Chapter IV.

First Steps

. . .

"You have a son?"

Endeavor questioned, finally speaking to his eldest daughter for the first time in nine years.

Kagome froze, her eyes wildly flaring. Her fear overrode her at the moment, and her quirk blazed dimly in her palm.

She couldn't let him have her child.

"I'm leaving."

As she went to leave through the door, Endeavor stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"I want to know more." He asked gently, his rough hand though awkward attempted to provide a comfort Kagome was not familiar with. Her tenseness relaxed slightly. "I know I have not been the best father, and I plan to atone for my mistakes. But if you would let me I would like to be involved in your life."

Kagome looked back to her father and stared directly into his eyes. And she could see the remorse and regret swirling in his aquamarine.

While his new so-called 'clarity' did not immediately let her bring her guard down, Kagome could tell he was different.

That he was indeed changing.

Damn it, Fuyumi, she silently cursed.

Natsuo eyed the interaction between Kagome and their father. He slammed his fist onto the table. Loudly interrupting the moment with his fury.

"Sorry, sis, I don't think I can do this." He sat up, readying himself to leave.

"Natsu!"

"Natsuo, if you have something to say, then say it." Endeavor placed his hand on his son's shoulder. He could feel the tenseness and awkwardness of the gesture. Yet, unlike his daughter, his son did not relax.

"Say it? Give me a break." He glared at his father and snapped. "You know I only found out today that Shoto likes soba. Because you didn't want him to have anything to do with us failures." At this, Kagome flinched at the word, her eyes glassy.

Failure.

Mistake.

Accident.

She was an accident, a blemish on the Todoroki lineage.

"For some reason, it seems like mom and sis are both ready to forgive you, but in my head, you're still a crazy bastard." He pointed an accusing finger at Endeavor; he gave a harsh glare at Kagome. "It seems like you've changed, but you haven't changed at all."

Kagome knew he directed that at both of them; Endeavor to change from his abusive ways and her supposed selfishness.

"Neglecting us... even if you became the number one and defeated a strong enemy, that doesn't make it disappear from my mind..." He whispered almost brokenly as fat tears welled in his eyes.

"Mom's screams, Shoto's crying, and what happened to our big brother, Toya... you are telling me you had a change of heart all on your own? And now trying to patch things up one-sidedly? It disgusts me."

"I plan to face you all from now on and atone for what I did." Endeavor admitted, face stony.

"Oh yeah?" Natsuo scoffed. "Sorry, sis! Thanks for the food!" He abruptly left, making sure to shove Kagome with his shoulder.

"Natsu!" Fuyumi yelled. "Geez... it's no good after all, huh?" Tears welled up in her eyes.

"With everything that has happened, even Kagome showing up! I thought... I thought maybe we could finally be a family." She wept, and Kagome's heart gave a painful beat at that.

"I was so happy, Shoto!" Fuyumi whined, leaping onto her younger brother and hugged him as he ate his soba unaffected.

"Sis. It's my first time seeing Natsu show so much emotion." He questioned, eyeing his now empty spot at the table. Fuyumi was going to respond, but Kagome beat her to it.

"It seems he has not grown out of his... temper." She spoke softly.

"Kagome he-" Fuyumi was cut off by the news broadcaster as it displayed the swirling dichotomy surrounding Endeavor's battle.

"It's the age of Endeavor now, huh?" Shoto commented. At this Endeavor stared in surprise at his youngest. "...I agree with Natsu; I can't forgive what you have done to mom. So as a father... I want to see how things go from here." He paused, staring at his bowl.

"Because I know how something small can change a person."

Shoto resumed eating as Fuyumi gasped in delight, happiness overwhelming her. Kagome glanced at their father and could see the inner turmoil in his eyes. He was unsure, yet she could see something flash in his eyes as he stared at Shoto.

A resolute answer was etched on his face as the barest hints of a smile were shown as he watched two of his children interact.

Kagome recognised the look. The different kind of contentedness that only familial bonds can accomplish.

If it weren't for her standing less than a foot away from him, she would not have believed he was capable of such emotion.

"Do you have something to protect?"

Kagome could feel herself reeling with the realisation that the father from her memories was not the same that stood in front of her.

He was different.

"Fuyumi, I'm sorry for everything. I shouldn't have said that to Natsuo." Endeavor turned and left to speak with his son.

There was a foreign gentleness in his voice. A different, stronger, more protective and open stance in his posture.

A part of Kagome feared this kind of protectiveness and change.

But another part of her was clawing to be released, to laugh and smile and be loved by her family. Yet her deep-rooted trauma reared itself and deafened that desperate hope.

Kagome glanced back at Fuyumi and Shoto, unsure of what to do.

"So, how about you tell me how my cute nephew is doing?" Fuyumi giggled, an arm still around Shoto, patting the cushion next to her. Kagome hesitated, but her youngest sibling, Shoto, glanced up at her.

"I would also like to know more."

Kagome was taken aback by the attention her younger siblings were paying to her, but she found herself gently sinking beside them.

"I'm sure he's curious about you, too. So I better get as much information as I can."

Fuyumi tearfully smiled brightly, gushing about how nice it finally was to be acting like an average family.

Shoto smiled slightly, enjoying the harmonious atmosphere.

Maybe things were changing for the Todoroki's.

After all, the first step to healing is becoming aware of our suffering origins.

And focusing on the now.

. . .

. . .

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