Reaching Japan

…

"As different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."

-Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

…

Heart pounding Cress tightened her hand on the strap of her bag. Her boots thundered on the sidewalk as she weaved in and out of the crowds. The ends of her ponytail whapped against her neck, wanting to break free of its confines of her ball cap and wiping away sweat. There was only about twenty minutes before her flight would board. She had to hurry if she was going to catch it.

Ducking down an alleyway she glanced around to see if anyone followed or noticed her. The crowds continued to pass by the alley. No one looked her way.

She knew she shouldn't do this. It was against the law to use a quirk so freely. But, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. And she had to catch that plane.

With a relaxing breath Cress closed her eyes and concentrated. Her body slowly faded into a low light. She flew up the side of the building and took off towards the airport.

A few minutes later fire lit in her muscles. She needed to land but refused and kept on pushing. A little farther. Just a little farther and she'd be there. Seconds ticked by achingly slow. Building after building blurred passed before the airport finally appeared.

Ducking down another alley she landed and transformed back. Legs like noodles she stumbled out of the alleyway. She paused for a moment to refill her lungs then ran down the sidewalk, huffing and puffing the whole way.

Cold air brushed over her skin as she shoved her way into the airport. The door swooshed closed behind her, cutting off the unrelenting heat. She took a moment to draw in a couple deep breaths before proceeding to find the gate she would be leaving from.

Finding a seat near the gate she plopped down in a chair, adjusting her sunglasses. She scanned the people around her while brushing sweat from her face. No one spared her a single glance. Still her body remained rigid against the hard seat. Anyone of these people could turn on her at any second and demand to know why she was alone.

But she had prepared for that. If anyone questioned where her parents were and why she wasn't in school in the middle of the week she would tell them she was traveling to Japan to visit a family member and that her parents couldn't see her off because of work. It was a long shot of course, but she had planned for that as well. She had a prerecorded message waiting. Anyone could call the number and get the message that would sound like her dad saying he knew where she was. If that didn't work…well, it had to work.

Rolling her shoulders she did her best to get her body to relax until her flight was called for loading. It didn't take much longer before a woman announced her flight number to Japan. Adjusting her bag she followed the crowd to the gate and stood in line. So far so good. She was still going unnoticed for the most part. Only a few adults glanced at her before looking away.

A security guard walked by. He caught her eye. Her muscles flinched to tense up but she forced them to remain relaxed. When he didn't move on she smiled at him, heart pounding. For sure she thought he would question her. But he smiled back with a nod and walked on. It made her wonder if teenagers traveling alone were a common occurrence in this airport.

With a relieved exhale, she stepped up to the lady taking everyone's tickets.

"Traveling alone? Are you meeting someone at your destination?" The lady eyed Cress with suspicion. "It's not often we get teenagers traveling to another country on their own."

"Yes, I am. I'm heading for Japan to meet up with my aunt." Cress smiled. "My parents weren't able to come see me off because of work. They know I'm here. And I've called my aunt a few minutes ago to let her know that I'm at the airport, too."

"Very well then." The lady nodded. "Go on in. Have a nice flight."

Cress followed the other passengers down the pain grey hall, ignoring how small the space was, and into the plane. Working her way down the isle she found her seat. Her eyes locked onto the small compartment overhead. Being her first time on a plane she had no idea if she had to put her bag in there or if it would be fine for her to hold it. After a moment of considering she sat down and hugged the bag to her chest and prayed no one would take it from her in any sort of way.

More people filed inside causing the already tight plane to shrink even more. Cress shifted. Tight spaces were never her favorite thing. She absolutely hated them. To keep the walls from closing in on her, she forced herself to listen to the people talking around her while taking slow calming breathes. Two women sat behind her, talking so fast Cress barely caught every other word they said.

"I know! I was so totally like that is so cool!"

"You are so lucky, girl! Brendon is so hot! I would love to meet a guy like that! And have him take me back to his apartment!" A skin-curling laugh erupted behind her.

Cress could feel several other people cringe with her. It was apparently going to be a long flight. She hoped the women wouldn't talk the entire flight. Her strings were wound tight enough as it was. Last thing she needed was someone this annoying to continue to aggravate her nerves.

Blocking them out the best she could, Cress rested her head against the window and focused on the outside world instead. She grasped onto the black top, the fence, the sky, the clouds, and the trees. Before she knew it the plane had hummed to life and the wild lands of Florida were growing smaller and smaller. A flock of birds flew by bring a yearning to her chest. Oh how she wished she were out there instead of inside this confining plane. She loved to fly. And spaces inside usually didn't give much room for flying. Outside there was infinity of space for her to move in. All her life she assumed she was claustrophobic because of her quirk. She was meant to fly.

Cress watched the clouds as they passed through the sky until her eyelids fell closed.

…

"Hey. Wake up."

Cress grunted at the hand shaking her before opening her eyes.

A flight attendant smiled at her. "We have arrived."

"Oh. Thank you." Cress blinked a few more times and rubbed the sleep from her face. Slipping her bag over her shoulders, she moved for the exit. Entering into the airport she was met with all Japanese décor. Pressure settled into her chest. It was overwhelming to see so much of it at once despite having studied the language for the past five years.

Steeling herself for the cultural change, Cress took a deep breath and headed for the door. Bright lights from nearby signs stung her eyes. Crowded streets of talking people hammered her ears. Their voices and words jumbled together into one incoherent mess. She shook it from her head. It would take time to adjust to her surroundings. Right now she had a more important issue to work out. She walked into the crowd, set to find a place to spend the night.

Weaving through the people, Cress mentally practiced her Japanese. Each time someone spoke a word she caught she said the English equivalent of it as her eyes roamed over the buildings and their signs. There were plenty of shops, businesses, and hotels. Unfortunately, she didn't have much money to her name. Besides it was late and a teenager walking into a hotel without parents at this time of night would arouse suspicions.

That meant there were only a few choices left: An empty alley, a park, or a roof. The roof would be the safer option, at least for the night. Maybe later she could find a better solution for sleeping. She turned down an alley and watched the people pass before she turned into her soft light form.

A few birds scattered when she landed on the rooftop. Her eyes landed on the door of a stairwell. Hopefully no one would come up here. Being after one in the morning she doubted anyone would. By the time someone came up here she would be long gone.

Cress walked to the opposite side of the door. If anyone did come up here before the sun rose she would be able to hear them before they saw her. She sat down, using her bag as a pillow, she closed her eyes. "Well, home sweet temporary home."

…

Clouds floated passed the window, allowing a stream of moonlight to color the room with a soft grey light. Todoroki rolled onto his side, pulling his blanket closer to his chin. The grey light shifted, moving towards him until it touched his brow. His eyebrows rose on his forehead.

Todoroki looked around at the creamy white field that surrounded him. His eyebrow rose in surprise, maybe even confusion. Shades of grey patches spotted the area like craters on the moon. In fact it looked like he was on the moon. He would have thought he was on the moon if it weren't for the white grass at his feet. Beyond the horizon, skirting against a forest of trees was a midnight blue sky speckled with shimmering stars.

Something pulled at him from the trees. His feet moved his body towards them. The trees grew closer to reveal they weren't normal trees. Their leaves were a light blue. Their bark glittering silver. The bushes spotting the forest floor were all shades of pastel greens. Flowers shifted on a breeze before lifting off a few of the bushes. No, not flowers, butterflies. Butterflies lifted off the bushes. They flew around him before weaving through the trees.

"Is this some kind of dream?" Todoroki scratched his head. Never in all his life had he had a dream like this. It was as if he stepped into some form of fairytale land.

A soft, lyrical giggle floated on the air and into his ears. He pulled his eyes from the butterflies to catch a glimpse of pure white hair disappearing behind a tree. Without thought he followed after the hair.

Every few seconds, he caught another glimpse of the hair and heard that lyrical giggle. Each time his feet propelled him to move faster. He had to catch up. He had to know who it was.

Tree after tree. Bush after bush. He followed and followed until the trees thinned and he stepped out onto the bank of a lake. A large pavilion the same color as the dark sky was the first thing that caught his eyes. Then movement grabbed his attention. Looking way from the pavilion he saw the white hair. It was attached to a girl wearing only a light blue sundress.

He walked towards her. Her head lifted a bit when he was ten yards from her. Before he could take another step she jumped to a stone on the water. Skipping from stone to stone she made her way to the pavilion. He followed.

Vines and light purple flowers wrapped around the pillars. Standing in the middle of the pavilion was the girl, her back to him.

Todoroki found his heart rate started to increase. He wanted to get closer to the girl. He needed to get closer. Licking his lips he stepped forward, hoping she didn't run this time. He was about five feet from her when she turned around. A gasp expelled from his lips before he could stop it. Her eyes were a stunning midnight blue. Heat crept up his neck and onto his cheeks. He was embarrassed but had no idea why.

The girl giggled. Her hand lifted from her side. Holding it out to beckon him to come closer.

Todoroki found his hand making its way towards hers, another limb that seemed to have a mind of its own. He should pull back. For all he knew this girl was an enemy who lured him here to harm him.

Though all thoughts of pulling away vanished when his fingers slid over her smooth skin. His already fast heartbeat rose even higher. A light flashed between their hands. Something pulled his attention to his body. Looking down he found he wore a tuxedo matching the color of her dress.

She tugged him towards her, regaining his attention. A smile bloomed on her lips as soft music began to play. Without a word she led him in a slow dance.

Todoroki allowed her to lead him where she desired as he peered into her eyes. Happiness pooled in her eyes, seemingly spreading to him. There was something about her that made him enjoy dancing with, being with her. It didn't matter that he had never danced before. He only wanted to be near here. So he stepped closer to her.

They danced and danced until that pool of happiness flipped to unending abyss of fear and loneliness. The emotions poured into his very soul drowning him until darkness cocooned them. The floor disappeared, plunging the two downward. Their hold on each other was broken. Their physical connection was gone. She reached out as her voice cried out to him, her lips never moving. "Help me!"

Todoroki reached for her, desperate to save her from falling. She fell faster. He shot out his hand hoping to use his ice quirk to catch her. It didn't come. The darkness slipped over her feet. Her eyes begged him to save her. The darkness slipped over her knees. Tears streamed her cheeks. The darkness slipped over her chest. Pain, ice pick stabbing pain, hit his chest as the darkness rose over her head. He reached for her one last time. Swiping at her a second before the darkness completely swallowed her.

"No!" Todoroki jolted. His eyes shot open as he sat up in bed. Sweat dripped down his face while his heart pounded his ribs. He looked over his room. He was awake, in bed. That girl was only a dream. That place was only a dream. Nothing more, nothing less.

He ran a hand from his hair and stood. Grabbing his water bottle off his desk he gulped down the remaining water. Lowering the bottle from his lips the girl flashed through his mind again, scared, alone, swallowed by darkness.

Frustration embedded in his very soul. The girl wanted, needed, help. Even though she was nothing more than a dream, the in training hero that he was, he wanted to save her.

Todoroki walked over to his window. Pushing back the curtain he stared out at the dorm yard before his eyes lifted to the moon above.

Behind the thin glass, sirens roared in the distance.

…

Ciarran stood looking down over the city. So many unsuspecting people scrambled here and there like little ants working and working and working. Such a busy place this Japan was. Though she doubted many of these little ants were heading to work. Being only two o'clock in the morning some might be heading home from work. Either way it didn't matter. They were still good enough for her to play with. And it had been a long time since she had been able to play.

Curling a strand of hair she debated on how her introduction to the citizens of Japan should start while her eyes fell to the hair around her finger. If it weren't for the city lights she would be unable to see her tresses, as it is as dark as a black hole. She believed it to be her best feature. As well as her eyes, which matched her hair perfectly. And her legs were great too. So was her hips, her smile, her ear. Heck. She was perfect.

Pulling her hand away from her hair she held it over the edge of the building. A dark grey moon rock floated over her palm. Her lips curled into a wicked grin. "Moon Rock Shower."

Ciarran's voice echoed off the air.

The moon rock shot away from her. Glass shattered. Metal crunched. People screamed. Another moon rock hit a car, causing it to crunch in on itself. Tires screeched. Some swerved to miss the damaged car in front of them. Others ran into the car causing a pile up.

Ciarran laughed and shot out several more moon rocks. More screams rose up from below as the people ran for cover. Lifting her other hand she fired more moon rocks with pot shots. Windows from buildings shattered, raining sharp projectiles down on the panicking people.

Her attention shifted when a couple of her moon rocks were grabbed by twisting wood. Ciarran listed her head.

"Hold it." A man covered with wood lifted in front of her with the same type of wood coming from his feet.

Ciarran had a vague memory of him but couldn't recall his name.

"You are under arrest for illegal use of quirk and for attacking civilians," he said.

Ciarran chuckled. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Come peacefully."

"Not going to happen."

"You're standing on top of one of the tallest buildings in the city. Unless you're going to jump you have no where to go." The man lifted a hand and shot out a branch.

"Jump, huh? Good idea." Ciarran stepped off the roof. The rush of the fall washed over her.

"Are you insane?!"

A glow, with black edges, engulfed her. Ciarran flew back up to him. She smirked. "I might be. What about you?"
"You can fly? Who are you? I've never seen you around here. Nor someone with a quirk like yours."

"My name is Ciarran," she replied. "And that's all I'm telling you. The rest you'll find out eventually. Well, maybe. If I feel like revealing anything else then I will." She eyed the branches holding him aloft. "You don't appear to be able to fly…but let's see how good of a hero you are." She whipped around and took off.

The hero followed.

Ciarran glanced over her shoulder. He was doing a lot better than she thought he would. Spinning so she flew backwards, she tossed out some moon rocks at him. He pulled himself this way and that with his quirk, dodging all but one. That one slammed into his chest, sending him hurling towards the ground. As he fell, a woman rose up from out of nowhere. She grabbed the falling hero.

"Hey, you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. Thanks for the catch," he said.

Ciarran hummed. Three more heroes joined them.

"We heard about what was going on and thought you would need help," one said.

"I think I might. She's quick."

"Then lets get her before she does anymore damage!" a third hero said and they all rushed forward.

Ciarran cackled. "Now this is going to be fun." She cracked her knuckles.

...

Author's Note: Felt like doing a MHA, OC/Todoroki story. So let's see how it goes.