To say Uraraka was struggling, would be an understatement. She had barely passed the final exams at school, and had been working herself to her grave and back this week during the camp training. Now, after having gone in this stupid forest to be 'tested', she had gotten separated from Tsu and was now horribly lost. To top things off, smoke was lingering lazily in the air and this strange pink gas that made her feel light headed kept popping up.

As her consciousness and oxygen levels lowered, her rational thought started slipping. She was stumbling slightly now, calling out for Tsu, or any of her friends. She coughed, her vision blurring. Dark spots appeared in the corners of her vision, and a strange feeling of calm swept over her. She tripped on her own feet, her eyes closing, and started to fall forward.

A pair of strong arms caught her. The one who caught her was wearing long black sleeves, and was seriously well built. Her delirious mind leapt at the hope that Bakugo or maybe Iida had come to her rescue. Her rescuer lifted her up with ease, placing a cloth over her mouth and moving her hand to hold it in place while he started carrying her away bridal style. A quick, albeit blurry, glance told her that her saviour was neither Bakugo nor Iida or another of her class.

He was just as well built as the explosive teen, but this teen was in a form fitting long sleeved shirt, wearing a ski mask, and a very recognisable pair of goggles. A look to the cloth she was holding informed her that she recognised it as well, though her muddled mind didn't allow her to place a name or face to the feeling.

Soon, much against her will, her vision grew much darker and she passed out.

Izuku felt Uraraka grow limp in his arms as he reached a clearing free of smoke. He set her down on the ground, kneeling by her and supporting her. He quickly checked her breathing and heart rate. Both were acceptable, so she had simply passed out from temporary lack of oxygen and stress. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

As soon as he was finished taking back and putting his scarf on around his face, Uraraka started to stir, her eyes fluttering open. Her vision focused on her rescuer, and suddenly she knew who he was.

It was Stain's Apprentice who was picking her up once again and looking down at her.

Her eyes widened.

"Welcome back." He greeted in a cheery time. "You gave me quite the scare back there."

"H-huh?!" She tried to move her heavy limbs, but they wouldn't listen to her and his grip around her tightened fractionally at her squirming.

"Hey now, no need for that. I wouldn't want to drop you." His drew his eyes away from her, looking back to the path ahead. "You have nothing to fear from me, I only have a few questions to ask you, Uraraka."

She looked up at him, confused. How did he know her name? "What do I know that could be of use to you?"

Izuku frowned behind his scarf at the message her tone implied. "Hey now, don't belittle yourself like that. Besides, I believe that you know more than you think you do."

Her eyebrows rose at the kind voice he was using with her. Last time they had met, his voice was dark and full of rage. Now, he just seemed like a regular teenage boy, chatting with an old friend. "I don't even want to ask anything big, just curious about why you want to be a hero. You seem extremely adamant about it."

He wasn't lying. Months back, when he had sat around a table with class 1A, Uraraka was one of the few who didn't tell him as to why she wanted to be a hero. With her performance at the Sports Festival, his curiosity had only grown.

She shifted, looking guilty. "Well, to boil it down simply, it is to help others... and money." Uraraka found she couldn't avoid the question, and so answered it a truthfully as she could.

His brisk walk slowed to a more casual stroll as he looked down at her again. "Oh? All that passion and determination in the Festival, wasted for money?" His voice was perfectly neutral, sounding condescending, but for some reason, Uraraka felt that he was more disappointed than anything else.

She shook her head, waving her hands quickly. "It's - it's not like that! I don't want the money for me. It's for my parents, to give them an easier life."

Izuku cast a glance to Uraraka, intrigued. With a simple 'go on' she quickly summarized why she wanted to be a hero so badly. For money yes, but at the root of that was to help others, her family and friends specifically. Money fell by the wayside when it came to human life and happiness. Izuku was pleased to hear this from her. In a way, she wasn't all to different from him. Both got what they wanted by unconventional and less than honorable methods in each other's eyes. Him, by murdering and maiming to change society to a better state. Her, by using a title for money to help her family.

They reached a clearing, crossing paths with three of her classmates; Tsu, Shoji, and Tokoyami. The three instantly moved to attack, but held back as Izuku slowly moved to set Uraraka down. He stood once more, holding his hands up placatingly.

"I'm not here for a fight. You may have her, and I will leave."

Before any could argue, he turned around and started walking away. As his foot reached the edge of the clearing, he vanished completely from sight. He went off to find who he was truly looking for, no more distractions, and he left four very confused students in his wake.

A/N

Heylo my dear readers! Not much really to say here except sorry this chapter is so short and rushed and thank you for the kind comments again. You guys make my day.

Sombratheweeb, glad that cleared everything up! I'm sorry if my jumping back and forth in time cam be confusing.

Well anyway, who wants to guess who izu is looking for, and why he wants to meet that person so badly?

So long my lovies!

-- I merged these two chapters, but since there's relevant info in each A/N, I'm separating them like this --

"Yo Dabi, did you hear the radio? I'm so pumped up! Our boy Compress did the job so quickly!"

Dabi strolled along, half heartedly listening to his companion switch from praise to criticism. In the short time since he had joined the league, he had grown accustomed to the antics of the other members of the Vanguard Action Squad. The two reached a clearing, coming to a stop and looking about for any of the other members.

"Hey, shouldn't you call that thing back?" Twice asked, tilting his head and pointing to Dabi curiously.

"Oh yeah, I forgot Shigaraki made it obey only my voice." The fire welding teen turned his back on his comrade, calling out for his own pet monster. A gasp and choke from behind Dabi made him whirl about, flames spreading along his arms. For one second, he couldn't spot Twice. Then Dabi saw him, lying still and unconscious on the forest floor. "Twice!" He knelt down next to his partner, hands hovering awkwardly over the other man's chest.

Dabi froze, feeling something cold and sharp rest lightly on his back. "You know, it's not generally seen as smart to allow your back to be exposed when there is an unseen assailant about." There was a light chuckle behind him, the sword point moving slightly with the other's laugh. "Luckily for you, and your teammate, I don't mean either of you harm." The tip of the weapon was suddenly removed, leaving a cold spot behind.

Dabi snapped around, hand lit with flame. To his surprise however, there didn't seem to be anyone there. He breathed heavily, gathering his wits about himself. "What exactly did you do to him?" He asked thin air.

There was another chuckle to his right, causing him to turn. Where the voice was, there still wasn't a soul in sight. Regardless, he threw a handful of flames where the voice was originating from. "Just sleeping gas." Dabi's eyes widened as the flames stuck to the outline of a figure before him. Though invisible, the fellow teen was not immune to fire. "I don't want any eavesdropping on our conversation." The flames spread all along his body, but he didn't seem fazed by the danger in the slightest. The figure grabbed the folds of his coat, giving the fabric a sharp shake. The flames were snuffed out in an instant, returning the boy to his previous invisible state, before his image fizzled into view. The other's hand fell away from a strange dial on his belt and rested on the handle of his short sword. He reached up with his other hand to pull off his still smoking scarf, shoving the cloth into a pocket and smiling at the fiery teen in front of him.

"I've been wanting to have a chat with you," Stain's Apprentice said cheerfully, "and from what I've heard, you've been wanting a chat with me as well."

Dabi's throat went dry. He had been wanting a talk, but he hadn't expected it to be in such a circumstance as this. Stain's Apprentice, who Dabi had been trying to meet for two weeks, had taken the initiative to come and seek out Dabi personally.

But why? Had Shigaraki sent him? For what purpose? And why was he covered in blood? The viscous substance had started to burn when Dabi had doused Izuku in flames and now a disgusting smell filled the clearing. Dabi had to resist the urge to throw up.

Izuku, noticing the others discomfort, reached into yet another pocket, pulling out a small marble. He threw it onto the forest floor, a small pink cloud of gas expanding out from the source of impact. The scent of pine needles quickly worked to nullify the smell of burnt blood.

"Sorry about the smell. A fight got a little violent, and I wasn't counting on you setting me on fire."

Dabi stood, shifting slightly. "Why are you here? Did Shigaraki send you, because he didn't tell me if he did."

Izuku smirked, folding his arms and placing his weight on one leg. "No, I came of my own accord. Your boss has no influence on my actions."

Dabi frowned, scrunching up his face. "Don't you mean, our boss?"

Izuku's smile grew slightly. "Nope. I haven't worked a day under him." He watched as Dabi's eyes grew wide as he finally understood what Izuku was saying. "I'm afraid Dear Tomura has pulled the wool over everyone's eyes, including your own."

Dabi grimaced, bile rising in his throat at the deception. "I'll kill him."

Izuku shrugged. "Maybe you should, maybe not."

"Why not?"

Izuku walked forward, standing closer to Dabi. "I assume you realize why it is I went through all this trouble to find you?"

Dabi slowly nodded. "To recruit me?"

"Indeed, and what circumstance would that leave you in, should you accept?"

Dabi mulled the question over. "I'd be learning from you and," he smiled and nodded "be working with the League, able to feed you information." He smirked at Izuku. The appeal of the betrayal was too sweet for Dabi to refuse.

Izuku grinned right back. "Exactly. You get hands-on experience with the Cause you've chosen to mold your ideals after, and I get first person information on the League... for a while at any rate."

Dabi raised an eyebrow at that last add on, but chose not to question it. "So, you'd have me stay with the League?"

"Ultimately, it is your desicion, but yes. It would seem to be the more beneficial choice."

"I accept."

Izuku clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! One last thing. Your comrade, Spinner. The other fanatic." Dabi tilted his head to the side, both eyebrows raised. "Would you think that he could be trusted with this?"

Dabi frowned, looking to the side and thinking. Spinner was more than enthusiastic about the Cause. But they still all knew so little about each other, that it was hard to place a verdict on him or not.

"I am unsure."

Izuku shrugged, unfazed. "Well, make a desicion soon, and meet me." He handed Dabi a slip of paper, then stepped back and stretched, turning away. "Well, one last stop to make."

Dabi lifted his gaze from the paper. "Where are you off to now?"

Izuku grinned. "I need to find one of the students. The little Todoroki prodigy and I have an unfinished conversation that I would like to finish."

Dabi's eyebrows knit together. "What could you two possibly have to talk about?"

Izuku's grin turned to one filled with crazed malice. "Oh, his dear old dad of course! My little speech in Hosu wasn't simply for publicity you know."

Dabi grinned right back, his malice equaling that of his younger companion. "If it's dirt on Endeavor you're looking for, I have just as much, if not more than poor little Shoto. And I want a hand in bringing him crashing down in the most humiliating way possible."

"Do you want him alive or dead when we're done?"

Dabi shrugged. "Preferrbaly alive, but I'd settle for dead happily enough."

Izuku turned back, smiling in anticipation. "Well then. I guess we'll be in touch soon, Dabi."

Izuku flicked a marble on the ground, steeping through, leaving not a trace behind. Dabi wasn't given a spare moment, for as soon as the portal fizzled out, the clearing was filled with people. Nomu returned, along with a triumphant Compress and Toga. Twice woke up before they arrived, with no memory of passing out. Unknown to them, a previously sleeping Aoyama woke as well, hiding behind the bushes in fear.

"Did'j'you get him?" Dabi asked, as if nothing had happened.

Compress wiggled a shiny blue marble around in his fingers. "Of course. Have I ever failed before?"

- Later -

Ochako sat in the hospital bed, facing the kind policeman, thinking about her ordeal.

Her best friend, kidnapped... several other friends hurt... and him. She was furious at Stain's Apprentice. He worked to save Shoto, that kid Kota, and her, yet didn't lift a finger to help Katsuki. Surely it wasn't because of his anger. Katsuki had softened rather drastically what with the weight of Hosu and his missing friend. It was because of his character change that they had been able to work together to barely manage to pull a victory against All Might in their final exams.

She gripped her shorts, making fists in the material.

"Do you remember what all Stain's Apprentice looked like?" The policeman didn't even seem to care about the psychopathic girl she and the others had come across in the woods. Everything was about Stain's Apprentice.

She bit her lip, shoving her injustices aside. "It was dark, so I couldn't really tell, but, his eyes were green, I think. He was very well built, clearly he spends a lot of time training... and he seemed overall... kind've cheery? Not that that makes any sense."

The policeman nodded. "Any show of his quirk?"

Uraraka shook her head sadly. "Not that I could see. Perhaps, enhanced strength or intelligence?"

"Possibly." He made a quick note. "Anything else?" Uraraka shifted uncomfortably, biting her lip again and averting her gaze. "If there's anything else Mrs. Uraraka, please, don't hold it back, no matter how silly it may seem."

"Well, it's just," she started fiddling with her hair, unsure of how to explain her predicament. "It is silly, but, he felt... it was like I know him." She spread her hands out, gesturing vaguely as she stuttered. "It wasn't obvious who he was, but the way he acted and talked and also how curious he was about why I wanted to be a hero-" Her voice trailed off slightly, awkwardly. Talking about heroism is strange. "I don't know really. He just seemed familiar." She tried to convince herself that it was simply because she had met him before, at Hosu, but something told her that wasn't the truth. But the truth was ugly, and she didn't want to face it.

The policeman nodded once again. "Your classmates who have also met him have said similar things about him." He stood and left with barely another word aside from a formal goodbye.

When Uraraka thought back to Katsuki, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. When Kirishima came to her later that day, proposing his risky and foolish plan, she agreed with barely any hesitation. They both needed Katsuki back.

A/N

Again, long update. Sorry friends, the beginning wasn't wanting to be written, but I pulled through as always. And yes, like all of you figured out, it was indeed Dabi. I was kind've expecting you'd all guess that, I was rather blunt with it. Hope I happily surprised you with Spinner though.

And before you all go crazy in the comments, we'll see why Izu didn't save Baku in the next chapter. Don't worry, I've got this.

Speaking of having things, Darcry, buddy, I thought we settled this. I have a time, place, and plotline for the reveal. And, trust me, it WILL happen. It will happen later in the book, at the last battle to be specific. Are his friends figuring it out? Of course! They may be trying to ignore the truth (as we saw with Uraraka) but it's coming to them all the same. Will Dabi and Spinner know? Of course! How can they become best buds if he never shows them his face? Sadly, it will not be a funny scene with Aithusa. This a rather more serious story than what I've done before, and thus it shall be a serious event. I am still working on oneshots for your ideas though, worry not.

And to those of you wondering, yeah. Dabs is totally a Todoroki in my world.

Also, Pedropedrin. I'll admit, I had chosen the circumstances to play out differently, a love triangle could have been very possible. I may have to write a oneshot for that. (In fact I have a few little oneshot ideas for this au) However, that will not be the case here in my canon story. You see, Izuku holds no romantic interests through out the whole story (though I am debating putting one at the end (It wouldn't effect the actual plot at all (and I'm not telling you who)) but that's still up for debate) and Uraraka is with Bakugo 24/7 what with them being classmates and all. Baku and Izu will be nothing more than best friends.

I think that's all dears! Thank you once again for the comments, and if I may, I have a request. In one of the other fanfics I read, The Annalytical Vigilante, the author, Ash Sayin, is going through a rough time right now. If y'all don't mind, it'd mean a lot to me if you read that story if you haven't already, and leave a nice word for Ash. As a fellow writer, and from general experience, I know a kind word can do a lot for someone, and it seems Ash is in need of that right now. That's all I have to ask of you guys.

So long Lovies!