Everyone is dead. Izuku's eyes followed the streaks of blood to the center of the town. Flies buzzed by as he made it through the sea of bodies. He remembered every face. The old lady gave him some candy to pick up something heavy, the twins down the road were always hyper and fun to play with, and the store owner only had knives for sale. Numerous projectiles were scattered about, either sticking into walls or bodies. Sword cuts imprinted onto the old-style architecture tell Izuku how one-sided the fight was.
His shoes couldn't help but step in blood as a wave of death rams through his nostrils. In an alleyway, a mother held tight to her son. Izuku was all the time at the playground, clutched into her arms as flies swarmed above. The Moon kept the dark from censoring more scenes for the young boy. Izuku shook his head in disbelief and ran down the main street. After a few avenues, he turned right and past the historic building and into a compound surrounded by high walls free from any gore—Izuku's home.
Ragged breathing echoed through the entrance as Izuku took a recovering breath and screamed out for somebody, "Hello! Mother! Father! Please say something! Anyone..."
Other than two dead Uchiha police officers, the house was almost untouched. Painting left at the exact angles mother out up, and ancient Uchiha weapons left on display. The kitchen was the same when Izuku left in the morning. The rickety floorboards creaked as always, showing Izuku the only door open. He swallows whatever liquid is stuck in his throat before entering his parent's meditation room. Izuku already knew the outcome, but he denied the thought. The room where he and his brother learned to channel their Sharingan while their father judged not far from where his body lay. Next to him was his wonderful mother, who always lit the room with her smile. If they're dead, then what happens to his brother, Itachi?
A solid wisp penetrates the sliding door, following a thud. Izuku's head cocked behind to see a burning flaming dangling off a kunai. It jumped to the wooden décor and paper oriental hanging onto the walls. Picture frames burned along with happy memories as thick, black smoke began to surround the boy. Two more kunai hurled as it released more of its sudden flame near Izuku's exit. Trapping him inside. He looks led and right before deciding to jump through the sliding door and lands on his back facing the front gate. A quiet cry escaped Izuku's mouth as a stinging sensation flowed across his spine and back. In what seemed like a mere second, more than half of his childhood home was burning—blue wisps of fire streaked across the air as a final goodbye. His parent's bodies were still inside.
Izuku kept himself from hurdling through the burning house to retrieve dead people, even if they were his parents. He helped himself to his feet and past his home gate. His home wasn't the only one burning. A tsunami of fire crashed on top of every building within the village. Other than the crackle of burning wood, everything was quiet—no human screams of terror or helplessness. He is the only one alive. Brim smoke crafted a blanket of visible smoke that cloaks the sky. Pops and thuds and crackles continued as Izuku's vision became blurred. His breathing goes heavy and even. The taste of blood and ash clogs his throat. Izuku collapsed to his knees. "Who would do this?" Izuku asks before falling unconscious as smoke and brim continue falling on top of him. Subconscience tears are dry on Izuku's cheek as the heat from his blazing childhood home.
Helicopters chop over the Uchiha town, flashing bright floodlights, surveying the damage. What or who caused such sudden destruction? Heroes swatted through the massive wooden etched with the Uchiha clan emblem in old kanji and gone with hundreds of years of ancient history.
The doctor scribbles on his clipboard with a bit of frustration. How Izuku explains the events is different from what the police reports. And he passed outside his home instead of inside. Izuku rarely mentions Itachi, yet he is the culprit according to Izuku. Something is wrong. The doctor erases and edits some of the details in the police reports. He's too nice, but the child should not get into more trouble. Not good for his health.
The odor of sludge and swear sticks to Izuku like a bug to a window. Walking down his street where pets usually walk about. Not today. Izuku is sure that can smell him. How embarrassing.
Izuku passes three houses before reaching his home. Inko will not like the story of how he got his stink. What story should replace the villain and All Might?
Inko opens the door with excitement. The door slams into the side of the house as she flings her head toward the direction of Izuku. How did she know where I was?
"Izuku get inside this instant!" she screams. The neighbors look through small cracks attempting to watch what was occurring. They're annoying. Izuku marches inside, passing Inko who covers her nose with both palms.
"He told me you would stink, but I didn't think it would be this bad. Go take a bath."
"Alright," Izuku says as he strolls upstairs toward the bathroom.
"Hey, mom, what happened?" A girl younger than Izuku by a year or two exits the kitchen. A wall separated the entrance from the kitchen.
"Was that Izuku?" she asks.
"Yes, it was," Inko look away from her daughter, facing where Izuku was."
"What trouble did he do now?"
"Nothing Akane. It's not your place. Finish your homework over there."
"Alrighty, mom."
Steaming water smothers Izuku with a warm embrace. His hair pointed downward, filled with water and soap. A few bubbles float by popping once reach a foot away from the bath. The stink was still there. Izuku did not want to imagine what flowed through the sludge villain. Shit, most likely shit and piss.
Bakugou appears inside his head again. He's being more difficult than he should be. Maybe he was wrong to not tell his friends about his quirk. It might have been able to save their friendship. Quirks didn't matter back then. But they wouldn't have met if... his family didn't die. Izuku didn't like to think about that night. It's fuzzy. The only part Izuku remembers was the fire and wood and All Might saving him. Izuku read somewhere your brain will protect you from traumatic events. Maybe that was an example. Not able to remember a mother's proud face or a father's sharp eyes burning holes through his skull. Izuku mustn't forget he has a new family—just as good as the last.
Izuku stares at his pruney fingers rubbing against one another. He should get out, but the heat locks him into the bath.
"Suck it up, Izuku," he says to himself, "Life is hard. Get used to it if you haven't."
He finishes the bath not much later. Dressed in his home clothes, Izuku comes to the first floor as a beautiful aroma fills the air—Inko's cooking. He loves it. Izuku sneaks past Akane, whose eyes are glued to a new anime displayed on the t.v. As he enters the kitchen, Izuku sees the concoction Inko is crafting. Udon noodles smothered in liquid onion seeds and garlic butte. The texture has a terrific brown texture as bits of celery, onion, and mushrooms stir around the pot.
"Hi, Izuku. I guess you're hungry after today. I didn't have the ingredients for katsudon," Inko says, "But I hope udon is a nice replacement."
"Of course, anything you make is great." Izuku gives Inko a tiny grin before return back to the living room.
"Akane, what show is that?" he asks. Izuku hops onto the couch next to his "sister". She leaps into the air for a second as the force from Izuku's landing throws her into the air. She lands with an annoyed gaze before looking backat her show.
"It's nothing you'll like," she says.
"Try me. You don't know what my preferences are."
"That's where you're wrong, Izuku, I know what you like, and it's not t.v. shows. You like books and heroes. They need to get revenge because they're the main character, they get it as well as a lesson. Unlike you. You like books that achieve your dream. I do know you, brother."
"What do you know," Izuku says, his face contorting into a smug one like he's above Akane. That's not true. And Izuku knows it. A wave of soothing spills into his heart, but is beaten back by Izuku's anger. He becomes neutral once more, he shouldn't feel angry at his sister. Even if they're not of blood. They are all Izuku has left.
"Why did you use your quirk against me? Don't answer. I know why. I'm sorry." Akane holds her knees within her chest, looking toward the television, "I know Izu," she responds
Izuku is blessed to have a sister like Akane, and her quirk makes his complex emotions, which smash and contradict one another like bugs on a windshield. Akane can push and pull emotions, only a tiny bit. Like her mother, who can only pull small objects toward her, she can calm or excite others' emotions. She has enough practice with her brother. "Izuku! Akane! Time for dinner!" Inko screams from the kitchen. Akane was the first to leave the table.
Why do I have to be such a jerk? She knows your pain almost more than Inko or All Might. Do tell her "What do you know", think before acting, Izuku.
Izuku rises from the couch, following his sister. Three plates were set for him, Akane, and Inko. Inko and Akane already took her seat, next to her mom. The table is silent.
"Izuku, how was school today?" Inko asks, "Alright, had to clean the classroom again, other than that, school was alright."
"You know Izuku, you can be more trusting with us, we're not going to leave you," Akane says, "Say something. I can feel your feelings. They're storming like a hurricane around you. I see a small child, you, crying a the center of the storm. Memories swirl in and out as red, hot anger speaks to you on your shoulder while your sense of normalcy attempts to swim out from the sea of guilt. I know you—"
"Stay out of my damn head!" Izuku jumps from his chair, tossing his plate to the side. It breaks on the wooden floor, leaving the sweet food. Izuku didn't take a bite yet.
"Izuku! What's wrong with you? I try and try to be a mother to you, and you can't say the truth. It's been years. Every night, when you sneak out, Akane cries in her bed. Grasping her blankets and pillows, those feelings inside of you are dangerous. Please share some of your pain!"
No words escape from Izuku's mouth as he storms back upstairs, into his room. He was a jerk once more.
Inko stares into her daughter's tearful face, "It's okay, Akane. We have to stay strong. For his sake. Izuku doesn't know what good it'll do him to finally let go of the past. I'll see if Toshinori can look for him tonight."