Chapter 3 – Soundless Raccoon

If there's one word that encompassed Yui Kodai, it would be the word, silent. She walked with silence, moved with silence, even talked with silence. Her stoic disposition, giving off 'resting bitch face' made the raccoon both intimidating and sometimes creepy.

Which is why the person summoning her to their quarters adored her. Having learned to perfect a convincing poker face since childhood, meant she became useful to her savior. To the one who gave her a means to escape the hellhole she was born into and gave her a better life.

It is only fair to show them loyalty–

"Do come in child, we have much to discuss."

–Even when Yui's come to despise her role as the Duchess of Jaku's palace snitch.

Yui entered the Duchess's private room, the middle-age hyena looked relaxed, reclining against the built-in day bed set into the wall. She decided to wear her finest black cheongsam, pale blonde hair, intricately designed with silk velvet flowers and gold filigree hair pins. Her ring and pinky fingers covered with detailed nail guards.

She gave a faux smile, blue-green eyes studying Yui as the young girl curtsied very low before standing back up, head down.

Duchess Saki Hyoudai, also known as the Premier Hyoudai, Head of the Secretariat branch, fanned herself with unhurried leisure. Her smile grew, knowing the servant girl waited to be given permission to move. A few maids set up a small table, removing a cushion from the day bed to reveal lacquered wood. When they finished arranging the tea and food, they dispersed, leaving Yui alone in the room with the duchess.

"Talk, I hear Chancellor Nezu held an emergency meeting without confiding the secretariat. What could be so important he failed to get me from my sleep last night?"

Yui relaxed, looking the other predator in the eye, face neutral, "The chancellor discussed finding a princess consort for his highness."

Saki paused, teacup to her lips and then, "Since when has that lab rat ever cared about Prince Izuku's wellbeing?" Yui remained quiet as the woman took small swallows of her tea. Already the raccoon could tell the woman's irritation was rising. "Did her majesty humor his nonsense?"

"Her majesty thought it prudent to allow him the floor in order to get it over with."

The more the woman smiled the larger her irritation, Yui learned. The duchess let the uncomfortable silence linger, the maid willed herself not to flinch, body already anticipating dish ware being thrown her way.

She heard the crack in the tea saucer, the blonde's nail guard followed the thin fracture, doing her best to keep her anger in check before she used her quirk. She looked back towards Yui smiling, "Come on child, tell me the outcome, who is the crown prince's lucky bride?"

"The Noble House of Yaoyorozu's Lady Momo Yaoyorozu."

Duchess Hyoudai blinked, teeth sharpened and glinting, "I'm sorry, come again?"

"Her majesty from what I know this morning, chose Lady Momo Yaoyorozu."

The entire tea set on the small table exploded, sharp broken pieces flying everywhere, Yui got on her knees, bowing her head to the floor at the other predator's anger. She also wanted to avoid another incident of receiving a cut on her face from flying ceramic and glass. Her majesty had been livid about it.

"Why would she pick Yaoyorozu!"

Yui is unsure if her master wants her to answer or to keep quiet. It's safer to keep quiet until spoken to. Yui knows she's valuable to the duchess, but she doesn't want to push her luck. The last maid who said too much while the woman vented…well that maid cannot speak anymore.

"Speak!" An angry fist bangs the table, Yui bites the inside of her cheek to focus on the pain, so she keeps herself from flinching.

"Forgive me your grace, I am not sure what you want me to say."

Yui doesn't see the sneer and animalistic features baring down on her, looking like a dangerous hyena. "Whose choice was it!"

"Her majesty's," Yui supplies nothing else. She hears the folding fan open, blue eyes remained affixed to glossy cherry wood flooring, going almost crossed-eye.

"The empress choosing Lady Yaoyorozu for the position of princess consort is not your fault, you can get up, I don't need her majesty thinking I mistreat you. Not after the first time."

Yui resumes her place after giving her grace a polite bow. She can now see the smugness, the slight expression of sheer satisfaction, telling a story of a woman who delighted in seeing others cowed beneath her.

She was right, contrary to popular belief, her majesty did have some spine. She had thrown a right fit over the abuse, she managed to get a palace rule passed that a master couldn't use severe punishments on their servants.

It had loopholes of course but it's the sincerity for Yui that gained the empress a secret ally.

The duchess was doing her best to stave her anger, "Do you have any inkling for why she made such a ridiculous decision?"

Yui has ideas, she's not about to tell Hyoudai. She also really hates these roundabout conversations. The duchess is not lacking in smarts. Yui thinks the woman has multiple spies in the palace other than Yui herself. She has to know more than she's letting on, has to already know the answers she seeks.

But as the girl has known, this is a test. The premier is always testing her loyalty, always waiting for her to slip up. Yui has learned being straightforward without ulterior motives and no known weaknesses keep her alive. She can tell the truth just fine, omitting and bending it to her favor, is a natural talent.

"Do stop stalling!"

"Apologies your grace, her majesty wants the Lady Yaoyorozu because she's sentimental. The prince making a woman he's familiar with as the legal wife will help him be comfortable producing heirs."

The Duchess of Jaku almost snorted, taken aback by Inko's absurdity. Yui watches the woman's shoulders sag in relief. She's smiling, more natural, "Her majesty's feelings are misplaced! A lioness will get nowhere with a jittery rabbit," the hyena couldn't help to chortle, "It's absolute madness! She did agree to having an imperial harem for her precious son?"

"She did," she may have not been there for the entire meeting but her senpai, Miss Zofukuki ranted enough about the chancellor backing their madame into a corner.

The smile looked genuine, "The rat is good for something after all." Another long silent minute goes by. The maids from earlier come in to clean the mess and replace everything as good as new. Yui tries not to fidget at the sight of brand new expensive china.

She wants to yell angry swear words at the women for supplying her savior with more ammunition. Saki for her part looks happy about the harem. The woman hums to herself, a wicked smile failing to hide ambitions for power. Yui shudders, unable to hide the swinging raccoon tail, mind preoccupied with what new role if any, she will play now?

She knows of one and her stomach flutters with dread if ever given the order.

"You're awfully quiet today."

Yui is always silent when she comes here. She's silent period, but she knows again that her grace expects her to relay all she knows about the empress.

Yui does not want to throw her majesty to the wolves, so to speak. She feeds them the chancellor instead, "Her majesty sent me to bed before the meeting could go further. According to Court Lady Zofukuki, her majesty's pick of Yaoyorozu was not only sentimental, but bred out of rash stubbornness caused by Lord Nezu's ambitions to coerce her majesty into choosing a wife of his liking for his highness."

The stoic court lady counts her blessings once more that she's damn near perfected the art of seeming unmovable. An involuntary shudder passed through her at Saki's alarming laughter. Yui keeps her two-toned tail in a constant state of lazy swinging, hiding how thick from fright it becomes.

It wasn't the condescending laugh of a human woman but that of a cunning scavenger out for blood, "And?"

Yui braces herself for broken dishes turned into flying shrapnel, "Every young woman you picked, her majesty shot down. Her majesty would have taken another consideration if she did not think every choice was personally picked by the chancellor."

Priceless saucers came crashing near Yui's feet. At least the woman threw it instead of using her quirk, "That sneaky bastard! No wonder her majesty chose a Yaoyorozu!"

Yui is quick to see Saki's face construe to look like she smelled something most foul. The raccoon wonders if the duchess expects her to say anything on the lady from house Yaoyorozu? She does have her own opinions but she's not in any position to voice said opinions. Yui also likes breathing and knows she'll make the hyena angry. She's curious however, she's witnessed a lot of the woman's temper tantrums, seen her contempt for those she dislikes. But something about an innocent girl from what Yui knows, is a low-key noble family made the duchess seethe.

"Is there something which displeases you about Lady Yaoyorozu?"

She's breathes relief when instead of furious rage, the woman goes on a tirade, unable to pretend she's anything less than unbothered.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with Yaoyorozu," a nonchalant shrug, the stress on the word, wrong. Oh, the blonde is bothered.

"The family is quite plain compared to the young women I believe are better choices." Choices easy to manipulation or have their own agendas.

"At most, Yaoyorozu makes for a better consort rather than a princess," Yui is beginning to suspect some buried history between the noble houses? Perhaps house Yaoyorozu has something on house Hyoudai? An undeniable fact: Yaoyorozu is loyal to crown and family. The only other family Yui can think that even surpasses that is house Iida. The duchess doesn't like noble families who don't bow to her power.

"If not for Nezu's meddling, her majesty would have seen reason and chosen ladies based on my preference."

She wants to roll her eyes at the woman's sulky attitude. Yui counts her blessings, because of Lord Nezu, her majesty is none the wiser that she rebelled against the duchess. It was dirty and ambitious, but the hybrid has Yui's respect.

Yui thins her lips, neither wanting to betray the empress nor willing to risk another plate thrown at her face, she asks anyway, if only to feint concern, "Your grace, I'm sure if you speak to her majesty about your displeasure with the choice of bride, she'll give it another thought."

A frown, a pinched look, Saki puts the saucer and tea down without a sound. "Don't pretend to play dumb in my presence you silly girl!" Yui does not move, wills her eyes to the floor, bracing for an outburst that doesn't come, "You know damn well I cannot do that! Not without exposing myself!" Yui heard the sound of platform shoes until they came into her sight.

"Remember who it is that took you out of the drudgery of the labor camps!" The girl feels the caress of paper silk under her chin. Her eyes sees a purple tassel dangle at the end of the black folding fan before blue eyes are forced to gaze into icy turquoise. "You would have wasted away or taken to a whore house."

"I apologize your grace, this lowly servant spoke out of turn," she makes her quiet voice sound regretful and scared. She would kowtow if not for the folding fan still pushing her chin up. She's beginning to feel suffocated here. Yui wants to return to where she can breath. Today she won't mind when her senpai snaps at her for being the duchess's little nocturnal snitch. She may even smile today after hearing a kind word from her majesty.

"Her sweet words and kindness are cha-ri-ty. Do not be foolish to mistake it for anything else," Saki growled at Yui to move, "Get out of my sight!"

As quick and silent she came, the raccoon left in her spirit form. Her destination, scampering from one hidden crevice to the next back to her majesty's side. There's much on her mind, nothing new, Yui lives inside her own head.

She knew what she dared back there, she made her grace admit the chancellor played her. The duchess hates losing to Nezu but no longer having the ear of the empress, shook the woman to her core.

As long as her puppet didn't rebel, she was assured her power in the court remained. The retaliation against Lord Nezu…isn't going to be pretty. And now with his highness marrying a girl from the Yaoyorozu family, Yui guesses this too will threaten her grace's influence in some regard.

Oh? Noble Consort Begonia comes here too? Blue eyes tracked the beautiful lady in dark blue with the interesting shade of blue and pink hair done up in immaculate hair pins. The woman unaware of the raccoon watching from above, tried her best to look inconspicuous. Yui seen the shifting eyes…the waning resolve before shaking off her nerves and entering her grace's private chambers.

Yui hops down from the ceiling, returning to human form and staring expressionless to where her royal grace disappeared to. It's none of her business what the two of them speak on; she does make a mental note to keep close watch on the consort in case she has to inform her majesty.

Putting away those thoughts for now, Yui becomes a raccoon once again and heads back to the phoenix empress.

Noble Lioness

Flashback…

Dark obsidian eyes looked towards the late afternoon clear skies. Another sunny day and Momo Yaoyorozu couldn't enjoy it. The young girl of thirteen returned home from another banquet where she was told to play nice with the hosts' bratty children.

Those brats weren't worth her time, she wasn't snooty, but she didn't get joy out of getting servants that were just trying to do their jobs in trouble, getting slapped around because some noble's child wasn't taught the meaning of 'no'. Momo's favorite was when some brat forced one of the child servants to do something, they knew was wrong and were punished for it. Momo would speak out about the truth but then it made her 'peers' ignore her or boot her out of their circle. It would be a miracle if these children never became villains.

If those are the sort of children she had to socialize with, she was better off being alone. She kicked up dirt with red shoes that matched her red dress, having walked far towards the wooded forest of her family's property. The Yaoyorozu family was one of few, other than the royal family that own homes just on the cusps of the city that owned wide acres of land. Right now, the woods were perfect for getting in a little training, honing her spirit animal's hunting skills. Quirk training can come later.

Closing her eyes and concentrating, Momo felt the change and in place of a young teenage girl, stood a small mountain lion cub on all four limbs. Momo moved about, stretching and getting used to the feel of her spirit animal form. She always felt elation when she transformed at will. It was harder to do when she was younger and she hadn't tried to use her quirk in this form again. Not since the accident with the renewed bathhouse.

Momo ran around near the woods, enjoying the thrill of how much faster she moved in this form. Her playtime was cut short, a smell hit her nose. Alive and familiar with a coppery tinge. Is this the smell of a real rabbit?

The lion cub was excited by this, she never got to chase after real prey before! She followed her nose to the direction of where the smell was coming from and walked into the forest in hunter mode. Lurking low and slinking behind tall trees to help blend in.

Momo loved rabbit but this was just a playful exercise, she wasn't after actually killing and eating the little rabbit foraging around her property, though the scent coming off that rabbit entices her. She came to a stop, keeping out of sight once she spotted dark fur hiding in a patch of wild camellias and roses. Her forepaws repeatedly retracting her claws. A long floppy ear rose up turning side to side to pick up sounds. Momo watched for a long time while the hidden rabbit tracked for sounds nonstop. She was getting a little antsy waiting for it to lower its guard. When the ear finally went down, Momo took her chance and sprinted.

The tiny rabbit sensed this and scrambled to make a run for it. A strong stench of blood coming from an injury, hit her nose. This rabbit had been smart to drown out his scent of blood with the wildflowers. The scent of rabbit's blood urged Momo to chase after her prey. The inner lion cub wanted the thrill of a chase while her human mind was concerned about the injured animal.

"Crap, crap, crap…damn it my leg! Fine time to leave home! Now I'm about to get eaten by a mountain lion!"

That made Momo stop in her tracks, "Oh no! You're not an actual rabbit, are you?"

Stopping would be the end of him yet Izuku paused in his running to stare up at a large lion cub talking to him, she had to be another human because normal animals don't talk or telepathically communicated, "N-n-no, I'm n-not."

No longer in the spirit of chasing prey, Momo transformed back and picked up the skittish rabbit who was scratching at her dress sleeves to getaway, "You're hurt!"

"Please put me down!"

Momo held onto the little black cottontail as she made her way back home, "If I do that, you'll be at the mercy of a real mountain lion, we need to address your wounds first and later I can acquire how you found your way onto my family's property."

"I apologize, I didn't mean to trespass! Please put me down now!"

She continued to ignore his request to get free, even through his dark fur she saw the right hind leg had been injured on something in the woods, "Your animal form is awfully tiny, from your size, you must be roughly my age. I figure you can't be much trouble and if you are, it's nothing for my family to handle you before giving you to the authorities."

"I got lost, fooling around with…some, 'friends' of mine! Not really familiar with this city yet. Are you going to put me down?" It wasn't a complete lie; he did decide to be rebellious and snuck out with Kacchan after betting he could leave the palace undetected to roam the imperial capital for the first time in his life.

He should have known Bakugou was going to ditch him the first chance he got. They weren't friends, not anymore but somehow because his father and auntie Mitsuki grew up together as practically siblings, the gods thought it prudent to have Katsuki in his life. He just hoped that Iida kid's older brother doesn't catch all kinds of hell because Izuku decided that his stupid pride was more important than the fate of his designated babysitter for the week. The worst of it, he knew better. He knew better and he still allows the pup to get under his skin and now he was lost and caught by some nobleman's daughter, who probably thought he was a thief and he injured his leg. This lion cub had no plans to let him loose, he was stuck. This was just wonderful.

Also, he really dreaded being given to the authorities. Not because he feared them, he fears them giving him up to a petite phoenix who might discover she can combine phoenix fire with her quirk to pull things to her. Izuku was in no mood to be a test dummy, hopefully his mother won't be too angry with him.

"A little thing like you will get lost if left up to your own devices. Do you have a limit to how long this form lasts?" She did empathize with him being stuck, no matter how good she was getting at mastering her animal spirit, high levels of certain emotions made her transform as well. Sometimes she'll be walking around with cat ears and a tail for days.

"It varies, if I'm really stressed, it lasts for hours until I feel calm enough to transform back. Please don't take it the wrong way miss but your animal spirit has me really on edge right now. It's not conducive to me transforming back into my human form."

Momo did her best to try to calm the frantic cottontail in her arms, "That's understandable, but please try to be still so you don't aggravate your wounds. I promise I won't do anything to you. I think it would be best to have you home than allow you to fend for yourself out in these woods."

At her words, she could feel the small rabbit try to calm down. She eased her grip, knowing he wouldn't try to escape from her on his bad leg, "I don't like the sound of you being stuck like this and being unfortunate to run into an actual lion."

She was not about to mention the fact that lions did roam from time to time near the perimeter of her home. She deduced they came into the back woods because they 'sensed' she and her parents lived nearby. Just like this tiny rabbit had a rabbit scent, she carried a scent marker as well.

"You make a good point." He internally shuddered, burrowing his face into the crook of her arms where the natural scent of flowers was the strongest. His nose constantly twitching at the faint scent of camellias, roses, and peach blossoms.

The young girl couldn't help but croon, a smile gracing her features, "Aww how cute, you say your scare of me but retreat into my arms at the thought of real predators."

"Oh, I'm still scared, but your human at least right now." Even in his rabbit form, Izuku's face burned.

"Fair enough, we're home. I'll let you rest in one of my family's guest rooms," Momo was greeted by a few of her family's servants as she entered the main house.

"I never asked but what is your name?"

"Momo Yaoyorozu and who may my rabbit friend be?"

"Friend? Ah, you can just call me…uh, well-"

"Don't want to give your name away I see?"

"Momo who are you talking to?"

Momo and Izuku both saw a tall woman, who looked like Momo's older double, come into the family room. Where the younger Yaoyorozu wore reds with bright accents of warm colors, the Madame wore silver with muted tones. The elder lioness smiled towards her daughter who gave a curt nod but kept a distance, being mindful of the frightened rabbit in her arms, "Mother, hello!"

A soft rubbing of fingers on his head was helping somewhat because the cottontail wasn't squirming as much, "I found a little friend that would have ended up with a fate worse than death if a real lion cub found him before me."

Madame Yaoyorozu looked amused, yet she made no other movements, she could detect the scent of blood and fear coming from the rabbit in Momo's arms. She didn't like that there was a little trespasser in her house. Momo knew better but seeing as the boy from the scent of him was just big enough to fit in her daughter's hands, this rabbit was a young child. Her daughter, picked him up, probably not fearing he could do her harm and more concerned about helping sooth his injury, "Little rabbit, I'm sure you can tell, that I'm not very happy you're in my home?"

Both Izuku and Momo cowered at the woman's threatening tone, their ears lowering. Momo involuntarily squeezed her hold on Izuku, his heartbeat thudding a mile a minute, "I'm sorry, I brought him here because I didn't think he's in a position to cause problems!"

"Because he's injured? Or because in your animal form your bigger and stronger? How do you know this little rabbit wasn't tricking you, Momo? Have you thought about what kind of quirk he has?"

"I-I-I d-don't-" Gods, this is why he insisted on leaving. But no! He had to go and injure himself on dry broken branches in the backyard belonging to mountain lions! Lucky rabbit's foot his ass, what good were two when he ends up in situations like this? One mountain lion was bad, two was suffocating!

"You don't what?"

"I-I'm qu-qu-quirkless!"

The madame stared down at the rabbit curious, waiting for him to explain, "I don't have a quirk Madame Yaoyorozu! Please don't be mad at miss Yaoyorozu! I-I shouldn't have trespassed o-on your property! I really hurt myself on some fallen branches in the woods. I tried to getaway to go back home but she insisted on bringing me here! I'm not a thief or-"

"Alright, enough!" Momo could feel Izuku's erratic heartbeat. Poor boy was clinging onto her, trying to getaway from her mother. Momo didn't dare leave, looking quite contrite that she done something she wasn't supposed to do. There wasn't a lot of people who were quirkless, and she knew of less rabbits, "What is your name tiny rabbit?"

"He's name is Tomo-kun."

Momo couldn't hide her burning face. She just came up with that on the fly, but she knew whomever she was holding was having a hard time dealing with her and her mother being so near. The elder Yaoyorozu gave her daughter a disbelieving stare which made Momo look away guilty. The mistress of the house chuckled, "How long has Tomo-kun been in this form Momo?"

Izuku found the courage to finally speak again to the older woman. Looking up at her, she looked rather young for her age and didn't wear all of her hair up like other madams and his mother with lots of decorative hairpins, it was also wavy compared to her daughter's, "My time in this form varies on my emotional state and seeing as your daughter won't let me go, it's just prolonging my unnecessary stay here. Hopefully, it won't take longer than six hours before I can change back Madame Yaoyorozu. Please excuse the inconvenience."

"My, what a polite child," the Madame looked curious. She stood silent for a long while, making both children squirm. The madame of the house mulled over this little rabbit's whereabouts, his manner of speaking was too sophisticated. A simple commoner would not have made the distinction to address her and Momo differently, she wondered… "Where did you say you come from, tiny rabbit?"

"I didn't."

Izuku and Momo watched as the madame laughed, "Very well, Momo, Tomo-kun may rest in the guest house next to your courtyard until he's calm enough to revert back. Perhaps by then, Tomo-kun will tell us his real identity. He also needs his leg injury checked; I'll inform your father of our guest."

Momo blinked finding her mother's sudden change in demeanor, baffling, "Mother is that really okay with you?"

The madame laughed again, "Tomo-kun would've been thrown out if I felt otherwise." Momo watched her mother come close, smirking down at the frightened rabbit, "Tiny rabbit, you're quite a ways from home, your mother must be sick with worry."

Izuku's nose twitched, ears up in shock. How did she know? What did he say to give himself away? On second thought, maybe her figuring out who he is, was a good thing? If he didn't get away from her soon, he was going to pass out, she had a really strong killing intent, and he couldn't handle that.

"Of course, that's all conjecture, if you're not who I think you are, well…" he felt a little bop on his nose which made him chitter, "Let's just say you'll want me to deal with you and not my husband."

Momo and Izuku both shared a collective sigh, once the madame gave permission to let him stay and walked away, "Yes mother, I'll keep him company for awhile."

She quickly made her way to the guest house, grabbing some antibiotics on her way, "I'm going to guess that my mother doubled your anxiety?"

Izuku sighed, "That's putting it lightly." Izuku felt like she was going to tear him to shreds. His nerves weren't settled.

"You can rest here Tomo-kun," finding a room, she gently freed the rabbit to roam on the rather large bed, "I don't want to be more of a bother to you, please allow me to help you with your leg injury and I'll be happy to let you relax."

Momo sat on the floor near the edge of the bed, watching the cottontail explore the area and moving slow, trying to avoid putting pressure on his hurt leg, "It's really comfortable, thank you Miss Yaoyorozu."

Nose twitching, ears lowered, Izuku took his time walking over to the worried girl, "I guess I do need help."

Momo gave him a smile and he turned away from her, face feeling warm while he felt her dab something cool on his injury. There was a warm blow of air on his leg, he flushed, an ear twitched, and he may have made a chittering noise from Momo blowing the liquid on his leg. Then there was the sound of bandages being wrapped and comfortably secured, "All done."

Izuku shook his leg a little to see her handy work, "Thank you."

He watched the young girl get up to leave him in peace as she promised but his curiosity won over, "Why do you keep calling me 'Tomo-kun'? Are we really friends if you tried to capture me for dinner on the first meeting?"

Momo turned around to stare at the rabbit, just big enough to fill her child like hands. The young lioness knew he flinched by her near presence from the agitated twitch in his left ear. The question threw her and she laughed, "Friends?" she repeated, returning to her spot near the edge of the bed so the rabbit felt as comfortable as he could to relax. "I suppose not. You never gave me your real name. You're not obligated to, but I consider you a friend."

That declaration made Izuku feel really warm. A friend, he hasn't had one of those in a long time. Maybe he could learn to be better at getting over his fear of people with predatory animal spirits? After being grounded because he knows he's knee deep in trouble when he goes back home, he can ask his mother to invite the Yaoyorozu family to the palace. The nickname Momo gave him was sweet. Leaps better than Deku.

Later, when he was home and had time to sit for hours with his thoughts, Izuku was definitely going to declare this moment in time an act of impulsive thinking. "D-do you mind if I give you a nickname too?" And maybe the desperation of a child, latching onto the first person in years to extend an olive branch of friendship. Also, his face was certainly not burning.

"I don't mind."

"How about Kaori-chan?" Yes, his face totally wasn't on fire right now.

Momo felt her cheeks warm, silently studying the green eyed rabbit laying down on the bed. "Fragrance?"

"Y-you smell like the flowers in your family's backyard!" His ears flopped over his eyes. If he were in his human form, Momo believes from the sound of his voice in her mind, he'll be blushing like mad.

"That species of camellias have a light scent, I wonder if your nose is also sensitive to smell in your human form?"

Momo watched his right ear lower and rub the side of his cheek. It looked like he was thinking, "When I decide to channel my senses, I can. It's not just the camellias I can smell on you but roses and I didn't see them around but there must be a walk path lined with peach blossoms. Certain flowers have a calming effect for real rabbits, so I suppose the same can apply to me, though I'm not sure which flowers apply to real rabbits, lavender doesn't bother me, however I read that those can agitate them. Maybe because I'm human…"

"Having an entire conversation by yourself, Tomo-kun?"

"S-s-sorry! I know it's weird! It's a habit, a-a nervous tick!"

"It's okay! Honest!" Her face was just as flushed. It was probably better if she didn't tease him, "You are right, there is a walk path not far from my house lined with peach blossoms, I like the scent of them, though I like the fruit more."

"That explains the scent."

"I was wondering if the flowers were helping you calm down before I chased you?"

His ears and body flopped from released stress, "A little, your proximity and killing intent overrode whatever affect the flowers in the woods had."

"I apologize."

"It's fine."

"Hiding the scent of your blood was smart."

"Maybe, it didn't help in the long run, you caught me."

"I thought you were a real rabbit, I got bored and wanted to test my skills in my animal form. I can go and in out of it at will but sometimes, I can't control it, sort of like you."

"I am glad you did find me, dying of fright notwithstanding."

"I said I apologize for that," she sighed, deciding to change the subject, "Is it true that you're quirkless?"

It looked like he nodded his head to her, "I was told that I don't have enough reservoir of spiritual energy to manifest a quirk. The medics say, I'm lucky that I have just enough to even use my animal form." Lion ears picked up chittering noises coming from Izuku, "Your mother was right to be cautious but I'm really no threat to you or your family, Kaori-chan."

My word, that nickname was going to do her in one of these days, she turned away from him blushing. He sounded despondent about being born weak, so she looked back at him. He was resting, staring back at her, "You shouldn't despair, I might sound silly to you but maybe having a quirk isn't everything?"

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up but I've learned to live with it, more or less. I'm sure you have a powerful quirk."

"I suppose, but I'm not very good with it."

"What is it?"

"I can create any non-living thing from the lipids in my body, as long as I know it's molecular structure."

"That's amazing!"

Momo just blushed at his praise, "I can't do much with it, just make wooden dolls," Momo rolled up her dress sleeves to reveal an arm. Izuku watched in fascination as a few nesting dolls and a wooden puppet formed and dropped onto the bed, "Trying to make anything from metal has been a bit hard but I think I'll be close to getting a handle on it soon."

"Your quirk is so cool! If I had my notes with me, I would ask you so many questions…" She watched him chittering away as he mumbled up a storm.

Momo chuckled to herself, sounding sad, "It's ironic, my first real friend and I don't know your real name or what you look like, most of all, you scare easy at my animal spirit."

She lowered herself, laying her upper half on the bed and resting her head against her crossed arms as she stared back at Izuku, "And yet, you try to take the time to talk to me without any pretenses…" Dark eyes fluttered, Momo rubbed at them, feeling tired, "It makes me feel happy."

"For a naughty…" she started to yawn, getting comfortable where she laid, closing her eyes as she continued to ramble, "Rabbit that got caught in a lion's…den, you're the sweetest person I've ever known and maybe…someday you'll see me as a friend…"

For a long while there was nothing, but the light sounds of snoring. Momo hadn't stirred from her spot and Izuku braved, crawling up to her, an ear lightly tapping her cheek. Other than slight movement from being disturbed on her exposed cheek, the girl didn't move. She was fast asleep.

Now would be a good time to make a move, Izuku could leave, settle somewhere until he returned to normal and get home…where the phoenix waited. Call it a guilty conscience, he couldn't bring himself to do it. The Yaoyorozu family had treated him so well when they had no need to. Even if Momo Yaoyorozu didn't know it, he considered her a friend too. Instead, he moved back to the middle of the bed, trying to focus on the smell of flowers coming from Momo to relax and fall asleep.

A few hours later when Momo awoke, it was to find herself resting in the guest bed underneath the covers. She was still wearing her clothes from earlier that day, but her hair was free and laid down her back. The sky was pitch dark, she looked around for a tiny rabbit, finding no one there. Sadness overcame her, seems like her rabbit friend went home without a word.

She knew it was a possibility that he ran away once her guard was down. Momo didn't fault him from leaving. He had to been really anxious staying at her home with his fears, for a while, it felt nice to just talk to someone without any ulterior motives. As she was getting out of bed, her hand hit something hard and she felt a crinkle of paper next to her on the bed.

Momo looked down to see, first a fully bloomed camellia like rose, next to a multicolored rabbit pendant made of jade with a gold tassel hanging from the bottom. Momo's eyes widened, the pendant was top quality, and the threads of the tassel was rare to come by. Her rabbit friend did have a way of speaking that even her mother picked up, so she believed it was safe to assume whoever he was, he wasn't a thief…or a really bad one that could fake his noble mannerisms.

But then, which family did he come from? In her thirteen years, Momo had the pleasure of knowing every well off family in the capital. The only family of rabbits she knew was the Usagiyama, but they didn't have any male heirs.

Sighing, she picked up the half torn paper, there was a message. Hopefully, her mysterious rabbit would answer some of her questions.

When you find this note, I'll be home already. I apologize for not sticking around but I'm already in so much trouble, let's hope my mother's love outweighs her want to murder me from sneaking out!

It might be on the nose, but I figured I'll leave you with one of my pendants as a way to say thank you for what you've done for me. Your parents are really nice people, they made sure I got home safely.

After I get chewed out for being a 'problem child' I'm sure my mother would love to meet the family that extended their hospitality to me. When the summons comes, you can use my pendant as proof that you're my savior.

Tomo-kun

P.S. I might not have said it or shown it, but I would like to be friends with you too, Kaori-chan. And I hope you don't mind but I put you to bed before I left.

Momo could see some words and phrases were scratched out before he settled on the words he wanted to use for his thoughts. She reread the short note over and over, feeling her face heat up every time she saw his nickname for her. Boys she didn't really know had no business being charming like that and then it dawn on her that Tomo-kun still didn't say who he was. She groans, falling back to the bed. Was he really this shy? This secretive? Did he just forget to add his name because he was in a rush to leave?

The warmth in her cheeks was not ebbing any time soon. She looked at the messy handwriting. Yep, he definitely forgot. It was okay, she could always ask her parents later. Getting comfortable, the young heiress closed her eyes, hugging the letter to her bosom and a hand griping the jade pendant, while smelling the faint fragrance of camellia…

Noble Lioness

"…Miss…Young miss, young miss, wake up."

The familiar nudging from frog-like fingers stirred Momo to the waking world. The young woman uttered a low groan that sounded more feline than human. A tan tail moving about lazily. The sound of curtains being opened made Momo's dark eyes flutter opened, slowly adjusting to the bright sunlight, her maidservant, Tsuyu Asui, a young woman of petite frame, long forest colored hair and wide dark eyes, decided was a better solution to getting her out of bed than any prodding, "Tsu-chan did you have to open the drapes so suddenly? It's too bright."

The young woman addressed as Tsu-chan, turned around and smiled, "My lady, you said you had plans today to go pray at the temple, kero. I would be remiss if I let you forget your lucky day and hour for prayer."

That got Momo to move out of bed, stretch and began rummaging around her closet, looking for the outfit she wanted to wear, "How long did I sleep?"

Tsuyu chuckled, watching Yaoyorozu's human ears shift into feline ears that showed her hurried excitement, "You can be at ease, my lady. There's plenty of time before we head off, kero. Must have been a good dream."

Momo's ears relaxed, her body following, shoulders sagging, though her face turned red, "That's great, thank you for getting me up early Tsu-chan. It was a pleasant memory more than a dream."

The frog girl nodded, "I've seen how much becoming the prince's bride means a lot to you."

Blood rushed to the tall girl's cheeks and Momo suddenly looked shy, "You must think it's weird that I'm being superstitious."

"What girl wouldn't want to pray to have a good marriage? I don't know his highness all that well, aside from what I've witnessed, kero."

Momo's cheeks colored some more and she winced at Tsuyu's bluntness. Yaoyorozu was no stranger to Prince Izuku's interesting antics, especially when it came to her. In all honesty, Momo couldn't fault anyone from thinking she was completely mental for wanting to marry the prince for no other reason than she genuinely liked him. To outsiders, the prince's debilitating fear of Momo's spirit animal was off putting, even could be seen as outright rude. No one liked to be brushed off and Izuku has runaway from her more times than she cared to admit. And done so plenty of times in front of Asui.

Out of habit, the heiress started playing with her hair, "It's really hard to believe he's not…peculiar but he does try to accommodate my feelings. Before I met you, he was the first real friend I ever made…"

Tsuyu could see the faraway look the young miss was getting in her eyes, "Apologies if I offended you. I guess it is true, the heart wants what the heart wants, kero."

That snapped Momo out of her daydreaming, lion ears flicked upwards and tail alert, "Have the servants prepare a bath."

"The bath was already prepared and the outfit you wanted to wear today is set out, I'll have the workers reheat your water, really, it's not like we haven't done this for years now, kero."

As Tsuyu bowed and turned to leave, Momo decided to call back to her, "I do like his highness, but marriage to him is a means to an end."

That made the frog girl pause, "I am glad to hear your feelings are true but if you're trying to marry to help me, that's unnecessary."

Asui's already large eyes widened a fraction at the smile Momo gave her, "A promise is a promise. After all, when I am rewarded merits so are my servants. You should be able to go for your dreams Tsu-chan and I, marrying the prince would help that."

Tsuyu returned the smile, bowing once more to Momo before leaving her alone.

Momo moved to sit down near her vanity, picking out her favorite hair accessories and gathering other essentials to get ready for the day. She smiled, picking up the jade rabbit pendant, Tomo-kun or rather Izuku Midoriya gifted her so many years ago. There had to be something said about that superstition of having a rabbit's foot, this little pendant had brought a lot of good things in her life after she met him. Momo only prayed that more good things came into her life.

Some time later, the only heir of the main branch to the Yaoyorozu family, stepped out the front gate of her home and breathed in the fresh morning air. The familiar scents and sounds of the imperial capital city, carrying over the light breeze. She decided to wear a pale green and pink dress for her outing today. The jade pendant tied securely to her waist belt.

"We would make for an easier time if we took your personal coach, young mistress," Tsuyu suggested, catching up to the young woman already walking ahead.

Momo turned in Tsuyu's direction, smiling, "We will make the hour even by foot, correct?"

Asui thought about it and they did have ample time to get to the temple, "I don't see why not, kero."

"We should head on then," A small bow from Asui and both girls continued on, walking at an unhurried pace, they took the scenic route. The quiet pathway saw less travelers and was the quickest road to get to the temple. She also loved this pathway for the calming scent of the peach trees that lined the road. Momo was feeling elated the closer they got to the temple. Fingers caressed the white camellia flowers and peach blossoms carved into the white and rose colored jade of her favorite hairpin.

"It's always a fine morning when I see you, Miss Yaoyorozu."

Momo and Tsuyu both halted in their tracks, Asui making no other movements while Yaoyorozu involuntarily shuddered at the familiar voice of a certain mustelid who refused to get a clue that she had no interest in him. Refusing to allow her mood to wane or show it through her spirit animal, Momo gave the short lord in front of her a pleasant greeting.

"Yes, it is a pleasant morning, Mister Mineta," Momo watched the grape head lord vibrate in joy at being addressed.

Without needing to ask, Tsuyu gave her a round fan with colors and decorations that matched her outfit. She took it grateful that Tsuyu knew her so well, Momo covered her face up to her eyes, giving the little weasel a false image of a demure maiden. In reality, Momo was hiding her rising disgust. He brought her act however, emboldened to come forward. Instead of moving back, Momo stepped aside to go about her day, "Please excuse me, I have business to take care of today."

"On your way to the temple," Momo really hated seeing the smug look on the weasel's face. It was nothing to say, she was feeling uncomfortable that he knew her schedule. If she called him out for stalking her, it may help her for a short while but with the clout backing his family…

"You don't have to be shy about it, I know every Wednesday at this time, you go pray at the shrine," Momo restrained herself not to step away from his brazen approaches.

"Yes, well-"

The frog had other plans, stepping directly in front of Momo to ward off Mineta, "Stalking is unbecoming a trait of a young lord, kero."

"Asui-chan," this turned Mineta's pervy little eyes onto the petite maid servant, "Always so combative, I like that."

Asui didn't back down and refused to allow his indecent words to affect her. She did have the strong urge to slap him at least twenty feet in the air with her tongue, "But how dare you accuse me of stalking my bride. I call it looking out for what's mine."

"Your bride?" That got Momo's attention, as far as she knew, her parents never made mention of speaking with anyone about arranging a marriage for her other than her want to marry the crown prince. Mineta looked really eager to explain it to her, however.

"You won't have to pray anymore, my lady! My mother said she will speak with your parents about arranging our marriage!"

The tall girl just fanned herself, still hiding half her face and thankful her clothes hid her shudders of disgust. She learned long ago, not to give Mineta any reason to bully her into doing what he wanted. If she so much as growled or tried to harm him, he would find a way to turn that in his favor. Momo didn't care about status but she did hate that the Mineta family were just a little higher than hers.

It meant that she had to deal with the annoyance of being pursued by this little demon that spent most of his time hanging around brothel houses. The little lord has never been subtle about wanting to marry her for years…nor gathering a collage of other women for that matter. But to him, she was just a prized steppingstone to say, he 'won' some ridiculous contest by marrying the most sought after heiress of the capital.

Plastering a smile that he couldn't see because she was sure her teeth had sharpened, Momo finally acknowledged him again, "How quaint." All that training to control when certain animal traits showed through was paying off…for the most part. Her ears haven't shifted and at least her agitated tail manifested inside her clothes.

"And since the both of you are so close," both ladies lips curled into revulsion at the speckle of saliva seeping down his mouth. The minute lord was not subtle at all about his meaning, "I can even consider making Asui-chan my concubine."

Momo lightly pinched the back of Tsuyu's dark green dress sleeve so the girl would not be quick to harm the diminutive weasel. Sometimes, like now, Yaoyorozu really hated reminding Asui that she wasn't in a position to deal with Mineta's absurdity. Feeling her relax, she released her sleeve, the crossed look on Tsuyu's face didn't go away and it looks like Mineta wasn't aware or was choosing to ignore it.

From the pervy look in his face, Momo guessed his thoughts were elsewhere while he openly harassed her friend, "How about it Asui-chan? You would no longer be a lowly servant; I can make you a respected noble lady. Of course, if sticking to Momo-chan is more your style I can also make that happen too."

The handle of Momo's fan snapped in half, gaining Tsuyu and Mineta's attention. Her knuckles bone white, "Oh dear, I broke my favorite fan!"

For just a split second, the weasel backed off and Asui felt a smirk want to grace her lips. Doing her best to retreat, Momo nodded to Mineta and began to walk at a brisk pace, "As lovely as that sounds, Tsu-chan and I must go now before I miss my prayer hour!"

Snapping out of it, Mineta gave Momo and Tsuyu what he thought was his best suave expression, waving as they both left, "Yes! I won't hold you up, but you don't have to go to the temple anymore, just wait, Momo-chan, you'll be my bride before you know it!"

The lioness just kept on walking, not bothering to respond; Asui keeping up with her pace. When she felt they walked a good while out of the young lord's sight, Tsuyu walked in front of her lady, making Momo pause to see Tsuyu looking vexed, "Why did you stop me from knocking him out. He was being rude, kero."

"Because I don't want to give that weasel any incentive to use you to get to me," truthfully, she was scared. A strong predator as she was, and she was scared of the slick words of a feeble weasel that would lie and put a stain on her reputation. The thought that she had come so far…to be free of Mineta's harassment. To help Tsuyu achieve her dreams, being lucky to have parents that gave her choices, only for that to be taken away, really scared her.

"I don't care about social status or that brat's threats, kero," Asui knew where her mistress was coming from. She was once a noble lady herself before her family's unfortunate circumstances. She wasn't trying to argue or make trouble for Momo but for once, just one time she wished she could knock some sense into that weasel.

"But I do! I'm sure you don't want to end up being his concubine. He would find a way to do it, just to spite me. You worked too hard to be a forgotten plaything of that pervert!"

Tsuyu felt warm hands lift hers up, giving it a squeeze. The look in Momo's dark eyes was full of sincerity for a friend. Dark green bangs covered her eyes, Momo really has been looking out for me.

"I don't like it either, but his family is well respected, so I grin and bear it."

Asui retracted her hand, walking slowly away from Momo, "You could've told him your parents already put in a proposal for marriage to his imperial highness to make him stop, kero."

"I know your angry, his words were crude," Momo kept in her grin, Tsuyu was unaware that she kept ending every sentence with a ribbit sound. It was kind of cute when it happened, however Momo chose to be silent about it.

"He's not very powerful on his own but he's smart. Him learning of my proposal would make him aggravatingly insistent on marrying me and I'm afraid he would find a way to intercede," Momo wanted less people knowing about her marriage proposal until she heard news of an answer. Lord Mineta most of all, she might have taken this superstition thing a little far lately, but there was a saying of being careful who you shared your wishes with, not everyone has good intentions. "Like it or not, he's still a young lord from a noble house-"

"He's a right brat, kero," Tsuyu was not in the mood to hear Momo make excuses for that pervert.

"And until I receive the royal summons, I'm still considered available," Momo sighed, grabbing Tsuyu's hand to shake her out of her funk, "Come on, please don't be mad at me!"

"At least you know you were wrong, kero."

When Tsuyu refused to look at her, Momo started walking, tugging the frog girl's hands to make her follow, "You're not the only one who wanted to smack him around."

Momo could feel Tsuyu purposely dragging behind her. Instead of berating her sulky maid she laughed, leading the way, "Once we finish at the temple, we can have a training session, I'll create a dozen wooden Mineta dolls that you can destroy at your leisure."

Momo felt her load get lighter and felt a shoulder bump into her arm playfully. Tsuyu grabbed Momo's hand with both her own and swung their arms around, "In that case, I forgive you young mistress. Now that's go, we can both pray your peculiar beau marries you!"