Chapter 2: The Power Of A Celestial Python
[Location: The Midoriya's Residence]
[Time: 3:20pm]
The Python wiped the metophorical sweat off her brow, as she watched Inko calm down, so that she can explain everything she wants to share. Once she calmed herself down, she slowly began to reveal the important information about herself. From who she is; being a centuries old snake, her ability to give humans gifts, how she obtain her own powers and immortality and why she chose Ikumi to be given her own gift.
Inko was overwhelmed with all this information, but she was unable to comprehend all the information fast enough once the Python began to talk about what had happened in the park.
"I was in the bushes, recharging for the day, but then a commotion from the park caught my attention." The Python explained, as Inko quietly listened to the Python story, while Ikumi was next to her mother, nearvously sweating.
"I took a look to see what was happening, and I saw three boys, one chubby one, one with scruffy black hair, and another with ash blonde hair, picking on a boy in the sandpit." The Python continued, and Inko's serious face turned to shock.
"The blonde boy, do you mean Katsuki?" Inko asked, feeling a tinge of nervousness crawling up her spine.
"I don't know what the boy's name was, but what does matter is he was leading the group to pick on the boy. Why, I do not know, but what I do know is before they could do anything, Ikumi stepped in, blocking the boy from the bullies." When the Python explained Ikumi's selfless endeavour, Inko feeling proud of her little girl selflessness.
"Oh my, Iku. I am so proud of you. Protecting a boy from being bullied, that is so kind." Inko happily praised Ikumi, and she gave her mother a smile, but the Python saw it was a genuine one, with how shaky it was from before.
"Well, as I was saying, Ikumi stepped in to protect the boy, and she tried to solve the situation diplomatically, but was unable to convince the bullies to step down." The Python said, making Inko feel a knot form in her stomache.
"W...what happened?" Inko asked, scared of what had already happened.
"They focused their attention away from the boy, and redirected it to Ikumi." When the Python revealed their intentions, Inko gasped, but the horrors of the past were yet to reveal themselves to her.
The Python began retelling the event over the next few minutes, graphically describing what the bullies did to Ikumi, how much pain they put her through, what methods they used, and what injuries she sustained. At the end of the retelling, Inko was mortified. As the Python was explaining the grusome details, Inko instinctively brought Ikumi close, like her daughter was still in danger.
"And after that, I came out of the bushes and after I introduced myself, I helped heal her wounds, which is why she no longer wear such pain." The Python explained, hoping to calm and give relief to Inko.
But that relief only worked for so long, as Inko's attention turned to Ikumi, her hard glare freezing Ikumi in place when she met her eyes.
"Ikumi." Inko quietly spoke, but Ikumi couldn't hear any of her mother's usual kind nature.
"Yes mama?" Ikumi asked, her nervousness reaching levels it has never reached before.
"How long have these kids been bullying you?" Inko asked her daughter a simple question, a question that should be given a quick response.
Ikumi stayed silent, not knowing what to say. She doesn't want Kacchan to get into trouble or any of the other kids. It would hurt their chances of becoming heroes, especially for Kacchan. Plus, Kacchan is her friend, so it would feel like a betrayal to snitch on him for something as silly as a little scuffle.
"Ikumi, are you alright?" Inko spoke to break Ikumi out of her thoughts, a more kinder voice coming from her mouth.
Ikumi looked up and saw her mother's worried face, her eyes locked onto her's, silently asking to tell her the truth, to bring everything inside out. Ikumi didn't want to put too much pressure on her mama more than she already has. Her mama didn't deserve that, her mama shouldn't be burden with what she can hide from her, so her mama can live a happy life.
"I... it... it was a one time thing. It won't happen again." Ikumi said, but Inko could tell she wasn't telling the truth, because she looked away when she answered her.
"So you're saying Katsuki and his friends actually attacked you?" Inko asked, which cause Ikumi to stammer in surprise and fear.
"W...what?! N...n...no, n...not at a...all! T...they di...didn't att...tack me...m...me." Ikumi tried to defend her attackers, hoping her mother would believe her, but her stern face said otherwise.
"Ikumi, why are you defending them? Why are you defending Katsuki? They hurt you. Why are you so insistent to defende their actions?" Inko pleaded with her daughter, wanting to know why Ikumi is acting this way.
As the Midoriya's talked, the Python listened carefully to their conversation. The words Ikumi was saying, actively defending the actions of the people who attacked her, who called her weak and worthless. It made no sense to her. Ikumi wants to be a hero, yet she wants someone who attacked her to also become a hero. It just didn't add up. The Python knew something was wrong, but she bit her slitted tongue and kept that thought in the back of her head for later.
Ikumi couldn't answer her mother, because she didn't want to get Kacchan in trouble. He deserves to be a hero. That's what everyone around them said. He was destined to be one of the best heroes for the future. She knows what Kacchan is doing is wrong, but that is how he always is. Auntie Mitsuki is both loud and outspoken, so why is it any different?
Inko sighs at how uncooperative Ikumi was being. She doesn't want to believe her daughter was protecting Katsuki for any reason. But her denial of the events that happened in the park broke that notion. She would believe her daughter was telling the truth, telling her what happened at the park was only a small scuffle, but what the Python told her, and the fear in Ikumi's eyes about that version of the truth, it made her heart break that her daughter was lying to protect a bully.
"You know what, let's stop this conversation for now. It's putting too much stress on the both of us." Inko said with a sigh, rubbing her forehead from the migraine she was developing from her current stress.
Ikumi sighed in relief, happy to have this coversation over, but the stern glare from her mother ripped her relief away, especially with the words her mother said next.
"But that doesn't mean we are finished with this topic. Tomorrow after school, we are going over to the Bakugou's and telling them everything about what had happened." Inko said, and Ikumi's face drained away of it's colour.
"Why don't we move onto more happier news, like how you are offering to give my daughter her own quirk!" Inko happily cheered, clapping her hands in delight.
Inko's happy mood seemed to lift the mood of the whole room, bringing a little smile to Ikumi's face, especially now they were talking about quirks.
"I want to thank you for giving my Ikumi such a wonderful opportunity. I don't know how we would be able to repay your kindness?" Inko said, and the Python happily said she doesn't need to repay anything, saying she is giving Ikumi a gift for the same reasons you would help an old lady cross the road.
"But I do have a question. Why did you choose Ikumi specifically? Or is there a reason for you choosing her?" Inko asked the million dollar question, and the Python seemed estatic to answer such a question.
"Well, miss Midoriya, I..." The Python began to speak, but Inko kindly cut her off.
"Please dear, just call me, Inko. I don't mind."
"If you would liked to be called that, then I would happilly obliged, Mrs. Inko. The reason I chose your daughter is because I saw the beginnings of something truely great." The Python happily said, getting Inko's curious attention.
"What do you mean by that?" Inko asked, her curiosity making her wanting for more clear answers.
"What I mean is that your daughter has a pure heart and the drive to become the best for the sole reason to help others. Those are the traits I believe make Ikumi one of the best candidates to accept a gift from me." The Python explained with joy.
Inko felt happy and joyful. Inko knew her daughter was kind, but hearing her daughter's kindness being praised like it was something truly special, it made her so proud. She also acknowledge the mistakes she made about raising Ikumi, like how easily accepting she was that her little girl might never be a hero, but now she would support her dreams, no matter what others think, because she is her daughter, and she will make sure her daughter will be the best hero she can make.
While Ikumi was watching the adults talking, she realised something big that she hadn't realised yet.
"Wait, we don't know your name!" Ikumi exclaimed, catching the attention of the adults.
"W...what do you mean Iku?" Inko asked and Ikumi said again,
"We don't know her name. She never told us." Ikumi pointed at the Python, when the realisation hit Inko aswell.
"Oh my, how silly of us. We didn't ask for your name." Inko said, feeling embarrassed.
"Oh, no need to be worried, darling! It's somewhat of a habit of mine. You see, because of how old I am, I have been given many names by so many humans, both positive and negative. Every time I meet a new human to give a gift to, I allow them to give me a name. It helps me remember them more easily." The Python said, and Ikumi jumped with sparkles in her eyes.
"Does that mean I can give you a name?! Like a pet?!" Ikumi shouted, and the Python sweat dropped, a little offended by being called a pet.
"Maybe not exactly like a pet, but something like that. You can call me anything, I won't argue with your choice. I've had many names, and I have been given some, not so tasteful one sometimes." The Python said, saying the last part to herself, but not quiet enough, so Ikumi tilted her head in confusion.
Inko quickly brought the conversation back on track and asked the Python what type of name does she want. The Python said she isn't bothered with what name she is given, as she told them the time she was given the name, snake. Inko blinked at how bland that name was, but Ikumi said she would give her a name smart name, then calling her by the wrong species.
"Hehe, well, thank you, dear. I do appreciate a smart name for once." The Python amusingly thanks Ikumi for her promise, happy to see what the little girl cooks up.
So for the next few hours, and a lovely, well-made dinner by Inko, Ikumi; with the help of Inko and some pointers from the Python, helped her make a list of potential names to give. One common theme with the names was that they were all based on snake names. That wasn't the words snake. Some words Ikumi came up with were simple names like 'scales' and 'fangs', and some more clever ones like 'Spinel' because of her purple gem like eyes and 'Dilophosaur', because of her hood reminding Ikumi of the dinosaur she saw in a anthropology book. But then the names where the Python began to get intrested in were the names based on snakes and serpents from mythology across the planet like 'Quetzl' based on the the flying serpent, Quetzalcoatl of Aztec mythology, 'Medusa' named after the monster from greek mythology and 'Jörmungandr', again named after the world serpent of norse mythology.
The day was nearing its end, yet Ikumi was not slowing down, and both the Python and Inko began to feel the late hours rip away at their beings.
"My goodness, your daughter sure has a lot of energy, doesn't she." The Python mused, a little shocked at how lively a 4 years old child could be.
"Well, when she is determined about something, it is hard for to stop. I believe she picked it up from her father." Inko said, amazed by the long list Ikumi was able to make.
The Python looked at the list Ikumi was still adding to, and one name stood out for her, because she recognised it as being a name of mythological origin, but she couldn't remember where or when she had heard this name from.
"Say, Ikumi dear, my telling me about this name here?" The Python asked, pointing at the curious name.
"Oh, that's the name of a large snake of Japanese myth. If I remember, it had 8 heads and tails." Ikumi tried to remember and Inko recognised the discription of the monster.
"Oh my, are you talking about Yamata no Orochi, the monster Susanoo took down?" Inko asked and Ikumi nodded happily.
The Python asked to know more about this Yamata no Orichi, and Ikumi, with the help of Inko, talks about the myth surrounding the snake, and the Python laughed at how silly the monster was taken down.
"Oh, now I remember. Orochi was a human once, one of the few humans I gave a gift to." The Python said, and Inko screamed in shock.
"What?! What do you mean Orochi was a human?! He isn't real! A creature like that couldn't exist!" Inko couldn't believe what she heard because believing a horrible creature such as Orochi could exist, or even be a human.
"Unfortunately, he is real. And yes, he was once human." The Python said, her mood becoming more sober.
The Python explained that most stories from mythology are always rooted in some truth. Either it be about a person's name being lost or changed over the centuries or about natural disasters. When it came to monsters, there are more truth to their existence, such a Orochi. Ikumi asks what she means, and the Python continued by saying she isn't the only magical creature who gained powers from the spring. Ikumi was amazed, asking if she knows any of them and the Python said she does, as those who gained the power of the spring and those who recieve gifts can unconsciously sense where others whose powers are linked to the spring are.
"Wait, you can sense where others like you are?" Inko asked, and the Python nodded.
"Yes, but our numbers have been dropping since the appearance of quirks." The Python said, her mood dropping again.
"I'm sorry about the loss of your friends. It must be hard to lose people you knew. I am well acquainted with that feeling." Inko said, and the Python tried to ease the growing tension.
"Don't be sorry Miss Midoirya, I have come to terms with such emotions. When you lived for as long as I have, you witness many tragedies in your life, and all you can do is come to terms with them, forcibly or on your own." The Python explianed, feeling a piece of her hurt when speaking about her old partners.
Inko saw this and moved the conversation to where it was derailed, asking the Python about Orochi's sudden change into the monster of Japenese mythology. The Python said that the gifts she and others of her kind give can easily corrupt a person by latching onto the darkness of their hearts. Inko was horrified, already imagining her daughter turning into a monster.
"This process is slow and as soon as any symptoms appear, which include spouts of negative emotion like anger, rage, greed, hatred and many others, and sudden physical changes and development of new powers, it would already be too late to reverse the process." The Python explained and Inko was horrified even more, the cons of having such power massively outweighing the pros of having them.
"You're saying my Ikumi could turn into a monster just by having it?! Why would anyone want such a dangerous power?!" Inko yelled louder then she would have liked, but her burst of mama bear protectiveness felt warrented.
"I can't lie to you, miss Inko. If Ikumi has any darkness in her heart, no matter how small, the power she'll receive from my gift will latch onto it and cause it to grow and possess her." The Python said and she felt anger swell inside of Inko, yet her face didn't change to match hwe feelings inside.
"Why should I allow my daughter to go through this? If giving my daughter a gift that can turn her into a horrible monster, one that could put the world in danger? Why should I, her mother, give you the chance to put my daughter's life in danger? Inko asked, her face finally matching her feelings, her eyebrows narrowed and teeth slightly bared, like she was a true mama bear wanting to defend her cub.
The Python knew that, if she is unable to convince Ikumi's mother that Ikumi might be one of the very few people who could control and master the gift's negative affects, then she wouldn't be able to help Ikumi with her promise of becoming a hero.
"Because I believe Ikumi has the strength to not let the darkness in her heart grow." The Python said and she felt Inko's feelings calm down, but still ready to pounce back up if provoked.
"Explain." Inko demanded and the Python quickly went to explaining.
"Well the number is very few, but there has been humans who I have given gifts to, who were able to fight off the evil inside them from growing, and they all had one thing in common that Ikumi shares with them." The Python explained and Inko raised her eyebrow.
"And that is?" Inko demanded again, her sterness still not wavering.
"They all had pure hearts and the spirit to sacrifice their lives for others. Their pure hearts made it difficult for the gift to latch onto any darkness, as it either didn't exist or there was so little of it that it took years if not decades for the darkness in their hearts to grow to a significant size." The Python proudly talked about the humans who were able to fight the evil earges the power gave them, and she saw the eyes of Inko soften.
"And with their spirit to sacrifice themselves for others made it harder for them to fall into the darkness. These two traits are why I want Ikumi to recieve a gift." The Python continued, seeing Inko relax her body even more.
"I see what you are saying, but how can I fully trust that your gift wouldn't hurt my little Ikumi? She is still a child and I don't want her life to be put at risk so early on." Inko sighed, still feeling tensed from the conversation she is having.
Before the Python could speak, Ikumi put her tiny hands onto her mother's right hand, making her look down to her daughter and seeing the determined look she had on her face, but it still looked adorable because she was still 4 years old.
"Mama, I know you want to keep me safe. But I want to be a hero, and I want to help her too." Ikumi said, having Inko look at the Python.
"But honey, I'm sure you can help her in other ways. You don't need to put yourself in danger to do it." Inko tried to reason with her daughter, but Ikumi was unmoved.
"But isn't that what heroes do? Put their lives at risk to help others? I want to be a hero mama, and I want to help others." Ikumi said again, Inko feeling pride from her daughter's selflessness.
"I don't care if I get hurt. I will help her regain her powers. I will become a hero. And I will become the number one hero who saves everyone with a big smile, like All-Might!" Ikumi declared, Inko unconsciously tearing up at how mature and determined her daughter was being.
Inko couldn't hold her tears and let them flow. She couldn't believe her daughter was like this, but she knew this was something she shared with her father. That is what made her fall in love with him. He was such a selfless man, always prioritising her needs over his. He even went to america to bring in more money so he could provide for her and his daughter.
"Iku, dear. I...I am s...so proud o...of y...you." Inko said, bringing Ikumi in for a hug.
Ikumi hugged her back, feeling and letting her own tears fall from her eyes. The Python just watched the wholesome moment between mother and daughter.
"O...okay dear. If you want to do this, then I can't stop you. But you have to promise me that you'll use this power to protect others. Do you understand?" Inko said, wiping away her tears, then giving her daughter a promise.
"Yes mama. If I don't, then how can I be a hero." Ikumi happily said, promising her mama she will be the hero she wants to be.
("What a adorable family.~) The Python thought, bringinf her tail to her face like someone putting their hand on their cheek.
"Sorry for my behavior miss... oh my goodness, we got so distracted, we forgot about giving you your name." Inko was going apologise to the Python, then realised they forgot about giving her a name.
"Oh, please don't be sorry Mrs. Inko, I believe the talk we had was more important then a new name." The Python waved off with her tail.
"But now we're back to the subject, I think we picked the name, Yamata No Orochi, but it is quite a mouthful to say." The Python commented, knowing that name isn't the longest one she had, but it is still quite a long name.
"We can make it smaller. Like Yamata!" Ikumi offered a solution to the Python's concerns and Inko offered an even better solution.
"That sounds like a good idea Iku. But I might have a better idea, because there is a name similar to Yamata, but it is a name used mostly by boys, so I don't know if you want to use it." Inko said, a little concerned the gender choice of the new name would put the Python off of it.
"Oh please, I had so many names in my immortal life, I don't mind who the name is given to the most." The Python said, watching Inko smile slightly grow.
"That is a relief. Well, how does the name Yamato sound?" Inko sighed, then clapped and offered the potential name of the Python.
The Python smiled, the tip of her tail wagging like a dog, saying she fully accepts it; Yamato, as her new name.
"Yeah, we gave her name! Hahaha!" Ikumi cheered, her four yeah old enthusiasm and hyperactiveness had her jumping from where she sat and scooping up Yamato and dancing around, while Yamato began to laugh with the girl.
Inko giggled, happy to see Ikumi was still a happy, hyperactive kid, even after the life she had experienced. But she saw how desperate Yamato was to be freed from Ikumi's grasp, so she quickly stood up and calmed down Ikumi, so she could put Yamato down.
"Hah, hah, thank you, Mrs. Inko." Yamato whispered, thanking her for stepping in.
"Your welcome. And please, drop the Mrs. I think it's the least you can call me for giving my daughter such a great, yet dangerous, opportunity." Inko said, still weary about the dangers the gift would impose.
"If you wish, Inko." Yamato bowed, happy to see she has gained the woman's trust, but the next step may break it and she would have to quickly put it back together before she shatters the trust she was given.
[Minutes of Calming Down Later]
After the Midoriya's and the newly named Yamato calmed down, Yamato was ready to give Ikumi her gift and so was Ikumi.
"Alright Ikumi, are you ready to receive the power many in the past has recieved?" Yamato asked and Ikumi happily nodded her head, saying she was ready for her whole life.
The joy Ikumi was pouring out made Inko and Yamato unconciously smile with the same joy and happiness.
"Alright dear, please hold out your arm." Yamato asked and Ikumi did, but both her and Inko was confused.
Ikumi offered her arm to Yamato, uncertain what the Python would do. Yamato was becoming more and more stressed as time went by, and now she has Ikumi's arm infront of her, her anxiety was at its peak and she couldn't go back any more, not like she wanted to. Inko knew something bad was going to happen, her motherly insticts at the back of her head itching for her to act, but she didn't know how or from what.
Yamato took a deep breath, finally gaining the courage to perform the act that will change Ikumi's life and potentially hers, forever.
("Sorry Inko, but I have to do this. Please don't be too mad.") Yamato prayed in her head, as she open her mouth, bared her fangs and latched them deep into Ikumi's skin.
There was a moment of pause, then Ikumi's brain finally processed what just happened and she began to scream in pain, as Yamato sharp fangs dug deep into her arm, plus the stingy and itchy pain of venom rushing through her blood, first at the bite area, then slowly making its way up her arm.
Inko, at the same time, screamed in horror, as she watched her only daughter get bit and injected with venom. The sudden action from the python caught her off gaurd, so her fight response didn't kick in, only her flight, that was until Ikumi fell unconscious and fell to the ground, but Inko was quick enough to catch her before Ikumi hit her head onto the floor.
Yamato was able to latch off before Ikumi fell unconcious, landing onto the coffee table. But she had more pressing matters to worry about, as she watched Inko stand up to her feet, both her arms holding the unconcious form of Ikumi. Yamato watch Inko's eyes dart from Ikumi, her bite mark and then to her; making her shiver in fear from the venomous rage that seethed behind her eyes.
Inko calmly placed her daughter onto the couch and pulled a blanket to her with her quirk and covered Ikumi. After making sure Ikumi was comfortable, she turned to Yamato, glaring at her with the same rage in her eyes. Yamato was about to speak, but Inko acted first, flicking one of her index fingers and pulled Yamato with her quirk. Yamato was helpless against Inko's quirk, as she felt herself be pulled by the sudden force and into Inko's left hand.
"I...Inko, p..please. Allow me to explain. T...this is just a m...misunderstanding." Yamato nervously pleaded with Inko to let her explain, but her words seemed to make Inko angrier.
"Why should I let you explain? You come into my house, offer my daughter a power most would kill for, then you betray hers and my trust and bit her. You're lucky I'm not snapping your neck, cause I can." Inko's words seeped with rage and venom, more than what Yamato injected into Ikumi.
"Please, Inko. If you would let me explain, you'll know why I had to do it." Yamato pleaded again, yet Inko's face did not change.
Eventually, after Inko kept her gaze on Yamato, she released a small breath of relief and let Yamato go, but intentionally from a high height above the coffee table. Inko then took a seat onto the sofa; making sure not to wake Ikumi up and looking back to Yamato.
"Alright, explain." Inko snarled, and Yamato understood what she needed to do, so she stood up; as much as a python can, and began to explain the reasons she bit Ikumi.
"So I had to bite her because it was the only way for me to pass on her gift to her." Yamato began with.
"And why is it the only way? Why bite my daughter in the first place? You might have killed her!" Inko spat back, her voice rose at the end, but calmed herself and realising she was beginning to yell.
"Well, for someone like me to give someone a gift, I would have to pass on some of my magic I was gifted by the spring onto them." Yamato continued, and Inko stayed silent, knowing it was best to let the python keep talking.
"When I pass on my magic to someone, that magic will then grow and spread across her body, soon transforming her and giving her powers like mine, if not new and different ones." She said, which made Inko raise her eyebrow.
"And what does this have to do with you biting my daughter?" She asked and Yamato was eager to explain.
"Well, you see, Mrs. Midoirya, magic isn't equally distributed throughout the body, especially mine. It can be concentrated more in different parts." She again explained, and Inko's silence told Yamato she could continue.
"For beings like me, we would use this knowledge and use the most magically dense parts of our body's to use to give a gift. It so happens that mine is my umm..." Yamato almost finished explaining, but she choked on her words.
"Your what?" Inko eyes slightly soften, as the reason for Yamato biting Ikumi began to make sense and soon confirmed when Yamato was able to speak again.
"My umm, my venom."
These words made the room silent, but not long till Inko asked why Yamato couldn't use the next concentrated part of her body, but Yamato said she couldn't, because if she did, she would have died way before Ikumi would be given her gift.
"I don't think rinsing me of all of my blood would be both tastful for Ikumi to drink, nor would you like the experience of juicing me like a lemon." Yamato said, and Inko couldn't hold back a small smirk, because she thought of her squeezing Yamato like a wet towel, rinsing away all her blood into a cup.
"I see, but will Ikumi be okay. I more worried about the venom you injected her with, then the bite mark." Inko said, more relaxed before, but still worried for her daughter's safety.
"Yes, she will be safe. The venom won't kill her, as it is the thing that will give her her gift. Once the magic starts to bind with her, her body will slowly become immune to the venom. So she will be fine. All she needs is some rest and she'll be happy and healthy again." Yamato explained, and Inko was satisfied enough to fully relax and calm down.
She slightly bowed and apologised for her behaviour, but Yamato stopped her before she could even finish her apology and told her she shouldn't be sorry for protecting her daughter from a situation she was clueless to. Yamato then apologised for not telling her or Ikumi, as she believed she could only do this because she thought Ikumi would refuse to go through such a painful and traumatising experience, even if she would have gotten awesome powers from it.
"Oh please, as much as I would love to say you would be right, my Ikumi is different. Like you said before, she is someone who puts other's need above her own, and she has already showed she would do anything to become a hero, so even if you told her how you would give her her gift, she would still say yes, because she is a girl with boundless hope and I don't think nothing could stop her from becoming a hero just to make others happy." Inko said, looking at Ikumi sleeping, which she saw a little smile on her face, which made the mother more assured her little baby is safe.
Yamato couldn't agree more with Inko's words, happy to know she picked a girl who could not only become a hero who can save others, but who can save her from her imminent death.
"Well, it is getting late. I think it's time we got some sleep." Inko said, after looking at the clock and seeing it was already half pass nine.
"You're right. Today took a lot out of us, so getting some shut eye is important." Yamato said, feeling sleep finally creep on her.
Inko was curious about something, asking if she has a home she could bring her too, but Yamato said that she doesn't own a home, as she was never able to buy one and she had been forced to be in her small python form for centries. Inko said she could stay with them and offered to let her sleep in her bed.
"As much as I love to sleep under the stars, a warm and comfy bed sounds wonderful. But I don't want to intrude too much. Maybe I can sleep on the couch for now?" Yamato thanked Inko for her generous offer, but then suggested she slept on the couch, so that Inko can keep her privacy.
"I understand your hesitation dear, but if that would make you more comfortable, then you can use this blanket to cover yourself with." Inko offered some comfort for Yamato and she thankfully accepted Inko's kindness.
Once Inko put Ikumi to sleep, she called out to Yamato; not too loudly to wake up Ikumi, to have a wondful night sleep, which Yamato repayed with hoping a wonderful night's sleep for Inko. After all that and the long stressful day she had, she flopped herself onto her bed, the bed's soft bedding made it more easier for her to relax and fall asleep.
[Location: The Midoriya's Apartment]
[Time: 5:23am]
[The Next Day]
It was the next day and the sun was still about an hour away from rising, but that didn't stop Ikumi's little body from waking up. When she woke up, she rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn. She remembered the dream she had, which was different compared to her usual ones. Her dreams normally consisted of her either being a hero saving people, or being All-Might's sidekick. But this dream was different, as there was a talking snake, her being given a gift and some weird colours and shapes she couldn't remember. Whatever her dream was, it felt so real, more real than any of her dreams.
Her face felt a little dry, so she decided to wash it a little in the bathroom. Hopping down from her bed, she crawled out of her room and into the bathroom; which was down the other end of the hall, so she didn't have to travel too far.
When she got to the bathroom, she struggled to reach for the lightswitch, but when she stretched up a bit, she was able to reach it and turn it on. Happy to have some light, she grabbed a small green plastic stool from under the sink and used it too reach for the sink and be able to see herself in the mirror.
Ikumi turned on the tap, letting cold water flow out the faucet and then splashing her face with the cold water. Ikumi felt her face feel a lot better, which is when she looked in the mirror and was confused. What she saw wasn't her reflection, because the person she saw in the mirror had yellow, slitted eyes, small fangs poking out their mouth and green scales dotting across their face and their green hair was more scruffy, unlike her curly hair.
"Huh?" Ikumi didn't know what she was seeing, but then she moved her head around, and the head of the person in the mirror copied her movements, but of course mirrored.
Ikumi kept moving her head, the reflection still copying her. She began to get scared, but she then noticed her hands, which were fully covered in scales. She reached up to her face and felt the scales on her face, confirming the reflection she saw was actually her's. Then she looked down, seeing she no longer had legs, but a long snake tail that was 3 times the length of her body.
At first, she was scared, scared she turned into a monster, because from what she knew, people don't turn into human/snake hybrids overnight. But then her fear whimpered down when the thought of her gaining her quirk appeared in her head, and she smiled, believing she finally had her quirk. She jumped for joy; as much as she could do with a tail, and cheered, raising her arms into the air, which she then looked into the mirror again to see her reflection, but she saw something new, which was a hood. The patterns displayed on them were mezmerising, like looking into an evil pair of eyes.
She continued to cheer with absolute joy but she forgot she no longer had legs and her cheering cause the plastic stool she was on to tilt and she fell off, thankfully landing onto her tail which broke her fall, but it still hurt.
"Ow..." Ikumi quietly said, as she slowly picked herself up, feeling the scales across her tail, feeling how surprisingly soft, but cold they were.
*Bang*
Ikumi turned towards the bathroom door, which was slightly open to the loud noise of another door slamming open with so much force, Ikumi could feel the vibrations it caused through her new tail.
"Ikumi! Is that you! Are you alri...I...I..." Inko, after hearing Ikumi's sudden scream, jumped from her bed, slammed her door open and rushed to her room.
She saw the light in the bathroom was on, so she rushed there instead and what her eyes saw almost made her fall unconcious. Instead of Ikumi on the floor with a bruised knee or something, she instead a girl with similar green curly uet scruffy hair, a large snake tail and yellow slitted eyes.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Inko yelled in horror, mistaking Ikumi for a monster, but her sudden fright and waking up at an early hour caused her to pass out.
From the living room, Yamato heard the loud thud Ikumi made when she fell, then the slam Inko caused and soon her high pitch screaming and another, more louder thud. She looked down the hallway and saw Inko passed out in the hallway, with Ikumi over her, freaking out.
("Ugh, this morning is going to be just as long as last night, isn't it.")
[Chapter End]