Where do I even start? Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for all your comments, kudos and support these past 5 years! I still can't believe Ashes is finally done. This has been such a labor of love (and pain). I've learned so much and met incredible friends. And, most of all, I completed an actual book! 150k words! I'm still surprised by that. However, with that said, all these great accomplishments wouldn't have been possible without you all here to support me. I'm so appreciative of the TodoMomo community and all of you for cheering me on through this journey! Thank you so much!
And I would be remiss if I didn't give the BIGGEST shoutout to my beta who has stuck with me through all my ups and downs and provided invaluable advice, THANK YOU FlourChildWrites! You've been absolutely amazing. Thank you so much. I can't even begin to express my gratitude. Thank you. Thank you! THANK YOU!
And to commiserate this final chapter, I have gotten a gorgeous, special commission that can be found on my twitter under this same username.
Chapter 37: We Can Love
Shouto caught Yaoyorozu as her body swayed and stumbled forward. He slid his hands around her back and into her hair as his own knees buckled. Exhaustion dragged him down.
Shouto drew Yaoyorozu to his chest and, on shaky legs, guided them down onto the frosted ground. Endeavor lay next to him on the ice, discarded and forgotten.
"I'm okay," Yaoyorozu mumbled. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible. "Just a little tired. Must be the aftereffects of the wish, Kaminari mentioned…"
Yaoyorozu's words trailed off. She sighed, and her warm breath ghosted against the cold skin of Shouto's collarbone, the last of her consciousness fading.
Shouto gave her a quick squeeze before pulling back to look her over. Yaoyorozu's chiton was tattered and soaked with sweat and blood. Long gashes tore across her back. Underneath the sleeve of her chiton, bandages were dyed crimson. Shouto's eyes fell to her hands. Yaoyorozu's palms were red and inflamed from the overuse of her power.
'Must be the aftereffects of the wish. Kaminari mentioned…'
Questions built in the back of Shouto's mind, but he was keenly aware of how heavy his body felt. His bones were made of sea foam. Parts of him that he hadn't known existed ached. And as fatigue rippled across his consciousness like a rising tide, Shouto found that he didn't care about anything other than holding Yaoyorozu in his arms.
Shouto pressed his nose into Yaoyorozu's hair and gathered her closer. The strong smell of copper and the subtle scent of flour clung to her. But she was warm and alive. He hadn't lost her.
"Todoroki!"
Someone called his name. The voice sounded like Midoriya's, but it was distant. Muffled. Shouto wanted to ignore the insistent voice. Midoriya called him again, closer. More insistent.
Shouto furrowed his brow. Then, with some difficulty, he opened his eyes and lifted his head to find Midoriya rushing over, Bakugou a step behind him.
Midoriya slid to a halt a few paces from him. The prince's green gaze dropped to Yaoyorozu. His face turned white before his eyes shot back up to Shouto's gaze. "Are you? Is she –"
"Fainted, you idiot." Bakugou growled, stopping to stand beside the second prince. His red eyes raked over Shouto as though he were searching for something, then he scoffed. "You look better."
"What?" Shouto blinked, uncomprehending. Shouto was certain he looked like he'd been trampled by a stampede of oxen. He sure as Hades felt that way.
Bakougou snorted and threw his head back to glare over his shoulder. "What are you slackers doing?" Bakugou barked at the Spartan soldiers congregating at the ice's edge. "Get your asses over here and be of some use."
"Right!"
"Todo-man, hold on!"
Shouto's gaze drifted past the princes as some of the other soldiers rushed over. He recognized a few of the men: Iida, captain of the guard, and Kirishima, Bakugou's right-hand man.
Iida reached him first.
"Let me assist," Iida said. He knelt down and stretched his arms toward Yaoyorozu, a silent gesture to pass her over.
Something within Shouto recoiled as he stared at Iida's outstretched hands. His chest felt hot and stuffy. Shouto's gaze darted back down to the top of Yaoyorozu's head nestled against his chest as anger swirled in his stomach. His fingers tightened around Yaoyorozu's shoulders.
It was childish; even Shouto had to admit his sudden reluctance to let Yaoyorozu go was selfish. He was out of strength, and there was no way he could carry Yaoyorozu to safety by himself. Yet, after everything that happened, they were finally reunited; somehow, it didn't feel fair to Shouto that he had to let her go so soon. He felt that if he let her go, he'd never see her again.
"Don't worry."
Shouto glanced back up at the captain of the guard. Iida's black eyes were soft with a gentle understanding as he continued. "I won't let anything happen to her. You have my promise as the son of Hermes."
Shouto pressed his lips into a thin line, swallowed, and gave Iida a short nod.
Iida smiled and stepped forward to scoop Yaoyorozu up.
Without Yaoyorozu in his arms, Shouto felt empty. But then Kirishima was at his side, pulling Shouto's arm over his hard shoulders.
"There's a spot not far from here where we can set up camp," Midoriya said. His face was full of worry as he picked Endeavor up from the ice and handed the hilt out to Shouto. "Can you make it?"
Shouto gave his ascent as he resheathed Endeavor. Then, he leaned against Kirishima for support, following after Midoriya as the second prince led them away from the frozen plateau of glaciers and icicle-laden trees.
The world faded in and out as he half-walked, half was dragged through the woods. Shouto was vaguely aware that Midoriya and Bakugou had brought around twenty men, and he heard Bakugou bark out a few orders, but otherwise, his attention was solely focused on Yaoyorozu. Though his vision swam and blurred, Shouto kept his eyes locked on her, the woman who saved him in so many ways. A small, illogical part of him felt that if he lost sight of her, she would melt away — just like the doppelgangers.
Shouto squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled through his nose, trying to calm the wave of fear.
"Todoroki, hang on," Midoriya said in a hard voice.
Shouto opened his eyes to find the prince's gaze darting between him and the forest ahead.
"We're almost there." Midoriya increased his pace. "You can rest once we're there."
Shouto shook his head. "I'll be fine." He glanced at Iida walking to his side. "How's Yaoyorozu?"
Surprise flashed across Iida's face before he quickly schooled his features. "She's stable," Iida said, looking down at Yaoyorozu in his arms. "Once she's warm and has some sleep, I'm sure she'll come around in no time."
Shouto's heart leapt into his throat. "She's cold? How cold?" Shouto's arm felt like a weight as he lifted his free hand. "I don't have much left, but I might be able to warm her." Shouto searched within him, scraping his insides for any remaining power. His breath grew labored. His step faltered.
"Todo-man!" Kirishima's arm tightened around Shouto, catching Shouto from tripping.
"Todoroki, don't push yourself," Midoriya said in a stern voice. He grabbed Shouto's other side and helped him lean back against Kirishima's shoulder. "You're hurt."
Shouto grunted as Kirishima's arm adjusted around his waist. "I'll be fine. How's Yaoyorozu?" Shouto caught Iida and Midoriya glancing at each other. A strange expression on their faces, but Shouto was too tired and worried to think about it. "I need to check on her."
Iida's lips pressed into a thin line. He straightened. "Don't overexert yourself, I can't imagine Yaoyorozu would be grateful if she found out you hurt yourself on her account."
"Once we set up camp, you can check yourself," Midoriya assured him.
Shouto pressed his lips into a thin line. He wanted to argue, but Midoriya's expression was hard. The prince wouldn't be moved.
Shouto released a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Let's hurry."
The ice covering the ground thinned as they started walking again and then turned to fresh snow. There was a chirp of a linnet, followed by another, and before Shouto knew it, the forest was alive with the sounds of birds and pitter-patter of small animals.
As the magic in the air dissipated, it was as though they stepped into a separate dimension. Kirishima helped Shouto hobble past a tree with four concentric circles in the shape of an eye crossed out, and Shouto realized they had exited Shigaraki's trap.
"Shouto!"
Rousing himself, Shouto looked up at the sound of his name. Fuyumi appeared in a whirlwind of snow.
"I was so worried," Fuyumi said, her voice high and frantic as she hurried to his side. "I couldn't see you at all. There was some sort of barrier keeping me out, and then Momo went after you -"
She looked around, and her gaze fell on Yaoyorozu in Iida's arms. She gasped. "Momo! What happened?"
"Kaminari gave her some type of…" Shouto started, then paused.
He tried to think of what to call Yaoyorozu's new power. The magic seemed to allow her to summon weapons out of her skin. So, arms master? But then she also made the flour. Shouto's mind spun, but his head was heavy. He voiced the only idea that made sense. "He gave her some sort of creation magic."
"What?" Fuyumi started and gaped at him.
Midoriya whipped his head around. "Magic?"
"Seriously?" Kirishima echoed.
Shouto hummed in acknowledgment. "Yeah."
Midoriya's gaze widened. Sparkles danced in his eyes as his voice rose in excitement. "Can gods even grant magic? I've only heard of them cursing mortals. Apollo gave foresight to Cassandra; Athena transformed Medusa and Arachne, but I've never heard of them granting magic as a gift. This must be a first!"
"But why is she asleep?" Fuyumi asked.
Shouto glanced at Yaoyorozu. His heart felt lodged in his throat. "She said it has something to do with the magic. It…It drains her energy, I think."
"So her falling asleep is a repercussion of using this power?" Iida asked, looking down at Yaoyorozu with awe in his eyes.
Shouto nodded. "Side effects."
"Interesting." Midoriya's eyes glossed over. "I can't believe a god could even grant a wish so complex. It almost makes her a goddess herself," Midoriya mumbled more to himself than anyone standing in the circle. "I wonder if there is a limit to the magic? There has to be. We'll have to test it when she wakes up."
A growl worked its way up Shouto's throat as Midoriya continued his speculation. The prince was evidently getting lost in his thoughts, when a sharp voice came from ahead of them.
"Deku! What are you doing? Stop dragging your feet," Bakugou snapped.
Shouto couldn't remember a time he felt more grateful for the first prince's impatience then that moment. A relieved smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Ri-right!" Midoriya stuttered. His cheeks turned red in embarrassment. He glanced back at Shouto and gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I was getting carried away again. We can talk about this later. Let's get you both settled."
They followed Bakugou through the trees until the ground leveled off, and Shouto caught sight of a circle of tents. Soldiers darted to and fro between the hemp canvases, their red capes vibrant in the winter light as they moved about constructing the makeshift shelters.
A ball of tension — a feeling that Shouto wasn't aware he still had energy for — uncurled in his stomach. His shoulders slumped, and his feet became heavier.
"Half-n-Half, you'll stay in this one with her," Bakugou said, gesturing with his thumb towards one of the tents in the center of the camp.
Like all the others, the structure was a standard military tent made of hemp and wood, spacious enough for two to three men to sleep comfortably. There were no windows, but the thin material allowed light to filter through the fabric and provided protection against the weather.
Glancing inside, Shouto saw that a rug had been rolled out to cover the floor. Thick woolen blankets were folded in the corner.
Iida carried Yaoyorozu into the tent. Kirishima was about to follow Iida inside when Shouto spoke.
"Wait." Shouto glanced over his shoulder at the princes, then at his sister. He wet his dry lips. "I want a moment with Yaoyorozu. Alone, that is."
Midoriya, Iida, Bakugou, and Kirishima exchanged shrugs and surprised looks. Fuyumi grinned.
Shouto looked to his sister at the back of the pack. "Thanks, Fuyumi," he said, "for everything."
She bowed her head. "Of course. You're my brother. I'm just so happy you are okay."
Shouto gave her a nod and turned towards Midoriya. He opened his mouth to explain but found the prince shaking his head.
"Don't worry about it," Midoriya said, smiling kindly. "You're both safe now. Rest. I'll send Ochako in to tend to your wounds."
Shouto nodded, too exhausted to say anymore. He pushed the flap aside and staggered into the tent. Yaoyorozu lay amidst the pile of blankets.
Shouto stumbled over to her. Pulling Endeavor from his chiton, he collapsed onto the blanket beside her. He sat Endeavor at the top of the bed, and then he gathered Yaoyorozu into his arms so that her head rested against his chest.
Shouto told himself that he'd only rest for a moment, just until Ochako came with bandages. But now that they were finally safe, he closed his eyes and allowed the world to fade away.
He didn't wake up for Ochako.
Shouto didn't know how long he had slept when he woke to the feeling of fingers pressed against his side. His body was heavy, lethargic in the common way bodies became with too much rest. And if it weren't for the fingers touching a specifically sore patch of skin, Shouto may have easily drifted right back to sleep.
Rousing himself, Shouto blinked the crust from his eyes. He was lying on a thick rug. Not an expensive kline made of wood or metal, but the standard military counterpane. A tent's hemp canvas stretched above his head. Through the thin walls, Shouto caught the familiar clamor of men's voices and the fragrant scent of cooking meat — likely a pheasant given the rich aroma in the air.
Fingers flittered over the healing patch of raw skin along Shouto's torso and pulled his attention back to what had initially woken him.
Turning his head, Shouto found Yaoyorozu seated to his left. She hadn't noticed him yet. Instead, she continued to busy herself applying a honey-like mixture to the injury he'd sustained during the battle with Shigaraki.
From what Shouto could tell, the wound was no longer bleeding. Rather, the new skin under the pus and scab-flaked edges was raised, raw, puffy, and incredibly sensitive.
However, it wasn't the ugliness of the healing wound that made Shouto pause; Yaoyorozu took his breath away. She was in a new chiton that was the color of snow. Her normal high ponytail was gone, replaced with a half ponytail. A matching white ribbon was braided through the strands. And behind her back, bright beams of sunlight glimmered off of sable black hair, creating a dazzling halo of honeysuckle gold.
Yaoyorozu was ethereal.
Shouto stared at her in a dreamlike trance, too afraid to move or speak for fear of waking. If this were a dream or a spell by the damnable gods, Shouto didn't want it to end.
"Yaoyorozu!"
An unfamiliar woman's voice rose in excitement, cutting through Shouto's paralysis. He hadn't noticed there was a second woman in the tent.
Slowly, his gaze slid away from Yaoyorozu to the woman sitting beside her. She appeared to be around Yaoyorozu's age, with shoulder-length brown hair and a warm, round face. Something about her seemed familiar, but Shouto couldn't place where he would have met her before.
"Is there something of concern, Ochako?" Yaoyorozu asked in a light voice.
"Look!" Ochako grabbed the edge of Yaoyorozu's chiton. Dark brown eyes glittered as they darted between Yaoyorozu and Shouto. "He's awake."
Yaoyorozu's head snapped around. She gasped. Letting go of the dull knife she'd been using to spread the honey, Yaoyorozu covered her mouth. And for the first time since the battle with Shigaraki, Shouto met her dark, soulful eyes. Emotions flickered across her features — surprise, relief, and then something deeper that Shouto didn't have a name for, but he felt his throat tighten in response to it.
"I'll go tell Deku!" Ochako's voice squealed with excitement. She jumped to her feet, and neither Yaoyorozu nor Shouto made any motion to stop her as she turned and rushed from the tent.
It wasn't until the flap closed with a whoosh, that Shouto finally found his voice. It was raspy and hoarse, but it worked.
"Are you —" He started, paused, and cleared his throat before trying again. "Are you real?"
Yaoyorozu blinked then let out a soft laugh. She dropped her hand from her mouth; her expression softened in understanding. She wiped her hands off with a towel, then smiled and held out her palm. Her skin sparkled. Stardust jumped from her hand, and a hair clip emerged in flakes of gold.
"Does this answer your question?" she asked with a smug quirk of her lips.
Shouto's mouth opened. Even though he had technically seen her create spears and a pot of flour during the battle with Shigaraki, this was different. Shouto witnessed the curved metal of an olive branch emerge from her palm with astonishment.
"It's real," he said in a hushed voice.
Shouto pushed himself up onto his elbows to get a better look at the golden-leafed hair clip.
"Don't force yourself!" Yaoyorozu chastised, leaping forward to help him. "You just woke up. It'll take time before your strength returns."
The blanket covering Shouto's waist fell back as he shimmied up into a seated position, and he realized that, besides the bracelet still circling his left arm, he was only clad in a perizoma.
"How long was I out for?" he asked, adjusting the cover over his lap.
Yaoyorozu was silent for a moment. When she apparently determined that he wouldn't fall over, she let out a deep breath and retook her position by his side. Her tight grip around the hair clip eased, and she ran a finger along the edge.
"Two weeks," she said matter-of-factly.
The shock must have shown on Shouto's face because Yaoyorozu continued. "We are at the bottom of the Rhodes now. We had to move. Soldiers from Dicaea were patrolling the forest, and with the temperamental weather, the princes were afraid of either being caught up in battle or stranded until spring."
"I see."
"As for why you are like this" She gestured with the hair clip towards his lower body, not meeting his eyes. "Your chiton was completely ruined in the battle with Shigaraki. I had to make you a new one."
Slipping the hair clip into the basket of bandages by her side, Yaoyorozu turned around, and the glint of Endeavor's red hilt caught Shouto's attention. The sword leaned against a chipped wooden chest that Shouto didn't remember when he entered the tent that first night.
However, Yaoyorozu didn't reach for the sword. She opened the chest and pulled out what appeared to be fabric the color of a moonless night sky.
"Who would have thought dyeing cloth would be more complicated than forging a weapon?" Yaoyorozu asked with a small, self-conscious laugh. She turned back around and passed the cloth over to him.
Shouto didn't understand why she laughed. He took the fabric like it was an offering to the gods and ran his hands carefully over the thick black wool. It was a chiton, but not one Shouto had ever seen before. Embroidered clouds of gold adorned the front of the vestment, and glimmering buttons ran along the shoulders. It was dazzling. Opulent. And the most beautiful piece of cloth Shouto had ever seen.
"You should have seen my first attempt to create one." Yaoyorozu's smile looked strained, and she rambled like an artist, unsatisfied with her own work, as Shouto continued to caress the cloth. "I was trying to dye it red, but the fabric turned out more brown and patched in color.
"Prince Midoriya theorized that the creation of colors may require more concentration than monochrome, considering there are more varieties of shades and all. And if I'm not completely focused, it will be harder to achieve a particular dye. Anyways, that's why there are so many decorations," she said with a gesture towards the chiton. "I was practicing with smaller objects. I hope you don't mind."
Shouto looked up to stare at Yaoyorozu. "You're amazing," he said with full sincerity.
The tip of Yaoyorozu's cheeks darkened, but a hint of a pleased smile pulled at her lips. "Well, I had a lot of time," she said, picking up clean strips of cloth from the basket. "Now, turn around and let me rebandage your side."
Shouto obliged, falling silent and shifting around so that Yaoyorozu could reach. Yaoyorozu made quick work of bandaging him up. She placed clean fabric over the treated wound and secured it with more cloth. She patted his shoulder when done. Shouto turned back around to find her looking him up and down.
She was staring at him with lips thinned as though contemplating something. He tilted his head. Bangs, longer after two weeks asleep, fell into his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Yaoyorozu met his gaze, and her eyes sparkled in mirth. Her lips twitched, like she was fighting not to smile. "You're missing something."
"Huh?"
Yaoyorozu picked up the olive leaf hair clip from the basket. She leaned forward and brushed back his long bangs, and then she twisted them around her fingers to secure his hair in place with the clip. She studied her work with an approving nod.
"Perfect. You're ready now."
Stunned, Shouto blinked, but he couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his lips to match hers. He arched an eyebrow. "What's this?"
Yaoyorozu grinned. "It's a blessed object, to help you heal faster."
"Oh?" Shouto raised an eyebrow. A smart remark was on the tip of his tongue when the sight of linen bandages peeking out from underneath Yaoyorozu's sleeve caught his attention. The playful mood evaporated. He frowned.
"I don't think it's me that needs it." Shouto reached out. His index finger lightly touched Yaoyorozu's collarbone, and Shouto paused as she sucked in a sharp breath.
However, when Yaoyorozu didn't push him away, Shouto slid the finger along Yaoyorozu's collar until he reached the capped sleeve. Hooking his finger into the white fabric, he pushed it back. The chiton fell down Yaoyorozu's arm, displaying her shoulder completely wrapped in linen bandages.
The shoulder wound was well-dressed, but when Shouto looked closer, he made out subtle indentations in the cloth, as though something had sunk fangs into her skin. A rock lodged in Shouto's throat. Given the size of the injury and that it was still wrapped, she must have been badly hurt.
"It's healing nicely," Yaoyorozu began, then paused. She bit her lip and continued in a small voice. "But, I think there will be a large scar."
There was a sadness in her voice that made Shouto's chest tighten. "Scars are a symbol of pride." Shouto pulled back to meet Yaoyorozu's eyes. "It means you lived."
"Todoroki." Her dark eyes shimmered.
An emotion so deep, Shouto didn't have a name for it shone in her gaze. Shouto's breath caught. His heart pounded faster and faster in his chest. Yaoyorozu stared at him like she had in Dicaea: when they were running from the slave traders. When he gifted her the hair ribbon under the summer moon. When she kissed him for the first time of her own free will.
Shouto's mouth was dry. Their noses brushed, and it was then Shouto realized how close they were. If he were to lean even a fraction closer, his mouth would brush against hers.
Yaoyorozu's eyes darkened as she seemed to realize the same thing.
A longing pulled in Shouto's chest. He could feel her warm breath on his lips. He tilted his head and leaned forward to close the gap between them.
"Yaoyorozu, the princes are on their way —"
The sound Ochako's voice broke through the moment. Shouto looked up as the newcomer pushed the tent flap up and froze.
"I'm-I'm so sorry!" Ochako gasped. She jerked back and almost fell over while backing out of the tent. "I didn't mean to peek!"
"No!" Yaoyorozu squealed. Her voice cracked. "It's not what you think!" She slammed her hands against Shouto's chest.
Shouto grunted as Yaoyorozu withdrew from his arms. She jumped to her feet and shoved the sleeve of her chiton back on her shoulder.
Yaoyorozu's face was bright red like freshly picked saffron stigmas. And Shouto had the abrupt fear that her new power may not be under control. What if her emotions activated the magic, and it kicked back, and she caught on fire?
"Yaoyorozu! What's wrong? Is it your magic?" Shouto asked, voice rising in concern. "If you feel hot, you should sit down and rest."
"I'm not — I'm fine!" Yaoyorozu said in a stern, high-pitched voice before turning away. "I'll-I'll be back. Stay!"
"Yaoyorozu!" Shouto called after her. But she had already exited the tent, leaving Shouto behind, confused and half-naked.
He sensed that he had done something to upset her, but Shouto didn't know what. He pulled on the new chiton and was about to grab Endeavor to leave, when the flap to the tent fluttered open. Midoriya and Bakugou entered.
Bakugou raised an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?"
Shouto made to walk past him. "To check on Yaoyorozu. I think something happened. I need to make sure her power isn't causing her harm."
Bakugou snorted and raised an arm, stopping Shouto from passing. "Ponytail's fine. Give her space," he said in a stern voice, leaving no room for argument. "Sit."
Shouto opened his mouth to argue, but Midoriya jumped in.
"We'll only be a moment." He motioned to the rug, indicating that Shouto should take a seat. "We just have a few questions to ask you."
Shouto didn't move.
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "Ponytail is fine," he stressed. "Her magic doesn't have anything to do with why she left. It's your dumbass that she needed space from. Now sit."
Shouto scowled. As much as Shouto would like to snap back at the prince, he didn't have any proof to disprove the prince's words. And Bakugou had always been more perspective than him.
He sighed. Reluctantly, Shouto slid back down onto the bed. "Didn't Yaoyorozu tell you what happened?"
Midoriya took a seat in front of him. Bakugou stalked over to the wooden chest. Dropping down onto the box, he rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward.
"She did," Midoriya agreed, sliding his legs under him. "But she wasn't there for the whole fight and…" He hesitated for a moment. His green eyes darkened, and his eyebrows furrowed in an expression of concern.
Bakugou cut in. His teeth poked out in a snarl. "When we went back, the extras were gone."
"What?" Shouto's head jerked up. A chill ran down his spine.
Midoriya's expression pinched in indecision, apparently deciding how to continue before he seemingly came to a conclusion. His jaw tightened. He looked up and leveled Shouto with a hard stare.
"Shigaraki must have come back and recovered his human comrades." Midoirya's mouth pressed into a thin line. He leaned forward. "I know you just woke up, but we need you to do your best and remember. Is there anything that Shigaraki said or did that we need to be concerned about? Anything that we need to be aware of on our return to Sparta?"
"We don't want any surprises, Half-n-Half." Bakugou's voice held a hint of warning.
Shouto's gaze drifted away from Bakugou to the walls of the tent as he tried to think. Shadows moved across the hemp walls. Men could be heard disassembling the camp, laughing, and trading stories.
Shouto frowned, tuning out the voices. His eyebrows drew together, and he reluctantly returned to the memory of the night.
'You hurt our friend!' the merchant's deep voice broke.
The magi's expression twisted with rage. 'I had spent twenty years building the business, offering the highest quality goods, and it was all ruined.'
'So we will call this multi-purposed revenge,' Shigaraki continued in a playful voice that contrasted with his words, 'for my brother, Dabi, and for my follower's livelihood.'
No, Shouto thought, remembering the villains' words, revenge wasn't anything special. Yaoyorozu would have likely told Midoriya and Bakugou about that anyways. And, if Shouto thought about the question, that wasn't what the princes were asking. They wanted to know about Shigaraki and his followers' powers. If there was any magic that would surprise them or could weaken their soldiers if they were caught in a battle with Shigaraki again.
'How do you like this twist of the tale, Shouto Todoroki?' The magi asked with a high-pitched laugh of accomplishment.
Shouto's throat tightened. Memories pulled at his conscience, emerging from the recess of his mind as the doppelgangers had from mud. Onyx eyes filled with anger, hatred, and betrayal stared up at Shouto from the face of his love.
'Little brother, women are nothing but a distraction for a warrior.'
Dabi's voice echoed through Shouto's being. And the memory of tearing flesh and the haunting pain of the doppelganger's spear piercing his side made Shouto's stomach churn.
Love blocked a warrior's senses, corroding their ability to act. To fight. To kill. Love made a warrior weak. It had made him weak.
"Todoroki?" Midoriya's voice was tentative.
The strong live; the weak die.
In the end, he couldn't kill the doppelganger. Even knowing that the golems weren't really Yaoyorozu, he had frozen. He hadn't been strong enough to block out the fear in his heart at the thought of taking her life.
Shouto's fists clenched against his knees as he forced the truth out. "I'm compromised."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Shouto stared down at his hands. Too ashamed to meet either of the princes' eyes. "I-I've fallen in love with Yaoyorozu."
Bakugou and Midoriya didn't say anything. As the silence stretched, Shouto finally found the courage to look up. Bakugou stared at him as though he were a sad animal sitting in the rain, even though shelter was right next to it.
Midoriya, on the other hand, looked like he was fighting back a mixture of confusion and laughter.
Shouto's eyebrows furrowed. "I mean it," he said, his voice rising in annoyance. "I've become cursed. I appreciate you coming to help Yaoyorozou and me, but I don't know if I can be a warrior anymore. And I'd understand if you don't want us to go back to Sparta with you if I can't serve as a soldier anymore."
"Why," Midoriya's voice pitched higher, and he had to stop to clear his throat. "Why do you think you're cursed? And why can't you serve anymore?"
It was Shouto's turn to stare confusedly at the prince. "Love makes a man weak," Shouto quoted. "That's what all the old men on the training grounds said. That's what Ares — my father — said. Love makes a man weak. And weak men will bring the fall of Sparta. The strong live; the weak die."
"Half-n-Half."
Shouto looked up. Bakugou stared at him with a completely straight expression.
"You're an idiot."
Shouto bristled. "What do you mean?" He was thoroughly annoyed now.
"Todoroki," Midoriya said in a patient voice as though speaking to a child. "They just want you committed to the state. There isn't any curse for falling in love… Well, besides Paris and Helen in Troy, but that was a different story altogether."
Shouto's fingers dug into his palms. "You don't understand." He looked down at the ground as the memories of the last weeks returned, and with it, the terror and sense of helplessness Shouto felt of becoming like his father — of hurting someone he loved. Of hurting Yaoyorozu.
"Yaoyorozu and I found a cabin. We were staying there when the nightmares started. I'd dream of killing Yaoyorozu every night. Night after night. I thought I'd break. Then, Shigaraki and his followers showed up, and they had magic to create doppelgangers of her. I had to kill her over and over." Shouto lowered his head. Guilt and shame burned his stomach. "I failed," Shouto admitted quietly. "When it came down to it, I couldn't kill her. I failed as a warrior."
"Todoroki…" Midoriya whispered.
Shouto closed his eyes as he said the words that weighed on his heart. "I can't fight like I used to. And I don't know if I will ever be able to go back to being a soldier now that I have Yaoyorozu. I'm not even sure I want to."
Silence descended upon the tent. Shouto stared down at his hands, waiting for the princes' condemnation. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime to Shouto, Midoriya spoke.
"You've changed."
Shouto opened his eyes. His lips thinned. "I know." He reached up and touched the scared, discolored skin under his left eye. "I've become weak."
"No! I didn't mean — That's not what I meant." Midoriya's voice jumped. "I meant that you seem more human now. And if anything stronger."
Shouto looked up, confused. "How?"
Midoriya fidgeted. His green eyes darted to the left before coming back to meet Shouto's gaze. His voice grew in intensity. "Before, you never spoke about yourself. You were so closed off. A house with no windows or doors. You seemed so lonely. But now, you share your feelings, and you have Yaoyorozu; I think it has made you stronger."
Shouto's eyebrows pulled together. "I don't get what you are saying. How am I stronger when I couldn't even defeat a doppelganger?"
"But you did defeat them, right?" Midoriya asked, looking up. "It wasn't because of your blood as a demi-god that you were able to surpass your limits and hold off Shigaraki. It was your own power and the love you have for Yaoyorozu that allowed you to do that."
Shouto stared at the prince. He didn't know what to say. It was partly true: he had pushed himself past what he thought he was capable of to protect Yaoyorozu. "Still, I failed in the end."
"You didn't fail." Midoriya's expression softened, and he gave Shouto a kind smile. "It was your desire to protect Yaoyorozu that allowed you to push past your limits and fight as long as you did. You bought us time to arrive. That's also a strength. Do you think you could have unleashed that glacier attack if you weren't intent on saving Yaoyorozu?"
Shouto frowned. What Midoriya said seemed to echo the pirate captain, Fukukado's words. Could he really have love and be a warrior? Was Tetsu-Tetsu , Fukukado, and Midoriya right? Could he have both? Would his bloodline allow it?
"But if I stay a warrior, what if I end up hurting Yaoyorozu?" Shouto asked. He swallowed over a tight throat. "I- I just don't want to hurt her. I'm afraid I'll harm her if I stay a soldier. I'll end up becoming the same as the other demi-gods who fell in love. I'll become like my father."
"You are nothing like Ares. Nor anything like Hercules," Midoriya said in a firm voice. "You'd never hurt someone you love."
"How do you know?"
"You idiot," Bakugou snorted in annoyance.
Shouto glanced at the prince. "What?"
"Someone who is as concerned as you are about not becoming like your old man shouldn't be worried," Bakugou said, pointing at Shouto. "If anything, falling in love and still being a warrior is the biggest 'F you' that you can give to that god. You think Hercules or any of those self-absorbed demi-gods would be crying about hurting others like your sorry ass?"
Shouto blinked. He didn't know how, but Bakugou's words suddenly made Shouto feel lighter. The fear he felt a moment ago was gone, like it had never existed. His chest was Pandora's jar, burning with hope.
"Is that so?" Shouto looked down at his lap and smiled.
"So," Midoriya pressed, staring hard at Shouto. "There isn't anything else from the battle that you think we should know about?"
Shouto thought about it, and shook his head.
Midoriya's shoulders relaxed. "Okay."
"My prince." A voice that sounded like Iida's heavy timber flitted through the closed tent.
"What is it?" Midoriya called out, glancing over his shoulder towards the closed flap.
"I apologize, but scouts from Dicaea were spotted not far from here."
"Okay," Midoriya said, pushing himself up from the floor. "Get ready to leave."
"Right," Iida said.
Shouto frowned. Guilt pricked at his conscience. "Sorry," he said as the shadow of Iida drew away. He looked up at Midoriya. "I caused you trouble."
Bakugou snorted. Then he sat back and stretched lazily on the chest. "Those extras aren't anything. I'll kill those fuckers with my eyes closed," he growled and stood in one quick motion.
"Kacchan," Midoriya said in appeasement before looking back at Shouto. He reached out and grabbed Shouto's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. We are just glad to have you back."
The sincerity in Midoriya's voice was blatant, and Shouto smiled. "Same."
As Shouto rose, he suddenly remembered that there was one person he hadn't seen since waking. "Where's Fuyumi?" he asked, straightening up and glancing around the tent as though his sister would appear out of thin air.
Midoriya shook his head. "She had to go back. There isn't enough snow for her here to keep the magic formed at this low altitude."
"Oh," Shouto said. Feeling slightly dejected, Shouto pushed the flap aside, and his breath was a cloud of white mist as he exited the tent. The winter sun rose on the horizon, shining light down onto the bustling campsite. Snowflakes drifted down from a clear sky to melt as they touched the ground.
"He's awake!"
"He's awoken from his slumber!"
Men called out in congratulations as Shouto passed by the tents, trying to stop him and talk. But Shouto did not pause. He couldn't see Yaoyorozu. He frowned and walked around the last tent when he almost collided with a plain looking soldier.
"Sero?"
"Todoroki, you're up! How are ya doing?" Sero asked, adjusting his grip on a pot.
"I'm looking for Yaoyorozu."
Sero cocked his head, gesturing with his chin towards a hollowed out building a ways away from the circle of tents and up a small hill. "I think she went that way."
Shouto nodded. "Thanks." He stepped forward but paused and looked back at Sero. "I didn't expect you to come as well."
Sero blinked in confusion. "Why wouldn't I?" Sero let go of one side of the pot and bumped his fist against the middle of Shouto's chest. "We're friends after all."
"Friends…" Shouto repeated. He smiled. He liked the sound of that.
Sero's eyebrows arched up. "Huh?! Did you not think of us as friends?"
Shouto shook his head. "No. I just didn't think you'd say that after…" Shouto's smile faded. He looked at the ground. "I'm sorry for freezing you before."
Sero's smile faltered. "I didn't expect that either."
"What?" Shouto asked, glancing back at Sero in confusion.
"For you to apologize." Sero's smile returned, brightening his dark eyes. He laughed. "Yaoyorozu has changed you."
Shouto looked down at the black chiton. Yaoyorozu had made the garment, but he was sure he had been the one to dress himself.
"Don't think too hard about it," Sero said with another laugh. He shifted, balancing the pot with one hand, he held up his other. His fingers curled together to form a fist. "Glad you are back."
Shouto smiled. He raised his fist and bumped it against Sero's.
His footsteps felt lighter as Shouto left Sero and began the trek up towards the burned out building. It was a short walk from the Spartan camp, and as Shouto neared, he realized it wasn't a storehouse but, in fact, an abandoned temple.
Unlike the grand temples of Athens and Troy, this building was small in size and stature. Stone pillars ran around the outside, rising up to hoist up a domed ceiling.
The temple was deserted. The door had been removed, and vines now snaked up the stone walls that were covered with dirt and scorch marks. Bandits or a city-state must have come through and burned and looted the temple during one of the many skirmishes in the region.
Shouto stepped inside and blinked. When his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he saw Yaoyorozu standing at the far side of the temple.
Wisps of morning light shone through holes in the temple rafters, glimmering like magic over Yaoyorozu and the decorated walls of the temple. She hadn't seemed to notice Shouto's approach as she stood studying the paintings, hands clasped behind her back. Her white chiton slid around her legs as she floated across the floor as delicately as a nymph.
Shouto's mouth felt dry. He wondered what he should say to Yaoyorozu. Was she still mad at him? Bakugou had acted like he should understand why Yaoyorozu ran, but Shouto didn't.
He frowned. If he had done something to make Yaoyorozu angry, he had to apologize. Shouto straightened his shoulders.
"Yaoyorozu," Shouto said. His voice echoed off the stone walls, louder than he had intended.
Yaoyorozu started. She whipped around, and her gaze landed on him.
"To-Todoroki!" She pressed a hand to her chest. Her shoulders relaxed. "You surprised me."
Shouto tilted his head. "Sorry."
Yaoyorozu released a deep breath. She shook her head. Her hand curled into a loose fist against her chest. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be walking around yet. You just woke up."
"It's fine." Shouto stepped closer. He looked her over, as Bakugou said, her magic didn't seem to have harmed her. "Why are you here? Was it because of me?"
Yaoyorozu looked taken aback. "You? No! I…um." Her expression faltered. Yaoyorozu fidgeted, brushing strands of hair behind her ear. Her gaze seemed to land on anything in the hall but him.
She was like a skittish deer, Shouto thought. He glanced past her shoulder at the mural against the back wall. "What were you looking at?"
"Huh?" Yaoyorozu turned back around to stare up at the painting. "Oh! Just the mural." She uncurled her hand from over her heart and gestured towards the nearest picture.
"I found this temple yesterday when we arrived." Her gaze softened as she stared at the depictions painted in vibrant shades of red and yellow. And her tone turned whimsical as she asked. "Isn't it beautiful?"
The mural was grand. And now that Shouto was closer, he could make out multiple scenes within the painting: a boar carried on the back of a man, a magnificent stag locked in battle with a warrior, and a three headed dog, Cerberus, tethered.
"It reminds me of our journey," Yaoyorozu said in an almost wistful voice.
Shouto looked at her. "What do you mean?"
Yaoyorozu wasn't looking at him, she was still staring at the wall. And Shouto took the moment to study her. The nervousness in Yaoyorozu's voice and posture was gone. Her confidence was back. And although Shouto still didn't understand what had happened to make her flee, at least she didn't seem skittish anymore.
Yaoyorozu stepped closer to the wall, bringing Shouto back to the present. She reached out and traced a snake-like creature wrapping its body around a man's leg. "This could be the Charybdis."
The sea monster?
Shouto squinted. The serpentine-like creature in the painting didn't remind Shouto of the monster with a gaping hole for a mouth surrounded by rows of jagged fangs. Perhaps, Yaoyorozu was thinking of the Charybdis Moonfish's tongue? Shouto didn't have a chance to ask when Yaoyorozu pointed to another painting.
"And these are the stymphalian."
Three birds that looked more like ducks than the vicious flesh-eating creatures they fought, fell from an archer's arrows.
Yaoyorozu moved to another painting. A man was depicted holding a muscular man by his throat; in his other hand was a raised club.
Yaoyorozu turned and gave him a bashful smile. "This one is a bit of a stretch and, admittedly a bit prideful of me to even compare myself to, but I was imagining this was my triumph over the slave trader. And this…" She pointed to the picture furthest to the right where a man was wrestling a lion. "This is our last battle against Shigaraki and the empusa."
Shouto nodded. "Oh. I see."
He didn't.
Yaoyorozu didn't seem to notice his confusion as she dropped her hand from the mural and stepped back. Her voice was soft as though she were speaking to herself. "So much has happened. It's difficult to believe it hasn't even been a full year since we first met. Everything's so different now."
This Shouto understood. He hummed in agreement.
It had been six months since the fateful night that Troy burned, and his fate diverged from the path laid out before him. Shouto may have been born a demi-god, but he was no longer the hero his father, Ares, wanted. He would never be like Hercules or one of the hundreds of other demi-gods sung about in stories or remembered as constellations within the night sky.
Shouto was human. And, surprisingly, he was okay with that.
By his own volition, Shouto had chosen love. He had chosen Yaoyorozu. She was a gift greater than fame or fortune. Yaoyorozu was his life blood. His goddess that he would worship until Charon escorted his soul across the Styx.
Shouto flexed his fingers. However, before he got ahead of himself and celebrated, he had to make things right with her. Shouto tilted his head back. He looked over the mural and his attention was drawn to a man kneeling before a woman in regal robes. The man appeared to have poured a ritual drink from a wine jug into a shallow bowl and was handing it to the woman as a gift or gesture of faith.
A gift…
A memory tugged at the edge of Shouto's mind, and he recalled Haimawari and Hiryu's advice about gifts and apologies to women.
'When I get on boss' bad side, I get her a present,' Hiryu said with a soft laugh. 'Women love getting things. Like fancy outfits and jewelry and food.'
But what could Shouto give Yaoyorozu? He had nothing. The only items he still carried were his sword, Endeavor, and the last of the golden bracelets —
The bracelet.
Shouto reached up and slid the gold bangle from his arm. "You missed one of the pictures."
"Oh?" Yaoyorozu asked. Her eyes sparkled and she leaned closer to the wall as though to spot what he spoke of. "Which enemy did I miss in my assessment?"
"Not an enemy," Shouto said. He pointed to the painting of the woman accepting the hero's offering. "This one."
"Athena?!" Yaoyorozu gasped.
"Oh, is that who it is?" Shouto asked blithely.
"Todoroki," Yaoyorozu said, turning to face him. "I'm not a goddess, especially not Athena. This is a temple to Hercules. Athena was the goddess who led him to victory in many of his labors. I've done nothing even comparable."
"Oh." Shouto's eyes widened. His gaze dragged back towards the mural and he studied the wall closely. Now that Yaoyorozu mentioned Hercules, Shouto could distinguish the Nemean lion and Cretan bull, and the other twelve labors that had made the demi-god famous.
There was an irony that he and Yaoyorozu were in the temple of the demi-god Shouto had been afraid he'd become.
He wanted to laugh, instead Shouto set his jaw and turned to fully face Yaoyorozu. His fingers tightened around the bangle.
"Athena was Hercules' patron, but you're my goddess." He looked down and, for the first time since Shouto entered the temple, Yaoyorozu didn't avoid his gaze. "You're my goddess of creation and god-slayer."
"Todoroki," Yaoyorozu's voice was hard as she pronounced each syllable of his name. "Don't tease me."
Shouto turned his body to fully face her. "It's not a joke." Before Yaoyorozu could react, Shouto grabbed her left hand.
"Todoroki, what are you…" Yaoyorozu's eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise.
Shouto sank down onto a knee before her like a soldier before a queen — or goddess. He pushed the golden bracelet over her fingers and up her wrist. Yaoyorozu gasped. Shouto looked up at her.
"It isn't much," Shouto said. He pressed a kiss to the soft skin on the back of her hand. "And I know you can create something of better quality now, but will this be enough of an offering to ask for the god slayer's hand in marriage?"
Yaoyorozu inhaled sharply.
Shouto looked up to study Yaoyorozu. She stared down at him, her expression frozen in bewilderment. Shouto tilted his head.
"Is it not enough?"
"No-No!" Yaoyorozu said, her voice trembling as she seemed to come back to attention. "I mean, yes. No, I-I'm just surprised."
She flushed and dropped her gaze to their hands. Her voice was meak, and Shouto almost missed the last words as she said. "I mean, now that we are back with your friends, I didn't know if you'd change your mind."
Shouto stood up, not releasing her hand. "You are my god slayer. I told you back with Tetsu-Tetsu and the others that I was going to marry you. Did you not believe me?" He squeezed her hand, conveying his sincerity.
"I did! But," Yaoyorozu bit her lip and looked away. "I didn't-I didn't know if you'd feel differently when we returned to Sparta. You'd be considered a war hero. They'd tell stories of your bravery and build temples for you like Hercules -"
"No," Shouto said firmly, cutting her off. "I'm not like the other demi-gods." He stepped closer until the soft fabric of Yaoyorozu's white chiton brushed against his black robes. "I'm human."
"Huh?"
Shouto smiled. "Yaoyorozu." His hand, the one not still holding her fingers, wound around her waist. Shouto pulled Yaoyorozu closer. He leaned down, bumping his forehead to hers.
"I'm only strong because I have you." Shouto placed a kiss against her temple.
"That's not true," Yaoyorozu began to protest, but was quieted as Shouto trailed down to kiss her right eyelid.
"You're my goddess. It's because of you that I was able to find the power to fight against Shigaraki and the other gods. And it's because of you that we were able to win. You always had a plan that led us to victory."
Yaoyorozu took a shaky breath.
Shouto pressed his mouth to her left eyelid. The taste of salt water slid over his lips. Shouto hadn't realized Yaoyorozu had started crying. "You may think I'm weak, but I don't think I can be strong without you anymore."
He pulled back to look down at her. Yaoyorozu sniffed and with a flutter of dark lashes, she looked up with glassy eyes. "Todoroki…"
She didn't move or attempt to wipe her eyes or push him away.
Shouto leaned closer. "Yaoyorozu." Shouto could taste her warm breath against his lips. "I love you."
He didn't wait for Yaoyorozu to respond. He closed the gap between them and captured her lips.
It was like magic crackled around them. Shouto kissed Yaoyorozu with all the love and adoration that had built for his kind, strong willed, creation goddess over the six months their fates had been intertwined. And Yaoyorozu kissed him back with just as much fury. Her free hand moved up his arm to wrap around his neck, holding him close. Promises of love on their lips.
Victory sang in Shouto's veins. Kaminari's arrow may have brought them together but it was the trust that had built out of their shared experiences, the battles, trials and tribulations that tied them together. Shouto had chosen to love Yaoyorozu, and Yaoyorozu had chosen him. It was their strength.
Shouto finally pulled back. "Is that a yes?"
Yaoyorozu's eyes were hazy as she stared up at him. And she was panting, still catching her breath from the kiss, as she responded in a soft, hesitant voice. "Yes… Shouto."
Shouto's gaze widened in surprise. His heart jumped into his throat. That was the first time she had ever called him by his first name.
Yaoyorozu looked away. The red flush was back, climbing up her throat and across her face. "I-I thought — since we are to be married and all — that maybe we should practice calling each other by our given names."
Shouto nodded. Then he swallowed over a frog that seemed to be lodged in his throat. "As you wish, Momo."
Her cheeks were bright red, but then she gave him a shining smile. "We should get back. Prince Bakugou and Prince Midoriya wanted to keep moving."
Shouto felt a grin spread across his lips. "You just want to show off your first follower."
The embarrassment disappeared, and Momo laughed. "Perhaps. My first and only follower." Her fingers trailed down Shouto's arm to slide back into his hand, and they made their way out of the burnt temple and back into the cold air. Snow flurries drifted down like blessings from the gods as they touched Shouto and Momo's hands.
As they entered the camp, they found all the soldiers gathered in the middle of the tents, seemingly handing something around.
The men were smiling and laughing, holding cups.
"Hey, they're back!" Kirishima shouted as they came closer.
The crowd shifted, stepping aside for Shouto and Momo to pass. Iida emerged from the middle of the group with two cups.
"What's going on?" Shouto asked, taking one of the cups on impulse as Iida held it out.
"We're making a toast." Iida handed the second cup of liquid to Momo.
"A toast?" Momo asked, taking a sniff of her own cup. "I thought we had to leave?"
Midoriya stepped through the men. "We know we have a way to get back to Sparta, but we thought we'd do a quick toast now that you're awake."
The prince smiled and raised his glass. The Spartan soldiers followed suit.
"To Todoroki and Yaoyorozu!"
Shouto raised his glass, and the men cheered.
It wasn't until later that Shouto realized the snowflakes drifting down from the gray sky no longer looked like ash, but like Yaoyorozu's magic. Glittering. Soft. Like stardust sprinkling on him and creating a new life, a new future, one of love and possibilities.
Notes:
Wow. Wow! Wow! And here we are - finished at last! What a bittersweet feeling. 😭💖 Thank you so much for reading. It means so much to me that you supported this story, and I hope you enjoyed this ending! I do have an epilogue that I'll be posting in the next few weeks, but otherwise Ashes is done. 💖
Notes
Kline - The kline was used for sleeping, and in Greece from the 7th/6th cents. BC (later in Rome) also for dining. The kline was the most important object of luxurious interior decoration; it had its place in private houses as well as in all rooms in which people ate
Perizoma - A loincloth.
Koichi Haimawari "Crawler" - is from the spin-off Vigilante series of Boku no Hero. In this he's a pirate. I've actually never read Vigilantes so sorry if his personality is completely off.
Hiryu Rin - is from class 1-B. In this he's a pirate.
Hercules - I don't think much needs to be said about Hercules. He was a demi-god, son of a mortal woman and Zeus, who had disguised himself as her husband. Later on in life, he ended up killing his wife and children in a fit of madness. To atone for his sins, Hercules then went on to perform 12 labors in order to gain immortality.
Stymphalian - were a group of monstrous birds in Greek mythology. They devoured humans, and had beaks made of bronze. Their feathers were sharp and metallic and could be thrown against their prey, while their dung was poisonous. In one story they were not birds, but women and daughters of Stymphalus and Ornis, and were killed by Heracles as part of his 12 labors
