He wouldn't like me, would he?
Chapter 11: "I will never leave you"
WARNING! This Chapter mentions subjects that may be upsetting to some readers. It won't be anything graphic but still. If you can't handle this, please skip this chapter. Discretion is advised!
"Gossip is hot and boiling right now. An anonymous source has send us a really cute photo of the symbol of peace and one of our local heroes, kissing. We have checked the realness of the picture and as it turned out, it's the real deal. Could it be that All Might won't be single for much longer? Will his new girlfriend allow him to interact with his female fans? And how will the female fans react to him having a girlfriend? Sadly, we don't know, because neither of them wants to give more details. Seems like we have to wait until they are willingly telling us something.", the news caster said, a bit too excited about the gossip. It was common knowledge that All Might was very popular with girls, who could blame them? He is a very good-looking man, every woman should be happy if he gives her this much attention. There are a lot of fan girls that would die to just receive a hand kiss from All Might, that's just how popular he was.
All Might and Sakura haven't spoken with each other since the kiss. To be fair, it was Sakura who didn't want to talk because she would probably just fall around All Might's neck and kiss him. They were friends, and they could never be anything but friends, and still, Sakura wanted to be so much more. She wanted him to tell her that he would never leave her, that he would always be by her side and love her to the day they'll die, but that was the catch with fantasies. They weren't real, they were just silly little dreams only a silly little girl could believe. But why does this realization hurt her so much? Did she really believe there could have been more between them then just friendship? Did she really hope that All Might, the number one hero and symbol of peace, would just love her as much as she loves him?
"Okay, I can't take it anymore. Why are you mad at All Might?", Shota asked, catching his little sister by surprise.
"I'm not mad at All Might. I just...I just don't wanna see him right now that's all.", Sakura replied to her big brother and dedicated herself to her work again.
"Then you are mad at yourself for letting him steal your heart. Sakura, you always wanted to be with All Might. Why do you push him away now?", Shota wondered. He had known her all her life so it didn't seem logical to him that she was acting like a scared teenager.
"It's none of your Business, Shota. I just...friends shouldn't be so close to each other.", Sakura answered. So this was it, she was afraid that she would ruin the friendship she and All Might had.
"I see. Sooner or later you gonna have to talk to All Might. It's irrational that you hide from him all the time because you're afraid to face him.", Shota said and left, but not before he added: "By the way, be careful if you're patrolling tonight. There have been incidents of women going missing."
"I'll take care.", Sakura promised and Shota left, though her tone of voice didn't convince him. He was very worried about her, she was making herself little just because she is guilty of loving someone that everyone told her she shouldn't love. True, even their parents and himself told her that it's dangerous to love the man that belongs to the world, but she didn't listen. Sakura never really listened to a word Shota said, because of this they reached an agreement: Sakura would let Shota do his thing while she did hers, as long as they not do reckless things. Sakura didn't hold her end of the bargain on occasion, seeing how she could be as reckless as All Might. She just wanted to proof her worth as a pro hero.
As the night fell on the city, Sakura made herself ready for patrolling. Usually no one really patrolled at night, saying that even villains and small time thugs had to sleep; not that it wasn't true, but still there are crimes that happen at night, most notably crimes like sexual assault or even rape. Those crimes often aren't reported because the victims are afraid nobody believes them, that's why Sakura has made it her personal goal to stop as many of those crimes as possible. She didn't like it that heroes, who are supposed to protect the innocent, usually ignore the real victims because they have 'no evidence for their claims'. Yes, as a woman she was probably the worst choice in stopping those crimes, but no one else would wanna do it, so here she was, patrolling the city and stopping sexual assault and other sex-related crimes. Usually Sakura liked being out at night, so she was able to think about things, like her feelings for All Might or the kiss.
"What does a beautiful woman like you do alone in the city at night?", a male voice ripped her out of her thoughts. Sakura looked around but couldn't find anybody.
"Show yourself! I'm sure you're the one that causes the women to go missing. I'm not afraid of you!", Sakura called out to the voice. The voice just laughed and said: "Nightwing, Eraserhead's sister and All Might's girlfriend, of course you're not afraid of me, why would you be? Your brother and All Might will come and save you."
Two hands on her shoulders, taking Sakura by surprise. She just took a deep breath and answered: "I'm not All Might's girlfriend. All Might doesn't even know about this."
"So you're alone?", he placed a hand around her neck as if he wanted to choke her. Sakura turned around to face the man, but she saw nobody. It was weird because she knew somebody was there. Just as she turned around again she was hit on the head and was knocked out cold.
Meanwhile with Shota was Hizashi. The two were watching TV because why not. It wasn't Friday so Hizashi had all the time he needed.
"And you're sure we can trust Nightwing to be careful? She can be really reckless, and especially now it's pretty dangerous.", Hizashi asked. Shota just shrugged and replied: "We have to. Nobody else wants to deal with this kind of crime."
The two friends just sat there in silence, watching some game show. Suddenly the door bell rang.
"Your home, you have to go, Eraser.", Hizashi grinned. Shota just sighed and went to the door. As he opened it we was kinda surprised to see All Might.
"Hey, Aizawa. Sorry if I'm coming at a bad time, I just need to talk to your sister.", All Might said nervously.
"You're about half an hour too late, All Might. Sakura has gone out patrolling. I don't know when she'll return.", Shota said and wanted to close the door, but All Might stopped him.
"Could you at least tell me why she has been avoiding me for the past 3 days?", All Might wanted to know.
"I could, but she has to tell you herself. It's irrational to speak on the behalf of someone else if it concerns a serious topic.", Shota replied.
"Shota, you might wanna watch this.", Hizashi called out of the living room and the two men at the door walked there.
"Bad News, really bad news! Seems like Nightwing has been kidnapped and is held as hostage. The kidnapper calls himself Drac and seems to have a blood related quirk.", the newscaster said. Shortly after the newscaster was replaced with a man wearing Victorian style clothes and pointy fangs. He looked like a vampire, hence the name Drac.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt the current program but I want All Might and Eraserhead to see this!", he said, snapped his fingers and a light was turned on. It was illuminating a chair on which a familiar face was seated. Drac walked behind the chair and made the head look up at the camera.
"Isn't she beautiful, All Might? Too bad that she is still single, don't you think?", Drac was obviously mocking All Might. Then Drac added: "She also smells really nice. Maybe I'm gonna have a taste of her, but Eraserhead wouldn't like that, now would he?"
"All Might….", Shota was furious, not at All Might but at the man on TV.
"Don't worry. I'll get her back. It's kinda my fault she is in this situation anyway.", All Might assured Shota and made his way out the door.
"Bring her back in one piece, no harm should be done to her!", Shota demanded. All Might nodded and left.
"I've seen the news All Might. We have located where the villain is hiding. But you seem...distracted. This woman he is holding hostage...why is she special to you?", Tsukauchi said over the phone. All Might had called him right after he left the Aizawa house.
"That's not important. Just tell me where they are. I promised Eraserhead to bring her back safely.", All Might replied. He didn't want to tell his friend about the feelings he has for her out of fear he might not let him help. Tsukauchi just sighed and let it slide, but added: "One day you have to tell me, All Might. I can tell that something is up with you."
"Deal. Now, where are they?", All Might was reluctant to tell his friend anything about his relation with her. He was still reserved about this himself. Tsukauchi told him that Drac had barricaded himself in an old storage unit at the far end of the city. All Might hung up and made his way to the address Tsukauchi has send him. This time, he would make sure that she felt safe. He could only imagine her being scared.
"There you are All Might. Took you long enough to get here.", Tsukauchi said as the number one hero appeared at the crime scene. All Might apologized and was filled in with all the details. Apparently the police has called on other pro heroes but they refused to help due to the late hours, All Might was the only one willing to help at this hour.
"I guess you know the plan. You storm in there and save the woman, we arrest the villain.", Tsukauchi explained to All Might who nodded and readied himself to storm in there. Just as the police gave the signal, All Might smashed the wall open and was standing in the empty storage hall with the chair on which Sakura was tied up.
"Don't you dare move near her, All Might. I've expected you to come and save her.", Drac was waiting in the dark.
"Let her go.", is all All Might said to him. Drac just laughed and walked up to the chair, showing All Might Sakura's tearstriken face. She still cried, and it hurt All Might on a deep level.
"Let me ask you something All Might. Do you love her?", Drac wanted to know. All Might didn't want to tell him about it, he didn't want a villain to know about his feelings for the woman tied to that chair.
"I'm not answering your question. In fact, you should surrender now and this will be so much easier for you.", All Might replied. Drac just grinned, knowing the answer to his question.
"Believe me, I'm not gonna harm her and I will surrender. You just have to answer my question All Might: Do you love Nightwing?", Drac asked again. All Might was sure that he already knew the answer but he answered anyway: "Yes, I do."
"That's all I needed to hear. Alright then, the police can now arrest me.", Drac just stated and walked out to the police. All Might untied Sakura from the chair.
"I'm sorry.", All Might said. Sakura just fell around his neck, crying: "No. I'm sorry. Please don't leave me."
All Might just hugged her. He didn't say anything but assured her that he will stay by her side. The two left the storage hall, Sakura still holding on to All Might, burying her crying face in his chest.
"Seems like she is unharmed.", Tsukauchi said and nodded to All Might.
"Yes, but we don't know what happened during the time it took us to get here.", All Might answered, still holding Sakura.
"You should take her home. Maybe she'll be better tomorrow and can tell us what happened.", Tsukauchi suggested. All Might nodded and left.
"Calm down, Sho. I bet they'll be here any minute now.", Hizashi tried cheering up his friend, without success. Shota just sighed. He should have never let his sister go out, but once she was determined to do something nobody could stop her.
"I guess you're right, 'Zashi. I just….worry too much. She has been really reckless recently, that's irrational, even for her.", Shota replied to his friend.
"True. She usually is a lot more calm and composed.", Hizashi wondered. Before Shota could answer the voice hero, the doorbell rang. Shota was at the door at once. As he opened it, a pretty unusual picture was in front of him.
"She hasn't stopped crying yet, but she is okay Aizawa.", All Might said. Shota was relieved that his sister was unharmed.
"She probably is just tired. Come on, Sakura, let's get you to bed.", Shota replied, slowly peeling his sister from All Might and holding her in his arms. He gestured for All Might to come in and close the door.
"As much as I hate to say it, All Might, but it seems like you have to stay here for the night.", Shota said as he lead his sister in her room and laid her down on her bed.
"I'd rather not...I mean, I couldn't...", All Might stuttered and blushed. Looking at Sakura laying on her bed crying hurt him.
"It's a request from a brother for his sister. Right now, she needs you more than both of you realize. I'm asking this of you because it's the most rational way of calming her down.", Shota explained. All Might hesitated. He wasn't sure if Aizawa has thought this through enough, but than again, it's Aizawa, he always knows what's best.
"Alright, I'll stay.", All Might replied and laid himself on the bed too.
"I'll call Nezu and let him know that you and Sakura won't come to school tomorrow.", Shota stated. All Might answered with: "You don't have to, Aizawa."
Shota looked at the two laying on the bed. Sakura was cuddled up to All Might as if she knew he was there and All Might has put an arm around her as to keep her safe.
"All you need to take care of right now is Sakura, All Might. She is your top priority right now.", Shota said and left the room. Now All Might was alone with Sakura who still hasn't stopped crying.
"Don't worry. Nothing will harm you, Sakura. I'm here.", All Might whispered to her, not expecting a response from her.
"Please, don't ever leave me, Toshi! Stay with me!", Sakura responded, catching All Might a bit by surprise. He just pulled her closer to himself and answered: "I will never ever leave you, my love."
Sakura just smiled a soft smile and snuggled up more to All Might, falling asleep. For once, All Might felt at peace. For once, he had everything he could ever ask for and he was certain: Yes, this was love.