To Catch a Sleeping Ghost

by national babe

Perhaps you know ghosts as spirits who cling to the mortal world, refusing that their body has long since decayed. But perhaps they are a race all on their own. And perhaps one little ghost is too innocent with too great a desire too see what is out beyond his town walls. Perhaps the master of his home is suffering from a lonely heart. Perhaps Izuku Midoriya never comes back.

1. Late

The small figure had to move faster. He couldn't be late, not today. Already he was stretching the limit and deep down he knew he wouldn't make it. Summoning some hidden will, he forced his bare legs to sprint faster, his dress-like cloak and only covering flapping behind him. The uneven pathway passed underneath his small unprotected feet, but he couldn't feel the sharp stones scraping his feet. To be truthful, he couldn't 'feel' anything. He'd heard of the wind, of cold stones, warm wool, and a loving touch. He'd never felt any of those.

All he could feel was the sense of 'feelings', and right now the only feeling he felt was urgent worry.

He couldn't be late.

He couldn't be.

The small figure continued to dash forward. He couldn't see the eyes watching him. He couldn't see a hand, quicker than lightning, snap out and grab a thin rope around the his neck. The child let out half of a scream as the string tightened then fell loose.

The small figure Vanished, the strangled gasp echoing against the unforgiving trees. His white cloak fluttered to the road floor. The rope that had previously sat on the child's neck and shoulders was clenched in a four fingered grip. A sickly tall man stepped from his hiding spot in the bushes and trees, smiling at the rope in his hand and the sheet on the ground. "See?" His voice rasped against the air, malicious and heartless. "I told you this one is easy prey Dabi."

A second man, wrapped in light blue flames, stepped forward, frowning at the fallen cloak. "I mean, Handsy, he seemed like he actually had something important -"

"Oh please." Shigaraki knelt on the ground, carefully lifting the cloak with three fingers. "He's not gonna be hurt by it. It's barely even thievery. Trust me, this kid is way too generous. He'd give us some if we'd ask."

Dabi frowned as Shigaraki flicked the cloak away. "Then why not ask?"

The sickly man sent Dabi a disparaging look. "Because," he said slowly, as if Dabi was of a slow mind, "I want more than one piece, genius." The flame elemental scowled, but kept silent as Shigaraki looked down at where the cloak had been. He swore. "There's only one?!"

Indeed, where it had been hidden underneath the thin sheet, one small glistening piece of chocolate lay. Shigaraki growled and started scratching at his torn neck in anger, muttering obscenities and curses underneath his breath. Dabi shrugged. "Welp, looks like we'll just have to-" the words froze in his throat. Snapping forward, Dabi snatched Shigaraki's hand away from the small chocolate. "What in heavens name are you doing?!"

The man scowled. He whipped his other hand away from the chocolate and closed four fingers around Dabi's forearm, the flames separating. "Hey now," he spoke in a sickly sweet tone, wiggling his little finger, "I thought you were on my side."

Dabi scowled, and let his flames return; he got a cold sense of satisfaction at hearing Shigaraki's yelp and feeling the vice grip leave hours forearm. "If you will recall," he spoke, voice unforgivingly firm, "Kurogiri pawned his babysitting duties onto me. I am your body guard, not friend, and I'm not just gonna let you kill a kid."

Keeping Shigaraki at bay with one arm wreathed in flames, Dabi knelt down. He carefully assured himself that the delicate rope was secure around where a neck should be in the thin cloak. He wrapped the lone melting piece of chocolate in one fist in the wrappings. Lifting the covering, he raised his arm and, in one strong fluid motion, threw the coat back down onto the forest floor.

The thin white veil burst to life. The small figure rose to unsteady feet, coughing dust. Dabi laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, Shigaraki no longer fighting him. The child turned his head and two shocking emeralds locked onto the man's face. Dabi was staring at a face of porcelain the color of fallen snow, with a scattering of dust for feckless. Two shining jade orbs glistened as they focused on Dabi's scarred and twisted features; suddenly, he felt shame for his physical appearance bubbling up within himself: burning blue eyes, bubbling black and purple scars that covered near every inch of his once handsome face, taut and sickly muscle clinging to his gaunt form.

The child and he stared at each other for one frozen moment. Dabi suddenly coughed, patting the small figure on the shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you." The child's voice wad clear, youthful tones laced with surprise. "What happened? Who are you?"

"Dabi," he swallowed again, scrambling for some excuse. "Perhaps your rope got caught on a branch?" Internally he wad praying to whom he did not know that the child wouldn't see through the flimsy lie. "Little ghosts such as yourself can't be too careful."

"Yeah, you fire elementals get it easy, no one even wants to pick on you." The child ghost beamed up at the stranger. "Thank you for fixing me!" He stuck out a misty hand, the forest floor barely visible through his palm. "I'm Izuku!"

Dabi smiled. "Y'know I can't actually shake your hand, yeah?"

Izuku looked down at his hand and blushed. "Oh. Im so used to being around my kind that-" his eyes widened at Izuku gave a little start. "Oh my goodness, I have to get back!" Izuku began to run away again, but stopped after a few steps. Still half-hopping towards his destination, he waved to Dabi and Shigaraki, sending them a beaming smile. "Goodbye! Thank you for your help! Hope we meet again!"

Dabi smiled, digging his elbow into his companion's ribs at the dark comment of "I can't wait," and waved back to the small Izuku.

The child turned, and continued full sprint towards Dabi didn't know where. As Izuku ran, he missed Shigaraki turning on his body guard in anger and the heated argument that followed between the two.

Izuku was back to running full speed through the empty forest, this time minding straying branches and odd sounds. Internally Izuku was thanking his lucky stars that nothing head happened to his last piece of candy while he had been Vanished; he couldn't bear the thought that his mother being forced to accept him being Vanished forever. He was all she had left in this world.

Light began to peek through the trees. With a final burst of speed, Izuku burst into the clearing he called home.

Before him rose a modern beauty: seven stories, detailed oak doors the size of an elephant (if such a creature truly did exist), high arching ceilings, rose vine covered stone walls, emmaculate windows with gold detailing, perfect gardens stretching to either painting-perfect side; the Eighth Mansion was an architectural wonder, yet today it struck a chord of sadness and remorse in the young ghost's heart.

There was no music or song being sung. No dimly glowing orbs were suspended from the trees and hedges. No tear-streaked long faces or hands loosely clapped in respect for the dead could be seen.

Izuku was too late.

A/N

Well that was short. As you may have figured out, I am kinda making things up as I go along in terms of lore, racial distinctions, and relationships because as far as I can tell there are no canon details for any of this. To help keep things straight, I am going to imput important details about races/professions as any new/important ones are added per chapter. (Unless of course, it is something obvious, like a prince, king, or farmer. I assume you have some knowledge about these things.)

Ghost

Race

Character: Izuku, Inko, servants and residents of the Eighth Manor

Defining qualities: incorporeal, always wearing a cloke/sheet and only that (it is more of a dress, being seamless, and covers the ghost down to his/her ankles,) rope binds the covering in place, if rope is removed (or "pulled",) then the ghost temporarily disappears (technical term is Vanish), all have a stash of candy, when "pulled" the candy drops and can be taken, ghosts are symbols of innocence and purity so taking all dropped candies will permanently kill a ghost, however nothing will stop someone(s) consistently stealing all but one piece of candy, the less candy held the better it is, emotions determine how much candy is produced daily, ghosts can possess certain things that would qualify as a "home", definition of a home varies from ghost to ghost, ghosts cannot leave an area without a door, common to suffer from mild claustrophobia

Vampire

Race

Characters: Endeavour (half vampire,) Shoto (half,) Dabi/Touya (half)

Defining qualities: usual vampire statistics, half vampires are not as sensitive to light/heat (and the above as half vampire/half fire elemental are even less so,) and do not require human blood, half vampires do like rare near raw steak though

Elemental

Race

Characters: Endeavour (half fire elemental,) Rei (ice elemental,) Shoto (one-quarter ice, one-quarter fire,) Dabi/Touya (half fire,)

Defining qualities: covered in and have control over whichever element(s) is their breed, fire and ice generally prefer climates mildly opposing their elemental breed (fire prefer mildly colder climates, ice mildly warmer,) overuse of abilities drains emotions leading to moodiness, normally very firm and determined due to natural strength

Well that should be all! Hope you enjoy dears and so long Lovies!