"What do you mean he has a heartbeat?!" shouted Shouta with wide eyes.
Inko lifted her head from the blonde's chest as she just shrugged her shoulders in confusion. It seemed that even she didn't believe her own words. "I don't know, but he has one, even though it is very faint at that."
Toshinori didn't know what was going on. It just seemed like he was having a god morning even though… he did wake up from a sleep that shouldn't have been possible for him in the first place. It seemed that ever since biting Inko that he was starting to be like a human again but… was he? It just didn't seem possible and yet here he was. A vampire, at least he was sure that was still the case, with a heartbeat that could also seem to sleep now!
"Toshi?"
"Huh?" Toshinori looked up, his body still trembling as he saw Shouta kneeling in front of him. "Open your mouth and show me your fangs." Huh? But why would he want to see his-oh…
Gulping a little, Toshinori pulled back his lips and forced his fangs to come out. Though they weren't long, but Toshinori knew that was because he wasn't hungry. "You still have fangs, so that shows you are indeed for the most part still a vampire. But what caused this change?" Shouta whispered before he stood back up and crossed his arms as he stood there deep in thought. "Ugh, you make things so complicated Toshinori. I'll have myself busy with all of this research I'll be doing." He sighed softly, only for his eyes to soften at his father-figure before patting his shoulder. "Just relax for now." Toshinori just nodded as he watched Shouta walk out of the kitchen.
Inko wrapped her arms around Toshinori, holding onto him as she hummed a soft tune under her breath as she nuzzled his head. "Toshi, talk to me. What happened?" She whispered gently. It was as if she was afraid of scaring him more than he already had been.
"I was… just cooking." Whispered Toshinori as he felt a clench in his chest. God, why did his heart have to start back up again? It scared the shit outta him. This wasn't normal, he hadn't had a heartbeat for five hundred years and now it starts up all of a sudden? No, he had felt it here and there, maybe once in a blue moon so to speak around Inko but… otherwise it never returned.
Yet, now it seems that he had a heartbeat for the first time in a long time. But it was still far too slow for a human but still something that shouldn't be for a vampire.
"Then what happened?" asked Inko gently.
"I was just… thinking about how lucky I was to have you, Shouta, Hizashi, and Naomasa in my life and then all of a sudden my heart just… skipped a beat or something and it freaked me out." Toshinori answered her honestly. God, why was this happening? Why couldn't he calm down?! "I'm sorry…"
"Why are you sorry?" asked Inko with a frown on her face. Toshinori peeked up at her, his blue eyes blinking sadly at her. "Toshi, you have no reason to be sorry. You are just scared is all. This is a feeling that you haven't felt in a long time so it just startled you. When something happens to you that you are not used too of course it would scare you." She smiled at him gently before kissing his forehead.
"I hadn't been this freaked out since… um…" Toshinori peeked back up at Inko before he let out a soft sigh. "Since you told me to leave you alone. I was alone to my thoughts which in a way allowed me to put all of my memories in order." He sighed softly before nuzzling Inko a little in the hopes of bringing himself some kind of comfort. Though he wasn't really sure if it would even help him in the first place.
Running her fingers through his blonde locks, Inko let out a soft sigh, her cheek pressing against the top of his head as she whispered "I'm still so sorry about that Toshinori, but I promise that I won't ever do that again. I won't ever say that to you. Even while we were apart, I was sad, and I missed you greatly."
"You did?"
"Yes, it took a little push from both Shouta and my friend Mitsuki." She said with a small smile, her could almost feel her happiness as it almost seemed to swell up within him. It was a strange feeling, but it was also one that he rather enjoyed at the same time. A small smile grew on his face as he started to nuzzle Inko's stomach, the only thing that he could at the moment with the way she was holding onto him. "Feeling better?"
"Yes… I love you." He whispered softly.
"I love you too silly man." Inko said with a smile before she loosened her hold as she felt Toshinori peek up at her. A small smile still on his face as he reached up and pulled on Inko's arm until she landed on his lap. He couldn't help but wrap his arms around her as he kissed her deeply yet, gently.
Inko sighed softly against his lips before pulling back as she lovingly stared at the blonde man. "I don't know what I was doing before you came into my life." Inko whispered softly before laying her head against his chest. Toshinori smiled at her softly as he wrapped her up in his arms, laying his cheek against the top of her head much like how she had done for him not long before. "Toshi, just know I'll always be here for you." She whispered softly.
His grip tightened around her a little. Knowing that his time with Inko was limited. At some point, one way or another he would lose her to time itself. He would have nothing to remind him of her but the love they had shared. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him to have him… be more like a human but not? It was unheard of.
"How about we finish breakfast. I think you need to relax but knowing you, you won't stop the task you started until you finished." Inko said with a smile on her face. He chuckled at that, yeah that sounded nice. Now he just had to think on what he should do or, at the very least he hoped that Shouta came up with something that he could do.
It had been a week since Toshinori had gained a heartbeat. He knew that he shouldn't be that surprised by it now, but it was still a little jarring for the most part. So far, he knew that he did, indeed, have a heart that would thump in his chest maybe once a minute and he had some warmth to him but, he still couldn't consume any kind of human food.
He groaned at the reminder of when they had decided to test that theory out from Shouta to see if he could even eat now. So far, he still needed blood to survive and he was still a little sensitive to the sun. But, he just couldn't help but wonder what would be down the road for him from here on out now. It all was so overwhelming for him but he knew that he still had to be careful.
Looking over, he saw the café that Inko worked at and wondered if she was free right now. Frowning a little, he couldn't help but think to how he had been feeling around the woman lately. It had seemed as if he was… possessive of her now.
He knew that Inko wasn't something to own, that she wasn't any kind of possession but he felt even more protective of her than before. Such as when Shouta had kicked in his door trying to get him to drink blood until he saw that Toshinori, had indeed finally fed but also that the blonde was half naked, and that Inko was hiding behind the covers completely naked even though she was far out of his view.
Covering his face with his hands, the young man wasn't sure what he was to do. It just seemed as if everything was being turned upside down on him now. It confused him, baffled him beyond believe right now. It made him a little confused, concerned almost for Inko with him in her life. Yet, at the same time he feared that he couldn't let her out of his sight so to speak.
Reaching up, he grasped at his chest as he thought back to the lord before he was turned. He knew about One for All, he knew for a fact that he was the man that he had to fight. That he had been destined to fight much like past users that held this quirk. This power, it a sacred torch, he knew that much but at the same time he wondered if it was worth it. He lost the love of his life once before and now he feared that he would lose Inko as well because of this.
He would have to make sure that Inko is safe, he knew that much. Yet, it started to puzzle him more and more lately about the attacks.
They started after he started to spend time around Inko again. All the victims were, in a sense, similar to the woman herself in some aspects. Such as their hair, eyes, or even just their appearance. Someone was after Inko for some reason but why that was, he didn't know but he knew that it had to be something but what could it be? That was something that he himself never figured out in the past before he was turned so… what was it about Inko and her family that allowed such a thing to happen in the first place?
Wait…
Frowning, Toshinori tilted his head a little in confusion. Did it have anything to do with her blood? Her fortune? Anything like that? If that was the case why hadn't he just kidnapped Inko right then and there? 'Unless he couldn't…' Toshinori thought to himself with a deep breath. Of course he couldn't, the man was gathering strength, gathering minions to do his dirty work because he was trying to find a moment of weakness just like he had all those years ago.
'It has to be him, he's the only one I know that was after the princess, and he was a vampire and what would the odds be that it was a different vampire that would be after Inko in the first place?' thought Toshinori with a glare.
He felt a snarl ripping its way out of his throat as he thought about the man trying to take Inko away from him. There was no way that would happen, not even if he lived to be a thousand years old, he would never allow Inko to be taken away. She would always be safe, regardless of what would happen to the man he had to make sure that the woman he loved would always smile and never have fear in her eyes again.
A flash of her fear filled eyes flashed before him in his mind. A fear that had been at him for a moment that had nearly destroyed him yet, he was saved in the end. He could never thank Inko enough for that but he could, by keeping her safe no matter what happened.
The blonde knew that her life was far too precious than his own. After all, he had been alive for over five hundred years. He was long overdue at this point.
Inhaling deeply, the blonde knew that he had to keep calm. If he allowed himself to be overwhelmed like this it would either make him sick or he would rush to Inko, hold onto her and hiss at anyone that got far too close for his liking.
Shouta never let him lived that down when it happened the other day.
Sighing, the young man made his way into the café and looked around as he wondered where Inko could be right now. It had him rather curious as to where the green haired woman was until he got a whiff of her scent and it made him smile. Making a line for the counter, Toshinori smiled as he saw the woman he loved at the counter just wiping away all the spilled liquids from the rush hour. "Inko!" He said with a cheery smile on his face.
"Oh Toshi!" Inko said with a bright smile. "I'll meet you in a moment, let me go clock out for break and I'll meet you at our usual table?"
"Of course." He said with a chuckle before making his way over to the back area of the dining area. A place that kept most of the light out of view which made him more than happy to enjoy.
Honestly, Toshinori was happy that he could even spent as much time with her knowing that they were together. It brought a deep joy within his heart to the point that he felt it thump a couple times. He nearly jumped out of his seat at the feeling, still not used to such a thing. God, what was wrong with him? How did this happen in the first place? It wasn't like this when he drank Shouta's blood, or even Hizashi's blood so what was so different from that and Inko?
Frowning a little, the young man sighed softly as he ran a hand through his long bangs. What was he missing?
"Toshi?" came a voice, causing the man to look up and smiled at Inko. "You okay? You seem troubled."
Giving her a small smile, the young man let out a soft sigh before gesturing for Inko to sit down. Once she did, Toshinori couldn't help but give her another smile before he sinks back in his seat. "Honestly, I don't know what is wrong with me lately Inko. You know how… uh… protective I've been lately." Hearing Inko giggle at his choice of words, he couldn't help but give her a warm smile. "But, with the whole heart beat thing, it still makes me jump slightly." He sighed softly before scratching his head in confusion before staring at the green haired woman with a small smile.
"I'm sure everything will be okay Toshi." Inko said with a smile on her face before frowning at the blonde a little. "What about Shouta? He was still looking up on the lord and what could possibly have happened to you."
"He's still looking. It is after all hard to find any kind of research, even giving his status as a pro hero but he also has to look other theories and myths as well to see if he could find anything. Something like this could take a while." Toshinori said with a soft sigh before he gave her a soft loving smile.
"It may help to know that I'm going to my parents' home tonight to get the journal. Maybe there is something in there that can help with the research." Toshinori blinked as he stared at her. "Think about it, this is a story that is old, older than I am and it involves my family. There may even be something in there that my ancestor never told you in there as she talked about her entire life in that book." Toshinori frowned a little at that. It would make sense, after all everyone did have their secrets.
Much like how he never told the princess about his quirk. It was a secret that had been eating him for years after he was chosen to be the guard. But, it had never accoutred to him that the princess would have a secret that even she would never tell him.
What could these secrets be in the first place?
"Do you want me to go with you Inko?" Asked Toshinori with a frown on his face.
"That would be nice, but I should warn you… my family are a little odd when it comes to historical events. They may talk your ear off and um… what if they know that you are really the legendary guard?" asked Inko with a frown on her face.
"Inko, before you knew who I really was what did you suspect?"
"That you were his… descendent."
"Right, so if anything your family will think the same. What else could go wrong with this? Besides, I just have to make sure that I am well fed before we go so at least my reflection will appear normal." He chuckled a little before leaning over and gave Inko a soft loving smile. "Also, wouldn't they want to know that their daughter is officially taken now?"
Inko blushed at his choice of words before giggling. She couldn't help but smile fondly at Toshinori as he did the same at her. Really, he knew that their lives would be perfect, or at least as perfect as a vampire loving a human could be. Though he couldn't help but be curious as to what the princess had written all those years ago. There had to be something that he was missing, something that would give him a hint as to what it was that the princess would have hidden from him and… how she lived her life after she was able to escape from his sights all those years ago.
"Inko, are you okay? You seem… a little pale? No, a pale green?" asked Toshinori with a frown on his face.
"I'm fine, just been a little sick lately." Inko said with a soft smile before scooting the chair a little closer until she was sitting next to Toshinori. He jumped a bit but smiled as he wrapped his arm around the green haired woman and sighed softly as he nuzzled his cheek atop of her head. Sighing softly, the young man knew that this was going to be something that should always be remembered. The time that he would always have with Inko, they would be pieces in his heart that he would never forget but, he couldn't help but be worried about how much time he would have with her.
In a blink of an eye, she could easily fade away from him forever.
His hand clenched at her shoulder, causing the green eyed woman to look up at him with a frown. "Toshi, you won't lose me." She whispered.
"How did you-?"
"I don't know, I can still feel what you seem to be feeling but only when they are strong like they are now." Inko whispered softly, nuzzling herself against his side as she sighed in content. "You won't lose me, not so long as I have a say about it."
"Inko-"
"Toshi, I want you to turn me at some point. I don't want you to be left alone. The thought of that breaks my heart. I don't expect it now, knowing you you'd want to make sure I won't regret my choice but… I know deep in my heart that I won't."
"Inko." Toshinori whispered, his eyes softens as he stared at her. He knew that this was a fate that he wouldn't wish on anyone, but at the same time he knew what it was like to be lonely. Having been alone for so long that it was a life that he thought would be the kind he would always see for himself. Knowing that he wouldn't miss what he never had.
Yet, when Shouta came into his life… when he saved the boy from villains who claimed the lives of his parents he couldn't let the boy be alone could he? He raised Shouta, knew what it was like to have someone depend on him and knew what loving someone else was like. Then of course Hizashi came into the picture, then Naomasa when the man first started out he was attacked and of course, Toshinori saved him in the end.
Toshinori knew that he had touched so few lives but they were people he cared about more than anything in the world.
But could he turn Inko into a vampire?
Shaking his head, the young man looked down at the woman he held dear. Wondering if he could even do such a thing in the first place. Yes, he'd have her by his side forever but, could he bear the burden knowing that at some point, Inko would grow to resent him for it?
"I wish to wait…" He calmly said at last. Turning to stare at her, he whispered "I want to be sure that you are sure. This is a life that I wouldn't wish on anyone but I know that nothing I say will change your mind so I want you to be sure that you are indeed, sure that this is what you really want."
"Alright, but I know for sure that I won't regret my choice." Inko said with a soft smile before standing up and kissing his forehead. "I love you Toshi, I'll see you tonight then we can go to my family's estate."
"Alright- wait family estate?"
