AN: Thanks for reading! If you're enjoying the stories, feel free to leave a review :D

Once Melissa finished getting ready, she steeled herself as Ochako opened another rift. Only this time she directly connected Melissa's apartment to Izuku's.

"Now that I have been here, I don't need to look for you," Ochako explained. "I can simply connect the two points together whenever we wish."

"I guess that's gonna save a lot on travel and customs," Melissa muttered as she watched Ochako and Izuku step into the spatial distortion as if it was a perfectly normal thing they did. Taking a deep breath, she peered into the distortion. "Here goes nothing."

She stepped into the rift and looked around. The sight made her gasp.

"This- we're in the middle of space!"

"We are," Ochako confirmed from the other side of the exit. "I create the bridge between two points in an alternate dimension from your own, and this is the view you see from that dimension."

"But how am I breathing?" Melissa asked, the wheels in her mind already turning as she analyzed the situation. "I'm not cold or burning either."

"Izuku asked me the same thing at first," Ochako said with a fond smile on her face. "When I create the bridge I ensure the pocket dimension has a supply of atmosphere and is a comfortable temperature for a human." She gestures to herself. "Since I am currently using a human body to exist in your dimension unaided, it benefits me as well."

"Wait-" Melissa held up her hand. "This isn't your body?"

"No." Ochako shook her head. "This body may share similarities with my true form, but it is not."

Melissa turned toward her cousin and looked at him pointedly. "And you're okay with this?"

Izuku stepped protectively toward his girlfriend and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I know it sounds weird! But Ochako she's–" Izuku looked down at the gray skin of Ochako's arm. "She makes me happy. More than anyone I've met before. We've talked about it and we know it might not work," Melissa winced at the pained look that crossed her cousin's face. "But we wanted to try anyway."

"How am I supposed to respond to that?" Melissa asked with a fond sigh. "It sounds just like you, though." Shaking her head she stepped out of the rift and into Izuku's living room before she gave her cousin a lopsided smile. "That was so much more convenient than an international flight."

"When this is all done I can actually take you up on your offer to show me around America," Izuku gave her a matching smile. "Although I know you meant a road trip."

"Nope, we're still gonna do the road trip," Melissa insisted. "This just makes things easier."

Setting her bag down, she finally turned toward the room's other occupants. "Hello Shoto, long time no see."

"Melissa," Shoto bowed his head slightly. "It's always a pleasure."

"And I know we haven't met yet," Melissa turned toward the pale woman. "I'm Melissa Shield, Izuku's cousin. You are…"

"Himiko Toga!" The vampire exclaimed, giving her a fanged smile. "Izuku and Ochako agreed to help me out."

"And you're really–"

"Yep!" Himiko's eyes narrowed before she opened her mouth wide, showing off her fangs in full glory. "Ochako agreed to let me drain her dry as part of our arrangement!"

"You exsanguinated her?!" Melissa said as she turned toward Ochako.

"It's why she looks the way she does," Izuku explained carefully. "Because it's not her real body she can survive a lot of things we can't. She just gets a little… monochrome while she recovers."

"I see," Shoto spoke from the couch. "So that explains the strange woman on the beach when the 'Miracle of Mustafu' happened."

Izuku winced as he turned towards Shoto. "Can we pretend that didn't happen?"

"No," Shoto said firmly.

Izuku sighed as he looked at the people arranged in his apartment. "I'll… make some tea before we get down to business."

"You four have fun," Himiko said as she shot upright. "As interesting as this won't be, I have to secure my apartment and I'm burning nighttime sitting here."

"Secure her apartment?" Melissa asked.

"I helped Izuku rent a second apartment on this floor," Shoto explained. "We haven't had time to buy furniture yet, but-"

"-but it's better than sleeping in a forgotten corner of a warehouse!" Himiko cut in. "However, being a vampire means sunlight does nasty things to me and I'd like to keep living. So I've gotta make sure the place is nice and dark during the day!"

Melissa blinked as she stared at the other woman. "Right, vampire." She let out a sigh. "Sorry, this is a lot to take in at once."

"Sorry," Izuku apologized again.

Himiko shrugged as she stood up. "Before I go, a word of warning," Himiko stepped menacingly toward Melissa. "If you value your life, you don't mention my existence to anyone. We've got very strict rules for our own safety and well…" She flashed a toothy smile.

Melissa swallowed the lump in her throat. "I… understand."

"Great!" Himiko danced away before walking toward the door. "I'll see if you're still awake when I'm back!" Flashing them all a grin she opened the door and stepped out.

"Izu-" Melissa hissed as soon as the door closed. "What have you gotten yourself into?!" She whirled around to face her cousin.

"It's not as bad as it looks!" Izuku raised his hands. "She's not a bad person, I promise! It's just…" He rubbed the back of his head. "Everything's steeped in secrecy."

"No kidding," Melissa turned to Shoto. "So what about you? Are you gonna threaten me as well?"

"Why would I do that?" Shoto asked. "You're Izuku's cousin."

"But aren't you–" Melissa twirled her hand as she tried to prompt him to answer. When the silence got awkward she finally continued. "-supernatural too?"

"Not in the sense of Himiko or Ochako, no," Shoto said. "I merely know how to use Magic."

"Merely" Melissa deadpanned before she turned toward her cousin. "And there aren't any rules about sharing that knowledge?"

"I don't know," Shoto admitted. "But if Izuku trusts you, I do too."

"You don't know?" Melissa repeated, blinking in disbelief. "Ok Izu, I'm starting to understand why you called me." She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, before turning toward Ochako. "And what about you?"

"I was staying quiet because Izuku insisted I did," Ochako said as she turned toward her boyfriend. "Although the longer I am on your world the more I understand why he did so."

"Why don't you sit down Mel," Izuku said as he brought a tray with tea over to his coffee table. "And let Ochako start from the beginning." He took a deep breath as he turned toward Shoto. "Hopefully you'll understand why I didn't want you to be a part of this."

"Very well," Shoto said as he accepted a cup of tea. "How bad could it be?"

"The end of your world as you know it," Ochako replied.

Melissa was glad she wasn't holding her tea as she gasped, her hands quickly covering her mouth. "Are you serious?"

"Very," Ochako confirmed as she turned toward the other woman. "Forces are trying to tear open a rift between your world and other dimensions, and if they succeed." She closed her eyes. "It would not end well for humanity."

"Izu-"

"Please, tell us more," Shoto said.

At first Izuku was surprised by the calmness in his voice, but as he studied the face of his friend, he realized that it was a facade. The subtle twitch of his eyebrow, the fact that his skin had noticeably paled in light of the revelation. He could tell that beneath the surface he was just as worried as the rest of them. But unlike the rest of them, he had been trained to hide it well.

"Very well," Ochako said as she sat down on the couch.

Once Izuku had joined her, she leaned into him and started from the beginning.

A heavy silence fell over the apartment as Ochako recounted her tale. She told them about the disturbances she felt rippling across the fabric of space, her journey to Earth, finding Izuku, and requesting his aid.

"And you just said yes?" Melissa asked her cousin.

"Would you have answered differently?" Izuku countered.

Melissa folded her arms and glared at her cousin, but her silence told him everything he needed to know.

"I always knew you'd figure it out someday," Shoto said thoughtfully as he rested his chin on his hand. "But I didn't expect the reason to be so… extreme."

"Yeah well… Not all of us can summon spirits through Ouija boards," Izuku shot back.

"Wait, what?"

"Let's let Ochako finish," Shoto closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he returned his gaze to the gray-skinned woman. "And then I can tell my own story."

"Very well," Ochako said. Taking a breath, she continued, explaining the mechanisms for creating a metaphysical tether to ease the strain of existing in this reality until she was able to form a body that was capable of housing her.

"And then I discovered that I am influenced by the chemical reactions that are the foundation for human emotions."

"That must have been a strange experience," Melissa said.

"It was," Ochako agreed. Smiling, she leaned into Izuku. "I had originally planned to give up on my physical form completely and rely on the tether, but Izuku convinced me to try exploring what it meant to be human."

"And then you two started dating," Melissa said lightly.

"Eventually, yeah," Izuku felt his face heating up. "I didn't mean to fall for her! It just… sorta happened?"

"I think it's cute," Melissa admitted. "It's like something out of a romance novel!"

"You don't have to put it like that," Izuku's cheeks turned red as he thought about it.

"What is she talking about?" Ochako asked curiously.

"I'll… explain later," Izuku mumbled.

Melissa laughed at the exchange. "Ok, I think I needed that. Still have concerns but that's for later."

"Very well," Ochako said. "I will ask you two later then."

"So where were we?"

She then continued explaining their encounters and the research they had done, culminating in finding their first vampire on a darkened street. She lost track of him, but it was enough of a lead to begin seeking him out. Him or another vampire. Eventually, their search led them to Himiko.

"And that brings us to now," Ochako concluded.

"So that is why you insisted that Ochako was sick," Shoto said as he examined Ochako.

"Yeah," Izuku conceded. "We can make excuses in public, but going out to eat is a different problem. Especially with you."

"Well, I still haven't had dinner yet," Shoto said. "Why don't we order something and have that dinner now?"

"That sounds great!" Melissa agreed. "I still haven't had breakfast yet."

"Since you know my story, now I would like to know yours," Ochako told Shoto. "After all, we were already attempting to enlist the aid of vampires. Now that we know they exist, it would make sense to enlist the aid of Magic users as well."

"Hmm," Shoto rubbed his chin. "Himiko called them Magi, and she did tell me they deal with really strange problems. Perhaps they would be the right group to help us solve this problem."

"Us?" Izuku asked.

"Yes." A smile ghosted across Shoto's lips. "Now that I know what's going on, I'm not going to let you handle this alone."

"Me neither," Melissa agreed. "I don't know how much I can help since I don't have anything…" she side-eyed Shoto, "special going on. I'd say I also live on the other side of the world but you've already proven that isn't gonna be a problem."

"I-" Izuku felt tears threatening to spill as he looked at his two guests, "You guys are the best!"

A short while later, dinner arrived and the four arranged themselves around Izuku's dinner table. After Ochako's story, they made a silent agreement to take a break, and the conversation as they ate was much lighter. Melissa and Shoto caught everyone up with what was going on with their lives, and everyone was interested in hearing Ochako's opinions of Earth so far.

This continued long after dinner, when they cleared the table and their dinner was replaced with a large tray of desserts that they ordered. Desserts that Ochako was steadily devouring, much to Melissa's disbelief.

Unfortunately, their conversation was eventually interrupted by another knock at the door.

"I'm back!" Himiko called from the other side.

"One second!" Izuku replied as he stood up and raced over to the door, yanking it open. "Did you get everything?"

"Yep!" Himiko said as she turned to show off her new satchel: a medium-sized bag in the shape of an anime character's face. She was a vampire with dark purple hair, blood-red eyes, and two fangs poking out of the zipper-mouth.

"Isn't that a little too obvious?" Izuku asked as he eyed it warily.

"That's why it's perfect!" Himiko explained. "Nobody would ever expect a vampire to have a vampire bag!"

"It makes sense to me," Shoto observed. "I'd assume she's just an otaku at that point."

"What is an Otaku?" Ochako asked.

"Izu!" Melissa gasped. "You've failed her!"

"Izuku failed me?"

"Yes!" Melissa insisted as she turned toward Ochako. "You haven't been fully steeped in geek culture yet!"

"I've started to!" Izuku insisted. "Besides, we've been busy!"

"An otaku is someone who is an obsessive fan," Shoto began to explain. "One who often wears clothing or accessories based on a show, and in some cases they even dress like a character."

"Oh," Ochako lit up. "So this is like when we say I am in costume to explain my appearance?"

"It's not quite the same," Izuku began, "but yeah!"

"I still don't know how you survived this long," Himiko shook her head as she plopped down on the couch. "The rest is in my apartment. Remember I've gotta hang those window coverings before morning.."

"I can help," Melissa volunteered. "At least, as long as you promise not to hurt me…"

"Why would I-" Himiko looked at the American girl. "Oh, right. I've made a deal with those two. I won't harm humans as long as Ochako's giving me a steady supply of blood."

"Will you always end up… like this every time she feeds on you?" Shoto asked as his gaze swept over Ochako's gray skin.

"No," Ochako shook her head. "When we met Himiko she was bordering on starvation and needed a large quantity of blood. Once I have recovered I can give her smaller quantities more frequently that will not leave me in this state."

"And if it does get to be too much I can help as well," Izuku explained.

"But the threats earlier–"

"I just wanted to impress upon you how important secrecy is to us," Himiko said, her piercing yellow eyes locking with Melissa's blue. "We vampires have several important rules that must be followed, on penalty of death. The first of which is 'humanity at large can't know about us.' If they did, they'd try wiping us out and it'd be messy for everyone involved."

"She's serious," Shoto explained. "She was ready to kill me when I first met her."

"I could have killed you and both the vampires and the Magi would have thanked me for doing them a favor," Himiko rolled her eyes to stare at Shoto. "At least Izuku seems to understand discretion, even if he needs to learn a thing or two about meddling in the affairs of others."

"I understand," Melissa swallowed the lump in her throat. "I promise that anything you tell me won't get out. I just want to satisfy my own curiosity."

"I like you," Himiko grinned as she turned back to Shoto. "See, she gets it. Unlike some of you."

"I'm sure I would agree… if I could find a proper teacher," Shoto closed his eyes and sighed.

"So what happened that night?" Izuku asked. "I mean, what really happened?"

Opening his eyes, Shoto stared at his friend before raising his arm, the scars still visible. "As you know, I overheard Tokoyami when he was explaining Ouija and contacting spirits to his friends. That was back when Touya recently disappeared and the rumors of a scandal were at an all-time high. Admittedly, my mind wasn't in the right place and I was desperate for answers, so I talked to him afterward and decided to give it a try. That night, after everyone went to bed I took the board I had borrowed into Touya's room. And then I started asking questions."

"And then what?"

"At first it didn't seem like anything happened. But then I felt a tug on the planchette as it started moving, spelling out the words 'Hello Shoto.' After it felt like there was something in the room, just outside the corner of my eye, but I was too focused on trying to figure out what happened to my older brother. With every question the answer grew more garbled and sinister, and then…" Shoto closed his eyes and shuddered as he recalled the incident. "A bony hand reached out and grabbed my arm, its touch searing hot. When I whipped around and came face to face, I saw a hooded skeletal face, its eyes filled with blue flame. The face grinned and reached out, placing its other hand on my face."

"How did you survive?" Melissa asked in disbelief.

Shoto opened his eyes and turned toward the woman. "Sometimes I ask myself the same thing. I panicked. I threw my hand out, searching for a weapon. There was only one thing available - the Ouija board. Grabbing it, I threw it at the creature. I didn't expect it to do anything, but it worked. It passed through him, but it seemed to have some effect as the specter started to shimmer and fade. After it disappeared, I rushed over and turned on the lights but nothing was out of place - everything was undisturbed, except for where the Ouija board hit the wall. As for the game itself… The board was undamaged, but the planchette was charred black, the glass in the middle cracked."

"What did you do after that?"

"I went to the hospital and had my wounds tended to, and they asked me how I burned myself. I explained it away as tripping and spilling a kettle of hot water. Nerves and all from everything going on. The next day I bought Tokoyami a replacement copy of Ouija and returned that one to him, keeping the original for myself."

"Did you try using it again?" Izuku asked.

"No," Shoto said. "I've been too scared to try."

"That's what scares you?" Himiko folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

"But then you kept looking," Melissa said, shooting a sideways glance at the vampire.

"Yes," Shoto nodded. "I began searching for information, eventually narrowing down the spirit to a type of Revenant. Fearing that I had become haunted by the ghost of Touya, and with the scars physical proof of the supernatural, I began searching."

"What did you find?"

"Sadly less than I would like," Shoto admitted with a sigh. "I eventually had my first breakthrough in an old bookstore in Takayama. There as I was browsing their old books," He looked down at the scars on his arm. "The scars began to act up as I felt a phantom burning sensation running through them."

Melissa gasped. "How is that possible?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Shoto shrugged. "Nevertheless, I felt like I was onto something. Following the sensation, I found an old book about ancient fireworks. At least, that is what it appeared to be on the surface."

"But there was more there?"

"Yes. When subjected to heat, new text appeared, buried in the images. It took me years to decipher them, but…"

"You actually found Magic," Izuku whispered.

"Yes." Shoto gave his friend a satisfied smile. "The ritual was incomplete and barely worked. But I took my first steps down the path. Now guided by the sensation in my arm, I had an easier time finding fragments left behind. Pieces waiting to be found. And then I started fitting them together."

"I can't believe this!" Himiko exclaimed. "I'm surprised you haven't killed yourself yet!"

"Is magic that dangerous?"

"Very! Magi are very protective of their powers and spend years learning how to use basic spells and you said you just–" she waved her hand in his direction as she tried to come up with the right words "-did it!"

"I never said I got it right," Shoto sighed. "While I know a few basic spells, they are unstable."

"Unstable how?" Izuku asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"The effect is sometimes… unexpected," Shoto closed his eyes. "Fire turning into ice, fog turning into scalding steam."

"I really should kill you," Himiko bared her fangs. "If you want to take life into your own hands like that that's one thing, but to risk others–"

"I don't practice where anyone could get hurt," Shoto said. "Normally I go to one of the empty warehouses under my father's business."

"Until one day when you're wrong," Himiko's eyes narrowed.

"Ochako, do you have anything to say?" Izuku asked, trying to defuse the tension that was quickly filling the room.

"I do not," Ochako shook her head. "We have found hints that Magic exists, but I do not know anything more than that. If Shoto were to give us a demonstration–"

"I would gladly do that," Shoto said eagerly.

"-then maybe I would be able to use its unique signature to find someone."

"What do you mean by 'unique signature'?" Melissa asked.

"Each creature gives off its own signature, which is how I can tell a human apart from something supernatural." She gestured toward Himiko. "For example, she does not appear human to me."

"No wonder you were able to break my illusions," Himiko grumbled.

"So why didn't you detect me?" Shoto asked curiously.

"Either your signature is not strong enough by itself, or it is only active when you use Magic," Ochako said thoughtfully. "I believe that if you gave us a demonstration that would help me determine which it is."

"I see," Shoto closed his eyes. "Very well, I'm open to showing what I can do. I'm very excited to show Izuku, in particular."

"Shoto…" Izuku whined.

Melissa giggled. "I think you might need to wait on that. I think Izuku's already hit his limit for tonight. I know I have."

"Very well," Shoto agreed. "And this time you won't wait."

"No," Izuku sighed. "I think we're all in this together now."

"I'm glad we agree," Shoto said as he stood up. "I believe tonight was very enlightening."

"It was," Ochako agreed. "We now have more leads to explore."

"Although I wish things came a little slower," Izuku groaned as he eyed his friend. "We just met Himiko and then Shoto…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "What's next?"

"I am sure we'll find out together," Melissa said with a slight tension in her voice.

"Yeah," Izuku rubbed the back of his head as he stood up. "Right now I think I just need time to… take all of this in."

"As much as I would like to begin these new lines of research, I agree," Ochako said with a hint of sadness. "My body needs to rest to aid in its recovery."

"Very well then," Shoto checked the time on his phone. "I had not intended to be out this late either. Perhaps we can go shopping for furniture tomorrow?"

"Yep!" Himiko chirped. "I found some great stuff at the department store already!"

"That sounds like a plan then," Melissa gave him a shaky smile before she turned toward Himiko. "Want help setting up your apartment?"

"Sure!" Himiko hopped off the couch. "I'll be heading out once I'm done, don't stay up for me~"

"We won't," Izuku said. "Good luck tonight."

"Thanks," Himiko's smile faded as she turned toward the door. "C'mon, let me show you my place."

After everyone had left, Izuku pulled out Ochako's futon and set it up in the living room for Melissa. Even though she was feeling better, Ochako didn't seem inclined to return to sleeping in the living room, and he didn't see a need either.

"How are you feeling Izuku?" Ochako asked as she came up behind her boyfriend and wrapped her arms around his torso.

Izuku tensed up at the motion, before letting go of the pillow in his hands. It fell to the floor in a silent thud as he wrapped his hands around his girlfriends'. "Part of me feels like I'm drowning. Like that night when I first met you. There's just - there's so much more out there. And now it feels like a dam has been broken and it's all flooding in at once."

"I am sorry for making you feel this way," Ochako pressed her face to the back of Izuku's shoulder.

"It's not your fault Ocha–" Izuku squeezed her hands. "You heard Shoto. I think if it wasn't because of you, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Besides…"

"Besides?" Ochako lifted her head curiously.

Izuku spun around in his girlfriend's arms and gave her a reassuring smile. "I think… out of everyone else in the entire universe…" He slowly raised his hand and traced a finger along the side of her face. "I'm glad you were the one who opened my eyes."

Ochako felt a faint heat rising to her cheeks as she looked at him. "The universe is a large place–"

"I know, and I mean it." Izuku invited Ochako to tilt her head up with his finger and leaned in for a kiss. Her lips were cold but inviting, and even in this state her response was enthusiastic. "I may have been your anchor for this world, but you are my lifeboat. Even though everything feels like it's too much and that I could be swept away by it all, you keep me afloat and safe."

"Izuku-" Ochako whispered, before she leaned forward, her lips once again finding his. It was a gentle kiss, but even with her emotions dulled, the meaning was clear. Once she pulled back, her eyes found him and they sparkled like the stars themselves. "You will need to tell me that again once I have recovered so that I may fully feel your words."

"I will, and I will keep repeating it," Izuku smiled. "But let's get you ready for bed."

A few minutes later Ochako had changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. Once she got comfortable under the covers Izuku sat down and held her hand. He stayed that way, gently stroking her fingers until he heard her soft snores. Smiling down at her, he kissed her forehead before he finally let go. Carefully getting out of bed, he changed into his pajamas and returned to the living room.

Grabbing a manga volume, he sat down and began reading while waiting for Melissa.