you and come hell or high water you know I'd fight for you! Kyojuro is our life now. Whatever happens from here on out, our families don't matter, all that matters is our baby boy." he leaned forward and kissed her, but the baby didn't like that.

"Wahhhhhhhh!" He sobbed.

"Ugh… really?" Tekka groaned.

"Get used to it babe, you wanted him."

"Only this ONE, Sengoku!" she snarled. "One. Baby. This is my one baby." She cooed down at little Kyojuro, who laughed.

"Yes~! Who's my one baby You are~! Tekka hugged her baby tightly. "You're gonna do so many great things, Kyojuro," Kyojuro just babbled, looking at his father.

"Your turn, Mr. Director~!" She turned Kyojuro over to his father, finally giving her arms time to rest. Everything was going to be better now… she could just feel it.