Chapter I.
Old Scars Still Burn
. . .
Kagome was tired.
In her twenty-three years of life, she had gone through many things. Becoming a pro-hero, raising her son and just trying to be a functioning adult.
But life for her always had to make things difficult. And while Kagome was not a mean person, some would think being a pro-hero never allowed for that kind of mentality.
A villain showdown was never a personal thing; it was just a part of the job and a hero just needed to draw that line when they put the spandex on.
Some heroes could never find that line.
Kagome could.
A pro-hero has to separate themselves emotionally from the fights, never taking any criminal's witty and demeaning retorts to heart. Or the public outcries that they were scum if there was so much as a scratch on any civilian.
It was what many aspiring heroes never realised when they signed up to become pros.
The emotional and mental hardships of losing sidekicks and watching a child die were what ruined heroes, not the physical training.
A hero could train with the best quirk in the world and be unstoppable, but if they failed once to save someone, it could break a hero.
The torment of the job was not unfamiliar to Kagome.
Kagome was often told from the moment she was born she was a mistake, an accident or just plain weak.
She was the runt of the litter.
Years of hard training and abuse had hardened her heart and prepared her for a life as a hero; she was finally a perfect being.
The ideal heroine, as many would call her.
"Frost Fire does it again! Subduing villains perfectly!"
.
"Her speed with those icy flames of her makes her so effective at taking down criminals! She is what every hero needs to be!"
.
"Perfect takedowns! Beautiful! Elegant! And with the mannerisms of royalty! Frost Fire is here to show the new kids on the block how to be a pro!
.
Everything she did was great... however, she could see something they couldn't. The bags under her eyes grew darker, how her fights got sloppier as time went on, the recovery time between her activity...
Damn it... she was so fucking tired.
"There is no one like her! Frost Fire is THE upcoming pro-hero!"
.
.
.
"... who's the man risking his life for our sakes?!" The reporter screamed as they were pushed back from the force of the battle.
Somewhere far from the city's antics, the T.V crackled as the signal faltered due to the intensity of the fight it streamed. A young boy watched in awe, gripping the remote while his fox tail flicked with curiosity.
A woman came into the living room, carrying a washing basket filled with freshly dried laundry. She noticed her son's intense focus on the television and chuckled.
"Another hero fight, Shippo? Who's got your attention this time?" She smiled, settling beside him on the couch while ruffling his hair, balancing the basket on her knees.
"It's Endeavor, Mama! He is fighting those uhhh...things! AND he is struggling!" He earnestly said, not breaking eye contact from the screen. Shippo did not notice his mother stiffening as she finally focused on the fight.
Endeavor was soaring through the sky like a rocket with no intention of stopping. The explosion of flames blew out the camera lens, making the screen go white. Shippo bounced to his feet, his mouth agape as he cheered the hero on.
His mother's grip loosened on the basket, letting it clatter to the floor. Her eyes were wide, and brows furrowed, concern etched onto her face.
When the screen returned to normal, a ball of flames was settled on the ground, and Endeavor's fist was raised.
"He won! Endeavor won, Mama!" Shippo cheered, grabbing said hero's plush and bouncing around.
"A sign of victory—no. A sign of his start!" The reporter hailed, the loud praise of onlookers quickly overriding them.
Kagome Todoroki, though, let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She could only stare as her Father barely stood with his remaining strength, and his fist held high.
He rose, despite his apparent bruises and fatigue.
Kagome gazed at her son who was happily hopping around the living room, his bouncing reddish-orange hair deeply reminiscent of the man on the screen.
For the first time in her twenty-three years of existence, she felt troubled by that notion.
Despite the years, despite her blatantly ignoring her family at every chance she got...
That little girl inside her still longed for her family.
But as Kagome stared at the man, who, regardless of the odds of the fight, still came on top. A part of her wondered...
Maybe some people do not actually change, maybe she just never knew who they really.
Strong, resilient...although who else would fight an impossibly overpowered creature obstinately like he would.
An obscenely stubborn man, she snorted.
After so many years of ignoring his battles, his fame... the memories.
Kagome wondered if the same man who threw her away nine years ago was the one barely standing with his fist held in victory.
She knew she wasn't going to go to him first. Hell would freeze over before she would do that.
...
...
... if he had changed...
If that silly little idea in her head formed by the desperate longing of a kid who still wanted her family.
Maybe if he came to her... she would give him a chance.
...
It seemed that stubbornness was indeed a hereditary feature.
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For the illustrated headers and scenes please go to either wattpad or AO3, under the same username!