I finally had a free day to update this story. I know its been a good two months. Enjoy. (Edited for minor discrepancies)


Normalcy

"Hey mommy?" A small voice questioned.

"Hmm? What is it love?" An older woman answered.

"Umm, I was wondering when Izuku would be coming over again?" The small voice innocently wondered.

The older woman kept up her elegant and stoic stance, though internally she was cringing violently.

"I've told you already sweetie, Izuku went on a...small trip…" The older woman looked to the garden that sat in front of her. "He'll be home soon." She smiled. "I promise; so why don't you go and play with some of the toys daddy sent you from America?"

The little girl had a small pout on her face, as if she wanted to protest her mother's words, though she relented.

"W-Well okay…" The small girl said dejectedly.

As she walked away, the older woman felt her shoulders slump, and her posture drop. It was getting harder and harder to lie to her daughters face. It was like a stake was being wedged in her heart every time she would ask her about Izuku. However, she had to keep lying in order to keep the young girl safe from a reality that she need not know of yet.

Emiko watched as Momo walked to a set of toy horses and dolls. She seemed to just be absentmindedly playing with the toys, not much childish glee or wonder as she played alone. It tore Emiko's heart, and even if she herself went over to join Momo, the young girl would protest. Saying she only wanted to play with Izuku.

Emiko sighed to herself as she looked off to the distant sky. It was looking to be a cloudy day, as the slight forecast indicated as such. It was cloudy a lot more nowadays, Emiko thought to herself. It was as if this part of Japan could feel the sadness of a few individuals as they continued the search for the small boy.

It had been three months already, no signs of Izuku, or the would be kidnappers. By now, hundreds of volunteers had tried looking for the boy, and a good amount of heroes had also been actively participating in the hunt. Yet nothing had come up; not a single trace of the boy or the kidnappers.

Izuku essentially disappeared, and as the days wore on, it was getting harder and harder to keep up that positive facade that they would find him. At least for a small group had such a mindset, yet the majority still had hope they would find him. And with Ryuko at the forefront of the search, it was only a matter of time.

Emiko smiled to herself sadly as she looked back to her daughter; who was staring at her scarred hand with a longing look.

"A reminder…" Emiko thought too herself.

A reminder that Izuku had struck a particular cord in her daughter's heart, and it was something that would not fleet anytime soon. Because just like everyone else still holding onto hope, Momo was just as strong on her stance that her best friend would return soon. Even if she did not know what was happening exactly, it was only a matter of time before Momo stumbled upon a news channel Emiko forgot to block that would metaphorically 'spill the beans' on what had actually happened.

"Mommy?"

Emiko jumped slightly at Momo's voice. "Y-Yes sweetie?"

Momo shuffled with her hands for a few seconds as she walked back to her mother; a noticeable blush on her face. "Umm, you think when Izuku comes back we can have a sleepover together?" She hoped.

Emiko blinked owlishly at the very simple question. It honestly brought back a sense of normalcy for those few moments that Emiko smiled brightly.

"Of course." She answered just as happily. "I'll set the day when the time comes."

Momo grinned just as large. "Woo! Thanks mommy!" She whilst the distance to her mother with her arms wide open.

Emiko gladly scooped her daughter into her arms, hugging the giggling and adorable bundle of joy Momo was. Again, it was as if everything was back to normal, and Emiko could have easily called Ryuko about the idea right now. Yet Emiko knew better, she knew Izuku was still missing, but it was good to pretend at least for this moment. So everything would seem normal for just a bit longer.


Unknown Location

"Son?" Hisashi said gently. "I know it's not much, but I brought this for you."

Izuku said nothing, nor did he even move a muscle. He still looked to the ground, slouched on the floor with a somber look.

A small notebook, as well as an assortment of markers were pushed into his view. In other words, they were slid in front of him as his gaze was still on the ground.

"I just want you to be happy son. I know I took you away from Ryuko, but you need to understand it's better this way." Hisashi implored. "You know you aren't just confined to this room right? You have free reign to walk around if you so desire."

There it was again. That "free reign" thing. Hisashi had been telling him he could walk around willingly if he so desired. But none of that mattered for a simple reason.

"B-B-But I can't leave huh..?" Izuku weakly stuttered out.

Hisashi actually jumped at the weak voice. He had to shake his head to make sure he heard right. For the first time in well over three months, Izuku had said an actual sentence; and not just one worded answers.

"Izuku?" He questioned in disbelief.

For the first time in about a month, Hisashi saw his sons face naturally as he looked up to meet his gaze. Usually, Izuku would look to the floor whenever he, or any of his men came into the room. So it was a peculiar feeling seeing his sons eyes willingly. The way they still remained slitted like a snakes reminded him of Ryuko, and he still did not know how to feel about that.

As Hisashi looked over Izuku's face, he was graced with an absolute mess. His cheeks looked sunken in, his hair a frazzled mess that grew to shoulder length, his eyes were bloodshot, the horns on his head had grown a bit longer and looked uncared for; and his lips were chapped as if he had been poking at them.

"I can walk around, but I can't leave this place…" Izuku repeated weakly.

Hisashi barely even processed what he had said. The way his son looked so torn and lost tugged at the confines of his heart. For a few seconds he actually wondered if he had done the right thing on taking him; though it was for a fleeting moment he felt such a thing.

"No son. Your home is here, and soon we will be in our real home soon enough."

Izuku said nothing as he looked back to the floor with a defeated look. His hands subtly grazed over the small notebook and markers that were carefully laid in front of him. Drawing and coloring was one of Izuku's favorite things to do, yet the colors of the markers looked so bland to him. The black cover of the notebook only outlined the monotone of it all. Yet, the gift actually compelled Izuku to thank his kidnapper, even if he was still wary of the man that was his dad.

"T-Thank you…" He whispered weakly.

Hisashi was surprised once again, though he felt a sense of warmth at the small thanks from his son.

"Of course son." Hisashi said simply as he made his way out of the room.

He paused at the door, his hand on the handle. "Listen Izuku. I need you to understand that it is better this way, everything will make sense in due time. Just be patient son." And with that Hisashi made his way out of the room.

Izuku sat in the dimly lit room alone once more. The door may have been shut, but he could easily walk out if he wanted to. Yet, what was the point if he could not go outside? He was trapped still.

Time seemed to stand still in this room; frankly he could not even begin to wonder how long he had been in here. Time seemed to just stand still in here, and for all he knew it had been only a few days. Though thinking realistically, Izuku knew it had to have been much longer judging by how much his hair had grown as well as his horns. He may still be four years old, but everyone always praised him for his analytical skills.

On the somewhat bright-side, Izuku was actually thankful for the stuff Hisashi had given him. It would help get rid of the monotony of the confined life he was subjugated to whilst being held captive here.

With care, Izuku scooped up the notebook and markers, and made his way to the bed that was in the room.

The room was rather simple in its layout. A singular twin bed that was too big for just him, a small nightstand with a lamp was on its side. A drawer with extra clothes that were suited only to himself. A personal bathroom with a shower, and a ceiling light.

It was far from inhospitable like he had seen in those movies with Ryuko. Usually the kidnappers stuffed their hostage in a cramped and dirty room. Yet here, he had his own room to himself with the basic necessities he needed. Did not mean Izuku was any happier with where he was, but for a captive he was rather comfortable in a living sense.

In any case, Izuku sat himself on the somewhat dusty bed. He laid the markers haphazardly all along the bed as he opened the notebook. It was one of those blank paged ones, and for a child of four years old it was a canvas of infinite possibilities. And for the moment Izuku felt as if everything was normal. He grabbed a red marker and started drawing, normalcy was something he had been taken from; but in this moment everything was okay once more.


One month later

"Ryu, you seriously need to stop biting your nails. Your hands look awful."

Ryuko sighed. "There's a lot that I need to stop doing."

"You're telling me." The voice chuckled. "At any rate, I can't really blame you for developing that nervous tick." The voice continued gently. "We'll find him Ryu, I promise we will. It's only a matter of time."

Ryuko took a deep breath as she clasped her hands together. "Rumi, you keep saying that."

Rumi giggled. "Of course I'll keep saying it because it's true. I know four months seems like a long time, but we at least now know the general area he's in." Rumi tugged one of her friends hands into her own. "Listen Ryu, I can't even begin to imagine how these last few months have been for you; but everyone is here for you." She smiled. "We have over thirty pros looking for him, and over five hundred volunteers keeping an eye out for him and those bastards that took him."

Ryuko looked to the hand of her good friend with a small smile. "It just gets harder as the days go by Rumi. Though it only makes me feel better knowing that Everyone still has not lost the drive to find him."

Rumi chuckled. "Of course girl! Hence why you needed a day to relax." The rabbit hero said gently. "Tomoko is actively still looking though, her turn for a break is coming soon though."

Ryuko grunted. "Why should I be relaxing when my baby is still missing? I'm only even doing this because Tomoko is with the team today looking."

Rumi shrugged her shoulders. "I told you already. You look like crap; that's why you needed a break for at least a day." She then giggled.

Ryuko's eyes narrowed slightly. "Usually a 'friend' is supposed to be saying nicer, and more encouraging things."

Rumi chortled. "Well it's a good thing we are best friends eh?"

Ryuko deflated slightly, though laughed along with her long time friend. "You're right though Rumi. Thanks for making sure I actually stayed at home and rested today."

"Of course, what kind of friend would I be if I wasn't here for you?"

"A terrible one." Ryuko teased.

Rumi put a finger to her chin in mock thought. "Well I think I'm pretty terrible already. Though you still keep me around!" The rabbit hero pointed out.

Ryuko sighed as her head hit the back of the chair she was seated on.

Ever since she had told the commissioner that she was back onto being a hero, Ryuko's life had been a constant jumbled set of movements. It was times like this with her good friend that she almost felt normal. Like life was back to how it was, and Izuku was asleep in the other room. Normalcy was something she thrived for, its what she craved. Yet, it wouldn't return until she had her little wyrmling back.

"Four months." Ryuko suddenly said.

Rumi's face grew apologetic. "Ryu, we are going to find him."

"I'm now ranked eight on the hero boards, and I can't even find my own nephew." Ryuko said bitterly. "How useless can you get?"

"And I'm rank 10, we are all trying Ryu. Everyone knows you're trying the hardest to for obvious reasons." Rumi said in a matter of fact tone. "How about we go for a bite to eat?" She offered.

Ryuko shook her head. "It's okay Rumi. I know you'd much rather be anywhere but here." She chuckled dryly. "I can imagine making sure I don't work today is rather boring."

"Well spending time with my friend is never boring." Rumi countered. "But since you want to be a melting pot of woes, I'll just make something here for us to eat because I'm starving." She then joked.

Ryuko waved her hand in a dejected way. "Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge."

Before any of the woman could move, the doorbell at Ryuko's door rang. The two heroes raised their own brows at the odd noise, before Rumi made her way to the door.

"Were you expecting visitors?" She questioned.

Ryuko shook her head. "Nope."

"Huh." Rumi said plainly as she opened the door.

The hero was graced with an empty presence at the door. Nothing stood in front of her, and for a second she might have thought some idiot kid was playing some prank on the two women.

"U-U-Umm down h-here…" A meek voice called.

Rumi slowly looked towards her feet and was met with an odd sight. Standing below her was a pair of floating clothes. Floating clothes that were somehow holding out a box of what looked like some kind of dessert in front of them.

Rumi rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing correctly.

"H-Hi." The distinctly young feminine voice greeted.

"Uh, hi?" Rumi ventured.

"Who's at the door?" Ryuko's voice called from the living room.

Rumi's hand was still on the door as she looked back into the house.

"Uhh, a pair of floating clothes, which are holding an assortment of…?" Rumi paused looking back to the box.

"Th-They are f-fudge bars…" The voice squeaked.

"Ahh, yes. Fudge bars!" Rumi called out into the house.

However the woman jumped when Ryuko's voice sounded right by her ear.

"You had me at floating clothes." Ryuko joked as she now stood alongside her friend.

"Well I'll be." Ryuko said in disbelief as there was in fact a pair of floating clothes holding a box of fudge bars.

It was at that moment the floating pairs of clothes seemed to move in excitement.

"I-It's you!" The voice said once again.

"Alright, who's talking?" Rumi questioned as she now stuck her head out the door looking around.

"It's me! 'The floating clothes'!" The voice giggled.

Ryuko's eyes widened. "Oh is that your quirk sweetie?!" She said in sudden understanding.

The floating clothes seemed to move as if they were nodding.

"Y-Yes! My names T-Toru Hagakure! I have an invisibility quirk!"

"Oh it's a kid!" Rumi chuckled in realization. "Oh man, now I've seen everything."

The invisible girl was giggling nervously as the box of fudge bars moved about in what they could assume were her arms holding them up.

"Y-You're the pro Ryukyu, the Dragoon Hero r-r-right?" Toru said in pure nervous excitement.

Ryuko smiled gently as she crouched down to reach the girls level. "Yes I am sweetie. My name is Ryuko Midoriya, it's a pleasure to meet you." She greeted sincerely.

Toru's invisible eyes sparkled in awe as she looked to her idol in the flesh. Then, she remembered why she had even came by in the first place.

"T-These are for yo-you!" The girl exclaimed excitedly.

Ryuko tilted her head in confusion as she cautiously took the box into her hands.

"For me?" She questioned. "Whatever for sweetie?"

As the box left her hands, Toru moved in such a way that she hoped showed bashfulness.

"M-Mommy had told me you moved next door with your son…" Toru paused, her small voice sounding sad. "I've seen the news I'm sorry about him, so I made you those to hopefully make you happy; and when you find him you can give him some!"

The innocence in the small girls voice melted the two women's hearts. Ryuko peaked over the girls head and looked over to the house in which Toru's mother lived.

"Wonder how I didn't see her before." Ryuko thought to herself as she saw the younger girls mother standing by her door looking over to them.

Ryuko waved over to Hanae with a wide smile. Ryuko then gave Toru her full attention.

"I appreciate your heartfelt gift Hagakure." She said whilst standing up and passing the box over to Rumi who had stayed silent.

Ryuko reached down and abruptly surprised the smaller girl by picker her up into her arms.

"To show my appreciation, I like to give hugs if you don't mind." Ryuko teased as she pulled the giggling girl close.

Toru did not mind one bit.

"Yay!" Toru cheered. "I love hugs! Mommy and daddy always hug me, and they are always so warm and loving!" She elaborated whilst hugging the older woman as she would her parents.

Ryuko sighed blissfully as she held the smaller girl just a bit longer. There was something about Toru that reminded her of her Wyrmling. Ryuko looked back over to Hanae and saw that the woman had a hand to her mouth with a large smile accompanying her shock. Ryuko nodded towards the woman, her smile not dropping as she placed the small girl back on the ground.

"Run along now young Hagakure, I'll make sure to say hi when I see you around okay?" Ryuko said softly. "Thanks again for the lovely gift, I'll make sure my friend and I eat them all up!"

Toru started jumping with joy as she turned around and ran back to her own house.

"See you around Mrs. Midoriya!" The small girl cheered as she jumped into the arms of her giggling mother.

The two women offered each other a gentle nod and a smile before Hanae walked inside her house.

"You know, these aren't too bad actually." Rumi said in approval as she stuffed another piece down her throat.

Ryuko chuckled. "Wow, you still eat in whole bites huh?"

Rumi shrugged with her mouth still full.

Ryuko reached over and took a piece for herself, giving a tentative bite of the chocolate bar.

Her eyes lulled in satisfaction. "They really are good." She agreed.

Ryuko felt like she was in higher spirits now. This day off she really did need even if she had stayed inside all day long. Tomorrow she would continue the hunt for her nephew, and just like she had done every day except today, she would search from the early morning, to the middle of the night.

It was only a matter of time till she found him, and she knew it.


Two Months Later

Izuku felt somewhat happy.

At the moment he was drawing another picture of his mother. Even though it had been who knows how long, Izuku still vividly remembered how she had looked. He especially also loved drawing Ryuko and Ragdoll. It always filled him with a warm feeling. It was like he could see them through his drawings; like they were there with him. Maybe that's why he was happy.

Regardless, it had gotten somewhat better here...wherever here was he still did not know. Yet, these other guys that his father walked around and talked with seemed to be nice. They would bring him food, they would smile and talk to him now and then when they could. Especially the one whose name was Dreamscape oddly enough.

He would actively come by to see what Izuku was doing, and in a few instances he even helped Izuku with some of his drawings. The man could draw extremely well, and compared to Izuku's amateurish childish sketches, this man was an artist at heart.

Izuku felt particularly attached to this man, more so than he could say with his own father. Then again, Izuku hated to admit that Hisashi had even started growing on him.

Izuku sighed, just as he finished coloring the green of Inko's hair.

He still did not know how to feel about his father. Izuku at first was in denial that this could be his dad, but the similarities were too close to think otherwise. Their hair was the same, their eye color was the same, same freckles, and creepily enough the same smile. Izuku did not like that one bit.

Also their quirks. Izuku was still confused about that. His father could breath green flames, and billow smoke, but that was the extent of his abilities as far as the boy could tell. Izuku had not used his quirk once the whole time being here, and he kind of knew why he had been so reluctant.

He thought many a time to just set the building on fire, alert Ryuko to where he was. Yet, there were two problems with that.

First, he still did not know how to willingly use his quirk, as each time he used it was during great stress.

Second, he did not know where he was. For all he knew, there were families in this place he was in. Innocent civilians that would get caught in the scalding ire that was his fire. Not to mention Izuku did not want to hurt his father and the men that he saw regularly. At heart Izuku just could not hurt anyone.

So in reality, he really was trapped, and had accepted it. Which was why he took about decorating the room he was now residing in.

"Done!" Izuku said somewhat happily as he tore the page out of his notebook.

With tiny feet, Izuku hopped off of his bed and made his way to a wall. Said wall had over thirty pages already that had various drawings of certain people Izuku had met throughout his life. He even drew Hisashi and the men that kept him captive.

Izuku just felt compelled to draw anything and everything to gain a sense of normalcy. All this drawing, all these colors made him feel as if his life was normal once more. He may have not drawn much after Inko's passing, but Izuku still had a deep passion for it.

The door opened behind him but he did not turn around. He already knew who it was judging by the way their feet fell on the ground.

"That's a beautiful drawing of your mother son."

Izuku stayed silent as he agreed with his father in his mind.

Hisashi walked to stand alongside his son. The two stared and admired the handy work that Izuku had drawn in the three months since Hisashi gifted him the art supplies. Hisashi's eyes scanned over the wall like he normally did, admiring the skill his four year old son somehow had for drawing at such a young age.

They looked choppy, but the penmanship and lines looked almost as if an amateur drawer had created them. If Hisashi did not know any better, he could assume Izuku would grow up to be an amazing artist as the years went by.

"As the years go by…" Hisashi thought to himself sadly.

There was something Hisashi had realized about a month ago. That what he was doing, taking his son in such a way was actually a horrible thing to do. To make matters worse, the entirety of Japan was on lock down, it was an odd sight to behold. Back in America, he had no problem kidnapping or taking people that he needed to in the line of work he ran. Yet here in Japan, it was like a different world entire.

His men were growing impatient, and Hisashi had to admit he was frustrated himself. They had been cooped up in this safe house for the last six months, and only two of them could actively roam about at night freely. Hisashi mainly spent his time in a few rooms down from his sons; said room was a direct communication route to things over in America. Apparently, the news of Izuku's disappearance was not just being talked about in Japan. It was being talked about world wide. Ryuko may have been ranked eight in Japan from what he had learned, but on the world wide rankings she was number ten.

A feat that obviously kept the female hero in the limelight. Hence why the world was still talking about the missing boy that was in her care.

Hisashi even contemplated counting his losses and just returning back to America, and leave this foolish idea of wanting to a dad to the smaller boy out of his mind. But, something was still compelling him that this was the right thing to do. Even if Hisashi did not like Ryuko one bit, he pitied the poor woman. When the female hero would talk on the news on any updates, Hisashi would wince seeing the condition his wife's sister looked to be in. She looked defeated, yet still determined.

"Dad?"

Hisashi almost fell over when he heard that word. Then again, he was mainly shocked his son was talking to him in the first place.

"W-What is it Izuku?" Hisashi said as he cleared his throat.

Izuku walked over and taped the picture of his mom right alongside a picture of Hisashi.

"Umm, why'd you leave mommy and me?"

"Why'd I leave…" Hisashi said to himself as he repeated his sons words.

The question surprised him that was for sure. It definitely was one of Hisashi's greatest regrets, but then again he had to do it to keep Inko and her family safe; or so he constantly told himself. As he tried to answer the question the words caught in Hisashi's throat.

Izuku stayed silent as his father had a lost look on his face. Izuku seemingly sighed and walked past the adult, making his way back to his bed. Izuku jumped on the bed, and scratched at his horns. They had gotten pretty long, having grown jagged and straight. They felt a little bit heavy now, yet did not strain his head much.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me…" Izuku said softly as he grabbed his notebook once more. "I just know mommy thought of you a lot…" He revealed solemnly.

Hisashi felt a pang in his cold heart.

"Anyways I'm going to draw Optical now…" Izuku concluded calmly as he set the marker back onto the blank canvas.

"R-Right…" Hisashi said as he watched as his son get lost in his page.

Hisashi stayed and watched Izuku draw for roughly ten minutes before going back over to the wall that held all of the drawings he had made. It was honestly very depressing, and Hisashi once again felt that tinge of guilt swell in his chest. Though he kept reminding himself that this was for the best. Izuku needed his father to raise him, and he needed to be brought to America. Hisashi needed his son to take over his business one of these days, he needed his son around so he would not feel like such a useless deadbeat father who let his wife die.

There were so many regrets that swelled in his mind in that moment. His eyes looked over to Inko's drawing and he felt as if the woman's sketched eyes were looking to him in sadness and disappointment. He looked over to a drawing of Ryuko, and this time he did not feel anger or indifference. He felt pity and sadness.

That woman was actively searching for Izuku, and they had not been any closer to finding them than they had been six months ago.

Hisashi sighed. "Izuku, I thought I should tell you, but we are going to be moving out of here in about a month. We managed to get a stable enough way to get us where we need to go."

Izuku's marker paused its movements. "And where are we going?" The boy questioned, his face still facing downward towards his drawing.

Hisashi said nothing as he made his way to the door. "I'd advise you gather up all those little drawings and pack them away somewhere close. So we don't leave them behind in case we have to leave in a rush."

Izuku nodded his head gently. "Okay d-dad." He dared to say. "I'll do it another t-time."

Hisashi felt his heart sting. The way his son said 'dad' almost felt like a ice cold rod jamming into his skull. It didn't fill him with warmth. It filled him with a steady coldness that seeped into his veins.

Hisashi felt guilt, and wondered if he had done the right thing after all.


Two weeks later

Ragdoll was exhausted, but she was determined.

She had enjoyed the small break she was forced to take a a week ago, but she felt even better being back on the hunt for Izuku. She still carried his disappearance heavily in her heart, and she made it her personal vendetta to find him. Perhaps the second worst thing that came from Izuku being taken while under her watch were the nightmares. They plagued her mind every time she slept, and it was a miracle the woman had not gone insane. Ragdoll powered on though, determined as always as she stood atop this building doing what she did best.

The woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath before activating her quirk like she had been doing these last few months. Her eyes scanned the area, looking for the distinct familiar signatures that belonged to the men who took Izuku, but most importantly for Izuku's signature.

"Anything?" A male voice said to her left.

Ragdoll sighed. "Its the same thing as always Tiger, nothing."

The male hero offered the woman what he hoped was a comforting smile. "Don't worry Ragdoll. We have already narrowed down the search to roughly two cities, this being one of them."

"I guess you're right about that." She said in a smaller tone.

Even though six months had past, the heroes that had been looking for Izuku had actually made a lot of progress. What had started off as a wild goose chase had evolved into a game of cat and mouse. In this case, the mouse never came out, and the cat just waited patiently. It had taken the work of so many to bring down the search to only two cities left. The one in which Ryuko lived in, and its neighboring city just a few miles away. How did this come about?

Simple, Ragdoll's quirk. Her quirk had a special perk to it other than highlighting her targets wherever she looked. Her quirk allowed her to permanently tag a total of two people at a time, and she had never admitted to Ryuko until just when the search had started that one of the special slots she had reserved was solely for Izuku. Ragdoll had made sure to keep that tag on him at all times, yet there was a downside to this. Yes, she could sense that Izuku was around her, but it would not triangulate where exactly he was at unless she was staring directly at him. In which would allow her to see him for a total time of an hour no matter how far or if he was hidden away deep underground. Those who were marked like he was with her quirk would have no where to hid if she managed to even just chance a look at him. Though since she had not seen him once in these last months, she was just relying on the feeling her quirk told her that the boy was in these two cities somewhere. Again, another problem. Her quirk for some odd reason was going off in these two cities only, which made her aware of how many miles this feeling would actually go on for.

Roughly fifty miles was the search area, but since these two cities were massive in size, with thousands upon thousands of buildings in each of them. Not to mention small towns that connected the cities together, it was like a needle in a haystack. Though Ragdoll powered on like she always did.

"Shall we move over to another building?" Tiger questioned again.

Ragdoll dropped her quirk as she nodded. "Yes, take me to the Watagawa Skyscraper again, maybe I'll have better luck a bit higher."

Tiger nodded as wrapped his arms around his teammate. "Take us up Pixie."

Pixie-Bob was down on the ground when her comrade called down to her. "Can do." She said as she used her quirk to make a pillar of earth for them to get up on. Luckily for them, the Watagawa skyscraper had a park around it, so Pixie bob had ready amount of soil prepared to carry the duo all the way to the top of the building.

As they reached the top, Tiger set Ragdoll gently down on the top of the building as he leaned over the edge giving the blonde a thumbs up. Pixie-bob nodded and dropped her quirk down gently, letting the soil she took fall into the hole she had made.

Ragdoll stood over the edge of the building as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Please...just give me something, anything." She thought to herself for the hundredth time. She opened her eyes to activate her quirk once more.

Then she saw it. It was small, but she knew exactly what she was looking at. She did not mean too, but her eyes flared violently as her eyes locked onto what she had been searching for. Her eyes narrowed darkly as they honed in on the target that stood roughly ten miles away from here all the way on the ground. It was the same signature one of the men had given off when they attacked her. The aura she was emanating was chilling; Tiger on the other hand felt ecstatic. He saw the look Ragdoll had in her eyes, and the way they sharpened told him all he needed to know. Whoever she just saw had just been marked, and they would be for a total of an hour.

"I found you~" Ragdoll suddenly purred, an animalistic craze overcoming her as she felt her quirk flare in a way it had not since she had last marked Izuku. She felt disgusted in knowing she had used the last slot on whoever she was looking at, but she knew in the next few minutes none of that would matter. Judging by how the target froze, and looked up to her, they knew they were caught. The figure dashed away, disappearing into a building and Ragdoll smiled wider.

"Alert every single hero in this area we have a target. We have an hour to capture and secure." Ragdoll said calmly as she walked over to Tiger.

Ragdoll reached into her pocket, taking out her phone to call a certain dragon hero. Upon the phone ringing for a few seconds, Ryuko answered from the other side.

"Tomoko? Whats happened?"

"Ryu. I've found one of them and they are marked. We have an hour." Ragdoll simply said before hearing the phone hang up on the other side.

Even if Ryuko was in the other city right now, Ragdoll already knew the hero would be here in roughly five minutes. She was sure everyone would be here in five minutes since this is what they had all been waiting for.

Ragdoll looked back over to Tiger who seemed to be finished talking in an earpiece.

Tiger smiled. "Everyone knows now. Lets go get that bastard."

A large pillar of earth rose to them, and a voice called from below.

"Let get moving kitties! The hunt is on!" Pixie-Bob purred from below.

Ragdoll looked back over to the target, and noticed it moving about the building frantically. Before it move its hands about it was talking in an animated fashion. She smiled darkly. "Run all you want, but I found you."


A Few Minutes Later

Izuku's ears perked up at the umpteenth time he heard another door open from the room he was in. It was a sound he grew accustomed too, yet there was something strange about the set of footsteps he heard. They sounded hurried and rushed. Not calculated or drawn out like they usually sounded when his father was on his way. In fact, they almost sounded like Dreamscapes, but again they sounded so rushed and so fearful oddly enough. It made Izuku uncomfortable.

Izuku jumped when he heard another door swing open, which was coupled by a pair of shouts. Another door, this time closer, and the shouts were louder.

Before Izuku could even think, the door to the room he was in was flung open violently. The door swung and crashed against the wall, the doorknob digging itself into the weak walls.

"Izuku!" A gruff and slightly panicked voice called to him.

It was his father, and the wild look Hisashi had was frightening.

"We have to get moving okay? Put your shoes on, remember what I told you a few days ago? The place we will be staying in is ready for us." He said hurriedly.

Izuku gave him a confused look. "But you said a month?" Izuku wondered as his father ran into the room hurriedly throwing things into a bag.

"Boss! Dreamscape is freaking the hell out still!" Spout suddenly shouted as he peaked into the room.

Izuku grew a worried look as he obediently started putting his shoes on. "Whats wrong with Dreamscape d-dad?"

Hisashi reached down; scooping the boy into his arms gently once he had his shoes on.

"Something happened son, but we need to leave now. He'll be joining us in a few moments. The guys will get your notebooks and art supplies." Hisashi said as he carried Izuku out of the room.

Izuku's eyes widened when he was brought out of the room for the first time in six months. Of course he could of walked out on his own, but now he was finally seeing everything. All around him laid various papers that filled the halls, and broken doors and walls for some odd reason. Izuku vaguely saw Hearing-Aid and Optical carrying a suitcase each hurriedly moving to a door that was left open in front of them.

"Where are they going?" Izuku pointed in curiosity.

Hisashi said nothing as he hurriedly entered the same room.

Izuku saw the two men throw the cases down a hole before rushing back past them.

"Boss we gathered most of the evidence, shall we torch the place?" Optical said as he ran past.

"Yes! We have roughly five minutes before they are on our asses so we need to move quick!" Hisashi called out to the men as they ran passed him.

"D-Dad whats going on?" Izuku questioned once again.

Before he could answer, Dreamscape ran into the room with a panicked look in his eyes.

"Boss! She's coming! Its like this feeling of terror is coming closer!"

Izuku's eyes widened when he felt the familiar feeling of Ragdolls quirk emanating from the man.

"You're marked..." Izuku said in slight disbelief. What was Ragdoll's mark doing on him?

The two men immediately looked to one another and had a silent conversation between one another.

Dreamscape nodded his head, and his body relaxed slightly. "Understood boss." He said through clenched teeth.

Hisashi nodded his head, and gave his colleague a deep bow. "I promise Dreamscape. Ill come back for you. I never leave a man behind. Don't give them any information if you can help it."

Dreamscape nodded once more. "Ill set the fire and lead them elsewhere."

"W-Wait, whats happening dad?" Izuku parroted once more.

Hisashi felt the boy shake in his hold, but nodded his head nonetheless.

"I'm so sorry son, but I'm going to have take you down in this hole okay? Its pretty dark down their so don't panic." Hisashi said simply as he reached the mouth of the hole.

Once again, Optical and Hearing-Aid dashed into the room, a final box in their hands as they threw it down. "That's everything sir!" They said in unison.

Hisashi nodded just as Spout came in the room holding Izuku's notebook and markers. "Sorry kid, I didn't have time to get your drawings."

"I-It's fine..." Izuku said still confused on what was happening.

By now Dreamscape had left the room, going who knows where just leaving the four men and child near the hole.

"Whatever happens men, I'm sorry I dragged you all into this."

"Save the apologies till after you buy us some drinks." Spout joked.

The men chuckled as they jumped down the hole one by one.

Hisashi and Izuku were the last ones to enter, but just as they did, the fire erupted all around them.

Izuku looked to the flames with wide eyes, his eyes sparkling at their glow.

"Izuku we are going to get moving. Just be patient and quiet, and we'll be out of here in just a moment."

Izuku nodded hesitantly. "Y-Yes Papa."


Dreamscape did not get far. In fact, the minute he set the fire, and stepped out of the building running he could already feel the eyes on him. Thinking fast, he used his quirk to set up an illusion all around him. He knew it was a futile effort, but anything to buy them some time. Dreamscape owed Hisashi his life, and he would be damned if he let his boss loose out on what he ultimately wanted. Dreamscape knew why Hisashi had wanted his son. It was not for some evil vendetta, or cruel plan. He just wanted to raise his son like any father should. Dreamscape knew why Hisashi had to leave his then pregnant wife. It was a heartfelt story that he could not dwell on for the moment, but Dreamscape was in his bosses debt.

Dreamscape ears winced when he heard an ungodly roar sound out from above him. He knew exactly who that was, and he gave a silent prayer in his mind as his legs carried him as far as he could.

Dreamscape felt his body being grabbed by a pair of sharp claws, and for a moment his life flashed before his eyes. Dreamscape was lifted a few feet in the air before being slammed into the ground brutally. Dreamscape screamed in pain as the grip around him did not relent, and he looked up to the attacker. To say the look she had given him at the grocery was child's play was an understatement.

Ryuko's full dragon form was a sight to behold; it reminded him of the grim reaper, who was here to finally collect his soul.

Ryuko roared violently and harshly in the mans face as the crazed look in her eyes did not drop. Dreamscape shuddered at the sharp teeth in the heroes mouth as they neared his face.

"WHERE. IS. HE." Was all the dragoon hero had to say before Dreamscape passed out.

Be it because of how terrified he was, or an act of defiance he was not sure. But darkness overcame him and the dragons face plagued his own dreams.


Moments Earlier

Ryuko's heart was racing.

When she had gotten the call, she was already in the air, leaving behind a few confused heroes that had joined her in the search. Ryuko could feel the wind stinging her scaly skin with how fast she had flown. She made those miles between the cities seem obsolete as she approached the city in the distance. From what Ryuko could gather in the earpiece that had somehow survived in her ear when she transformed. Apparently everyone was meeting up at a building that was just east of the Watagawa skyscraper. Ryuko did not have to fly far before she could see a few hands waving down to her.

She immediately dove down to them, landing on the ground roughly as she quickly looked over to Ragdoll.

"I'm with Ryuko everyone. I can see the target is already making a break for it. We are roughly a mile from the building he just exited out of."

To signify how close the assembled group of heroes were, a building just in the distance was set ablaze. The red flames dancing along the buildings infrastructure.

"Make sure that fire doesn't spread!" A man with hoses for hands called out.

Everyone quickly moved out as Ragdoll quickly ran to her friend.

"Ill be on your back Ryuko. Please refrain from hurting our victim to much okay?" The hero joked semi-seriously.

Ryuko said nothing as her eyes flashed menacingly for just a moment.

Once Ragdoll was on her back, the two were in the air and on their way as Ragdoll guided them. It did not take long to catch up the to the running figure when Ragdoll pointed the way. Before Ragdoll could even say anything, Ryuko roared violently before diving down to the man in question. Ragdoll winced when she saw how harsh her friend had grabbed their target and for a second she feared for the targets life.

The man was slammed into the ground hard before Ragdoll saw the dragon roar into the targets face.

Then the man passed out most likely out of fright and they were left with the unconscious form of a man that looked all to familiar to them both. Police cars pulled up beside them right as Ryuko had let go of the figure.

"Take that man to the highest security holding cell that is around here. I do not want him escaping." Ryuko growled.

The two cops who picked up the unconscious body saluted as they carried the body of Dreamscape into what looked like an armored van.

"Ragdoll, Ryukyu! We need some help over here with the fire!" A voice called to them in the distance.

Again, Ryuko took to the air with Ragdoll, and the two arrived at the scene of the blaze. Many heroes were actively putting out the fire while others were evacuating the immediate area.

"Guys! What happened to the target?" Pixie-Bob called as she approached.

Ragdoll peaked over Ryuko's wings. "Ryuko here slammed him into unconsciousness but he'll live. He is being taken to a holding cell as we speak."

Pixie-Bob casted a worried filled glance over to Ryuko who was looking at the blaze with wide and fearful eyes.

"A-Anyways, we need to put out the fire quick, so evidence is not lost." Pixie-Bob explained as she rushed back to the evacuation.

Ragdoll jumped off of Ryuko's back and made her way to the scene but paused when she did not hear her friend following.

"Ryu?"

Ryuko said nothing as she slowly dropped down into her smaller dragon form. Once she shrunk she looked over to her friend.

"He's gone again isn't he?"

Ragdoll said nothing as she turned back around to the fire.

"Ryuko, lets not worry about that for now. It hurts me to say this, but we need to make sure civilians aren't hurt and we contain the fire as much as possible." Ragdoll sighed. "We have one of the kidnappers. I'm sure it won't be hard to make him talk."

Ryuko nodded her head solemnly. "O-Okay..."

With that, the two heroes joined in the rescue efforts; and helped with the fire where they could. Though they still on had one thing on their minds. Where was Izuku?


It had taken roughly an hour to stop the blazing fire, and luckily a few rooms had survived the blaze. Most of the building was crumbled up into black chunks of rubble, but something was discovered in the ongoing search. A hole was found, but the rubble had collapsed clogging it shut. Efforts of removing the debris in the hole had already gone underway. There were even other heroes searching the immediate area for any sign of Izuku or the other men.

Ryuko walked around the desolate remains of the building, and overwhelming sadness overcoming her. Apparently, Ragdoll was a few feet ahead of her in a room that had survived. The two heroes had been called over to this particular room in order to see something. At first the women looked to each other fearfully before being told that it was not a body or anything of that matter. In fact, it would only further prove that Izuku was in fact in this building just moments ago. Yet, for some reason that only made her feel worse for it meant they were just a few minutes to late.

As Ryuko entered the burnt doorway, she saw a single wall still standing. To her left laid a burnt bed and nightstand that held a lamp. There was even a dresser that she could just barely make out. She could see Ragdoll standing by the wall, her hand holding onto something white. The woman was shaking for some reason, and as Ryuko finally reached the wall she knew exactly why.

Though the wall was burnt; there were some pictures hanging all over the walls. They held various drawings of the two heroes and Inko. Something that tugged at Ryuko's very soul. Ryuko reached a shaky hand over and plucked a picture of herself off of the wall. Ryuko examined the picture closely, her eyes hollow as she looked to a drawing of herself smiling. Ryuko looked back up to see a picture of Inko staring back at her. It made her feel nauseous. Her eyes kept scanning the wall, but all she saw were drawings of the same three people. It made her heart ache.

Ryuko tried her best to hold in her tears, but they fell freely when her eyes fell on a certain picture that was bordering around the edge of the burnt wall. She looked to it and felt the life drain out of her. It was like a metaphor to what had become of her life. In it was a drawing of Izuku, Inko, and herself. The three of them were facing forward, with Izuku standing between the two. Yet, the picture was burnt and morphed. For in the picture Izuku's and Inko's faces were blacked and burnt out, while hers remained untouched.

Oh how she dreamed of the days where normalcy was just a part of her everyday life.


With finals around the corner, I felt it necessary to give an update. I hope all who read this have a wonderful day, evening, or night.