Toshinori trained hard day in and day out. Of course, the princess would fret over his injuries and he would try to shrug off her concerns but, seeing her eyes fill with tears, he couldn't help but give in. As he sat down on the floor gazing out at the gardens, he couldn't help but sigh as the princess treated the newest injuries that he received from his training. Of course, she had no idea that the quirk was not his as of yet.
He was asked never to reveal such a thing to her and so, he had to keep it to himself no matter how much it hurts him so.
"Toshinori, why do you keep allowing yourself to get hurt like this? You don't have a quirk remember, you need to be careful." Inko said as she finished wrapping up his arm.
"I do have a quirk, my body is just far too weak to handle it right now. Nana is training me, getting my body ready for it." Toshinori explained as he let out a soft sigh. Yet, he couldn't help but stare at the princess with a soft gaze. It had only been a few years since he had started to live here, training to be the next personal guard for the family. He couldn't help but stare at her, his heart pounded in his chest as he stared at her.
He didn't know why he felt such a thing, but he knew that he had to ask Nana about such a feeling. To be honest, he wasn't sure why his heart would beat around Inko so often while he was around her, but it made him feel happy. It was a nice feeling honestly, and it was one that he wanted to have around him at all times of the day. But knew that his time with the princess was rather limited as she still had to be protected while she was out and about, and his only time with her was either tending to his wounds, before or after she left the manor with Nana to go to the other villages to see if there was anything that she could do to help them.
Sighing softly, Toshinori turned his gaze back to the garden as he asked "Princess, may I ask what your quirk is?" He tilted his head to the woman, not sure what she was to expect from her.
"I'm able to attract or repel objects so long as it is within my own strength limits. Sadly, I don't do a lot of lifting around so my quirk is rather useless."
"No, it could come in handy. You can easily bring things you need in a moment's notice to you just by focusing your quirk on it." Toshinori said with a smile on his face.
Inko blushed a little before she looked away and had a soft smile on her face. "You're the first to think such a thing." Inko whispered gently.
"Oh?"
"Yes, no one even wants me to do much for them. Thinking that I shouldn't sully my hands with such trivial tasks such as this. Thank you for allowing me to help you." Inko said with a soft giggle. Heat rushed to his face causing the young man to turn his head away as he tried to think of something else that he could do. God, what was he to do from such a thing in the first place? It was as if everything he did that made her happy, and of course when she was happy it made him happy.
What was he feeling right now?
Reaching up, he placed a hand over his chest as he felt his heart thudding within his chest quickly and rather loudly to the point that he could easily hear it within his ears. "Toshinori, are you okay?" asked Inko with a concern look on her face.
Nodding his head, he calmly said "Yeah, nothing hurts I promise you that. So, what did you see today?" The young man hoped that distracting the princess would keep her from wondering what he was feeling. He wasn't sure what it was that was wrong with him, only that when he saw the bright smile, a smile that was so bright, so radiant and so beautiful that he felt like his life was rather complete.
Yet, at the same time it was still rather empty and quiet.
What was wrong with him? Why did he feel such emotions within him in the first place? It just didn't make sense to him, and he knew that everything that was happening around in his life that it would only get more complicated. Much like his training with Nana, as with each and every training session, it did get easier. He was starting to shed the skin of the weak quirkless boy and started to grow up into a man with muscles that he never knew that he himself would ever have in the first place.
It was as if he had gained twice the weight in nothing but pure muscle mass. The strange feeling was one thing, and it was another to see the difference in his body but knew that this was what he was training for in the first place.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, the young man couldn't help but stare at the princess as she spoke of all the exciting things that she had seen and experienced in the other villages. He couldn't help but give her a soft yet dreamy smile. How was it that he could easily listen to her at all times of the day? Sighing softly in content, the young man couldn't help but just stare at her as she seemed to speak about him so easily.
"I feel happy knowing that I can do something to help people but… I wished that I could have done something to help you back then." Inko said as she looked at her friend. Toshinori frowned a little as he reached out and gently took a hold of her hand. "Toshinori?" She said with a frown on her face.
"Inko, what happened to my family isn't your fault." He whispered softly.
"But-"
"No, no buts. What happened to them isn't your fault. The villagers didn't tolerate the fact that my mother and I didn't look like we were Japanese." He sighed softly only to give a small smile. "Okay, mother wasn't, she was from overseas and was lost here. Father found her washed up on the beach years before they had my sister and I." He sighed softly before shaking his head. Toshinori knew that he was making this story rather sad before he looked over at the green haired woman. "But, they despised my family not just because we were quirkless, but because of my mixed heritage. My sister could get away with it, as she had our father's colouring."
Inko frowned a little as she held onto his hand, giving him a soft yet teary gaze. "Toshinori, you shouldn't have had to live like that."
"Inko, it's fine."
"No, it's not fine! No one should live that life just because they are of mixed heritage! You should be happy and shouldn't have had to live like that. If you lived in the village with the others then you wouldn't have had to worry about losing them. The villagers could have done something to help them, I could have done something! Because of me you lost-"
Inko stopped talking as Toshinori covered her mouth with the palm of his hand. She just looked up at him, her eyes still full of tears and blinked widely at him. Toshinori felt his heart thud painfully in his chest before he slid his hand away until it rested on her cheek. He couldn't help but feel the blood rushing to his cheeks as he gazed at her. "Inko." He whispered softly, his thumb gently stroking her cheek as he gazed into her green eyes. "Their fate isn't your fault, you couldn't have known what would have happened to them, just as much as I would. No one knew that they would have been attacked that day." He sighed softly before he gazed down at the green haired woman and gave her a soft smile. "As for why I was spared that day, I don't know but in a way I am grateful for still being alive. Because of you, I can do something to make a difference in the world. Can do so by helping you, to keep you safe." He whispered the last part, leaning closer to the green haired woman.
"To protect your heart from anyone or anything that would hurt it and to protect you from anyone who would dare harm you." Toshinori whispered softly as he looked deeply into Inko's eyes. Inko stared widely at the blonde as he seemed to pull himself closer to Inko, bringing his lips mere inches away from her until he saw what he was doing.
Eyes widening, the young man pulled himself back before staring at the princess with wide eyes. "Toshinori?" She whispered softly. The blonde pulled himself back before backing up away from her. "Are… are you okay?" She asked.
"I have to go." He said before rushing off to the training hall.
"Toshinori!" Cried out the princess, yet Toshinori only seemed to run faster before he could stop himself. Oh god what was he about to do!? He was about to kiss the princess! Someone that he had tried to learn how to protect, not learn how to… to… oh god what was he feeling?!
Toshinori sighed softly as he sat in the training hall with Nana. He was not ready to accept his new responsibilities. Yet, his mind kept going back to that day a couple years ago. He had tried to kiss the princess yet he couldn't stop himself from thinking such things. Why was he thinking such things in the first place? It felt wrong to even want to do anything like that but at the same time, he felt that it was right.
"Yagi Toshinori, you have trained long and hard to receive my power." Nana said as she stood before the warrior. The man bowed his head as he listened to the woman speak, Nana was starting to get up there in age so to speak, but he still found it rather amazing that they had allowed a woman to be a guard but then again… Inko wasn't against anything like that. "You have trained long and hard for the past six years and look at where it has gotten you." The man took a good look at himself and nodded before he lifted his eyes and looked at Nana who had a soft smile on her face.
A smile that showed how proud she was of him.
She pulled out a lock of her hair and held it in front of herself as she gazed at Toshinori. "There is a difference between being lucky and deserving. One's an accident, the other a reward. Never get the two confused for the other." Nana said with a smile on her face. Toshinori nodded his head as she held out the hand that had the single black strand of hair, causing him to frown a little in confusion. "Eat this."
Toshinori could only blink at the tall woman. For a moment, he could have sworn that he heard her say to… eat this? This? The hair? What the hell? "Uh… excuse me?"
"You'll need to ingest some of mine, such as my hair for example, in order to get my power." Nana said with a big smile on her face only to see Toshinori's bland stare. "I've had to do this too Toshinori, now eat up." She pulled the man by the collar of his kimono and shoved the hair down his throat. He gagged a little from the taste only to end up swallowing. Oh god, this was so nasty!
Coughing as he was on his hands and knees, Toshinori groaned a little before looking up at the woman who was just grinning at him widely. "Was really shoving the hair down my throat necessary?" He asked with a small glare.
"You were hesitating and you looked like you didn't believe me. Anyway, once you've digested the hair, you'll gain my power. Now, I must tell you the other purpose about my power." Toshinori frowned a little in confusion. He couldn't help but tilt his head at the woman as she started to explain her power. That it was created by a man who was thought to be quirkless but really, had a worthless quirk. His brother, had the power to steal and give quirks. He had given his younger brother a quirk that would stock pile power, but with his own quirk, that could pass on his quirk to other people, and the one his brother gave him fused into one.
The quirk, is to be used in the hopes that it could defeat the older brother but so far, the man had gone into hiding. So, all the users had used their power to protect a royal family and by doing so, they would learn who the man was, where he was, and hopefully defeat him. Yet, so far nothing.
"You are the eighth user Toshinori. I'm hoping that you don't have to fight him, but to only make this power grow until you yourself need to pass it on. Until then, you must keep the royal family safe. Such as I had protected the lord in his youth, you too must protect the princess until she is to be wed and have children of her own." Nana said with a smile on her face.
Yet, hearing about Inko getting married only hurt him.
"Toshinori, may I ask you something?" asked Nana, which only made the man sigh.
"You won't give up until I tell you anyway right?"
"Pretty much."
"Fine." Toshinori said with a sigh before running a hand through his hair and looked at the older woman as she sat down on the floor and gave him a gesture to go on. "A few years ago, no…" Toshinori said as he shook his head and looked up at the woman through his lashes. "I have felt strange with the princess, at least ever since I met her." He reached up and wrapped his hand around his chest and winced a little as if it hurt him just to think about the princess.
"So, what have you felt?" asked Nana with a tilt of her head.
"Well, I feel rather happy around her. It hurts to see her sad, scary when she is mad but it is rather rare when that happens. I want to keep her happy, I want to keep her heart safe at all times. The princess needs to always be happy and shining yet, I feel as if I want to be closer to her. I mean I had tried to kiss her- uh…"
"Oh? Has young Toshinori tried to kiss the princess?" Nana said with a smile on her face. The blonde blushed madly as he covered his face and groaned. "Toshinori, from what you have explained to me it sounds like what your feeling is natural for a young man."
"How so?"
"Before I answer that, answer me this. How many times have you tried to kiss her?" asked Nana with a tilt of her head.
"Uh… I've lost count." Toshinori mumbled with a deeper blush on his face. Nana seemed to chuckle a bit at that before patting the blonde's shoulder and gave him a small encouraging smile on her face. Toshinori frowned a little as he stared at his teacher and tilted his head a little in confusion. "What?"
"It's easy, you're in love is all."
"What?!" Toshinori all but shouted, jumping to his feet as he stared down at his teacher with wide eyes. God he was shorter than her… he forgot. "No, I can't be in love with her! I mean, she's a princess, I'm a lowly peasant! I have nothing!"
"You care about her and she cares about you."
"But I shouldn't love her, she is a royal woman. I'm not of a royal line." Toshinori tried to argue back.
"That is true, but I know for a fact that the princess cares about you. Do you not hear her singing at night outside in the gardens?" Toshinori frowned a little at that. He had heard her sing a few times. It was always so sad though, and it made him wonder if she was really singing out of sad romance that could… never… be…
"Wait…"
"Hm?"
"Nana, has Inko told you anything about… who she loves?"
"She has yes."
"And!?"
"I was asked not to reveal it to anyone. Everyone knows that she loves someone but it is her choice to tell, not mine nor anyone else's." Nana said with a sad look on her face before patting the man's face a little. "In life, there are risks, if you don't take them then you aren't really living." Nana said before walking off, causing Toshinori to frown as he looked over at his teacher. "Now, the lord wants you to meet in the meeting room, where all the lords across the land will be learning of your new position and you'll need a name to go by."
Toshinori nodded his head before he watched as the door slid shut. He knew that he would have to confront this at some point in his life. Yet, what was he to do? He was only one man, a man that was in love with a princess it seemed. Yet, could it be that he could be with her? Could he be with Inko and could they even yet, live happily together without any problem?
Sighing as he groaned, Toshinori laid on the floor as he gazed up at the ceiling, not sure what it was that he could do. It just seemed as if it would be a dream come true should he even get a chance to confess to the princess about what he felt. Could he do such a thing in the first place? Shaking his head, the young man looked over and blinked as he saw the door sliding open. "Nana did you forget something?" asked Toshinori.
"Toshinori, I'm not Nana." The woman said, when the door slid open, Toshinori couldn't help but stare with wide eyes as his heart started to beat quickly as he sat up and looked at anywhere but her. "It's me, Inko… Toshinori you've been avoiding me lately why?" asked the princess with a frown on her face.
"Um…" He let out a soft sigh as he turned his blue eyes onto her. She looked just as lovely as ever, and it made his heart throb at the sight of her. Frowning a little at the young woman, he wondered what was going on in her head. "I've been busy with training and um… I've been distracted and uh… um…" He sighed softly, it was harder and harder to hide things from her. Not to mention with what Nana wasn't telling him. He knew that there was something that he had to do, had to tell her.
But could he handle it if she rejected him?
"I'll tell you everything tonight in the gardens. I have to meet with your father in the meeting room as the other lords will learn that I have now taken place as your new personal guard." Toshinori whispered softly before he gave her a soft smile. "I promise, I'll tell you everything if you promise to let me speak before you say anything."
"What could I say that would make you stop before explaining everything?" asked Inko with a tilt of her head.
"Something that could either make me happy, or destroy me." He gave her a small smile before walking past her and toward his destination.
God, what was he gonna do?! He was gonna tell Inko the truth and it may very well destroy him in the process! Covering his face, the young man let out a groan before he looked back at the room, he saw that she was still looking at him and he couldn't help but give her a small smile and waved at her. Sighing softly, Toshinori knew that this was going to be rather strange but he knew what must be done. Inko was the only person that meant the world to him now.
Looking outside, he knew that it was going to be a long day that was for sure.
Sighing, as he made his way over to the meeting room, Toshinori blinked as he reached up and knocked on the door. "Enter." Came the voice of the lord.
Toshinori took a deep breath as he slid open and blinked. Standing in two lines on each side, each and every single one of the lords had bland looks on their faces as they seemed to sneer at the blonde. "You brought in a foreigner in here Lord Midoriya?" snarled one of the lords.
"I assure you, he is no foreigner." Lord Midoriya said from the end of the room. Toshinori blinked as he saw the lord, he was rather young looking but figured it was because he was young when he had Inko. The man was tall, still short compared to Toshinori but tall compared to Inko herself. The lord had long green hair pulled back at the nape of his neck. He wore a simple robe similar to what Inko wore but his were a plain green in colour.
His matching green eyes shined though were dull compared to Inko's own brilliant gaze. "He is the young man that saved my daughter years ago. Who has been training day in and day out in order to keep my only daughter safe." Toshinori took a deep breath as the lord smiled kindly to Toshinori as he said "Please kneel Toshinori and we shall begin." He chuckled a little.
Nodding his head, the young man knelt down as he gazed up at the lord through his bangs. Lord Midoriya turned his head and nodded to someone. Toshinori followed the lord's gaze and blinked as he saw Nana who was handing over the sword that Toshinori had always seen her use. He knew that it was made out of a special kind of silver alloy, something that would allow her to use her quirk with it so it would never break from the sheer power of it.
Yet, why was Nana giving the lord her sword? Was it because she had given him her power and now, was she also giving him her sword? "Yagi Toshinori, as we all stand by here today. I hereby appoint you as Guard to the Princess of the Midoriya line. Do you accept this responsibility?" asked the Lord.
"I do."
"Will you take this sword, and use it as a means to protect the princess at all costs, even if that price shall be your life?" asked the lord.
Honestly, he hoped that he could not lose his life, but stay around so he could always protect Inko and always be around her, but he knew that he couldn't leave her. Yet, if he had to fight to the death, if it meant that she would live to see another day than so be it. "I do Lord Midoriya."
"Then I appoint you as the royal guard, what name do you choose for yourself?"
"I shall choose the name, All Might, my lord." Toshinori said with a smile on his face.
"All stand, and behold the new guard All Might." Declared the Lord Hisashi as he threw his arms up, then looked back down to Toshinori. "Rise All Might, and accept your sword."
Toshinori did so as he slowly pushed himself back up onto his feet and looked at the blade. The sheath was at the moment, a dark purple. It made Toshinori wonder why it was such a colour, but he knew that he had to grab a hold of it. Taking a deep breath, the young man grabbed a hold of the sword and watched with wide eyes as the sheath went from dark purple, to a dark blue lined in red. He couldn't help but stare in shock as he looked up at the lord and his teacher. "How?"
"It reacts to your quirk. When Nana told me that you had a quirk like hers, and started to train you I knew you'd be a good man, and a better guard. The sword reacts to your quirk when it has for the most part matured within you. Now, the sword will be known as your sword until you decide to pass it on." Toshinori couldn't help but stare with shock before he looked down at the sword in his hand. The sheath was beautiful, that much was for sure.
But he knew that he would have to make sure to be worthy of such a thing each and every day and every time he uses it.
"Of course." He whispered softly.
Now, he was a guard, but… would he be something more than that? Or would he live the rest of his days as just that? He didn't know, but he wanted to find out.
Toshinori frowned a little as he wandered around the garden. He could hear a lovely voice singing in the gardens and couldn't help but feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. He took a deep breath hoping it would be enough to calm his nerves. God, he wanted to make sure that his confession was enough to make some kind of impression on her. Though, he also knew that it was rather high hopes for her to ever love him.
Looking around, the young man blinked as he followed the sound of her voice to the koi pond, surrounded by sakura trees as the blossoms seemed to have fallen and almost seem to dance around the pond, and around the princess as she sang there.
Her body aglow by the full moons rays as it seemed to illuminate her beauty beyond compare. He couldn't help but stare at her with so much love in his eyes as he stared at her. Inko was to him, the definition of beauty, both inside and out. Taking a deep breath, the young man started to walk toward her, his walk slow and quiet until a twig snapped under his foot.
Inko quickly turned around, her eyes wide as if she was rather surprised that she had been caught by the man. Toshinori gave her a soft smile before he took the last few steps toward her until he stood in front of her. "Inko, there is so much I want to tell you and… I thank you for taking your time to meet with me tonight."
"Toshinori…"
"I'm your guard, I shall be called 'All Might' while we are out and about but, while we are together, just you and me, and you may call me anything you wish." Toshinori began before he let out a soft sigh. Turning his blue eyes looking into oceans of green before he took a deep breath. Hoping that it would be enough to calm his nerves. God, why must this be so difficult for him? "Inko… what I shall say, I want this to remain between you and I. No one else must know what I say tonight."
"Toshinori you don't-"
"Just… just promise me… please. I beg you."
"I… okay." Inko whispered.
Looking up at the sky, Toshinori tried to think of the words that he could say. Honestly, he felt as if this would take all of his emotional energy, which it may as well. Turning his gaze to the woman who held his heart he couldn't help but turn his gaze away. As if he was undeserving of her beauty. "Inko, we have known each other a long time."
"Yes."
"And, I will not lie, before you stumbled onto my home, scared out of your mind and trying to get away from thugs I had thought my life would have no meaning." He began, turning is gaze to her as she seemed rather confused as to what he was trying to say. "I will not lie, the moment I saw you I knew that I had to help you. I had no idea who you were, all I saw was a girl who needed my help, and I was willing to give it even though my body was weakened."
"Toshi…" His heart skipped when she called him that. Why Inko called him that, he would never understand but at the moment he didn't care. The only thing that he cared about, was that the woman of his dreams gave him some kind of nickname and it made him rather joyous, or full of happiness.
Inhaling deeply, he looked at her once again as he went on. "When I did get a full look at you, even knowing you were a princess I felt a connection to you. Something that I had never felt before in my entire life. For years, I was just responding to this feeling, not even knowing what it was until it had been pointed out to me what it was that I was feeling."
"What is it?" asked Inko, tears filling her eyes as she stared at him. He stared at her with wide eyes before blue orbs softened. Reaching up, he gently placed his palm against her cheek as he felt her lean into his touch. It made his heart soar and knew that he had to tell her.
"I had learned, that I was in love… with you."
Inko stared at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Gently, he wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb before pressing his forehead against hers. "I know you could never love me in return, but I want you to know. That I love you, I would gladly throw my life away to keep you safe. To keep you happy, I would do everything so long as it was within my power to do so. I won't ever, let anyone hurt you. I promise you this Inko."
"Toshi."
"I know, I could never have your love in return but… I couldn't keep this to myself. I knew that I had to tell you and I am sorry for pushing this onto you. I am a selfish man, and I am so sorry Inko." Toshinori whispered. His eyes closed with shame as he tried to pull his head away from the woman he loved until her arms were now wrapped around him, her hands pressing against his neck as he frowned at her in confusion, staring at her in confusion. "Inko?"
"I love you."
Eyes widening, Toshinori felt tears building up in his eyes. Unsure if he had heard her right. Had she… had she just? "Inko, what… what did you just say?"
"I love you, you silly, silly man. I love you Yagi Toshinori, and I will only love you." Inko said with a smile on her face. Toshinori couldn't help but stare at her in shock. She… she loved him!
Lifting her into his arms, Toshinori couldn't stop the smile as it broke onto his face. Bringing the princess to his chest, he couldn't help but kiss her. And he felt her kiss back!
He knew, that his life would be wonderful. As he would always have his princess, his friend, his lover, by his side forever.
