Author's Note: I've decided to post the first few chapters I've had here before leaving at chapter five with a few changes to the scenes. While I work on chapters 6 and 7, please enjoy my work and leave any reviews, good or bad. I will very much appreciate them.
~TonyWrites~
A solitary figure, encircled by towering torches, takes a clear step in the icy embrace of a snow-covered mountain peak. She twirls, cascading flames off her body with each memorizing motion of her step, complementing the fluidity of her kimono as flames ignite the illuminat. Basked in the lone darkness and now cloaked in the essence of fire within the cold, frigid wilderness. Aoki, beside his father, watched as his mother began to move with fluid poise.
With a haunting stance of unseen melody, a symphony of fire and motion echoes through the crisp mountain air as he watches his mother's feet move fluidly, causing flames to leap to life around her, responding to the gentle sway of her limbs. Each step sends a cascade of fire swirling in a harmonious pattern, painting the night sky with its radiant glow. With a commanding sweep of her arms, she unleashes a torrent of flames, their brilliance blaze illuminating the darkness like a beacon of power and prowess.
The intricate design of her kimono, adorned with radiant hues of yellow, orange, and red, dances harmoniously with the flame-like aesthetic of her necklace. Together, they weave a vibrant tapestry of beauty that whispers tales about a rich history.
Cooing in his arms, Aoki's sister reaches to grab the flickering flames that slowly faded away into the darkness, as her curious gaze fixes back onto her mother, moving with a symphony of fiery samba. She leaps and twirls, guiding the flames to ascend even higher, their fiery sphere reaching towards the starlit heavens. The snow-laden landscape below is transformed into a canvas of light and heat, as the flames pulse and dance in time to the rhythm of her beating heart.
With the fervor of an inferno tango, the flames intensify, mirroring the passion that burns within her soul. With precision and grace, she guides the flames to mimic the intricate steps of her dance, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and shadow. Each twist and turn is accompanied by a burst of flames, and the intense heat heightens the drama of her performance as she arches downward, cascading ambers of light as it transitions into a flame-waving rumba.
Her movements become fluid and hypnotic. With effortless grace, she manipulates the flames to form a protective barrier around her, their undulating waves deflecting the biting cold of the mountain night. The dance becomes a symbiotic fusion of fire and ice, as the dancer weaves through the swirling flames with breathtaking precision.
Which mesmerizes everyone who was watching as she commands the flames to take on the form of a majestic beast. With a fierce symbolic roar, the fiery tiger prowls around her, its blazing eyes reflecting the dancer's own intensity. Each stomp and kick sends waves of fire rippling across the snow-covered ground, captivating Aoki and his father with its raw power and ferocity.
With a Purgatory Paso Doble, the flames soar to new heights, swirling around the dancer in a fiery vortex. With each bold stride and decisive movement, she commands the flames to intensify, their brilliance illuminating the mountain peak in a dazzling display of light and heat. With a final flourish, she strikes a dynamic pose, the flames rising high into the air, their fiery tendrils reaching towards the heavens, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the dancer and the untamed power of flames.
Chapter Two, Part One, Tragedy.
Weeks later.
Still awe inspired by his mother's performance, Aoki found strength and solace in attending a new school after recently being expelled for getting into a fight he did not cause, which just brought a new light to how the world turned against him five years ago. But, unknowing to Aoki, his future was soon about to be met with an unexpected tragedy.
"Mom, dad! Soba! I'm home!" Aoki called out as he entered his home, his voice echoing through the empty hallway. Despite his cheerful announcement, there was no response from his parents or his grandmother. Concern creased his brow as he kicked off his shoes, the pain from his earlier confrontation still throbbing through his cheeks and arms.
His appearance spoke volumes of the altercation he had endured; his clothes were torn and dirty, his face marked with bruises, and frostbite marred his arm and clothes, remnants of a fight.
A few hours after his school ended, Aoki was chased and cornered behind his school building as four boys surrounded him, and presumedly their leader approached Aoki, cracking his knuckles. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the boy smirked with contentment. "Who told a quirkless that they were allowed in our school?" he exclaimed with gusto as Aoki braced himself for a fight. "Come on guys, it's only my third day here; can't we do this another day?" Aoki asked, knowing they would just ignore his plea. "Shut up! I was looking for someone to test my frost on, and then look who showed up. Hahahahah, if it's not the heavens telling me to make use of the trash, I don't know what is." "It might be the devil; ever consider that?" Aoki shot back with a sarcastic smirk. "GET HIM!" closing in, each of them began to unleash their quirks.
Behind the group, one of them began to manipulate the ground, causing the terrain to shift beneath Aoki's feet, destabilizing his footing as he fell onto his back, while another one charged an energy sphere in his palm that took in the light around his hand as he fired it towards Aoki's face. But due to their bad coordination, his friend unleashed a wind attack that forced their quirks to mix and reflect back towards the group, forcing their leader to conjure ice tendrils around his arms, canceling out both their attacks. " Idiots! I told you to fire your quirks one at a time!!" laughing at their screwup, Aoki dusted himself off and got up. "Oh, what a flawless display of teamwork and coordination! I mean, who needs a well-thought-out plan when you can just sabotage each other, hahahah, it's like watching a masterclass in chaos and stupidity. Truly inspiring stuff guys. Keep up the good work," smirked Aoki, giving a sarcastic response as their leader growled. "Don't get cocky, quirkless! Now come on, don't screw up this time and fire your quirks at him, make sure it hurts!" He commanded as Aoki, undeterred, braced himself as they launched a barrage of attacks at him.
With quick and decisive movements, he evades the energy blasts, dodging through the icy tendrils, and quickly adapts to the shifting terrain as their friend constantly rearranges the ground, using his surroundings to gain the advantage and maintain his balance amidst the tremors and gusts of wind. To their surprise, Aoki made his way through all of their attacks and was about to take down their leader, but quickly jumped back as his icy tendrils were about to immobilize him. "Tch! Stop moving around quirkless!" he shouted as their fight raged on. They quickly came to realize how strong of a fighter Aoki was, and his lack of a quirk didn't diminish his fighting prowess or skills. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Aoki fights with unwavering determination, exploiting openings in his opponents' defenses, looking for ways to take them down swiftly.
In a decisive moment, his opponent, with the frost quirk tendrils, grabbed a whole of Aoki's right arm, causing it to become encased in ice as he pulled Aoki towards him, delivering a right hook to his face as he used his quirk to lift him back up towards the sky, and then slamming him into the ground repeatedly. "Hahahahah, where is all that skill now, AH quirkless?!" he mocked as he continued to slam Aoki into the ground.
Bracing himself from each slamming attack, Aoki gritted his teeth, fighting through the numbing cold and pain, refusing to back down. Drawing upon his training with his Soba, Aoki remembered. "If you are ever faced with an unexpected obstacle, keep a cool head, focus in on your mind, and channel your inner strength." Aoki's eyes lit a blaze with determination as he moved with a burst of speed and agility. "Find the weak points in your opponent's technique and adapt to them. Use your agility to slip through their attacks." Wrapping around the frozen tendrils, Aoki closed the distance between himself and their leader. "And most importantly, don't forget to listen to your instincts; they will guide you through mazes when in a fight." Taking the advantage, Aoki unleashes a flurry of strikes targeting his vital points, knocking him unto the ground, beaten and unconscious.
Breaking himself free from his ice, Aoki swiftly moved towards the others as one of them tried once more to break apart the ground beneath him, but Aoki jumped over the shifting terrian, somersaulting into a right kick, knocking the boy unconscious as wind lashes across Aoki's face. "Shit! He already took out two of us! You guys are on your own; I'm out of here!" The boy with the energy base quirk ran. "Idiot! Come back!" his friend shouted, but his momentary distraction was all Aoki needed to sneak up behind him, uppercutting the boy and knocking him out cold as he stood above them, heaving with exertion and adrenaline. Aoki stood proud.
After his intense confrontation, Aoki received a note from his teacher and principal concerning his attendance. Sighing to himself. "This will make three schools now if they do decide to expel me. Mom, Dad, Soba!" As he continued to call out to his parents and Soba, Aoki made his way to the kitchen, where he heard murmuring shocks coming from them as the news was playing in the background. Walking into the kitchen, he saw his mother and grandmother watching the news with concern, as he noticed his mother was crying. "Mom-" Aoki's voice was caught in his throat as he saw his father's face on the news. "Miko Chihiro, reporting in live from the aftermatch of the devastating villain attack that took the lives of dozens of Heroes and civilians, as you can see behind me, the destruction is widespread, with buildings reduced to rubble and emergency responders working tirelessly to help survivors."
"That's right Mis. Chihiro. Eyewitnesses have described what took place today as sheer terror. A villain, with immense strength and muscle-based quirk, was rampaging throughout the streets, leaving destruction and tragedy in his wake."
"Indeed, reports indicate that Blaze Heart, the renowned vigilante, was among those who were valiantly fighting against the villain. Witnesses attest to his bravery, describing how he defended civilians and engaged in combat."
"However, as the battle raged on, tragedy struck. Blaze Heart was reportedly trapped beneath rubble; despite his trained efforts, the villain still managed to escape, leaving devastation in his wake as he evaded capture from the police, still to be known at large." Receiving a report from her right ear, Chihiro continued to speak. "Furthermore, I've just received some unconfirmed information suggesting that Blaze Heart may have been allegedly involved in the destruction, possibly working alongside another hero. Hmmm, these reports may spark some speculation and questions about Blaze Heart's actions and motives during this unfortunate chaos."
"Indeed, these allegations have added a layer of complexity to an already tragic situation. As authorities continue their investigation, the city remains on edge, grappling with the aftermath of this devastating attack." "Our thoughts are with the families of the fallen heroes and civilians, as well as with Blaze Heart himself, as the city seeks answers and justice in the wake of this attack."
Aoki's heart sank as he watched the news unfold, his mind sworling with disbelief and shock. With the image of his father being trapped beneath rubble, his mother and grandmother finally notice his presence as tears fall down his eyes, mirroring the turmoil in his mother's eyes and the disbelief of his soba. "Mom, I-is dad going to be-, Is he going to be okay?" He tried not to let despair consume him, but the words slipped out of his mouth.
One month later.
As the echo's of farewell sounded through out Aoki's father's ceremony, a soft pattern of rain fell. Aoki stood beside his father's grave as his eyes were fixed on his wooden casket. His expression struggled with a mixture of mourning and sadness, desperately trying to comprehend the death of his father. As the priest spoke words of comfort and farewell, Aoki wondered, unable to grasp what was in front of him—the absence of his father. He clutched a wilted bouquet of flowers in his trembling hands, a feeble attempt to hold onto something tangible amidst his intangible grief. Standing beside him, his mother's presence was a pillar of support amidst the storm of emotion as she held herself with quiet dignity, her face a portrait of resilience despite the tears welling down her eyes.
The world seemed to blur around Aoki as the first shovelful of dirt cascaded towards his father's casket, his expression distant and lost in disbelief of his sorrow as the ceremony comes to an end. The reality that his father was gone sank deeper into Aoki's soul, leaving him adrift in a sea of emotion he was struggling to accept. His mother reaches out her hand to touch his shoulder, but Aoki sets off running, disappearing into the rain. She tried to chase after him, but was stopped. "Give him some time to process; when he is ready, he will come back to us," said her mother.
A few hours passed since his father's burial, and Aoki found his way back home, still lost in the turmoil of his father's passing. But once again, his father's name was mentioned in the news.
"Alton Sindriobi, formally vigilante Blaze Heart, has shown himself to be a man of valor and heroism, but with the investigation from the Hero Commission, as shown, he had been in collaboration with the villain during the attack along with the now former Hero, Lady Nagant." What the news said sent shock waves throughout the room.
Aoki's mother's eyes widen in disbelief. "Gasph, what are they talking about? Alton would never." Leaning forward, Aoki's grandmother's eyes were glued to the television. "I can't believe this….they are accusing him of working with villains? I know he had a terrible past as a villain before moving here, but-" her voice was stunted as the reporters continued, detailing the allegations against Aoki's father, painting a damning picture of his involvement in a sinister plot against Heroes.
"Authorities have revealed that the late Blaze Heart, who once hailed himself as a hero, may have had ties to notorious villains in America. Sources suggest that he collaborated with the likes of Muscular and Lady Nagant, orchestrating attacks against Heroes and civilians alike." Said the reporter, showing lists of many different cases.
"No….this can't be true. Alton would never," Aoki's mother said with a trembling voice. "We don't know the full story yet, my dear. Let's not jump to any conclusions," said her mother. As the news reporters continued, featuring a statement from the police and the Number two Hero Endeavour, surprising Aoki.
"The events that took place were indeed tragic, and a stark reminder of what we Heroes face." He began, his expression grave. "But let us not forget that true Heroes are those with power, those who dedicate themselves to protecting the lives of others. Blaze Heart was not that hero; instead, he disguised himself as a man of honour, letting down our guards to strike our backs when we started to believe that anyone can become a Hero, even a quirkless, but we were wrong. Alton Sindriobi, the renowned Quirkless villain of America, stage a plot to attack Heroes and wreaked havoc, just like he did in the past, but this time, his actions brought an end to his life, ending what hatred he supposibly held towards Heroes." Endeavour's voice, stern and authoritative, resonated through the television speakers. Listening intently, Aoki's mother's thoughts swirl. "Mom, what if their right? What if Alton really did-" She couldn't help but feel a knot tightening in her stomach as her gaze drifted to her son, whose expression darkened and fists clenched at his sides, "How could you think that!? After! After everything dad has done……THEIR ALL LYING!! DAD WOULD NEVER!" Aoki's voice cut through the air. "My father would never!...He couldn't have!" his word faltered, choked with an overwhelming surge of emotion threatening to consume him as he ran out of his home. "Aoki, wait!!" His mother shouted as she tried stopping him, but he was already gone. "No." During the commotion, his sister woke from his shouting. "You should go look for him. I will take care of Hana while you are gone." "Okay," she said, her voice sad and worried.
Following his statement, Endeavour was approached by a blonde woman. "Their, I said everything you guys wanted me to say; now I have no tie's to you," said Endeavour, his expression as serious as it ever been. "And same for your quirk marriage," she said with an icy demeanor.