Summary: Kagome, younger twin to Shoto, was regarded as a failure by their father. With her Quirk never showing during her youth, her father regarded her as a blight on his legacy. He gave her away. After sealing the well up, she's accepted into U.A. Her very presence serves to shake things up in the best ways!

Pairing: Undecided

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Chapter Eighteen

When they'd been granted permission, those who made it to the second round began to scout around to try and form teams. She knew she should try and do the same, but…

Kagome let out a soft sigh, ignoring the urge she felt to shake her head. Shippo hadn't been too invested in participating in the entire event- happily falling behind so he could support her from the stands with Sesshoumaru and the rest present. It wasn't like he had withheld that intention from her. No, he'd clearly stated for her to be aware of. She wasn't surprised by his choice, but it did limit her choice of teammates…

"I'm surprised he didn't make it through."

The comment came from in front of her, and she lifted her head upon hearing it. Her blue eyes met duo-colored ones, and she gave a wry smile. "Oh, that's because he'd rather watch than participate," she stated. "So he's gone off to join Sesshoumaru."

"Yeah…?" Todoroki glanced towards the stands to see if the overbearing fox could be found, to no avail. There was no telling where he was, but he'd bet anything that he was already prepared to watch the following events. He looked back at Kagome, pushing thoughts of her fan away from his mind. He'd gladly take the chance to tune him out for a bit. "Have you put any thought into your team?" he asked. Kagome sighed and rested a hand on her hip as she shook her head.

"Not really, no," she admitted. A much smaller smile than before appeared on her face, her brows curving a bit as she glanced around. "A race was one thing," she stated softly, "but choosing a team out of everyone is harder, I suppose."

Everyone had potential in their own way, but finding those who meshed well together was another battle altogether. She glanced around, her eyes mapping out a few options as she surveyed them.

Midoriya had the most points at stake, and being on a team with him would either be good or bad. Sure, they'd worked together as a unit before, and they'd performed swell while doing so, but… The thought of having everyone gunning for them for the start was unfavorable, to say the least.

Then there was Bakugo, who, despite his horrible personality and attitude, was both strong and skilled. However…- She just knew that the moment she even tried, he'd possibly bite her head off. Even then, if they managed to form a team, there was no telling just how they'd be able to progress. She couldn't see it working out. They'd likely fight the whole time. And that was if they even made it far in the conversation…

"If you're not sure, then join my team," Todoroki stated. He didn't ask, nor did he suggest. He stated it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and the best solution. Kagome was pulled from her musings by the idea, and she was taken aback when he was serious about it.

"E-Eh…?" She blinked owlishly for a couple of seconds. Surprise was evident on her face as she once again met his stare. He wasn't sure why she had that reaction to the idea, but before he could ask, she beat him to it. "S-Should we?" she asked. "We both know he's here watching and-!"

"He doesn't matter," he cut her off. His voice was a stark contrast compared to her own. Her nerves had begun to seep into her words, yet he was as calm as ever. Her heart was suddenly hammering within her chest, and her hands felt clammy. She clenched them into fists to try and ignore the feeling, downcasting her gaze to her feet.

She really didn't want to cause any issues for him, and she knew forming a team with him would possibly cause just that. If it was just her, then that was one thing, but something else entirely when it came to others…

She hid her emotions with an icy expression, blue eyes shining faintly. She didn't want to risk them being visible to anyone, no matter who it was.

He stood and observed her, unable to ignore the look on her face. Looking at her, he couldn't help but note how much she looked like Fuyumi, save for a few subtle differences- along with her hair and eyes.

"Wait…!" The older woman danced up to his side, gray eyes shimmering as she realized the words he'd said. "I heard you correctly, right?" Fuyumi let out an excited gasp, clasping her hands together. "You said you're in class with Kagome? Our Kagome?"

He nodded, his attitude about ten times calmer than that of his older sister. At the confirmation, her eyes lit up as a sheen of tears filled them.

"How is she?" Fuyumi asked. "Oh, what's she like now? What does she like? What…-"

She rambled out question after question without giving him any time to respond, but he didn't bother to stop her.

"Does she remember us…?"

The last question she'd asked had a sadder ring to it, and her shoulders fell as she asked. She glanced at the ground, an icy expression washing over her face to replace her once ecstatic one. He hadn't missed the way her hands had tightened in the material of her pants as she glanced at the floor between them. He knew who she was referring to with her last question. Did she remember her, Natsuo, and… -

"You look like Fuyumi with you make that face," he remarked. Not just that, but she looked like their mother. Kagome picked her head up at the comment, widened blue eyes landing on his face. A second later, her expression fell only to get replaced by a tiny smile.

"You think so?" she mused softly. The mention of their older sister brought back the pictures she had in her memories. They were all old and from when she was five years old and younger. For the life of her, she couldn't even begin to imagine how she might look now. Still, she knew that if she passed her on the street, then she'd know exactly who she was- just like she had recognized her twin with ease. It'd surely be the same with her other siblings, as well. It was a bittersweet thought, the more it lingered in her brain.

He nodded in response to her soft-spoken question, and her expression warmed a fraction more.

"Do you really want to be on a team with me…?" she asked then. There was a hint of uncertainty lingering in her voice. It was hard to miss, but he didn't call attention to it.

"Yes," he answered her, and Kagome nodded.

"... Okay!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist as she made her mind up. "Right, then let's do it!"

If he was certain of the idea, then she couldn't find it in her to reject it- even with her concerns. He was confident, and it was hard keeping it from impacting her when she could feel it so prominent in his aura.

He'd already put together a team with a spot left for her, she noted. She followed him to where the other two lingered behind as they waited. Before she could make it far, her arm was snagged by a familiar brunette.

"Ah, Kagome-" Uraraka exclaimed, "wait!"

Though she'd been taken aback, she paused and waved the duo-haired boy ahead of her, as if to tell him she'd catch up in a minute. She turned and spotted Midoriya catching up to Uraraka.

"Did you need something?" she questioned, a smile fixed on her face.

"Well, we were hoping that you'd join our team!" Uraraka exclaimed. Kagome looked between the two, and Midoriya nodded in confirmation of what the brunette had said.

"With your senses, you make for the perfect rider," Midoriya went on to say. She tilted her head to the side a fraction before offering them both an apologetic smile.

"I'm glad that you thought I'd be a good teammate," she spoke, and her tone gave away her response. Uraraka's smile fell as she continued. "I've already committed to a team, though," she stated, blue eyes mirroring her tone. "You weren't the only one with that idea, it would seem," she added, jutting her thumb in the direction of the duo-haired boy behind her.

"Ah…" Uraraka sighed, shoulders slumping some. "That puts a damper on things for sure… We really should've been quicker, huh?"

Kagome let her smile return as she nodded. "Honestly, I just joined Todoroki's group because he asked first," she admitted- much to their surprise. "My first thought was Shippo, but he didn't make it through the first challenge."

"He didn't exactly try, did he?" Uraraka questioned, and Kagome shrugged.

"He wasn't in any hurry, that's for sure," Midoriya added. From what he'd noticed, the fox had hung back and watched the chaos unfold for the most part.

"He'd rather watch me than the chance of having to go up against me in a challenge," Kagome stated. "He's up in the stands with Sesshoumaru now."

"Can he afford to do that?" Uraraka asked, surprise flashing across her face. "After all, this is a huge chance to get the pros to spot you!" she exclaimed.

Kagome nodded and hid a laugh behind her hand. "He'll be fine," she stated. "Sesshoumaru has his own agency, and he's also looking after Shippo while he's here for school," she explained.

"So it's likely he'll join Sesshoumaru-sensei's agency after school?" Midoriya asked, and Kagome nodded.

"His more so than anyone else's," Kagome said.

"Wow," Uraraka sighed, "he's kinda lucky if you think about it."

"Does that mean you also plan on joining Sesshoumaru-sensei's agency after school?" Midoriya asked, and Kagome was startled by the abrupt question. She paused, seeming to think it over, and she shrugged after a few long seconds.

"Even if I do," she eventually said, "giving my all here won't hurt anybody!"

Truthfully, Sesshoumaru had yet to broach the idea of her joining the agency he heads, but she wasn't against the idea entirely. Even if he had, she still didn't know what her answer would be. She wished to grow, and she wished to grow as much as she could before she fell into something like that. Sesshoumaru was well aware of her wishes. He'd mentor her, but he never once tried to guide her hand in a commanding way.

000

"Alright, time's up!" Midnight exclaimed. "Teams, make your way to the center, won't you?!"

"After fifteen minutes to pick and choose teammates and talk strategy, we've got twelve calvary teams lined up on the field!" Present Mic announced before a secondary voice spoke up a few seconds after the loud man paused.

"There are some interesting teams out there, at least," Eraserhead commented, and they were reminded that he, too, was technically an announcer for the festival. His input was minimal compared to that of the blonde booth-mate.

"Now, raise those battle cries!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the stadium, even over the roaring crowd covering the stands. "It's time for UA's bloody battle! Light the signal fire!"

They had been handed a headband with the point total for the group on it. Once they received it, Kagome was surprised with it was placed in her hands to put on.

"I chose you three because I thought it'd make for a more stable formation," Todoroki stated. "Kaminari, you'll be the left wing, keeping the enemy away with your electricity," he stated to the blonde before looking to Iida. "Iida, you'll be in the front as the main source of mobility and physical defense." He then looked at her and nodded for her to put the headband on. She resigned and eventually did as he wished. "I'll be on the right assisting with defense and movement, while you'll be the rider."

"Are you sure…?" Kagome asked once she'd fixed the band around her neck securely. He answered her with a nod.

"Considering how you're able to sense others and anticipate their movements, you make for the best fit," he stated. Not only that, but her reflexes were quick- quicker than most, it seems.

"So you'll be attacking and making diversions with fire and ice, then, Todoroki?" Iida asked, and the duo-haired boy looked at him.

"No," he stated. Kagome didn't miss the way he glanced up into the stands, but she didn't follow his gaze. She knew who was up behind her turned back. "In battle, I will never use my left side."

000

Before she knew it, they were called to get into position. Kagome was no stranger to being carried, but this way seemed a little… Well, it wasn't being carried piggyback by Inuyasha, that's for sure! She felt a little uncertain when she was lifted up, and she was unsure how to distribute her weight with the three supporting her. Unlike her half-demon friend, they weren't used to her weight…

"Are you sure I'm not too heavy…?" she asked as she braced a hand on her brother's shoulder.

"Please," Kaminari chuckled, "you're way lighter than any of us."

There was no complaint, and she sighed as she resigned to the position. She pushed the unease she felt to the back of her mind and cleared her thoughts of anything unimportant at that moment. She took a deep breath, and, when she opened her eyes next, they were icy and determined.

The rest around them also got ready and prepared themselves. Once it was obvious everyone was ready, the countdown began and the battle had started.

As expected, most of the other teams made a beeline for Midoriya the moment it started. It seemed majority of them had the same idea in mind, and that was to go straight for the highest point value. She didn't fault them for the idea, but it certainly made the entire thing a chaotic circle.

Then again, he was also their target, so she couldn't even if she wanted to.

A heavy glare from the stands caused her to stiffen up out of reflex. Her body almost froze as ice seeped into her core. She didn't want to, but her gaze automatically shifted up to the stands. The source of the glaring was easy to place- the flame-covered man standing on the stairs and watching her with a multitude of emotions. None of them were good, to say the least. She could feel them from here.

Her body shifted abruptly, and she nearly fell from her perch supported by the other three of her team. She felt someone approaching from behind her, and she forced herself to move to keep them from snatching the band draped around her neck. She snatched their wrist and shoved it away from her- but not before swiping their band from their head to add to their own around her neck.

"All right!" Kaminari exclaimed as she added the new band to the rest. "That makes another one," he continued. "Way to go, Kagome!"

She was silent in response- something that wasn't like her. Todoroki glanced up at her, but he didn't have a clear view of her face. He wasn't unaware of the way her free hand was abruptly digging into his shoulder tighter than ever. He couldn't be sure, but it almost felt like it was shaking.

000

Observing the teams below, he wasn't surprised to see who she'd formed a team with.

"Man, watching them makes me wish I'd put more effort into it," Shippo sighed, folding his arms behind his head. Sesshoumaru glanced at him with an arched brow.

"You're unbelievable," he deadpanned, and Shippo gave a beaming smile. Before he could say much else, the silver-haired demon was keen to pick up on the stiff aroma of distress that came from the miko below. At once, he eyed the lower level for the source, only to see none. As he looked down at her, he quickly realized that her attention had drifted up to the stands. He scowled and sought out what held her attention.

It took less than three seconds to locate the source.

The unpleasant figure stood in the middle of the stairs, and, with the flames covering him, he was hard to miss. He stood out with ease. Golden eyes narrowed and he held back on the temptation to scoff.

How dare he attempt to use his presence to disrupt her. He had no right to even look in her direction. He didn't deserve to.

"Come," Sesshoumaru stated flatly. The word caught Shippo's attention, and he tore his attention away from Kagome down below. With a shrug, he fell into place beside him.

"At least he was smart and chose to team up with her," Shippo sighed as he bounded up the stairs and past the fiery man. After a second, he huffed. "Still… not like he deserves her around…"

A dry chuckle came from the older demon. "Aizawa is right- you're far too protective of Kagome for your own good." He'd been spoken to a number of times about Shippo's clingy nature- not that he'd be one to do anything about it in the first place.

As he trekked up the steps, the man standing in the middle had yet to move, and Sesshoumaru sure as hell wasn't about to. He didn't do anything more than cut golden eyes towards the figure, keeping his head facing forward as he walked. "You're in the way." Sesshoumaru's tone was like claws digging into the skin as he spoke to the fiery figure- sharp and merciless. Still, he didn't slow or pause as he ascended the stairs. Their shoulders collided, but the demon didn't sway an inch. Instead, it was the revered hero who was pushed aside. Nothing more than a single word was spat as he walked by him. "Move."

At the shove, Sesshoumaru knew his attention had swapped entirely to him, yet he didn't bother to look his way or give him a shred of attention.

"At the very least, she's probably more capable without having you cling to her every five minutes." He remarked, the man just behind them on the stairs and his glares completely unaffecting him.

Shippo huffed in response. "I don't want to share her with any of those guys," Shippo growled childishly.

"See?" Sesshoumaru sighed. "Comments like that are exactly why I was spoken to about your behavior, Shippo."

000

She endured the pressure of his glare the best she could, tuning him and his overbearing presence out in any way that was possible for her. She knew she needed to keep her focus on the match at hand, but…- With a slight shake of her head, she pushed all of her concerns away. She schooled her expression, once more allowing her icy one to hide her unease.

Standing across from her was none other than Midoriya and his team. There were others still going for it, but that didn't change anything for her.

"Oi, Izuku," Kagome called out. "Thanks for holding onto that for so long," she stated, "but we'll be taking it now." His team was composed mostly of 1A students with him, Uraraka and Tokoyami, but there was one figure she didn't have a name for, but she could recognize her from the race and by the gadgets she had.

"I thought we would not have this confrontation until a little later in the battle," Tokoyami commented. "I see you are pragmatic, among other things."

"Nothing personal," she hummed, "but it's a battle." Her eyes narrowed, and any playful spark in her had been buried. "I can't go easy on someone in a battle," she stated. "It's just not my style, y'know?"

"That makes perfect sense," Midoriya responded, "it's no wonder Sesshoumaru-sensei chose to train you." No matter the type of battle, she'd give it her all. Determination and logic went hand-in-hand in her mind, it seemed. As a teammate, she was ideal. As an opponent, she was something to be wary of. She could read other people's movements, but her own were often unpredictable due to her lack of expression.

She was like ice despite her usually warm and sunny personality.

"Less than half of the time limit remains," Midoriya stated, "we have to keep moving."

Though his team moved, their own was quick to mimic his actions. With Iida leading, they cut the distance between them down quickly. She felt electricity start to spark around Kaminari, and Kagome reacted instantly. She brought a semi-transparent barrier up to shield the rest of them from the electrified attack.

"Make sure you guard well!" Kaminari exclaimed, and Kagome nodded.

"Naturally," she remarked.

"1.3 million volts!"

A static current crashed down on the teams around them, running along the ground and electrocuting each and every other team that opposed them in the small gathering. Once it was safe, Kagome allowed her barrier to fall. The others were stunned, but it didn't hinder them any.

"Less than six minutes left," Todoroki stated, lifting his right hand. As he did, frost formed in the air around it. Not even a second later, ice ran along the ground and froze the other teams in place. It was easy to pilfer the bands from the frozen teams, and soon several more had been added to the growing collection around her neck.

They followed Midoriya's team as they left the rest behind frozen in place. From across the field, she didn't miss the way Bakugo was going through his own issues with another team, but she didn't let it linger in her mind.

At least he wasn't there on their case at the moment…

They quickly cornered Midoriya's team at the edge of the field but progressing wasn't as simple as it could've been. Using Dark Shadow, Tokoyami could defend easily against Kaminari- just as he'd done moments ago, and with Iida leading the team, it was tricky when it came to using Todoroki's ice. In the wrong place, Iida would get hit by it, too.

They were at a stalemate as time continued to tick down. They'd already hit the last minute remaining on the clock.

"Everyone," Iida spoke, and Kagome glanced down at him. "There's less than a minute left," he stated. "You won't be able to use me after this, so I'm counting on you!"

His comment left her confused, and she wasn't the only one. Kagome craned her head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Hang on tight…!"

While she was unsure of what was to happen, Kagome didn't hesitate to tighten the grip she had, and she wasn't the only one.

"Make sure to grab it, Kagome!"

"Right!" Kagome exclaimed with a nod. Not long after the word left her mouth, they were abruptly thrown forward as Iida moved. The burst of speed was sudden, but it didn't last long. Still, it was enough to take the opposing team by surprise. Midoriya hadn't even had time to react before it was over. When she saw her chance, Kagome reached out and snagged the band fixed around Midoriya's head- keeping a firm grip on it until they finally came to a stop.

She did the same with the highest-valued headband as she did with the rest, and she tied it around her neck. None of the numbers showed, leaving it to be any one of them.

"Iida, what was that?" Todoroki asked as they came to a halt.

"By forcing the torque and rotations to increase, I created an explosive power," Iida explained. "With the recoil, my engines stall after a while, though." True to his word, dark smoke pooled out of the engines on his legs. "It's a secret move I hadn't told anyone in class yet."

The stadium erupted in clamor at the sudden shift, but it didn't prevent the battle from continuing. After a few stunned seconds, Midoriya and the others were quick to pursue them, and, with Iida unable to move, defense was the best possible idea at the moment.

Still… A strange power could be felt coming from Midoriya- a type of power she could only ever compare to All Might, as strange as it sounded to her. Kagome frowned and threw a barrier up to guard, but she got the sinking suspicion that it wouldn't be able to hold out long against any attack from the green-haired boy. Her barriers could withstand a lot, but even they had their breaking points.

She guarded the best she could, but, out of reflex, she squeezed her eyes shut. The impact would no doubt hurt when her barrier shattered. When the air around her grew warmer, she opened her eyes, and she was surprised to see orange and red flames forming at her barrier. It wasn't her doing.

"Don't touch her…!"

Seeing him use his fire was something Kagome didn't expect, so she was taken aback when the flames rose higher along her rose-pink barrier- seeming to give it a secondary layer of protection.

"I can't give up!" Midoriya cried. With a shift of his arms, the wind caused by it extinguished most of the flames. As they faded, his hand made contact with her barrier and, just as she'd anticipated, it shattered under the pressure of the strike.

It sent a jolt of pain through her chest as it faded entirely, and she reacted as swiftly as she could to hold on securely to the bands she'd collected. She hadn't reacted quickly enough, and Midoriya managed to snatch one of them.

When he looked at the headband, she knew he hadn't grabbed the one he was going for, at least. A wry smile appeared on her face as he realized it was only worth seventy points.

"Don't tell me you thought it'd be that obvious," Kagome commented. "What's the point in hiding the numbers if I don't swap the places around a bit?" That'd make it too easy to tell which was which.

"Ten seconds!" Present Mic exclaimed. "Time to start the countdown!" As he said those words, the timer on the screen began to tick down loudly. When it did, Midoriya turned his attention back to them.

"Tokoyami!" he exclaimed, and Tokoyami sent Dark Shadow their way in response.

Knowing what was coming, Kagome threw up another barrier. As she did, another harsh burst of electricity came from Kaminari. Seemingly, at the same time, Bakugo finally joined the fray with the rest of them. Her eyes met, and she very quickly realized that he knew who had the highest amount of points. Her expression fell.

"Oi, brat!" Bakugo shouted at her, and she matched him with a glare. As the electricity faded, Kagome let her barrier fall.

Despite all the attempts, time ran out before anyone could do anything else. A loud buzzer went off and everyone came to a halt. Mid-air, Bakugo ended up faceplanting on the ground in a manner she was more than familiar with. Kagome had to bite back her laugh at the sight of him there like that.

The battle came to an end, and the winning teams were announced. As they were, Kagome stood alongside those who had been on her team.

"We won, but, man," Kagome sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "Talk about stressful…" She hadn't been expecting that sort of power to come from her green-haired classmate. Then, for Bakugo to appear so suddenly after being elsewhere the whole time. At least he hadn't been on their case the entire time…

"Sorry," Iida spoke, "I caused everyone trouble." Kagome looked at him, a frown peppering her face.

"Come on," she said, approaching him and resting a hand on his arm, "that's not true at all!" she exclaimed. "We wouldn't have even gotten the winning band if it weren't for you, you know!"

Not long after she said those words, as she listened to the teams announced, she let her attention shift back to the split-haired boy. Her heart felt heavy when she picked up on his complicated emotions.

Kagome frowned as she looked at him. His emotions were complicated, and she couldn't stand to ignore them. She walked the short distance over to him and lifted both her hands to gently take hold of his left hand. The skin was warm to the touch- probably much warmer than her own at the moment. She couldn't help but notice how much smaller her hands were compared to his own, and she tightened her grip as she tugged his hand down some.

Her touch seemed to do the trick, and he lifted his attention to meet her gleaming blue eyes. It was quiet- no words were needed to get her message across. He reacted after a few long seconds of silence between them. He moved his fingers so they closed and rested on her own as he sighed.

He hated that side for the reason of who it came from, but knowing she didn't hate it made it a bit more bearable, it seemed.

"I can't…" he trailed off. Her hands were softer, smaller compared to his own. "At this rate, I'll be doing what that old man wants."

Kagome was silent in response. She could feel him watching her from the crowd still. A few seconds passed, and the weight of it eventually went away when he seemed to move. She'd ignored it as much as she could while in the battle, but she couldn't manage to shake it fully, even while distracted.

The hour break was announced, and they were all ushered out. As they went, Kagome let her attention land on Tokoyami, and she approached him.

"How sneaky of you!" she exclaimed once she was close enough, and he looked at her. "Using Dark Shadow to steal one of the bands when I dropped my barrier."

He matched her stare and nodded. "I did what I had to to ensure our progression," he stated. Kagome smiled in response.

"Mm," she hummed in agreement. "I'm not mad," she stated before grinning wider. "It makes it more exciting, don't you think?"

At her comment, Tokoyami looked at her and nodded. As he did, Dark Shadow emerged, and Kagome reached a hand out to gently pet him to show there were no hard feelings. At once, the shadowy figure nestled into her hands and gladly accepted the pets she had to offer him.

Auroua-chan: Sesshoumaru has finally ran into Endeavor! He wasn't too pleased with him glaring at Kagome like he was, so he let himself become the one he was glaring at. Additionally, he was much nicer than he probably wanted to be…

I've definitely considered Sesshoumaru as a pairing option for her a handful of times. I like them together, but I also want a crossover pairing for her in this story. For their relationship, I'm aiming for more of a mentor/familial role due to the type of family her birth family is.
As for exploring demon culture- that's something I'm definitely gonna expand on a little further in the future of this story.

So, Endeavor's seen Kagome, and he's seen enough to know that she's not entirely helpless, at least. Is it enough to change his thoughts? Hmm.. maybe not, but when the fights come around, that's when the tune he's singing is gonna change- big time.

Shoto is a little bit protective of Kagome, to say the least. (Then again, not like he's the only one) and Fuyumi and Natsuo know that they go to school together! Also, she's a little comforting for him with his dislike for his left side.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Reivew&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~