(A/N: Thank you so much to One-Shot King Z, kibagaaralover18, lin3alpha, and Inuyoiushi for your reviews. And thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, and added this story to their alerts as well. :) This is my longest chapter so far being over 5000 words. Whoo! I hope you all enjoy.)
"Are you sure that's a good idea...?"
It had been alarming enough when the girls' at the bath house had been rushing around in a mad panic after Jiro had come to inform them that the village was under sudden attack. And now, Izuku actually wanted to go out into the brunt of the chaos for himself?
Kaori remembered how she wasn't certain if there was anything that she could or should be doing in the sudden predicament, yet she had felt her own adrenaline increasing due to the fear emanating from the others. That fear had faded slightly when Amajiki had abruptly appeared in front of her, informing Kaori that he would take her somewhere safe.
Despite her worry, Kaori had found it rather sweet that the embarrassed indigo eyed male had kept his gaze off her the entire time she had been changing back into her kimono. Only when he was certain she was fully clothed did Amajiki lift her up into his arms where he was rushing Kaori to the Todoroki residence. And it was there she had been reunited with a relieved Izuku.
The two of them had gone to Izuku's room where they sat in an uneasy silence, despite Fuyumi's reassurance that everything would be alright, yet it was clear the green haired male was becoming restless. That was why Izuku had declared that he wanted to go out and help in any way that he could.
"Probably not. But I don't feel right just sitting around here and doing nothing...Especially if this attack is happening because we're here..." Izuku told Kaori with a deep frown.
The blue haired female could understand where her friend was coming from. On her way here, she could hear various screams and had seen smoke rising up in the air that seemed to come from the center of the tranquil town. There was a possibility that the innocent yokai, those who had just looked like normal citizens, were being slaughtered this very moment.
"I know what you mean, but I don't think there's much you can do against actual demon's..." Kaori mentioned sadly, moving her thumb up to her lips where she bit down on the slightly long nail.
"That's not true. If your talisman's worked once before, they might work again!" Izuku brought up, his emerald eyes shining with determination.
Kaori let out a sigh at this, a faint smile soon forming upon her lips. "You can be really stubborn sometimes, you know that? Almost like a comic book hero who always has to rush into action at the first sign of danger," Reaching into her kimono, Kaori pulled out five slips of paper. "These are all that I have left, so make sure to use them wisely. I noticed the mantra on the talisman you used on Bakugou disappeared, so these are a one time only deal."
"Don't worry, I promise to be careful," Izuku assured with a nod, reaching out to take them. When Kaori was pulling the paper talismans back and holding them almost protectively against her chest, he blinked in confusion at her odd behavior.
"I'm glad to hear that, but I think I'll tag along just in case,"
"H-huh? Y-y-you don't have to do something so dangerous like that!"
"But it's okay for you to rush straight into danger?" Kaori chastised, gently poking Izuku in his chest. "You can't help but be reckless whenever you see someone who needs help. It's one of the things that makes you such a great guy, yet it's also the reason you were always getting beaten up when we were kids...And this is a lot more dangerous than some school bullies..."
His green orbs growing wide at this, Izuku noticed Kaori's hands lightly shaking. He didn't realize his actions frightened her that much, but he supposed he could be the type who allowed his heart to get the better of his mind at times...
Reaching out to grip onto her tan hands, Izuku gave them a comforting squeeze. "We'll look out for each other, then. And if things get too risky, we'll come straight back here. Or hide if nothing else. Sound good?"
Kaori gave him a small smile, letting out a "mhm", and standing up after Izuku had. Placing the talismans safely in his own kosode, Izuku led the way to the exit. They hadn't expected for a surprisingly angry looking Fuyumi to be there waiting behind the door for them-a tray of tea and dango in her right hand-and Izuku and Kaori both ended up gulping from the normally kind woman's fearsome stare.
"You two were actually planning on sneaking out, weren't you?! Do you even care how upset Shoto and Amajiki-san would be with me after I promised them I'd make sure the two of you remained safe?!" Fuyumi scolded, her words causing the teens to shamefully hang their heads.
Izuku inhaled deeply, glancing up where his eyes locked with Fuyumi's. "I'm sorry if we're causing trouble for you, Fuyumi-san...But we want to try and help Todoroki and the others. If Todoroki finds out, I promise I'll take all the blame. So, please..."
Fuyumi looked from Izuku to Kaori, reaching up to run a hand through her thick shoulder-length hair. "You two really aren't going to back down no matter what I say, are you?" the second oldest Todoroki said with a defeated sigh, giving a small smile to the two teens. "I don't agree with this, but okay...Just promise you'll be careful...?"
"We will. Thank you, Fuyumi-san. Again, we're sorry for causing you trouble," Kaori apologized, bowing before the slightly taller female while Izuku followed his friends polite gesture.
After stepping to the side, allowing the kids to rush off, Fuyumi sighed to herself knowing this had been a bad choice on her part. Her distracted demeanor was why she hadn't sensed the presence approaching her, and she ended up jumping a bit when a hand was placed on her shoulder. The culprit turned out to be Dabi, this making Fuyumi's lips part in surprise. "Touya? Why are you still here? I thought you left with Shoto and Natsuo...?"
Dabi just chuckled, removing his calloused hand to place it, along with his other, into his pants pockets. "Figured I'd hang around just in case the house was attacked and you needed help. But with the little human's ditching, guess there's no point in me sticking around. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on them,"
"Thank you, Touya." Fuyumi expressed with a grateful smile. She however didn't notice the smirk that had formed on her older brother's face when he sauntered off.
From how peaceful it had been at the mansion, Kaori and Izuku didn't expect the chaos that would greet them when they headed for the town. They could make out Kirishima, Iida, and the others fighting in the distance, and the ayakashi they fought were honestly terrifying. The creatures looked like true monsters, possessing humanoid forms, yet they were muscular, scarred, and had skin tones of black or grayish-blues. Some were even capable of flight. What had to be the most disturbing about them was the fact that their brains were fully exposed.
"The yokai look like they're struggling, don't they...?" Kaori whispered, watching Kirishima, who had launched a fearsome punch at one of the ayakashi, yet it barely budged. Another had used a sneak attack on the red headed male, and the wolf yokai was sent sailing into one of the old fashioned buildings.
Though noticing the pissed off expression on Bakugou's face, maybe that monster was about to end up in worse shape...?
"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be fine. They've probably had to deal with these scary creatures before," Izuku reassured. Yet just when he said these words, he began to wonder if that was true? Everyone he had met was putting up a vicious fight, but it was almost like they weren't certain how to deal with some of the more aggressive attacks these ayakashi were displaying...
"Mother! Father!"
At the sound of a child yelling out in pain, Izuku swiftly headed for the direction the voice had come from, and his eyes grew big from the grievous sight. A child with golden horns and short spiky black hair was sobbing over two figures that were no longer moving in a barely standing house. They had been brutalized, their forms laying in puddles of their own blood; the boy not even caring that he was becoming stained with it as he cried and screamed, clinging desperately to his mother's lifeless body.
Wondering how someone could do something so unbelievably cruel, Izuku couldn't ponder on it too long. He noticed a wooden beam about to fall upon the boy, and he was dashing toward the child without hesitation. Tackling the child just as the large piece of wood fell, he managed to get the boy out of harms way.
"Don't worry. You're safe now," Izuku voiced gently, staring down at the onyx eyed kid with a mixture of both kindness and sadness.
The child's eyes widened before they were soon narrowing, and Izuku couldn't help but flinch, a pit forming in his stomach from the words the boy spat out at him.
"Safe...? YOU'RE THE REASON MY PARENTS WERE KILLED!"
"That's it, brat! Unleash all that anger of yours! It makes you more of a man than that worthless piece of trash who was your father!" a male voice boomed with a dark chuckle.
The anger on the boy's face had been replaced with fear, and Izuku could understand why seeing the demon that was almost mockingly encroaching on them. He was large, bulky, and incredibly muscular. Despite looking normal, Izuku some how found him to be more terrifying than those other monsters. The blood lust seeping off the short and spiky haired male was almost suffocating, similar to a poisonous miasma tainting the air around them.
His body might have been trembling almost as severely as the kids, but Izuku stood his ground after making sure the boy was safely behind him. He even moved into a defensive stance, furrowing his brows and waiting in case this clearly unhinged male decided to attack.
"So I'm guessing your that human male I've heard about? I wonder if you'll be more of a challenge than those weaklings?" he mused with a devilish grin. "We're not supposed to kill you, but that doesn't mean we can't still have some fun!"
Izuku gulped, some how keeping his voice from stuttering when he questioned in a solemn tone, "Then your the one who killed this boy's parents...?"
"Yeah? So what?" the demon said with a shrug. Izuku gritted his teeth in anger from how remorseless this guy sounded, which in turned made the villain unleash a laugh of amusement. "I'm a monster, kid. What do you expect? Unlike these other pansies, I don't hold back my urges. I've done so for far too damn long...But today, Shigaraki says I can kill indiscriminately."
Shigaraki Izuku pondered, wondering who this person might be if someone so large and intimidating could serve underneath him. The blond and black eyed male didn't strike him as the type to follow anyone.
"Names Muscular, by the way. Figured it would only be polite to tell one of the few people I won't kill...But thanks to you, kid, I'll get to ravage to my heart's content!"
Izuku had no idea what the oddly named Muscular was talking about, but he didn't have time to question him for the aggressive ayakashi was charging at him like a mad bull. So it was a bit surprising that he stopped when a mere rock hit him in the back of the head.
"This is what I mean about you always being reckless," Kaori sighed out with a small smile, tossing a pebble up and down in her right hand.
"Me? Your the one who shouldn't be getting involved right now!" Izuku exclaimed, his face boring an incomprehensible expression. Noticing Muscular turning to Kaori with a maddening grin, fear rose up within him. "Hey! I'm the one you wanted to fight, remember?!"
"So, the little girl has some spirit! Shigaraki said you're only useful to us if you have the power of spiritual energy. If not, your free game. So my question is, can you wield it?"
"...Not to my knowledge."
Izuku screamed loudly in his mind. This would be the time to lie, Kaori!
Muscular threw his head back and laughed. Soon licking at his lips he said gleefully, "Then I'm going to enjoy pounding you to a pu-"
Kaori didn't give him a chance to finish that sentence, quickly making her way toward him where she managed to lift her body up high enough just so she could land a direct kick to Muscular's face. Both Izuku and the dark haired boy's eyes grew wide since the blue haired female had managed to actually damage Muscular and send him skidding back a little, something neither thought was possible.
"I-I'm guessing you've been taking lessons from your aunt?" Izuku stuttered out, recalling how Yui-san had managed to make a small hole through a concrete building once when she caught someone bullying her niece and him.
"Well learning you were training your body, I didn't want to get left behind," Kaori voiced with a grin. Tears soon appeared in her bright green eyes, and she rubbed at her aching leg. "But his face feels even harder than concrete..."
Hearing laughter that sounded rather manic, Kaori turned her focus back on Muscular. A startled gasp left her lips since he was in front of her before she could blink, and she barely managed to get her arms up in time to block the punch that might have smashed her face in.
"KAORI?!" Izuku yelled out, watching his friend get violently pushed away from Muscular where she was soon crashing painfully to the ground on her side.
"Not bad for a human woman, but you didn't honestly think you were any match for me, did you?" Muscular taunted, his muscle fibers that covered both his arms pulsing as he slowly approached the whimpering girl. "Just stay down, and maybe it'll hurt less."
"...Your friends an idiot. Her arms broken, and not only that, she's going to die...All of us are...Just like my mom and dad..." the boy said quietly, gripping at his horns while staring down at the ground.
Izuku's hands were balled into tight fists, and the boy believed the mortal was actually going to slug him, closing his eyes while he waited on the blow. Instead, he felt a gentle hand on his head, and he opened his eyes in surprise to see Izuku wearing a fierce, yet determined look on his face.
"Don't worry. No one else is going to die," Izuku promised. He knew he might be lying through his teeth, but his only focus at the moment was to make Muscular pay for what he had done. "STAY AWAY FROM HER! YOUR FIGHT'S WITH ME NOW!"
The demon smirked, turning his attention on the livid green haired teen, and holding up his arm to block his punch. Izuku's fist even ended up getting trapped in the strands of dark red muscle fiber.
"Really? That's the best you can do? You're weaker than the woman!"
"I'M NOT DONE!" Izuku roared out, bringing in his other fist for a second attack.
Much to Muscular's shock, a white energy seemed to be emanating from Izuku's chest before surrounding his entire body. What made it different this time from the attack he had used on Bakugou, there was a green electricity mixed with it, making the spiritual attack far more deadly than before. Not only did it cause devastating damage to Muscular, but to the surrounding area.
The young boy coughed, having been blown back from Izuku's attack. He hadn't expected a human could be that strong, and he could only stare at Izuku in immense shock. There was no sign of his parents murderer anywhere...
Yet the attack seemed to have taken a lot out of Izuku. He had fallen on his knees panting heavily, this causing Kaori to run over to him.
"A-are you alright?!"
"You're the one I should be asking that to..." Izuku spoke breathlessly, gazing sadly at the nasty purple and black looking mark upon Kaori's arm that his friend was cradling.
"I'm okay...To be honest, the pain isn't so bad like it previously was," Kaori admitted softly. "It's kind of funny, but I swear my arm was twisted...Yet it doesn't look that way anymore..."
Izuku pulled his drained form off the ground, gently reaching out to feel Kaori's arm for himself. "That's odd...It doesn't look broken, but it should be...Did it some how heal on it's own?"
Kaori's eyes widened at this, before she looked down at the ground forlornly. "But...Mom broke my arm once before when I was four, and it didn't heal right away. So, why now...?"
"This is just my guess, but maybe you have some spiritual powers yourself. It was only when I came here that I learned I did, maybe it's the same for you?" Izuku analyzed while he cupped his chin. "Yours might work in a different manner where they don't require a paper talisman like mine do...Now that I think about it, your injuries did always seem to heal faster than mine ever did..."
Kaori wasn't sure what to think, but she turned her attention on the young yokai who had approached them, giving the two human's suspicious looks. Yet the spiky haired girl swore there was just a hint of awe in his dark eyes, too.
"Just what in the world are the two of you?"
Izuku looked at Kaori, neither of them really sure how to answer that question. And it looked like they would be unable to try at the sound of footsteps. Much to their horror, Muscular was making his way toward them with a grin. He must have only been blasted away in the attack...And it was amazing the demon could still be so confident considering the left side of his face had been horribly scarred, and he had lost an arm.
"Looks like I underestimated you. That attack was still too weak to defeat someone like me, but you might be a force to be reckoned with if you're able to increase your power," Muscular acknowledged. "Technically I should be taking you both alive, but killing you seems like the better option. Shame. I would have enjoyed toying with you some more, but Todoroki's lackey's could show up soon and spoil my fun completely."
"Kaori!" Izuku shouted, grabbing up the startled child and jumping out of the way. Kaori quickly did the same just as Muscular's fist came down, his attack leaving a massive crater where the three had just stood.
"You don't actually think you can flee from me, do you?" Muscular mocked, using his unnatural speed to easily catch up to Izuku.
Tossing the surprised child away, Izuku screamed out in pain when Muscular's fist connected with his abdomen. It was clear he had broken something, the force even ripping part of his clothing where he could see the nasty bruise forming on his exposed skin.
"Izu-" Kaori started to yell, only to pause when a lanky dark haired male had abruptly appeared in front of her, extending out his arm to stop her from moving.
"I wouldn't. You'll just end up in the same sorry state as your friend," Dabi uttered out, his bored tone of voice catching Muscular's attention.
"What the hell are you-"
Dabi didn't give him the chance to say anything more, sending beautiful, but deadly blue flames directly at Muscular. It was amazing that, despite his growls and screams of pain as his flesh was burnt away, Muscular was managing to make his way toward Dabi. This caused the turquoise eyed male to continuously send walls of fire at the ayakashi until he eventually fell face forward where he no longer moved.
All that remained of him was a charred corpse.
Seeing someone being burnt alive was a disturbing event to witness, and the sulfurous and charcoal-like smell had Kaori lifting up her sleeve to cover her mouth while she rushed over toward Izuku. He was sitting up, his face scrunched up while he held a hand over his injury, yet he managed to smile weakly at Kaori.
"You two human's don't have an ounce of sense, do you?" Dabi drawled out with a shake of his head. "You should have ran instead of fighting the bastard. It was obvious suicide."
"Sorry...but running away didn't seem like the right thing to do..."
Dabi blinked, turning his attention on where Izuku was looking. From the teary eyed brat to the nearby corpses, the kitsune let out a heavy sigh. "Oh, I see...Kota, kid, sorry about your parents..."
"So, your names Kota? You weren't hurt, were you...?" Izuku asked gently with a faint smile.
Kota gritted his teeth, tears pouring down his face. "Why? Why did someone like the two of you have to protect me...?! My mom's been sick, so we weren't able to flee with the others when the signal was given...! Th-that's when he showed up wanting to know where the human's were being hidden...Dad should have just told him. Mom and him would still...t-they'd still be alive if dad had...!"
"Not necessarily. A guy like this would have killed you and your family the moment he got what he wanted," Dabi voiced, bringing his boot covered foot down on Muscular's head where it turned to ash. "You should be grateful for these two showing up when they did."
This caused more tears to fall down Kota's already moist and reddened cheeks, and he sniffled, peering upwards when feeling a gentle hand being placed on top of his head. Mirio had arrived along with Amajiki, his face boring one of grief and regret, and he comfortingly brushed his fingers through Kota's hair.
"Don't blame Midoriya-kun and Yamaguchi-san. If anyone should be accused, it's us for not getting here sooner..."
Amajiki sported a deep frown, looking from Kaori's injuries to Izuku's. "Those creatures that appeared seemed to almost be keeping us from this area...You showed up at the right time, Touya-san...Still, I'm a little amazed you became involved. That isn't like you..."
"You make me sound like I'm heartless, Tamaki-san," Dabi reflected with a smirk. "I got some fun out of killing the bastard and protected the human's. It all worked out in the end, wouldn't you agree?"
Continuing to stare at Dabi with a small frown, Amajiki had always felt there was something off with Todoroki's older brother. Still, he did save Kaori and Izuku. It was just a shame he couldn't stop Izuku from being badly injured. That was why he was surprised to see Kaori placing a hand on top of his battered skin.
"I-I don't think you should be touching him there, Kaori-san..."
"I'm not really sure how, but my arm was broken, but some how it mended on it's own," Kaori commented, her words causing Amajiki and Mirio's eyes to widen. Dabi just rose a brow in mild curiosity. "Maybe there's some way I can heal Izuku's injury, too..."
Kaori focused on the spot, her brows furrowing while she concentrated. Yet nothing seemed to be happening, and she let out a defeated sigh, gripping at her own arm that was only a little sore. "I don't understand...Why isn't anything happening...?"
"Maybe...you can only heal your own body...?" Amajiki noted. When everyone's attention turned on him, he blushed and nervously peered down at the ground. "Th-that's probably why it isn't working...It's not...an actual healing technique...More like, a defensive ability for your own body. Which is still pretty amazing...I've never heard of a human being able to do something like that before..."
Blushing a little herself, Kaori rubbed at the back of her neck. "S-still, I wish I could do more..."
"Um? I could help...Maybe..."
At the unsure female voice, everyone turned to spot a young girl that looked around Kota's age gazing nervously at them. Izuku found himself staring at the child in regard. Her blueish-white hair was messy and her face was dirty. What stood out to him the most was her large innocent red eyes that were darting around in what looked like fear. And it wasn't directed toward them.
"Hm? Where did you come from, little one? Did you get separated from your parents?" Mirio questioned, holding Kota, who had passed out from exhaustion in his arms, while he bent down to place a hand on top of the girl's head.
When she recoiled, Mirio blinked in surprise. The small girl almost looked like she wanted to run away, but she glanced over at Izuku where she slowly began to approach him. Clasping her shaking hands together in front of her chest, she glanced around once again before slowly placing her palms on Izuku's injury.
Much to the green eyed male's amazement, the little horn on the child's head began to glow, and he could actually see his injuries fading away. The burning told him that his broken bones were even mending, but the pain was nothing compared to the sensation of when he acquired the wound. And when she had finished, it was almost like he had never been in battle at all.
"That was amazing!" Izuku exclaimed, grinning at the little girl and making her tilt her head at him. "Thank you so much! Um, would you tell me your name? My names Izuku.
She had never been thanked before, and her pale cheeks turned a bright pink. "My name? It's Eri..."
Izuku smiled softly since the quiet girl was staring at him almost curiously. Noticing her small form growing tense, Izuku once again saw fear return within her crimson orbs, and before he or any of them could react, Eri was taking off as though she were running for her life.
"E-Eri-chan?! Wait!" Izuku called out, about to run after the girl. His own form ended up growing stiff when Todoroki had appeared in front of him. And from the icy look on his face, it was clear he wasn't happy. Yet Izuku pushed back his panic, sending the fox yokai a firm stare. "We have to go after Eri! Something or someone seems to have her really frightened..!"
"No. You're not going anywhere else. This time, you will listen to my orders..."
"But-!
"Didn't you see the direction she was heading? Those red trees should have tipped you off. It's the Crimson Forest," Dabi said with a shake of his head. "She's an ayakashi."
"What does that have to do with anything?!"
"We're not involved with them. After seeing the destruction they're capable of, you should know why." Todoroki voiced coolly.
Izuku winced at this, but he remained defiant. "E-even so! Eri's just a child! Not only that, she helped heal the injuries I got from fi-"
The darkened expression Todoroki sent him made Izuku back up. He was even frightened the kitsune's red and white tipped tails might lash at him from the way they pointed at him almost like swords.
"If you had obeyed my orders and hadn't left the mansion, you wouldn't have been injured in the first place!" Todoroki growled out, snatching Izuku's wrist and holding it in an iron grip. "You're returning there, and this time, I'll make sure you're not able to escape!"
Clenching his teeth, Izuku managed to pry his arm away from the demon, tears in his eyes as he started to run away. He didn't get very far for Todoroki had flashed behind him and placed a swift strike to back of his neck that made the human male automatically fall to the ground.
"Wh-what's wrong with you?! Yes Izuku didn't obey your orders, but if he hadn't left, Kota might have been killed along with his parents!" Kaori yelled angrily, peering over at the dark haired boy who was still crying even in his sleep. "You should be thanking him for getting involved!"
"...Amajiki, I'll allow you to deal with the girl. Dabi take Izuku back to our house and make sure he's not able to escape this time," Todoroki instructed in an emotionless tone. "You should take Kota somewhere safe, Mirio. I need to make sure all of those creatures have been dealt with and are no longer in the village."
Everyone immediately followed Todoroki's orders, and Kaori could only do the same after Amajiki tugged at her sleeve, meaning for her to walk with him. Yet it was clear he was upset by the turn of events, and she quietly walked behind him after giving a quick look at Dabi who was tossing Izuku over his shoulder and then disappearing with him.
Once he was alone, Todoroki walked over to Kota's parents, his clawed hands balling into tight fists at his sides.
"Dammit..." he uttered out, soon covering his face with his hand. He had made multiple mistakes tonight. Not being able to protect all of his fellow yokai, and worse of all, Izuku would probably hate him now...
