Chapter 31
This will be the last chapter of this story before a time-jump chapter to wrap everything up. The show is still going on so I may jump back into this story. I am working on a Bakugou/OC story called Fiery Flower. I see some have already read it! Fiery Flower includes Kaiya and Todoroki as well as Bakugou and my other OC Misa. I will also be working on a future short story on Kaiya and Todoroki in the future. Thank you to all that have stayed loyal to this story and my character and to all that had critiques and compliments. I love writing and I am looking for a way to do this for a living; this is great practice for me!
Months had passed and the new year had begun. Training increased as the Liberation Army was growing stronger by the day. "You don't actually think the reason we have to do these work studies is because the villains will attack?" Misa asked Kaiya while they ate their lunch.
"Honestly, anything can happen. I've learned that these villains are relentless. Who can we really trust out there?" Kaiya answered her.
"Who did you choose to work with?" Misa asked, sipping on her tea. "Endeavor with your boyfriend?" She smirked, seeing Kaiya stick her tongue out.
"I would have loved to do that; but I need more experience in combat. My elements are pretty strong now; but I can't rely on them all the time. So maybe Gunhead?"
"That makes sense. I chose Hawks. The animalistic side of me thinks that he can help me use my feline skills more. Plus, he could give me a job after graduation." Footsteps sounded from behind the girls as Todoroki brushed by and pecked a kiss on Kaiya's head. "Where's mine Todo?" Misa teased before Kaiya kicked her under the table. Todoroki shook his head in amusement as Misa hissed slightly.
"Get one from Bakugou. He seems to be less of an ass to you." Kaiya sneered, seeing Misa narrow her eyes. "What? Since the Class 1-A and Class 1-B competitions, he isn't poking at you much."
"Character development I guess." Misa mumbled,stringing her hair through her finger tips. "The boys have been acting weird lately anyway. Bakugou is cooling off a bit, Mineta is being less gross, the quieter boys are being more vocal. Even Shinso is breaking out of his shell."
"What makes you think that? I know Aizawa wants him in our class." Todoroki asked her curiously. Misa's cheeks blushed slightly at her slip but chose to admit what had conspired between them.
"After the class competitions, he has been texting me a lot. Asking to study, to train, things like that."
"Maybe he wants to ask you out?" Kaiya guessed. "Do you not want that to happen?" Misa shrugged her shoulders noncommittally before she spoke again.
"I'm not sure. Dating is a whole other game for me."
"You're telling me." Todoroki mumbled before checking the time. "Come on, Kaiya. We have to get going."
"Oh right. We have a movie to catch. You want to join us, Misa?"
"No,thank you. You guys enjoy your date. Us single folks will just stay here and read a book." She teased before waving them goodbye. Watching Todoroki and Kaiya walk away with their hands entwined pulled at Misa's heart. So much so, she pulled out her phone and dialed Shinso.
Walking in the cool breeze together, Todoroki and Kaiya spoke about their days thus far and their weekly training schedule coming up.
"I'm already exhausted." Kaiya laughed.
"Yeah, it's going to be tough. At least now Bakugou and I are licensed and we are ready for whatever comes our way." Todoroki mused before he felt the ground shake. "Is that you?" He asked Kaiya.
"No…but look over there." She gulped, seeing a group of villains appear in the middle of the park.
"We are here to even out the injustice of this Hero Society. The Hero's time has come to an end." The familiar voice of Shigaraki sounded.
"Not this guy again. We have to call your father." Kaiya said, lighting her hands on fire. "Everyone clear the park! Get to safety." She instructed while running closer to the approaching villains."
"Ah UA students. What a nice surprise." Shigaraki growled, his crazy eyes meeting Kaiya's alert orbs. "Get them." On his cue, Dabi, Compress, and Toga erupted from the group and attacked.
"The park is clear, it's just us. Endeavor is on his way." Todoroki called over the raging attacks from Dabi.
"He's stationed on the other end of town. Hopefully he gets here quickly." Kaiya groaned, dodging Compress's tricks and Toga's teeth.
"Not quick enough kids." Dabi cackled, blowing blue waves of flame at Todoroki.
"This group just won't quit will they?" Kaiya cursed, feeling the broken eyes of Shigaraki burning into her while she tried knocking Togo out. "How's this for your first major licensed fight, Shoto?" She smirked at the stoic boy next to her.
"We've fought them before with less training and won. We can do this." He replied, his left side erupting in flames while icing Dabi's feet to buy some time.
"Oh kids. We have a little surprise for you, Ms. Ayumi." Shigaraki's scratchy voice sounded, alarming Kaiya. "We couldn't convince your classmate to join us; but I completely overlooked you. Thanks to Dabi, I know what you are. You have villain blood." He snarled, sending a cold chill down her spine.
"You have me mistaken for someone else." Kaiya retorted, trying to keep her confusion out of her voice.
"Am I though? Let me introduce you to your father…" He snarled again, a tall figure appearing in between the villains and the two teens. The figure was trembling as his hand reached out to Kaiya, sadness in his green eyes. Todoroki edged closer to Kaiya to snap her out of her frozen stupor.
"Kaiya, don't listen to them. It could be a trick." Kaiya nodded her head in acknowledgment and aimed her hand ready to fight.
"Kaiya. I've missed you, girl." His voice was deep and rough as he took another step to her, but Kaiya backed up. "Kaiya? Didn't you miss me?" He asked, his dark hair falling over his eyes.
"I don't know you." Kaiya growled at the man, backing him up slightly with her wind. "You left me a long time ago. You are not my father." Todoroki smirked next to her, thankful that she wasn't getting distracted by this illusion.
"I made a mistake, Kaiya. Your mother and I were tricked into this League; they will torture you until you join them willingly. Please Kaiya; don't make the same mistake as us." He explained, tears streaming down his face. "Our mistake cost us you, and eventually your mother." He wailed, his hands pulling at his air as he replayed the memories. "We didn't want to leave you! But they'd kill us if we didn't. But we can be a family for real, just us two!" Kaiya's legs were beginning to wobble as she was losing control over her emotions. She was too confused, she didn't know what to believe. "Don't you want to be a family?" He asked pleadingly.
"Shoto…" Kaiya whispered, hoping he'd catch on to her wavering thoughts. He grasped her hand tightly and kept his eyes on the villains in front. "I don't know...I can't…"
"Yes you can. Listen to me, this may be real, this may not be. You are strong and you can fight this. You have survived so much more than this. I believe in you, my girl." He urged, his hand grasping Kaiya's tightly. "You are better than them, despite what Shigaraki says."
"You look so much like your mother." The father figure called out, sadness in his eyes. Tears welled in Kaiya's eyes as she gazed into Todoroki 's eyes looking for an answer. His eyes were strong and unwavering as he waited for her to make a decision. "Come with us Kaiya." Kaiya's father urged again. She broke contact with Todoroki and slowly walked over to her father's waiting hand.
"Good girl." Shigaraki snarled as Kaiya got closer to the group.
"Kaiya, no!" She heard Todoroki call out to her. "Please, think about this!"
"I'm sorry my love. I want a family." Kaiya whispered, allowing tears to flow down her cheeks as she reached for her father. "I do have one question though."
"What is it my dear?" Her father asked. Kaiya stretched out her left hand and showed him her grandmother's ring.
"What is this?" Kaiya asked, tears lessening as she saw him stumble over his words.
"Well this is of course... a ring." He answered, his eyes darting from side to side to avoid Kaiya's piercing gaze.
"Who's ring?" She asked, arching her eyebrow. Her father paled as she saw his body shake. "I knew it. Hello there, Twice." Kaiya smirked, jumping out of reach of the villains and back to Shoto.
The two brained villain melted and jumped back into the League's formation behind him. "You idiot! You could have said anything and she wouldn't have known! That was the point, she was too young to know anything!" Shigaraki cursed the villain next to him.
"Wrong Shigaraki. I know all about this ring and how much I don't look like my mother. The people closest to me have filled in the gaps of my childhood; but you wouldn't know that." The villain began snarling in frustration as he sent his army towards the teens.
"Get them!"
"I am so proud of you." Todoroki told Kaiya before he jumped into action, his flames burning on his left side. Kaiya followed suit and began gathering wind and blowing the villains away while knocking them out with earth fragments but they kept on coming. Kaiya shook the earth, careful not to throw Todoroki off balance and that put down a few villains for him to subdue with his ice. "I called for more help while you were talking to Twice; I hope they get here in time, we can't handle all of these villains." Kaiya knew Todoroki was right but they weren't exactly close to any hero agency or UA. They just had to fight long enough to buy them time.
Time was a lost construct at this point as they both battled against the hoard of villains, knocking them out as much as possible and as quickly as possible. Kaiya's hands were aching as the group was dwindling down, but Shigaraki and Dabi remained. A flame swept Kaiya off balance as it burned the right side of her ribs causing her to crash to the ground in pain.
"Son of a bitch." She cursed, seeing who threw the flame. "Dabi..." Kaiya groaned, getting to her feet slowly with Shoto running up to her
"See how she speaks of our mother, Shoto?" Dabi smiled, earning a gasp from Kaiya. Todoroki froze and locked eyes with Dabi in sudden realization.
"Touya?" Todoroki whispered. "You...you can't be alive." Kaiya remembered Todoroki 's mother and Fuyumi talking about a lost brother during a visit one day, but she thought he was dead.
"I'm so tired of the family reunions today." Kaiya growled, throwing fire at Dabi. "Get back!"
"Is that any way to treat your future brother-in-law, Kaiya? Really now?" He smiled, sending blue flames her way but she blocked them with an earth barrier. "Quick reflexes, impressive."
"I'm so happy you're impressed, now get back and stay down!" Kaiya ordered him, stealing a glance at a frozen Todoroki. "Shoto? Any help would be appreciated." Kaiya snarled, keeping his brother at bay.
"Yes, Shoto. Any help would be appreciated." His turquoise eyes burned into Shoto's as Kaiya silently prayed that help would appear soon. "No? Alright then. Killing you two will be easy now that the rest of these guys weakened you. My turn." Dabi smirked, firing a huge wave towards Kaiya but she barely caught it in time to save herself, but Todoroki fired up an ice wall.
"You don't hurt her. You fight me." Todoroki snarled, both sides lit with his quirks. Dabi smirked at his brother and charged for him, his hands blue with flames.
"No! Shoto! You can't take him down by yourself!" Suddenly Shigaraki erupted from behind Dabi's wall of fire and charged at Kaiya, his hand stretched out. She avoided him but felt the heat of Dabi's attack for Todoroki on her side, causing her to lose balance. Shigaraki was fast for a weakened man as he jumped on top of Kaiya, pinning her down with his legs.
"You will join us whether you want to or not, little girl." Shigaraki snarled as his hand crept closer to her face. Kaiya clenched her teeth and threw a fireball at his side, burning him immensely. "You little bitch." He snarled, lunging at her again but she regained her footing. He started to run towards her again but she threw him into a fire tornado and kept him trapped within the wind barrier, analyzing Todoroki 's fight with his brother. They were keeping their distance and she knew that Dabi was not a stronger fighter than Todoroki; but the emotional battle that Todoroki was going through would take him down quicker than any battle wound. Kaiya had to help him.
"We're going to keep coming back, you know. There is no stopping us brother." Dabi smirked, fanning his blue flames Todoroki's way. Ice scattered across the battleground, melting from the intense flames that keep erupting from the three of them.
"We will stop you Touya." Todoroki snapped back, firing off another round of flames.
"Touya is gone little brother. It's Dabi now. Join us and we can be everything dad wants us to be." Kaiya tensed at the villains' words and could see that his invitation cut through Todoroki like a knife.
"He didn't want us to be like this. You are wrong. What would mother think?" Todoroki asked, bracing himself behind an ice wall as Kaiya came running over to help. "Stay away, I don't want you to get hurt." He said to her.
"You can't hold him by yourself." Kaiya snapped back, earning a glare from him which she ignored.
"So what Shoto? Is this the big bad hero he wanted you to be? The hero none of us could be for him?" Dabi asked, ceasing his fire attacks. Todoroki's jaw tensed as he too stopped his attacks. "Is this who you want to be? When can you be much more?" Kaiya searched Todoroki 's face for an answer but only saw his usual stoic look; but his eyes were burning with sadness.
"Shoto, look at me baby." Kaiya whispered, grabbing his left hand. He snapped his attention to her, melting a little to her touch. "Just like Twice did to me; don't listen to him. You know who you are." She urged, her eyes pleading into Todoroki 's. He nodded and gripped her hand tighter.
"I am the hero I want to be! I'm sorry for what father did to you; but I am who I want to be. You cannot change my mind!" Todoroki called out to his brother who just rolled his eyes.
"That girl has made you weak." Dabi started but was cut off by Shoto.
"She's made me better. I owe who I am right now to her; you do not say a cross word about Kaiya, Touya." He argued back. They both stood behind the ice wall, ready to continue fighting when Dabi lit his hands up again. Kaiya's fire tornado was still circulating with Shigaraki trapped; but it was losing strength slowly. "We're running out of time." He whispered to Kaiya, knowing they couldn't distract Dabi and Shigaraki much more.
"I think I can hear sirens approaching." Kaiya replied to him. She kept her concentration on the fire tornado but it was interrupted by a wave of blue flames coming her way. Todoroki pushed Kaiya out of the way before she could throw up a wall barrier to protect them, catching his rib cage in the flames. He only got caught in the blast for a few seconds before Kaiya's wall came up, but it was enough for him to be knocked down. "Shoto! You're okay, you're okay. Look at me." He was grasping his side in pain and she could see blood and burn marks through his burnt clothes as he lay on his back.
"Son of a bitch that hurt." He cursed, gritting his teeth. Kaiya placed her hand on his side to stop the bleeding but her fire tornado had finally died down and Shigaraki escaped.
"You weren't my target little brother. Like I said; she's made you weak." Dabi snarled through his flames. Suddenly, larger flames erupted over the teen's head and Kaiya turned to see Endeavour running to them. Kaiya had never felt so relieved in her life than seeing an army of cops and Pro Heroes running to them. "Father." Dabi mumbled, retreating backwards with Shigaraki.
"This isn't over!" Shigaraki threw out one last threat before disappearing with Dabi.
Kaiya pushed down on Todoroki's side to stop the bleeding when Endeavor and Aizawa ran over to them. "Shoto?" He asked his son, seeing his condition.
"We need help. Help...please." Kaiya stuttered, locking eyes with Todoroki who winced in pain.
"We need some medical help over here immediately!" Kaiya heard Endeavor shout over the cops. An ambulance drove over to them as she clenched onto Todoroki's hand tightly. "He'll be okay Ayumi, let him go. Let them do their jobs." He ordered her when the EMT's arrived, but she couldn't bring herself to let go of Shoto.
"Kaiya, come on. The police are going to need to speak to you." Aizawa told her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Come on girl, come with me. I'll take you to see him when he's more stable at the hospital." Kaiya's eyes pierced into Todoroki's eyes as Aizawa tried to persuade her to go. "I promise."
Kaiya sighed heavily at his promise and relented. "I'll be back as soon as possible. You hang in there, do you understand me?" She whispered to Todoroki, seeing him nod at her, squeezing her hand in comfort. Kaiya saw the paramedics wheel him away into the ambulance and drive off towards the hospital, her heart racing the whole time.
"Kaiya, I need to know what happened." The police chief asked her, his notepad and pen at the ready. Aizawa nudged Kaiya to snap her attention back and she apologized and gave her statement. "Do you need medical assistance?" He asked, seeing blood drip from her forehead.
"No, I just have some scrapes and a slight flash burn on my side. It'll heal." She said, not feeling any pain in her body; just worry for Todoroki. "Can we go to the hospital now?" She asked Aizawa who nodded.
"Endeavor, do you want to join us?" Aizawa asked the hero.
"I will see if I can find the villains that did this to my son." He growled, regarding Kaiya carefully. "Look after him, Kaiya." He instructed before running off into the forest.
Waiting beside Todoroki's bed, Kaiya's knee bounced while she nervously picked at her nails. Todoroki was unconscious but alive; she just wanted him to open his eyes. The nurses had tended to her wounds and gave him antibiotics to combat any infections that could set in from the burns. Aizawa had remained close by, observing both his students and eventually ventured into Todoroki's room. "I'm not leaving, before you say anything." KaiyaI told him, her fingers ghosting over her forearm burn.
"I like to think I know you better than to tell you what to do when it comes to Todoroki." He replied, leaning on the windowsill. "The doctors said that he will pull through; he lost a lot of blood that's why he is still unconscious." Aizawa explained. Kaiya nodded her head to tell him she heard him and shut her eyes.
"It was so scary." She whispered, holding her head in her hands.
"Villains like that can be scary; being scared is okay even for heroes." Aizawa told her but Kaiya cut him off.
"No, not Dabi or Shigaraki. Seeing Shoto lying there in his own blood." Kaiya explained. "I couldn't do anything but hold his hand and his wound." She groaned, pulling at her hair in frustration. Aizawa shuffled behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I felt so useless."
"You were there for him and you're here for him now; that's all you can do and that is important." Aizawa stated simply. "You're handling his injuries better than he handled yours after the Eri rescue mission." He smirked, remembering how impossible the boy had been.
"What do you mean?" She asked. Kaiya remembered waking up alone in the hospital bed after the Eri rescue mission. "You said he was at school."
"That boy kept bugging the nurses, pleading to give you more medicine, attention, fluids, the whole nine yards. That was after he pleaded to the doctors to let him stay after hours despite not being family. Honestly, I had never heard Todoroki speak so much and so loud in the time I've had him as a student." Aizawa smirked, seeing Kaiya's shocked expression.
"Wow. He never told me that. I knew that he was worried but when I woke up he was gone." Kaiya mumbled, stealing a look at the sleeping boy.
"Love will make people do crazy, unnatural things." Aizawa uttered shyly. Kaiya blushed at his words and twirled her hair in her fingers. "I know you two are happy." He instructed, patting her shoulder.
"I love him sir. I never thought of myself in this situation; even with how young we are." Kaiya admitted, fighting back a tear.
"Unexpected love is the best kind. Just take it each day. I'm sure he had the same thoughts too." Kaiya smiled at her teacher and rose to her feet. She wrapped her arms around Aizawa and squeezed him into a hug. Kaiya felt him tense in surprise but relented and squeezed her back.
"Thank you sir. For everything. I don't tell you that enough." Kaiya whispered into Aizawa's chest.
"Not necessary. I told you that I'd keep an eye out for you." He told her, releasing her from the hug. "Get some rest. I'll check on you later."
Hours went by and the sun was beginning to set. Kaiya's eyes were getting heavy but she didn't want to miss Todoroki waking up; so she chugged a couple cups of coffee to stay awake. She had eaten the food the nurses were kind enough to give her and she had made herself a makeshift bed in the chair next to the bed. It wouldn't be very comfortable, but she'd be here. She began tapping her fingers against her thigh, mumbling some lyrics that found a home in her brain.
"I don't wanna look back in thirty years and wonder who you're married to. Wanna say it now, wanna make it clear, for only you to hear. When you love someone, they say you set 'em free, but that ain't gonna work for me. I don't wanna live without you, I don't wanna even breathe. I don't wanna dream about you, wanna wake up with you next to me. I don't wanna go down any other road now, I don't wanna love nobody but you."
She let some tears fall as the words fell out like a waterfall. Kaiya's heart ached and she wanted to curl up next to Todoroki and feel him breathing next to her. She buried her head into her knees, curled up in the chair, waiting for sleep to overcome her.
"Those tears better not be for me, my girl." Kaiya heard a cracked voice sound. Her head snapped up and her teary vision cleared to see Todoroki smirking at her with hooded eyes. "The song was beautiful." He whispered. Tears flowed out of Kaiya's eyes as she scooted closer to him, clasping his hand in hers.
"My Shoto." Kaiya whispered, kissing Todoroki's hand gently.
"I'm here." He whispered, running his hand through Kaiya's hair. "I'm sorry if I scared you."
"You did, you really did. But that's not important now; you're okay." She replied, meeting his eyes.
"You look tired baby, have you slept at all?" He asked, rubbing her cheek gently. Kaiya shook her head and he sighed. "Get in here, we both could use some actual sleep." He said, lifting his sheets to allow her entrance.
"I don't know, what will others think?" Kaiya asked him, unsure of the invitation.
"That we missed each other and needed some sleep. Now get in before you make me lift you in here." He threatened softly and Kaiya relented, shuffling into his bed; careful not to touch his wrapped side. "I'm not made of glass, you can touch me." He laughed, pulling her to him.
Kaiya cuddled into his chest, drying her tears and calming her breathing. "I'm so glad you're okay. I'm sorry I couldn't do more." She whispered. Todoroki's arms tightened around Kaiya and she felt his lips brush against her forehead.
"Hush my love. This wasn't your fault. Let's sleep so I can wake up with you next to me." He smiled, mirroring her words from earlier. "I love you, Kaiya."
"I love you too, Shoto." Kaiya whispered, finally allowing sleep to take her.
Falling asleep at last, the harsh reality of what was yet to come still burned in their minds. Shigaraki was stronger than before, Dabi seemed less in control, and the army was growing. Today wasn't going to be the last the heroes had seen of Shigaraki and his wrath against the Hero Society. All they could be ready for was war.
