"Please Master Kirishima! Don't abandon the shrine!" Mina cried, clinging onto his left leg. Sero had dispensed some tape-like substance to wrap around his other one and had dug his heels into the ground. Even though they were supposed to be spirits, they still somehow were able to make it really hard to walk.

"Look guys, I'm really sorry." Kirishima grunted, fighting to take a step. "But I really can't stay here."

"But why not?" They wailed.

Kirishima sighed. This had been non-stop all morning, but he had made up his mind. He couldn't stay here knowing he had kicked Bakugou out in the process. He felt bad, especially with Mina and Sero's snot rubbing into his pants, but there was nothing to be done except make it right.

"You don't understand Master Kirishima!" Sero said.

"Guys, please stop calling me Master."

"Will it make you stay?" Mina asked. Kirishima peered down to see two pairs of puppy-dog eyes blinking up at him.

"No." He said.

"Master Kirishima!" They said. "You can't leave the shrine. With Master Bakugou gone, there will be no one to tend to it."

"About that," Kirishima paused. "I haven't seen him since yesterday. Do you know where he went? I need to talk to him."

"You do?" Mina sniffled, loosening her hold on his leg.

"Yes, but only to clear some things up." Kirishima said even though he could see the hope glittering in their eyes.

"I'll go get him!" Sero announced, releasing his hold. He zoomed off, but before he could disappear Kirishima snagged one of the flailing pieces of tape to stop him.

"Hold on!" Kirishima reeled him back in like a kite. He could see Sero pouting at the end of the line. "I wanted to talk to him and… apologize. So, I don't feel like it'd be a good start to make him come here. Can you take me to him instead?"

Sero and Mina exchanged a worried look. Mina poked her fingers in a nervous fidget. "Okay… but Master Bakugou is probably there right now."

"Where?" Kirishima said.

"That place… the underworld." Sero shook his head. "It's a dark place where demons and creatures alike roam free. The place between this world and the next."

"It's a dangerous place for humans." Mina said.

Their tone made Kirishima uneasy and the name of the place didn't sound exactly welcoming. "Well… we won't be there for long. After I talk to Bakugou, we can leave. Is that ok?"

Sero pulled Mina aside and whispered in her ear. Kirishima raised a brow at that, but after a few moments of deliberation a determined look set across their faces and they nodded to each other.

"Ok, Master Kirishima." Sero said.

"We'll lead your way through." Mina said and the sprites floated towards the forest, beckoning him forward.

Only hesitating a moment, Kirishima bound after them. He had to push aside stray branches in his path as the sprites floated through them; he couldn't see far ahead through the foliage but they only continued to beckon him forward. Before he'd noticed, he started blinking, struggling to see. Everything had become dim, as if some color had drained away from the world. Where had the sun gone? They hadn't been walking that long, he was sure.

When Kirishima looked up, there was no sun in sight. Instead, the sky was completely dark. There weren't even stars. Only a silver moon rested in the sky, it's light like a puncture in the void.

"Mina, Sero," Kirishima said nervously, pulse quickening.

"It's alright Master Kirishima." Mina said and Kirishima saw that she had somehow acquired a small hanging lantern. Its dim glow was comforting. "As long as we stay together, we should be fine."

Sero nodded, "It's important not to stray or else it's easy to get lost. Now, let's go. Master Bakugou isn't far from here."

Time must have worked different here because Kirishima couldn't tell how long it was before the darkness melted away and the three of them were standing just outside some kind of pub. Kirishima blinked in a daze.

Mina patted his back. "Sometimes humans accidentally wander here by mistake and get lost. This is the first time you've traveled into the between. You'll feel better in a minute."

Taking a moment to calm himself, Kirishima breathed and looked around. They'd appeared in some kind of old-fashioned town. There weren't many people in the streets, but then he remembered what the sprites had said: this was the underworld, where demons roamed. He probably wouldn't be finding many people down here.

But was Bakugou here?

While he'd been recovering, the sprites had flown straight into the pub. Kirishima shook his head clear but just as he was about to go in he found himself unable to move forward. Why was he hesitating now? He'd just come to talk and apologize. There was nothing strange about that. But he couldn't help but think of the day before when Bakugou had mocked him while plucking the grass.

There was a loud crash from inside.

"Master Bakugou!" Mina said.

"Shut up!" Kirishima jolted. Bakugou was unmistakable. "You guys are way too loud."

"You're the loud one." muttered another voice that Kirishima didn't recognize. With a growl, Bakugou told the voice to shut up as well.

"Master Bakugou!" The sprites wailed. "You're a god's familiar and yet you're spending your time in this kind of place, getting drunk in the morning. Master Izuku would be so unhappy."

"It's not like Deku's here." Bakugou retorted. He paused. "Give me another Shoji. And because that idiot's not here, I can do whatever the hell I want so leave already."

"This is unacceptable!" Sero said. "Master Bakugou, you need to return to the shrine right now! Kirishima is about to leave so you need to properly become his familiar!"

"Yes!" Mina echoed. "Don't you care if the shrine breaks down?"

This was Kirishima's cue if ever. It was now or never. His fingers were on the door, about to pull it open-

"I don't give a fuck about the shrine."

Ice pumped through Kirishima's veins, freezing him on the spot.

"My job there is over, so I don't give two shits about that place anymore." Bakugou said. "And about fucking time too. I'm finally free of being a familiar; I can do whatever pleases me, whenever I want. I can drink all fucking day if I want to because I can."

"Master Bakugou, you don't mean that!" The sprites cried. "Also, Master Kirishima-"

"What, that Shitty Hair?"

"Master Kirishima has come to talk to you."

The pub door slid open but Kirishima didn't move forward. His hand gripped the frame so tightly, his fingers were turning white.

Bakugou had whipped around; his eyes were wide, shocked. The sprites were looking at him over their shoulders from their kneeling positions and Kirishima even noticed several other demons in his periphery, but his vision tunneled on Bakugou alone.

"Master Kirishima!" Mina said. "Please talk to him. Say something!"

"Nothing." Kirishima said, glaring darkly. "I have nothing to say to this guy."

"What the FUCK?" Bakugou whirled on the sprites. "Why the fuck did you bring him here?"

"He said he needed to talk to you." Sero said.

"Well hurry up and take him back! Who in their right minds would bring a human here?"

"But Master Kirishima isn't a normal human. He's a land god."

"That makes it fucking worse!"

Kirishima took a step back, his eyes frigid. "Excuse me." And without hesitation, he slid the door shut and took off down the street, Mina and Sero's calls barely registering.

That complete asshole. He must have been the rudest guy he'd ever met; first, he made such a big deal about him and then there were the prayer books, and yet- yet… Kirishima's brisk pace slowed and his chest ached, the words echoing in his head. He trembled.

I don't give a fuck about the shrine.

Yet he had to say something like that…

"Hey, Shitty Hair!"

Kirishima's arm was grabbed and he was quickly yanked into an adjacent alley from the street. Grumbling, he glared at Bakugou who glowered back.

"You need to leave this place. Demons here wouldn't think twice about devouring you." Bakugou grabbed his arm again. "Come on Shitty Hair, I'll take you back."

He ripped his arm away. When Bakugou turned as if to mouth off again, a resounding smack echoed through the alley. Once again, Kirishima had managed to shock Bakugou into silence. He touched his cheek in disbelief.

Kirishima's hand stung. "You're the one who needs to go back. How could you just say that? Isn't the shrine your home? Go back already!"

Bakugou's hand slid away and suddenly fire was burning in his palms. "What the fuck did you say to me Shitty Hair? A damn human as weak and pathetic like you, telling me-" He was so livid, he sputtered. "You fucking dare act so high and mighty?"

"You're the high and mighty one!" Kirishima spit back, ignoring the fire. "And it's Kirishima!"

"If I leave, you'll be monster chow in no time. I don't think you understand the gravity of your situation, Shitty Hair. You're a powerless human with a land god's power. You won't last five minutes by yourself."

"I won't last another five minutes around you."

"Fine! Go get eaten for all I care. I don't give a flying fuck!"

"Um…" Mina and Sero had quietly appeared around the corner and were cautiously spying on them.

"What?" Kirishima and Bakugou shouted.

Sero squeaked and Mina started to sweat. "Shouldn't we head back to the shrine soon? Have you finished talking?"

Kirishima exchanged a long dirty look with Bakugou. They turned away from each other.

"Take him already. I don't give a fuck about what happens to him."

"Mina, Sero, let's go already. I am done talking."

And without looking back, Kirishima walked away. Unsure, the sprites immediately floated after him.

"Master Kirishima, shouldn't you try talking to Master Bakugou again?" Mina pleaded.

"I'm done trying to talk to that guy. I don't care anymore." Kirishima stubbornly continued to walk through the darkness. The town was quickly being left behind.

"Come on, Master Kirishima. Master Bakugou really isn't so bad! He's all bark and no bite." Mina said and paused. "Well, maybe some bite…"

"If you can't talk to him, you just need to make him your familiar!" Sero said.

Kirishima abruptly turned, startling the sprites back. "And why do I have to do that?" He was already sick of the guy. He was almost sure he never wanted to see him again.

"Because," Mina floated over to his side. "If you make Master Bakugou your familiar, he has to absolutely obey you!"

Kirishima halted mid-step.

A beat passed.

He coolly turned towards the sprites, steepling his hands.

"And what exactly does that mean?"

"Exactly as we say." Sero said. "He would have to obey your every command. It's one of your powers as the land god."

"Oh, is that so? I see." A slow chuckle worked its way up Kirishima's throat. That sounded absolutely… delightful. "And how, may I ask, do I make him my familiar?"

The sprites perked up, smiling brightly. "Oh that's easy! To make him your familiar, all you have to do is kiss him!"

… huh?

"By kissing him, you'd seal a contract with him and he'd become your faithful servant! Afterwards, there's nothing you can't make him do! Huh? Master Kirishima?" Swept up in the explanation, the sprites had failed to notice Kirishima's mad dash into the trees.

He charged ahead, heart pounding furiously. What the hell were they saying? What would they have him do?! He really needed to just leave already and get away from all this. He was just a normal human after all. He never should have come here.

"I'm pretty sure this was the way we came through…" He muttered to himself, picking his way through a patch of leaves. It was hard to tell though without the lantern to light the path. The underworld moon was still shining in the sky as well.

He emerged into a clearing, dark trees circling it from all sides. He sighed. Maybe the way hadn't been so straightforward as he thought.

"Oh? What's this?" A tinny giggle flittered through the trees.

Kirishima went stiff, spinning around to search for the origin when he spotted a pair of glimmering eyes shining through the brush.

And then he knew he was in deep trouble.

~.~.~.~.~

"Master Bakugou!" Sero tumbled back into the bar just as Bakugou was resituating himself. "Master Bakugou, help! Master Kirishima disappeared!"

"Wow, that was fast." Bakugou said, picking at his food. "Hey Shoji, can I get this spicier?"

Shoji sighed behind the counter. "Why do I put up with you?"

"Because I'm fucking charming."

"Master Bakugou please!" Sero tugged on his robes insistently. "Mina's already looking for him, but if we don't find him soon he could be in danger!"

"Serves Shitty Hair right." Bakugou sipped at his drink, but despite his cool demeanor his leg had yet to cease tapping the ground. He just couldn't shake what had happened earlier… the way that guy had dared looking at him. As if he were someone to be looked down upon.

He tapped his cheek. It didn't hurt and it wasn't red, but Bakugou could still feel the slap so clearly. He had wanted to turn that guy into a pile of ashes right then and there, but-

You're the one who needs to go back!

"Master Bakugou!"

Bakugou plucked a toothpick from a small bowl and started cleaning his teeth. "Ok fine. How about this?" He flashed a wicked smile. "If Shitty Hair begs for my forgiveness and admits how he was wrong and I was right, then," The toothpick snapped. "I'll go save him."

~.~.~.~.~

Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT.

… was all he was able to think as he flew at top speed through the forest, the strange demon not far behind him. He didn't dare look back, but he could still see the insane smile when she'd first leapt from the bushes.

"Wait for me, land god! I'm coming!" She giggled loudly, blonde hair bobbing in excitement. "You'll get tired soon, and Toga wants to eat." She nearly growled out the last word and Kirishima could hear the hunger in her voice which nearly made his legs give out in fear. But he refused, and continued leaping through branches and over roots. One bad trip and he was a goner.

Ducking under one branch, he steeled himself and paused for the briefest moment and yanked the branch backwards. Just as Toga reached him, eyes wild and sharp fangs flashing, Kirishima released the branch. It worked like a charm, whapping her in the face and sending her backwards with a loud squeal. He bolted off again, her whines floating after him.

"That was dirty! But I love it when they put up a fight."

Great, he'd just managed to whet her appetite.

"Master Kirishima!"

Kirishima nearly tripped right then and there, but managed to continue running as Mina appeared next to him.

"Mina! Oh thank god, you found me! Some crazy demon is trying to kill me!"

"Yes I know! Don't stop running Master Kirishima!" Mina's eyes were panicked and she gripped her head. "You've found a vampire! If it gets you, she'll devour you for sure!"

"Then help me get out of here!" Kirishima said.

"But I can't because I'm only a sprite! These could help though!"

Mina juggled some small slips of paper into his hands and an ink brush into his hand. He almost dropped them but managed to hang on to them even as they ran.

"What are these?"

"They're some of Izuku's charms. Another one of your powers as land god are being able to stick them to any object and will become what you write on them. That brush is special too, so you don't need normal ink! Please Master Kirishima, do something!"

"Anything I write?" Kirishima said frantically and scribbled something down. "Ok, try this!" He slapped the charm onto Mina's face.

Only, nothing happened. Mina pulled the charm from her face and flipped it over, squealing, aghast.

"A bull?" She shouted, fuming.

"It's because I was looking at your horns!" Kirishima said helplessly. "It's the first thing that popped into my mind!"

"There's nothing wrong with my horns!" She muttered. "Master Kirishima, the power of the charms can't surpass your own power."

Kirishima gulped and glanced at the remaining charms. Only two left.

"Mina, where's the exit to this place?"

She pointed straight up.

"The moon?!"

"It's the under-world!" She said. "It's easy to descend, but going back is a different story. You need Master Bakugou's help!"

A pain like a thousand needles pierced his calf and Kirishima stumbled with a cry. Figures he'd get a cramp right now. It's not like he'd time to warm up to sprint through some evil forest.

He struggled to his feet, toughing through the pain and ignoring the tight burn. On a whim, he scribbled his own name onto a charm and stuck it on a passing tree. If that even worked, it wouldn't buy him much time but now that he'd been reduced to a half-run, half-hobble he had to take every second he could get.

"Master Kirishima, down here!" Mina tugged his sleeve sharply, yanking him away from the trail. They slid straight into the brush, pressing themselves low into the ground. Moments later, Toga's giggles rang through the trees and they watched a pair of feet thunder past.

"Aw, where'd you go? That was a mean trick land god!"

They waited a few moments until the sound of her running drifted away. Mina stared hard at him.

"Please Master Kirishima, summon Master Bakugou! If you call him, he can save you!"

"But I," Kirishima shook his head. His stomach churned sourly. "There's no way he would come save me after that fight."

"Then call him and make him your familiar! That way he has to save you!"

Kirishima flushed brightly. If he did that, that would mean he would have to…

"No, you can't make me!"

"Found you." Toga grinned, standing over them. He hadn't even noticed her.

Kirishima clenched the final charm tightly.

Bakugou…

~.~.~.~.~

Bakugou belched, content. For the past hour, Sero had ceased to stop sniveling at his feet. Again he attempted to shake him off.

"Master Bakugou please!" Sero wrapped more pieces of tape around his leg, holding on despite the intense shaking. "We need to find Master Kirishima!"

"Look little runt, I already fucking told you: I want nothing to do with-"

The air glowed warmly and in a flash of light, a white slip of paper came fluttering from overhead. Instinctively, Bakugou thrust a hand out to collect it when a faraway voice floated in the air.

Help me… Bakugou…

The paper dissolved as it reached his hand. Bakugou gazed silently at the spot it had appeared from.

"Wait… wasn't that-"

"One of Deku's charms." Bakugou finished. "Seems like Shitty Hair really is in big trouble... Maybe I'll go to him after all."

Sero detached himself, relieved. "So, you're going to go help him?"

Bakugou grinned. "I didn't say that."

~.~.~.~.~

It must have taken minutes to find Kirishima. Being the only human in the underworld, it was hard to mistake his scent and he had a very distinct one as it was. Sero pointed, holding desperately onto the back of his robes.

"Master Bakugou, there they are!"

He hadn't needed to see them to no where they were. Their screams were loud enough. Mina was directing Kirishima up a tree, but it seemed slow going though they were high up. A little behind, Bakugou noticed a figure climbing after him.

A vampire? That was particularly unlucky.

Blasting his way down to the tree, he settled easily on the branches. Kirishima was still several feet below.

"Oi, Shitty Hair."

Gasping, Kirishima paused in his ascent and snapped his head up. "Bakugou? You got the charm!"

Bakugou smiled. "I heard you got into trouble, so I came as fast as I could."

Kirishima couldn't believe his ears. Bakugou had actually come! He was saved. Excitedly he reached for him.

"Hey no fair!" Toga screamed from below. "You're that fox familiar, Bakugou. I've basically caught this prey already."

"By all means, don't let me get in your way." Bakugou said. "Pretend I'm not here."

Kirishima stared.

"Master Bakugou!" the sprites yelled in panic. "What are you saying? Hurry up and help Master Kirishima!"

"No fucking way." Bakugou swung his feet over the branch, getting comfortable. "I just came to watch."

"Really?" Toga said. "Then don't mind if I do!"

Kirishima felt a hand grab hold of his ankle. Desperately, he kicked and tried hoisting himself up another branch. Bakugou appeared before him and he was smiling like he was having the best time in the world. Kirishima felt like a heating kettle; as the seconds ticked, the anger only continued to bubble up.

"Hey Shitty Hair, need me to save you?" Bakugou asked, almost giddy. "You need help don't you? I could do it you know. All you need to do is beg.Beg me to save you and say you were wrong about everything before and you're really a pathetic human. Then I'll consider it."

Kirishima seethed, struggling to hold on to the branch. "Who the hell… would beg!" There was a vicious tug on his leg and with a sharp gasp, Kirishima nearly let go. He cried out when a brutal, jerking pain shot through his shoulder when he found himself hanging onto the branch by a single hand.

Bakugou flinched and his arm darted forward, reaching for his hand.

"Just beg, Master Kirishima!" Sero cried. Bakugou halted, drawing his arm back.

"Yes, if you just say sorry and say you're pathetic than he'll save you! Right Master Bakugou?" Mina added helpfully.

"Huh? I mean- fuck- yeah. Just say it and I'll save him." Bakugou said, stiffly staring at Kirishima.

"Come on Master Kirishima! Just say it!"

Even with his screaming shoulder, Kirishima grit his teeth. "No."

"Master Kirishima!"

"I said no!" Kirishima eyed Bakugou with an immovable resolve. "To a guy like this, I would never-" And in that moment, Kirishima grabbed the front of Bakugou's robe and yanked, letting go of the branch.

Kirishima clung onto him as they sailed down, faster, faster. Over the speeding winds, Bakugou yelled at him.

"What the fuck! Are you so fucking stubborn that you'd die for your pride? Just say one word! Let go!"

"Shut the hell up! You're the one who was just watching me!"

"If you don't say anything, you'll die in a few seconds!" Bakugou said. "If you're going to apologize, you better do it now before-"

To make him your familiar…

With the last of his strength, Kirishima yanked Bakugou forward and gently grabbed a fistful of sandy hair. Closing his eyes, he planted his lips firmly on Bakugou's, who had gone still with shock.

Absently, he couldn't help but notice that Bakugou was softer than he expected.

His eyes snapped open and he stared unflinchingly into Bakugou's wide and burning red eyes.

"Bakugou, save me!" He commanded.

A ring of light flared around them. And then Kirishima could feel… a connection. It was like a thread connected to his heart had been sharply tugged up because it had found itself another end. It was energetic, warm, and alive.

From above, Mina and Sero had collapsed over each other.

"Master Kirishima!" They cried with relief. "With this, you've become a proper land god at last."

Kirishima's feet gently touched the ground, a warm arm around his waist. He hadn't even realized Bakugou had grabbed onto him. Heart thrumming wildly from adrenaline, Kirishima stared at Bakugou in a daze but froze when Bakugou only glared viciously back. Instead of throwing him off like he expected, Bakugou only let him go and turned towards the tree.

In an instant, the tree was being turned to ash in an explosion of fire. "Hey vampire bastard, get the FUCK DOWN HERE!"

Toga squeaked, desperately leaping out of the way of Bakugou's fists of fire.

"It's your fucking fault I've become a familiar again! I finally got to do whatever the fuck I wanted!"

Kirishima barely noticed Mina and Sero floating down to join him and they watched the spectacle in some degree of twisted amusement.

"Um… isn't that enough?" Kirishima said hesitantly.

Bakugou continued his crazy tyrade, as if he didn't hear him. "I have to be this Shitty Hair's familiar!? What the FUCK!"

Kirishima's knees abruptly went out and he breathed deeply, trying to calm down. His legs were trembling.

"Master Kirishima, are you alright? Did you get hurt?" Mina crouched by him in concern.

"I'm fine." Kirishima said, and it was at least a half-truth. He touched his chest, the shadow of the tugging sensation still tingling. He felt strangely… light. "I just need to catch my breath. Hey Bakugou,"

"WHAT?" Bakugou whirled on him, but the fire finally calmed down. Toga was no where in sight, properly chased off.

"Guess we're kind of stuck together now. Sorry… but thanks." Kirishima cracked an unsure smile.

Bakugou's face crinkled into a frown, but he just looked away.

"Let's go home Master Kirishima!" Sero sighed happily. "With Master Bakugou here, we can return no problem. Everything is as it should be."

"Shut the hell up shrimp!" Bakugou said, but only crossed his arms and looked away with a pout.

Kirishima could only chuckle lightly and raised himself on wobbly legs. "Yeah, alright. Let's go home..."

Guess he might be sticking around a little longer than planned after all.