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Of Butterfly Wings

Chapter Nine: Payback

Touya yawned into the palm of his hand. He had stayed up entirely too late sending cat GIFs to Kagome. He was honestly surprised how long they'd been at it before Kagome finally sent him a message stating that she had to get to bed and that they would continue their 'battle' tomorrow. Honestly, he wasn't exactly sure what'd gotten into him either. Yet when he saw that cat emoji she'd sent him, he felt like he couldn't just leave it.

"Wow! You look exhausted!" Fuyumi exclaimed, her eyes scanning him with no small amount of concern. "Are you going to be okay going to school like that?"

He titled his head away so that she wouldn't catch how bloodshot his eyes actually were.

"I'm fine so don't worry about it." He carefully strolled past her, plucking the lunch she'd made for him from the refrigerator. "Oh right, I wanted to ask you something."

Touya kept his face away from his sibling as he continued, "You know a girl named Higurashi Kagome?"

Fuyumi instantly perked up, "Oh! She's the friend I told you about before! The one that lives at the shrine near the library." A realization suddenly dawned on his sister's face, "Wait don't tell me that, that's who you've been meeting up with!"

His face flamed, "It's not like that!"

The sudden high pitched tone of his voice gave away his true feelings though.

Touya coughed into his fist as he pressed on, "I just wanted to know more about her. That's all."

Fuyumi pressed her index to her chin thoughtfully, "Well I don't know how much she's really okay with me saying, but I can say that she had a rough time of things last year. Apparently she and her twin sister don't get along very well and she ended up going after Kagome's boyfriend." His sister gave a disappointed shrug of her shoulders, "Honestly that guy begged her relentlessly to date him for three months then turned around and cheated on her with her own twin. I can't say I blame her for not wanting to date anyone else after that."

Touya froze.

That incident sounded entirely too familiar to him. He'd known that his past girlfriend had used him in order to make the guy she liked break up with his partner at the time. Given what Kikyou said about not getting along with her sister and Kagome being friends with Fuyumi that same year… his heart stopped.

"Actually, wasn't Kikyou your ex too?" Fuyumi added, "I'm surprised you never met Kagome before now considering that they're fraternal twins."

His chest grew unbearably tight. His breathing became ragged as the memories he tried to force down came rushing back.

Now he understood why Kikyou never wanted him at the shrine. Why she didn't want him to approach her or exchange numbers. She wasn't just ashamed of him. She was afraid that Kagome would have called her out on her behavior if she'd known.

The excuse that she'd been bullied had been a bald-faced lie. If anything, he would bet all of his inheritance on the idea that Kikyou was the one who'd bullied Kagome growing up. There was absolutely no way that woman had a mean bone in her body. She was firm when rejecting those who didn't get the hint. She was fierce when it came to protecting him from those who would insult him for his condition. Yet she was generally kind towards others and even random strangers.

There was absolutely no possible way she would've ever been the aggressor in that relationship.

"The guy," Touya began. "Who is he?"

He wanted to know.

Kikyou never told him directly. He only found out after she'd informed him that she was seeing someone else and he'd heard rumors from the rest of the student body that she was dating some big-shot. All he knew for certain was that the guy Kikyou left him for was related to a top ten hero and it'd been a family tradition for many generations for them to go into the same field.

It was irritating.

Fuyumi pursed her lips at that, "Fine but just don't tell her that I told you, alright? She'd be pretty upset at me if she found out that I was giving away all of her secrets." His sister sucked a breath between her lips, "It's Omoikiri Inuyasha. He's the Silver General's second son. Apparently he, Kagome and Kikyou all grew up together since they live in the same neighborhood." Fuyumi scowled at him, "So don't you go getting any wise ideas about fighting him. Kagome has made it pretty clear that she's over him by now so he's not even a threat."

Fuyumi threw him a playful smirk, "For what it's worth, I support you. If she marries you then she'll really be my sister."

Touya's face flamed, "Who said anything about marriage!? We're just friends!"

His eyes narrowed at the scarred flesh of his arms.

Regardless of what sort of future he had ahead of him, there was at least one thing that he could do.

"Hey sis," Touya began, "You're pretty good with mom's ice quirk, right?"

Fuyumi cocked her head to the side, "Yeah, why?"

"Think I can borrow your help tonight when I get home? There's something I want to try."

Her mouth opened slightly as realization flickered across her features.

"You can't! If you use your quirk then…!"

He cut her off, "I know that!" Touya pushed forward, "I'm not trying to do anything risky or get dad's attention." His hands curled into tight fists at his side, "But I do want to get stronger. If it means adjusting how I fight, then so be it. I already know that I'll never become a pro hero."

But that didn't mean that he had to completely give up.

Even if he didn't make it to the finals of the Sports Festival, he could still fight in his own way.

Touya met her gaze directly, "What do you say we give those idiots some karma?"

Fuyumi's eyes began to water, "Nii-chan… I never knew you could be so mature!"

He scowled at the image of her wiping her tears away, "I'm not immature, you know! I just want to give them some payback for the crap they pulled. That's all!"

His sibling grinned up at him, "Sure, sure. I'll help you out but under the condition that Shouto joins us too. His ice is stronger than mine. So it'll help a lot."

Touya fought the urge to sigh.

Somehow he should've expected that the moment Fuyumi decided to hear him out on the matter.

"Does he really have to join?"

It was irritating enough just seeing the little egg-head every time he came home. Didn't matter what hour of the day it was. Shouto was always at the door, ready and waiting to greet him whenever he arrived. It was annoying. Especially considering how much stock their father put into his powers.

Fuyumi braced her hands on her hips, "Stop being mean to him! Shouto actually looks up to you and as the oldest brother you should be leading by example! Besides, he could use your help with his fire quirk." Her voice took on a chiding tone, "Don't be stupid this time and start talking to him."

Touya rolled his shoulders, "Yeah, yeah. I hear you."

That didn't mean that he had to like it though.

Three years ago he'd been so desperate to gain their father's recognition. Yet since the moment he came home from the hospital, Shouto had virtually become his permanent shadow. Although the boy rarely said anything to him directly, it wasn't lost on him how much his youngest brother was trailing after him.

In any other circumstance it might even be 'adorable'. However they were not a normal family and their past made it difficult for him to feel any sort of emotional bond with his sibling.

That boy's very existence was proof of his own failure.

The image of Kagome's face suddenly flashed in his mind and Touya fought the urge to sigh.

He knew that if he ever said any of this to her directly, she'd either be greatly disappointed in him or just feel that he should focus his anger on his father instead.

Touya glanced back at his sister, "I'll let the little egg-head tag along this time, but just make sure he doesn't get in the way, alright?"

Fuyumi's face suddenly brightened, "That's more like it!"

He turned on his heel, intent on making his way out of the door. Yet the second he looked up, he spotted Shouto standing at the threshold. The boy's face was flushed as a look that could only be described as excitement crossed his features.

"Do you really mean it?" The child questioned.

Touya grumbled beneath his breath.

Great this was exactly what he needed right now.

He brushed past him, "Don't get used to it, egg-head."

He didn't have to look back to hear his brother rush into his sister's arms and exclaim his excitement at the prospect of joining them for training.

Touya gripped the strap of his backpack even more firmly.

Just this once wouldn't hurt.