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Izuku POV

After Toya's explosion and the discovery that Skaar was his own being trapped within Izuku's mind, his whole routine within the quirk hospital was changed.

Instead of being kept away from other patients like he had been, he was encouraged to build his own personality up, build bonds with the others around him. He even started having conversations with Nurse Anzu, who was a rather pleasant individual now that she wasn't being told to only be around Izuku to suppress the activation of his quirk.

His quirk testing sessions had also changed. Instead of just letting Skaar out to try and control him, All Might was now present to try and interact with Skaar and get the other half of Izuku to open up. So far there were limited results.

Skaar certainly responded to All Might. But it came in the form of kicks, punches, and if he could ever get a weapon, stabs. All Might took care of Skaar easily enough, but there wasn't much progress in the whole 'open up' thing.

The only other development in Izuku's quirk was that it was discovered that as Izuku got closer to turning into Skaar, his physical body got tougher and he got stronger. A minor boost when compared to true heroes, but most heroes would fall if faced with Skaar raging in their direction.

But the biggest change to Izuku, not just in the hospital but in his life overall, was that, for the first time, he had friends, real friends. Not like Katsuki, who Izuku now realized kept him around to feed his superiority complex, but real friends, people who would go to war for him and who he would unleash Skaar for.

Of course, he was talking about Fumikage Tokoyami and Himiko Toga. And sometimes Dark Shadow, if he was behaving.

Fumikage was the most serious of the trio, as well as the closest to finishing his rehab. His Dark Shadow's weakness was light, so keeping it under control was doable as long as he kept an extremely bright flashlight on his person to shock Dark Shadow back under control if he got any ideas. The final stage of his 'rehab' was putting in the work to control Dark Shadow if there was no light source to subdue him with. It was hard work, but Fumikage had shared with the others that he was making progress.

Himiko was the wild child of the trio. She was the one who replaced all the toilet paper in the hospital with the doctor's paperwork, the one who set off the sprinkler system at least once a month for fun, and the one who had the most trouble controlling her quirk.

Himiko's quirk was called Transform, which hid the true nature of the quirk. While she could transform into other people, she had to drink their blood to do it. While a harmless quirk on the surface, if off putting because of the blood, Himiko's quirk also gave her an obsession with seeing blood, most specifically, other people's blood. She had attacked another child on the playground as her quirk's desire overwhelmed her so her parents shipped her here until she could control it.

She usually worked with the pro hero Vlad King, whose quirk let him control his own blood and survive even fatal blood loss. It was the only time when Himiko was allowed to see blood, her own or anyone else's. She was kept away from any sharp objects like Izuku was kept from letting his heart pickup.

Izuku rounded out the trio with his wild enthusiasm for heroes and desire to control the power his quirk held. While Himiko and Fumikage only wanted to learn enough to be let out back to the real world, Izuku wanted to control every aspect of Skaar. To use the berserker to be a hero. It was inspiring to the duo that had been told their whole lives that their quirks were unsuited for heroism.

The three were always hanging out together, whether it be pranking led by Toga, more peaceful activities like board games that Tokoyami insisted on, or watching heroes and analyzing everything they did, which was Izuku's obsession.

That time spent together in rehab was the happiest Izuku had ever been. But it all came crashing down when good news came to Fumikage.

Shortly after turning 10, the raven headed boy finally had enough control over Dark Shadow to be released back into the world.

It was a tearful goodbye for the trio, but as he left, Fumikage had a last piece of advice for Izuku.

"As much as you want to control Skaar, he doesn't want you to control him, the same as Dark Shadow and I. Work with him Izuku, he might surprise you."

It wasn't long after that that Izuku finally learned how to do something while Skaar was in control. Skaar was still very much the raging berserker, but Izuku's older mind had finally developed enough to exert the smallest amount of control over him. He could direct Skaar, force him to target one thing over others.

Of course, Skaar wouldn't stop attacking, forcing Izuku to direct his anger into the ground when they ran out of targets and pretend villains. The only target Izuku couldn't direct Skaar away from was All Might. Whenever the number one hero was around, Skaar completely shut Izuku out and hyper focused All Might of his own volition. From All Might's explanation, it was a trait similar to his father's Hulk. The desire to be the strongest, by beating the strongest. To be the strongest alive.

But it was a step forward, it was control. And it meant that Izuku's goal of using Skaar to be a hero was just that much closer. And it was that realization combined with Fumikage's leaving that hurt Himiko.

It was after another successful training session that Izuku found his best friend curled up in the corner of her room, hugging her pillow with her knees pulled up to her chest, silent tears falling from her eyes.

Izuku was quick to sit beside her and throw his arm over her shoulder. After all the times Himiko had glomped him, he had long since overcome his nerves around the opposite gender. He didn't ask her why and say anything, he just let Himiko open up to him.

"How can you do it Izu, you are getting more and more control over Skaar and Fumi already is back in the world, but here I am, making absolutely no progress whatsoever." Himiko finally said after a long wait. Long enough that Nurse Anzu had left the two of them to their privacy.

It was a question that Izuku hesitated to answer, his quirk knowledge working at a fast pace as he considered sharing what he was almost certain was Himiko's answer.

It was several minutes of silence before Izuku finally answered, mentally going over his calming exercises.

"I think you are doing everything you can Himiko, it's not that you are doing anything wrong, but that you're working towards the wrong goal. You need blood to use your quirk, other people's blood. To never want blood, like the doctors are trying to get you to do, means you have to never want to use your quirk. But you want to be a hero. Just like I do and just like Fumi does. You want to use your quirk, but everything they are telling you here goes against that. It's hurting you a lot more than it's helping you. I don't know what it is you need Himiko, but I know that if you want to be a hero, you are going to have to use your quirk, and that's not something the doctors want." Izuku responded, watching Himiko's reaction carefully.

It was a conclusion he had come to after watching various doctors work with him, and hearing about what treatments Fumikage and Himiko got. It was an ugly truth, but it was one Izuku had come to accept.

Quirks that had power were valued much higher than other quirks. It was why everyone had praised Katsuki when they were children, it was why Endeavor got away with massive amounts of property damage when he fought, and it was why he and Fumikage had received so much help and freedom when working to control their quirks. Compared to them, Himiko was being shoved aside. Instead of learning to use her quirk, she was being forced to suppress everything about it.

And it was hurting her. As time passed, she was smiling less, pranking less, and spent more and more time staring at people's wrists, the place that bled the most when cut.

She was torn between wanting to use her quirk to be a hero, and being taught to reject her quirk, and it was driving her towards a psychotic break. And that wasn't something Izuku was going to let happen. He remembered what happened to Toya, he had seen the older boy shut himself away slowly until he finally snapped and exploded in a blue blaze.

Himiko was his best friend, closer than the more reserved Fumikage and actually cared about him unlike Katsuki had. Even if it would get him into trouble, he would do his best to do what he thought would help his friend. Even if it meant breaking rules. After all, wasn't it a hero's job to butt in when they weren't wanted.

While Himiko was digesting Izuku's words, he quickly raised his hand to his mouth and bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood.

Himiko froze when she saw her best friend's precious blood spilt in front of her, glistening droplets resting on his thumb. It took all the self control she had been taught by the doctors to not jump on Izuku's hand to get the blood she had been denied for years.

"Drink it Himi, your quirk is a part of you, not something you reject. Skaar is a part of me, Dark Shadow is a part of Fumikage, and your quirk is on your blood. You can be a hero with your quirks, even if some people might tell you otherwise, you are strong enough to not hurt innocent people because you want their blood and you will be strong enough to fight the bad guys for those people who might look down on you because of your quirk."

Izuku's words were enough to break through Himiko's resolve and she quickly has his thumb in her mouth, sucking whatever blood she could get for the first time since she had entered the quirk hospital years ago. She looked up at Izuku's small smile with big eyes, her thirst for blood sated for the first time in years. And by her best friend. A boy who had just as much of a struggle with his own quirk as she did, taking the time to do anything he could to help her, to be her hero.

In that moment, Himiko knew Izuku would be a hero, no matter what anyone said. It was just who he was. Someone who would help others even at the price of himself, something she knew was very similar to what she had seen of All Might on TV. That was what it meant to be a hero she realized, helping others, doing what was right, even if there were consequences. She knew Izuku would get into a lot of trouble if he was caught giving her blood, but he did it anyway because he thought it was what was best for her.

And he was right. Already Himiko could feel the intense desire for blood ebbing away from her mind, allowing her to think more clearly than she had in a long time. After detaching from Izuku's finger, Himiko gave him a big smile. Not one of the goofy ones she shared after a prank, but a genuine smile. A smile that Izuku sent back at her when he saw her.

"Better?" Izuku asked, a touch of nerves he usually wasn't allowed to have coloring his voice.

"Yeah, thanks Izu, you're my hero." Himiko said, her large smile turning into a large smirk as she pressed a light kiss to Izuku's cheek, turning his face bright red and sending him into a muttering mess. But for the first time in years, Nurse Anzu wasn't there to suppress what came next.

With his heart rate spiking and his mind not focused on calming it again, Skaar made his first unscheduled appearance in years.

Himiko was shocked as her best friend seemed to twitch before expanding in size. His muscles ripping out of his hospital shirt and his pants barely stretching enough to stay on him. His green hair growing longer, darker, and losing it's natural fluffiness as it fell down his back.

Nurses and Doctors rushed in to try and stop Skaar from running free as the alert bracelet Izuku wore tore off his expanding wrist, but they were too late. As they entered the room, they came face to face with the fully awakened berserker, who was sitting on the ground watching them as Himiko sat beside him in awe.

Skaar was like nothing the young girl had ever seen. He had the same powerful presence she imagined All Might would have, but it was wilder, an edge of something assaulting her senses. It didn't feel dangerous to her, but she could tell others might not feel the same.

It was with a fluid motion that the seated Skaar swept up Himiko with a single muscular arm and plopped her onto his shoulders where she held into his head and wrapped her legs around the back of his neck to keep from falling. Himiko was surprised to learn that even as Skaar, Izuku's hair was just as soft as it usually was.

The doctors were panicked as they kept trying to convince Himiko to get away from Skaar, calling him a wild animal, but Himiko didn't think so. She could tell Izuku was in Skaar, and that neither of them would hurt her. He was her hero, no matter what form he was in. And she let the doctors know just that.

"Calm down ya babies, he's friendly see, he's my hero." She told them with a bright smile on her face as she remained seated on Skaar's shoulders, running his fingers through Skaar's long hair, absently braiding it in a loose braid.

The doctor's protests halted at Himiko's words and Skaar grunted light underneath her. His deep voice speaking out only two words.

"Mine. Protect." Was all Skaar said, his voice more of a grunt than anything, but his message was clear. He would not be harming Himiko. Nor would he allow other to do so.

The doctors watched in shock as Himiko used the olive green berserker as a jungle gym for the next hour before Skaar grunted again and faded back to Izuku, who was understandably panicked when he realized he had transformed into Skaar.

The whole hospital was there to drag Izuku away from Himiko, both to tears as they were forced away from their best friend.

It was the next day that they got the news. Izuku was no longer allowed to see Himiko, because Skaar was a threat to others when around her apparently.

Now, almost 11 years old, for the first time since Toya had died and left him alone when he was seven, Izuku was alone again. What was worse, was knowing that Himiko was also alone. That he was powerless to help his best friend, despite all the strength that Skaar held.

It only took a week for that isolation to end. By Himiko breaking into Izuku's room in the middle of the night.

When he awoke to see his best friend, Izuku was thrilled to see his friend again, until he saw the pack backpack she wore on her back and the street clothes she wore. It was then he knew he wouldn't be seeing her after this for a long time.

"You're leaving right?" Izuku asked as Himiko wrapped him in a tight hug as the sat on the edge of Izuku's bed, only the moon shining through the window providing light on the duo.

"You were right Izu, they don't want to help me here." Himiko admitted. "But I'm going to be a hero. Just like you are and just like Skaar will be." She said, steel in her voice instead of her usual playfulness.

"Would a hero academy accept you after running from here, wouldn't they just send you back?" Izuku asked, already knowing what Himiko would answer.

"That's why I'm not going to be a normal hero. Vigilante's are rare now, but they're still around. I'm going to help people Izu, even if it hurts me. You inspired that in me, and that's what I'm going to do." Himiko was insistent, and Izuku only nodded in response. Even if he didn't think it was a very good idea, he would support and help his best friend.

Grabbing one of the test tubes from the counter in his room, Izuku cut the palm of his hand on one of his bed springs and filled the vial, Himiko watching with subdues awe.

Corking the vial, Izuku took Himiko's hand and pressed the vial into it.

"If that's what you want then do it. Be a hero. And as long as you are trying to be a hero, I'll help you as much as I can, no matter what you need." Izuku told Himiko, his eyes showing how much determination he had.

Himiko could only nod, both children's eyes began to water as they realized this was where their paths separated for the time being. The world was a cruel place for those whose quirks weren't well received by others. They were forced to face the cold truths of the world much sooner than others. It wasn't fair, but both of them would keep moving forward, they would become heroes.

Himiko, blushing lightly, pressed a light kiss onto Izuku's lips before jumping out the window and vanishing into the night.

For once, Izuku's flustered state didn't lead to Skaar coming out, his sadness overwhelming his usually trigger nerves.

Alone. That was what he was now. No Toya, no Fumikage, and no Himiko.

But he still had his dream. He was going to be a hero, he was going to work with Skaar, and he even had All Might to help him.

Little did Izuku know that across the country, All Might was battling for his life against his greatest enemy, and that once it was over, everything would begin on the path of change.

Well, this was supposed to be posted a few days ago, but I got a little distracted by distractions so it's here now. My hell semester is finished so the coming months I'm hoping to get out a chapter a week, either for this, Trickster, and maybe even some of the older ones. I've also got some new ideas that have been hatching, so we'll if those work.

Next chapter will probably be the last one before canon storyline starts, and while it might upset some people, Izuku will continue to have struggles with Skaar, although they do have common ground. Protecting Himiko and being number 1. So it's a start.

I'm not the best at writing day to day activities and stuff like that, so I glazed over it, summary of above is that the trio were friends for a few years, then had to seperate. And while I know some people may have been excited to see Himiko in class 1-A, she won't be. She'll definitely be around, but she will technically be a criminal. I just can't find a way in my head to make her a fully legal hero. I already have a good vigilante name picked out for her too, so yeah.

Shout out to the most extensive reviewer I've seen for the story, UnlawfulGentleman. You, my good sir, truly live up to your name with your extensive reviews, and for that, you have my thanks.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading -Centurion Africanus