All he could feel was the cold winter wind and its fierce bite. He saw nothing but darkness in all directions and heard nothing but the contorted muttering of someone familiar. Izuku felt himself floating in this strange limbo. There was no up or down, no left or right, no gravity at all. He was hovering endlessly and his body was spinning slowly.
There was no sign of the woman anywhere and the abyss only grew thicker the further he stared into it. It was an endless well and he was falling deeper into its darkness. Izuku controlled his breathing as best as he could and he reached out trying to find something, anything to touch. He was alone and the darkness slowly seeped in. The abyss was like a spider's web, and Izuku was the fly. The last thing he ought to do is wiggle, and if he did, there was no doubt the spider was close by.
"Akiyama?" He asked softly. The void echoed his words.
He heard someone snap their fingers, and with every second, it grew louder. The frequency also increased and as they approached the boy he shivered. He snapped his eyes shut and controlled his breathing. He clenched his hands and felt the blood swell in his fingers. He felt the energy of his Niwa coalesce until he opened his eyes, and with a deep sigh, he snapped his fingers.
SNAP
The golden light of his Blessing burst into the darkness and cascaded across the well with a purifying force. Izuku bathed in this power and could feel the warm and calm energy restore his soul, and the darkness crackled and shrieked with fright. Izuku watched in awe at what he had just done, surely he couldn't have done this. Had Jiro come to his rescue? Maybe it was Inari instead, or Tenko?
He couldn't tell anymore, this Niwa was so contorted and foul that he needed to find something deep. He stepped forward and before he knew it he started falling. He fell and fell - slowly at least - and felt the gravity of this place take hold. He reached for the sky with fear and watched his fingers - coated in gold - shot threads of light towards the sky. He could feel his senses extending forth with the threads and suddenly, they hit something. Suddenly all strange darkness disappeared, and then it violently snapped back into his soul.
He felt tight in his chest, like something was pressing against him, and he struggled to breathe. The sound of screaming and crying overwhelmed his ears and Izuku grabbed his head in pain. It felt like someone was scratching chalk against a blackboard and forced him to endure the screeching agony, and yet, it all went silent, and Izuku slowly raised his head as the darkness swallowed all sight.
"He went to Tsushima over two months ago and he hasn't written or said anything."
Izuku gasped.
"Akiyama?" He muttered. There was no response, and instead, he felt the unmistakable dread of something, someone else in the room.
"Himura knew it was a suicide mission the moment he was ordered to leave…" Shuji said with anger. "What better a death for someone as embarrassing as him?"
"What?! How could you say that? Kyohei has been one of the greatest samurai I've seen, our training has been crucial in that! He's kind and humorous and he is a skilled archer."
"And yet he was a failure during the last attack in Nagato."
"He fought with the rest of our men and forced the Mongols to retreat to Iki Island!" Michi argued.
Izuku then heard some kind of parchment unravel, it must have been a scroll of some kind.
"This letter arrived six days ago, it was written by Lord Toyotama himself." Shuji said. Izuku listened close, and he heard the old man continue. "Lord Akiyama, in times past, you have told me that your granddaughter and a stranger named Kyohei Himura were studying under you to become samurai. Recently Himura was assigned to my command, and was charged with protecting the noble Clan Takami."
He moved the parchment even more, and Izuku could smell the smoke from a candle nearby.
"I know not what you lectured, but the boy has proven to be both a cunning strategist, but also proud. He is so prideful that I fear it borders on arrogance."
"Lord Toyotama wrote this…?" Michi asked. Izuku could hear her trembling in disbelief.
"During a raid on the city, Himura intelligently minimized the damage done to the Takami estate by flanking an enemy platoon and using their own weapons against them. He then commanded a small unit into a pincer formation during the chaos. For a boy who is only 17 years of age, he is an excellent strategist." Shuji said as he read the letter. "And yet, he allowed his pride to rush to his head. When the enemy retreated, Himura brazenly chased after them in an effort to win the battle, but in doing so, Clan Takami was left defenseless."
Izuku heard Michi tremble, it sounded like she turned away from her grandfather and looked out toward the training ground.
"Shuichi and Tamayo Takami were killed instantly by a Mongol assassin. Their eldest son, Hanta, was butchered, and their daughter Naomi was slain when she attempted to escape. The lone survivor of this massacre was the Takami's youngest son and the sole heir to their name, Takashi. The boy is only eight years of age. I fear he may be permanently traumatized by this event."
Izuku heard the scroll being rolled up, and he heard Shuji stand.
"Himura has disgraced not only our nation, but also our family name. It was a mistake ever bringing him here."
"He… No, there must be some mistake! Kyohei would never do such a thing!" Michi argued.
"And yet he did! He allowed his emotions to cloud his judgment and because of that innocents were slaughtered! Clan Takami is held only by a thread and you would defend someone as overzealous and dishonorable as that boy?!"
Izuku grunted under his breath and squinted his eyes. The darkness was too strong and he couldn't move. But in his heart he knew he needed to intervene.
"That's all you ever care about…" Michi muttered.
"It is rude to whisper, speak your mind." Shuji ordered angrily. He saw the anger in Michi's eyes, and he sighed.
"All you ever care about is honor. Honor this, honor that, honor above all else. When I see Kyohei I'll speak to him about this travesty, but you clearly don't care about him as a person!"
Shuji simply watched, and Michi stood up and clenched her fists.
"What's with you and your obsession with honor? Do the Mongols care about honor? No! They blast our villages with those bombs and catapults. They showcase our people impaled on spikes, those savages pillage our towns and butcher everyone in sight!"
Izuku felt anger rise in his heart.
"They rape the women, grandfather! What if it was me out there?!"
"I taught you to defend yourself and to fight. When would you be in that situation?"
"There you go again about training and not the person!"
"I taught you because I care about you! Be grateful I even agreed to it!" Shuji retorted.
"Well did you care when dad died?!"
SLAP
Izuku heard the pained yelp and his anger rose to the surface. There was no mistaking the sound of Shuji slapping Michi across the face, it contained enough force that Michi went silent afterward. The sound was destroyed and Izuku shot his Blessing forward into the memory, and yet as the golden strands touched the fragment, it vanished.
The darkness grabbed hold of him once more, but strangely, it was gentle. There was no malice nor rage. It felt like an old friend hugging him for the first time in ages. Izuku yelled out into the abyss, and it screamed right back.
That demonic monotone face appeared again. Michi's lips were stained with blood and her fangs were sharper than any blade. Her animalistic carnage screamed outward and infected Izuku like a parasite. He writhed in this darkness with scorching pain, and he felt his life fading. He opened his eyes and screamed loudly, and his Blessing eradicated the darkness around him. He gasped for air, he clambered for the light that suddenly appeared. He found it, he stepped into the light, and found peace.
Izuku found himself on a small hill and he looked around in slight worry. He saw a beautiful red forest next to him with deer and foxes galloping through the trees. There were flowers slowly waving in the wind, and the sound of the tree leaves flowing soothed Izuku. He smelled the fresh air and picked up the scent of something sweet. Then, he noticed it, the village in the valley.
Wow… it's beautiful. He thought.
He turned around and saw a small house on the apex of the hill, and he walked toward it. Every step felt heavy as he made his way toward the small structure, but he pressed on. He felt the sweat beginning to stick to his back and armpits. It was so warm he felt like he was in a sauna.
"Lady Hibana!"
Izuku gasped and snapped his head around. He saw a young woman racing up the hill in a traditional priest's garb. She wore a white kimono and red hakama pants, as well as zori sandals. Izuku watched this girl pass right through him, and when turned around he was shocked to see whom she was running toward. A woman appeared from the house with long and elegant blonde hair. She was wearing a black kimono, and Izuku gasped.
"Akiyama?" He cried.
He took a step forward, but something grabbed his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw the Yuki Onna appear, and she placed a finger over her lip telling him to be silent. Her cold eyes slowly shifted toward the house, and Izuku did the same.
"Lady Hibana, I have wonderful news! The samurai at Hakata Bay have pushed the Mongols back! A massive kamikaze has even destroyed their ships as they fled!"
"What?" Hibana asked.
"Yes! It's as though Susanoo himself heard our prayers and helped us!"
"The war is over!"
Izuku felt his heart skip a beat, as did the woman from the house. She didn't say a word and merely stared at the ground. The grass slowly blew in the gentle breeze and all she could think of was him.
"Lady Hibana?" The young woman asked.
The woman shot her gaze through the girl's heart.
"You're absolutely certain?" She asked frivolously.
"Yes! The daimyo reassured us himself! Come with me to town, everyone's celebrating!"
"I- I'll be there, I just need to take this in. Thank you." The woman stuttered.
"Of course, I can't wait for the festival tonight!"
The girl raced back down the hill, and Michi waved happily as she spun around, crying out in joy. Izuku could feel that Michi's smile was feign, a mask to hide something buried deep. Michi turned around and entered her home, and closed the door behind her.
"What was that all about? I felt like I was gonna die earlier!" Izuku lashed out. "You had that argument with your grandfather and he just slapped you? A-And now you're in some house going by Hibana?!"
"I know, I know." The Yuki replied coldly. "These are some of my deepest memories, the feelings I have here are… immense."
Izuku felt the memory shimmer, as though a light had swiftly swept over the world and disappeared.
"After that night, I stormed out of my abode… and I renounced the name 'Akiyama.'" The Yuki said with bitterness.
YOU WERE A MISTAKE!
Izuku felt the ravenous fury eating away at his soul.
YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME? YOU BITCH?!
This voice was distorted and disturbed, it was drowning him like he was lost at sea.
"Time had passed, eventually I stopped caring about my grandfather altogether. For a time I forgot he even existed." The Yuki said as she stared at the idyllic forest that lay before her. "Is it wrong to feel that way about someone? To wish you would never see them again and that they would feel the same pain that they themselves forced on you?"
Izuku gulped and couldn't find the words to respond.
"I know you feel the same way, there's someone like that in your life isn't there?"
Izuku turned his head away.
"Yeah…" He muttered.
"I see." The Yuki replied quietly. "It's a shame to have such emotions about someone, but if we truly hated them, why are they still on our minds?"
Izuku looked Michi in the eye and was confused by what he saw. There was a clouded aura behind her pupils, he couldn't make anything out beyond the fog. They had turned gray with doubt and confusion, but he couldn't muster the words to help her.
He blinked and when he looked around, he was suddenly inside the house with the Yuki. They watched as Michi was kneeling in front of a suit of armor. It was traditional samurai armor, something so majestic that Izuku felt his eyes bubble. He watched as Michi knelt down and bowed with the greatest respects she could give, and looked at each piece of the suit. The dou, the center chestpiece. The sode shoulder pads were clad in armor. The kabuto helmet, adorned by a mask resembling an Oni.
The sword was sheathed in a maroon saya, and underneath it was the tanto blade, one that the Yuki paid close attention to. She stepped forward and tried to grab the blade, but her hand simply phased through the object. Even though she knew it was a memory, she was surprised to see what transpired. The Yuki lowered her head in sorrow and breathed deeply. Izuku saw her shoulders move upward slightly, and then they were lowered with an audible sigh.
A horse neighed outside, and all three of them turned toward the door. Izuku realized that Michi was holding the katana in her hand, and was in awe of the black blade. It was short-lived, Michi had sheathed it and returned the saya to its resting place. She rushed for the door, and the Yuki approached Izuku.
"I remember this day all too well…" She said.
And when Izuku blinked, he was suddenly outside with Michi, and the Yuki watched what happened with a look of emptiness.
"Wow, never pictured you as a 'Hibana' type girl, doesn't seem to suit you."
Michi gasped in shock as the stranger took his large bamboo hat off, and revealed his face.
"Right, Michi?"
Kyohei dismounted his horse and he was visually changed. His white hair was much longer and tied in a ponytail. He was wearing a common soldier's armor with drowned colors and a sword that was dulled from battle. However, Izuku was surprised most of all by his face, Kyohei wore an eyepatch over his right eye, and his left eye was bruised.
"Hey." He said
Michi however was stunned, flabbergasted. Her mouth was slightly ajar as Kyohei walked toward her and smiled. However, she grunted in anger and approached him briskly. Kyohei was surprised and couldn't speak as Michi stomped toward him. Suddenly, she slapped him across the face. Kyohei jumped back and yelled out with shock and he grabbed his cheek. When he recovered, Michi was so close that her nose almost touched his.
"You left for months and the reports all stated Tsushima was devastated. Months went by and I hear NOTHING about you. I thought you were dead!"
She grimaced her face and was ready to slap him yet again.
"I relinquish everything I have and move out to this shack. I disowned my grandfather and spat on his grave, and when you show yourself at last, the only thing you have to say is… 'hey'?"
Kyohei closed his eyes and prepared himself for another strike, however, he couldn't stay silent.
"Part of the family charm right?" He asked while trembling.
Izuku reached out toward them and wanted to help. He stepped without thinking and spoke without realizing it. However, the sound that emanated wasn't his, but rather, it was Michi. She grunted loudly and shook immensely, and as Izuku approached her in this memory, he realized she was crying. She cried and cried, and cried once more. And yet, she also started laughing. It mixed in with her tears, and she lunged forward, kissing Kyohei as her barriers finally collapsed. She smiled through her tears, and Kyohei grinned with a warm smile. They kissed each other outside the home, and Kyohei hugged Michi with a deep embrace, so much so that it felt impossible to let go. Izuku couldn't help but smile and he felt a warmness in his heart, and when he saw the Yuki, he realized that she wasn't smiling. A tear dripped down her cheek, and she turned away as the memory faded.
Izuku moved to comfort her and reached a hand out, but it was all for naught. The memory had changed and he felt a summer breeze wash over him. He turned around and saw that he was in the small town at the base of the hill. Paper lanterns had been strung up across the village, children were running around and chasing one another while their mothers cooked meals and played songs. The men had returned from the war and filled themselves with food. Some were drinking away the festivities, others danced with their wives and friends. Izuku saw several men and women by the bay hauling in a vast fishing net, and in the net were several hundred fish all waiting for be plucked and fileted.
However, what drew his attention were two of those very fishermen. Michi and Kyohei helped the villagers haul the fishing net with all their strength. They moved as one - like the very water itself – and heaved the next net into the sea. The lovers were both wearing minimal clothing, with Kyohei wearing only a loincloth and Michi wearing a fishing suit.
"Alright! Bring the net this way and let's get cooking!"
"Yeah!"
Michi and Kyohei cheered with the villagers and returned to the village with their prize. The sky turned dark and the moon rose, indicating that time had passed. Families all around were praying before digging into the fresh fish. The same young woman from before approached Izuku, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw nothing but pure joy. She walked right through him with wood plates in her hands, and when he turned around, she gave these plates to Michi and Kyohei.
"And here ya go! Thank you so much for helping with the fish, I gotta say we haven't had a good haul like this since the war started!" She said with excitement.
"Glad to help out, Tsuji," Michi replied happily. "It also helps that I finally have some real help from this man here."
Kyohei blushed and lowered his head into his palm.
"Oh so this is who you were talking about Lady Hibana." Tsuji said in a teasing manner. "Also come on, most of the men were in the war, it's been a while since they last fished."
"Ahh that's nonsense, we did plenty of it out in Tsushima, I'd say they're fine." Kyohei commented.
"Oh really? I assume you have some forbidden knowledge to share with this woman who's been fishing her whole life?" Michi teased.
"What? Noooooo , I'd never try to teach a legendary fisherman how to do their job, that would be dishonorable."
The trio laughed and celebrated while Izuku and the Yuki watched. Kyohei even offered Tsuji a small cup of sake, however, she declined.
"All joking aside, thank you sincerely Lady Hibana, and thank you as well sir. It's starting to get colder outside and I suspect winter will come early. I've never seen the village so happy, not since…"
"Please, you don't have to finish." Kyohei intervened. "We understand and if you need to, our door is open. But hey the war's over! This is a time for celebration!"
Tsuji took a moment to process Kyohei words, but she nodded with a curled lip. She bowed to the couple and raised her head.
"I'm grateful… uhm."
"Oh, forgive me, I'm Kyohei of Clan Himura."
"Ah, Tamayo of Clan Tsuji, I am thankful for you offer Himura. Well I've got mouths to feed so I'll see you later!
"Goodbye!" Kyohei and Michi cried.
They looked at each other and chuckled before diving into their food with zeal. The fresh fish and octopus were fantastic, and the rice and vegetables were the perfect complement for the main course. The night went on, the parties and celebrations moved along with it, and eventually the lovers returned to the home atop the hill. Michi laid out a mat for Kyohei to sleep on, and together they laid on the floor.
"Nice moonroof." Kyohei joked, Michi grunted and saw the large hole in the ceiling.
"It'll take weeks to fix it, damned thing." She said. "But I like it here, it's not my abode, but it has its charm."
Izuku could feel the doubt growing inside Kyohei's Niwa, his gray eyes were clouded by it.
"What's wrong?" Michi asked. Kyohei sighed and looked Michi in the eye.
"Why'd you do it? You really gave everything up to live out here?" He asked Michi groaned.
"It wasn't easy by any means if you really think that. Everything's gone. I'm no part of Clan Akiyama."
"What?! Why?"
"Because my bastard grandfather striked my name from our record when he learned I was leaving. Not that it matters…"
Michi closed her eyes and looked at Kyohei when she reopened them.
"He's dead after all, looks like all that bitterness finally caught up with him. The nurses told me his heart gave out in his sleep."
"That's… well… I'm sorry to hear that Michi. I-"
"Why? You know how he was. If anything I'm glad he's gone."
"Well, yes I admit he was a horrible man and I sure as hell wanted to teach him a thing or two about respect, but he was still family to you."
"My father was family too, and grandfather didn't care whatsoever after his death. Only about his damn honor. Honor this, honor that, always putting it above everything else as if we're just a waste of time."
"Michi…"
Michi sat up and Kyohei did the same. She looked confused and almost offended.
"What?"
Kyohei scratched the back of his head and his white hair fell onto his shoulders.
"I don't exactly know how to put this but… he wasn't entirely wrong."
Michi felt her heart sink, and anger took its place.
"So you're siding with him? After everything he's done?!"
"No, I'm just saying-"
"What? That honor is so damned important that you cast everything else to the side? Even family?"
Kyohei's eyes darted through Michi's when he snapped his head around and faced her. The melancholy fog in his irises was tainted, and turned jagged with frustration.
"I hated your grandfather, I really did Michi, but I still respect him as a samurai and as a leader. But he was right in a way."
"And how exactly is he 'right?'" Michi asked with irritation. Kyohei sighed in anger.
"I care about people, I care about you more than anything, but I dishonored my clan and Clan Takami that day." Kyohei said, Michi saw him starting to shake.
"So that letter Lord Toyotama sent was telling the truth…"
Michi heard Kyohei groan.
"I had a feeling he'd report what happened, but yes. I failed, and now an eight year old boy is all alone because of that."
Michi stared at her lover as he continued. He looked downward at his hands and before he knew it, he began to weep.
"There were bodies everywhere… all because I didn't keep my oath. When I saw the look in the boy's eyes I-"
He clenched his hands and buried his face in them.
"I couldn't bear to know what I had done!" He screamed. "I was careless, selfish! I just wanted the pride and the respect from everyone, I'd be the man who fought with courageous leadership until the very end! But instead I left a noble family to die. You hear me? They were nobles!"
Michi approached him slowly, and held Kyohei's shoulder. Izuku felt the same, even though he knew this was a memory, he couldn't help but sit in front of Kyohei as he fell to pieces.
"I dishonored Clan Takami and dishonored my family. My selfishness got them killed! I wanted to end it right there."
"Kyohei stop this." Michi pleaded.
"After the battle Lord Toyotama had the entire unit bring me forth to that child. He was so scared, so angry that his family was gone, and he knew that I was to blame for it."
Kyohei looked Michi in the eye.
"I took the blade and aimed it inward; it was the only thing to do, everyone told me if I wanted to honor the Takami family, I should offer my life."
"What?! What would your death bring huh? How would your men respond? What about the boy? How would-"
"I know you'd kick my ass back to life."
Michi stuttered in shock as Kyohei tried to smile. She sighed in disbelief as Kyohei tried to laugh. His laughter mixed into his tears however, and when he wiped his face more tears replaced those he had rubbed away.
"Takashi Takami told me that ending my own life wouldn't bring his family back, and that he wouldn't feel justice was served if I died. You should've s-seen Lord Toyotama's face." Kyohei wept. "Toyotama banished me after that, and well… I've been wandering ever since. No master, no lord, no home…"
They sat in silence as the moon shone on them. Izuku felt as though Tsukuyomi was watching this very conversation play out like a caring father. Ever silent, but still watching.
"Akiyama…" Izuku muttered, he felt himself tearing up.
"This wasn't the end, not yet." The Yuki replied.
In the memory, Michi suddenly hugged Kyohei, and the young man felt his heart race.
"That was the past now wasn't it? I gave everything up so I don't have anything to go back to either." She said. "But this village has been kind to me. I have a fishing job despite some of the men's opposition, Tsuji is incredibly kind and the food is so sweet."
Kyohei looked at her and rubbed his eye again.
"I suppose we can start over, start a new life."
"Yes! That's the spirit! Perhaps tomorrow I can help you find a place to work. We can help gather supplies and food. I know Matsuda needs more wood, perhaps you can become a wood splitter! Put your sword to good use for once right?"
Kyohei chuckled, and then…
"Marry me."
Izuku and Michi both gasped. Michi couldn't believe her ears, and she blushed. She tried to speak, tried to say anything in response.
"Forgive me for being unoriginal, but when I was in Tsushima you were the only thing on my mind. I know, I know I stole that straight from the old theater performances but it's true. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, Michi. I mean it. So… well…"
Kyohei began to stutter and trip on his words. It wasn't for long, Michi lunged forward crying with joy, hugging the man so tight that he could barely breathe.
"Yes! YES! You're right! I want this, I want to spend my life with you as well!"
Izuku smiled and prayed quietly. He cried in joy as well and couldn't control his tears, He looked back at the Yuki, who quietly teared up at the scene. She turned away and wiped her face but Izuku approached her with such a positive aura that she couldn't hide for long.
"That was so… so beautiful!" Izuku said as he cried. "You two were so happy! Seriously the way you were able to keep your heads up despite everything that happened, it's admirable. You were such a good person!"
The Yuki nodded silently, she even smiled. It was so pure and true, and Izuku felt this energy touch his spirit. It filled him with happiness.
"You're right, we were happy. I-I almost forgot what this felt like." The Yuki said.
"Then you probably realize that these feelings you had were true. You really do care about him, about other people!"
"Yes… I do." She said. "Everyone back then… they were so…"
She gasped, she felt a coldness enter her heart and the room turned into a raging blizzard. Izuku screamed and covered his head with arms as the storm blasted him away from Akiyama. When he regained his balance he looked forward and saw Akiyama appear before him… but the blood had returned to her sleeves. Her vicious eyes pierced his soul and her fangs were bare.
"NO! IT WAS A LIE!"
The storm vanished and Izuku realized he was on the mountain behind Michi's home. The one he had heard about so many times from the Yokai. The peak was blanketed in thick snow and the terrain was jagged, with several paths diverging from steep cliffs and tight walkways.
"I KNOW, LET'S GO FOR A WALK UP THERE. I'VE NEVER BEEN ON THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE!"
"NEITHER HAVE I, I BET IT WILL MAKE FOR A GREAT HIKE, DON'T YOU THINK?"
Izuku recognized the second voice.
"Akiyama?!" He yelled.
It didn't matter, he was in another memory. The snow was thick and the two lovers walked along the mountain holding their hands.
"We should hurry, it's getting late and I think a storm is coming." Michi said with urgency. She shivered. "Damnit it's so cold!"
"You're right, I'm sorry, we should've gone somewhere closer to the house!" Kyohei replied as the wind blew heavily.
"It's not your fault! We didn't know this would happen! So stop whining and let's get home!" Michi yelled.
"I wasn't whining! I was just expressing myself!" Kyohei retorted.
They continued walking down the mountain, and as they rounded another corner, they saw the great beast in the sky. The storm had arrived faster than they realized and its gray maelstrom had started brutalizing the land. The snow pounded against the rocks of the mountain and the winds raged with fury.
"It's already here?!" Kyohei shouted.
"There's no time, we need to run!"
They watched their steps and ran as far as their bodies would take them. The storm continued and the wind raged on. Kyohei lost his balance and tripped, falling off the walkway.
"Kyohei!" Michi screamed.
"I'm fine!" the young man replied. Michi barely made him out, but he fell onto another path below her. "Just keep moving!"
Michi nodded reluctantly, but he was right. She ran once more as the storm battled against them. They climbed down large boulders and grabbed onto thick vines. They descended the mountain one step at a time, and their goal grew closer and closer with each breath. Eventually they reunited in a small opening, however…
"Is that smoke? There must be a camp nearby." Kyohei said.
"Maybe we can stay there for the night, better than this damn snow." Michi added.
They nodded, and raced for the campfire. The snow blinded them as they ran and ran, each step was one taken into the abyss. To take such a gamble required courage. They knew that if they took one wrong step, it was over. There would be no future, no love, they would be separated for all eternity. However, their gamble paid off.
"Hello?!" Michi cried.
The two lovers found the campfire, but in doing so, they made a grave error.
"This was the worst mistake of my life." The Yuki said.
When they found the campfire, a curved sword reflected the fire's light, and a Mongol soldier attacked the two. Kyohei dodged the blade and Michi ducked as quickly as she could. The Mongol yelled in a foreign language that neither Michi nor Kyohei could understand, but they knew the look in that man's eyes. It was a look of pure bloodlust. As he swept his sword Kyohei tackled him from behind and brutally attacked the man's face. The Mongol fought back by headbutting the young man and stabbing him in the arm in a quick motion.
"NO!" Michi screamed.
In a flash, she grabbed a nearby knife and lunged at the Mongol, who deflected her strike. He went for another slash, but much to his shock Michi pivoted on her feet and stabbed him in his arm's joint area. The Mongol's right arm went numb, but he refused to give up. He grabbed a small bomb and managed to light the fuse.
"Shit!" Kyohei roared.
He grabbed a nearby spear and managed to strike the man so hard that it pierced his armor. The Mongol screamed in pain, and died shortly after. Blood spewed from his chest and stained the floor, but that didn't stop the bomb.
"GET BACK!" Kyohei screamed.
And yet, it was frivolous.
BOOOOOM
Izuku yelled in terror as the explosion nearly blinded him. The cave cracked and shattered apart from the blast and a great rumbling began. Michi managed to escape the blast in the nick of time, but the mountain came alive. She looked up and saw the snow crashing down and falling with the force of an ocean wave.
"That bomb triggered an avalanche! RUN!"
Michi ran for her life. The snow was growing louder and louder. She could barely breathe as she sprinted with all her might. She felt like a pack of wolves craved her flesh and that a grand army was about to kill her in so many heinous ways. She ran and ran, she thought of Kyohei, of the village, of her grandfather.
YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT
She lost her footing, and fell. She broke her leg, she screamed, she roared into the night like a feral animal as the bones in her leg were destroyed. Blood poured from her veins causing several deep bruises to form, and her cries of pain were a drop in an ocean.
Izuku only felt the sheer, deadly chill after that. There was everlasting darkness, no light anywhere. The Yuki disappeared, Izuku was alone again.
KYOHEI!
The Yuki's monochrome face flashed his eyes once again. It was ravenous and horrid. Izuku screamed and grabbed his head.
HELP!
The face flashed him once again. It was screaming and clawing towards him like an uncontrollable demon.
WHERE ARE YOU?!
Izuku began to hyperventilate as the walls closed in on him. He felt his heart grow tight and he grabbed his chest barely able to breathe. He thrashed and turned, trying to break free. He had to escape, he had to! He needed to save her, he needed to find Michi.
He turned once more and saw her, she was buried under several feet of snow, barely able to breathe thanks to a hole she managed to dig. She screamed and yelled for Kyohei over and over. Her voice had turned sour and dry, it was a disgusting, grotesque thing.
"Kyohei! I'm here! Help me, please!" She roared.
"Akiyama! Akiyama, it's me! It's Midoriya!" Izuku shouted, but it was to no avail.
They both heard something in the distance. A man was screaming and roaring with all his might. Light slowly peered into the snow. A hole was made, and Kyohei's face could be seen.
"Michi?! Michi?!"
"I'm here! GAHHH! MY LEG!"
Kyohei dug faster with all his might. He ripped and tore through the snow with his bare hands, he howled like a wolf as he tried with all his strength to reach his love.
"I'm coming! Please don't leave me!"
"I'm not! I'm still here!"
He dug and tore, grabbed and pulled. He did everything in his power to save her, and yet…
"Wait, Kyohei! I'm still here!"
Michi desperately reached her hand out, but she could barely move because of the snow. Kyohei finally saw her face, and when his eyes met hers, he paused.
"That wound…" He muttered.
"It's just a scratch! Just pull me out!"
Kyohei slowly reached forward, and Izuku reached for it alongside Michi. Hope had arrived at long last; it was over.
"No."
Kyohei… pulled his hand away.
"It's too late… I-I can't do it."
"What?! No, there's still time Kyohei, just pull me out I'm almost free!"
Kyohei stood up and turned away.
"What are you doing?" Michi asked in a manic fear. Kyohei turned back one last time, and looked her in the eye.
"It's like you said… when the worst happens, we have to start over…"
Kyohei looked away, and started walking.
"Kyohei?"
He was gone.
"No…"
She no longer heard his steps.
"No no no… Kyohei… KYOHEI!"
"KYOHEEEII!"
Michi screamed so loudly that the snow shifted. The monochrome face jumped Izuku again, this time her lips were stained with gray blood. It was roaring once again.
"COME BACK!"
Izuku covered his ears and felt something drilling into his mind.
"KYOHEI PLEASE! I LOVE YOU!"
He never returned.
"KYOHEI!"
Darkness is something that lives inside all things. It pours out in the night, it surrounds all things in the ocean, and it exists inside the Niwa. Izuku floated inside this darkness, he drifted aimlessly and heard the voices of the dark cry out in this endless labyrinth.
WE CAN ALWAYS START OVER RIGHT?
YOU DARE LEAVE ME?
PITIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER.
He felt like he was in a dream, a nightmare that he couldn't wake from.
WE WILL BEGIN AT SUNRISE.
I'M KYOHEI OF CLAN HIMURA.
He felt something cold grab his hand. He felt the winter's chill whisper into his ear.
"That's when I died, he abandoned me…"
Izuku opened his eyes and stared the darkness down. He saw the Yuki coiled up and holding herself like a ball.
"I was too weak, too pitiful to be saved…"
"And yet he ran like the coward he is…"
YOU WOULD DEFEND SOMEONE AS OVERZEALOUS AND DISHONORABLE AS THAT BOY?!
"Grandfather was right… I was a fool…"
I don't understand that at all. Izuku thought. His mind felt adrift in an endless ocean.
"He never cared; he just used me for his own gain. I was just something to cry on."
Izuku snapped his eyes shut and he clenched his fists.
"That doesn't make any sense!"
The Yuki gasped and opened her eyes.
"Why would he just let go of everything you built?! You played an important part in his life didn't you?"
"What good is that when he just throws me away?"
"Because there's no way he'd just do that to you! We both saw your memories didn't we? He wasn't that kind of person!"
The Yuki uncurled and rushed to Izuku. She came so close to the young man that her icy breath infected his face, like he was being frozen by her very essence.
"People wear masks to hide their real selves Midoriya. You can never truly understand someone until the worst happens. That's when their true colors are revealed!" She yelled.
"You think I don't know that? Because I've lived that my entire life!" Izuku shouted.
"In this modern age where you're born with everything you could dream, no matter your status? I find that hard to believe."
"But it's true!"
Izuku's Blessing shot through the Yuki's body and she gasped. She felt no pain however, but she saw something, something vivid and… something she understood.
"That boy… Katsuki Bakugo…" She muttered. "The two of you were close as children, but when his power surfaced he turned on you…"
She backed away.
"The abuse you suffered for all these years, and you continue to feel it don't you?"
"Every time I train." Izuku replied.
"But even knowing that people like Bakugo and your grandfather exist, that doesn't mean everyone despises you. Kyohei didn't, I know that for a fact."
The Yuki bit her lip in defiance. But Izuku held her hand with confidence.
"I have an idea. I know it's going to hurt, but let's see your memories one more time. Maybe there's something we missed."
"You want me to relive my death, again? " The Yuki argued. "I have done so a thousand times, what would another visage do aside from hurting me again?"
"I know, but we have to try. Please."
She sat there in disbelief and shook her head. She breathed sharply and exhaled in confusion.
"Why are you going so far for me?"
"I can't ignore someone who needs help, that's all there is to it." Izuku replied.
The Yuki lowered her head, and snapped her fingers.
SNAP
The darkness gave way to the vast grid of memories that Izuku had seen before. He dove into the first, the Mongol attack. He relived the terror and panic of the initial invasion of Hakata Bay. He watched Michi running for her life and getting lost in the crowd. He tripped and fell, but a young man helped her to her feet. He looked almost Izuku's age, but before Michi could thank him, he ran. She started sprinting again until she was snatched into the hidden door by Kyohei, their first confrontation cemented everything to come.
Izuku held the Yuki's hand as the memory changed to her first kiss with Kyohei. Together, Izuku and the Yuki watched the conversation play out again and Kyohei revealed his true feelings. He mentioned his sister's death, how he failed to protect her, and how he must go to Tsushima. Then, they kissed, and the Yuki was enthralled by the scene once more. She felt her heartbeat increase yet again, her eyes sparkled with fascination and love. However, Izuku noticed something off. Something was different.
I know I missed something… there's no way Himura would just abandon Akiyama like that.
He peaked past the lovers, and saw a fawn. Something was strange about it. It just stared at the scene, but even more than that, it was staring directly at Izuku. The boy walked to the left, and the deer followed him. He widened his eyes and he started approaching this deer, whose hide contained midnight black fur. And yet, the memory changed.
"Wha- Akiyama?"
The Yuki suddenly approached him with a scared look.
"That wasn't me. I-I'm not sure what just happened." She said. Izuku felt fear race through his body. However, he remained determined.
"It's okay." He said.
The memory changed once more, this time it changed to Michi's argument with her grandfather. Izuku flinched as Shuji violently slapped her, and he felt his anger boil. Michi rushed out of the room and ran down the hallway. When she did, she passed one of the servants.
"Lady Akiyama?" the servant asked.
Michi turned once more and it was a young man around Izuku's age. He had chin length hair with large bangs in the front. His ruby eyes glowed like the sun and his demeanor was very formal for someone his age. He wore a kimono and looked at the woman with worry. However, she ran off, and the memory faded.
It changed once more to the festival in the village. Michi and Kyohei were reunited once more and they ate their dinner and watched the rest of the village dance the night away. Kids were chasing each other into the woods, and Kyohei shouted.
"Hey don't go too far out there, you don't want your parents to worry do you?"
"We'll stay close!" Many children responded.
Izuku watched the scene closely. There were a mixture of kids young and old, and one turned around to look back at the party. Izuku noticed it again.
"Hey! I need to talk to you!" He shouted.
"It's only a memory Midoriya." The Yuki replied.
"But don't you see that guy right there? He's been appearing over and over again in all of your memories!"
The boy had the same black hair as the deer, and it was cut the same way as Michi's servant. Chin length with bangs, and his eyes were a sharp red. The boy smiled, and brought a finger to his lips. He shushed Izuku, and ran off.
"Hey come back!"
The memory suddenly shook violently like an earthquake and Izuku crashed through a floor. He found himself covered in snow and tumbled down a slope. He shot his Blessing out of his fingers and feet and steadied himself in the air. He rotated and faced downward at the ground, and saw Michi begging for help. He detached himself from the golden threads and raced to Michi's side. She screamed and kicked and howled for aid, for a Hero to save her. Izuku grabbed her hand in a fit of panic, yet his hands phased through the memory.
"I'm here!" He shouted. "I'm not letting you go!"
He reached for her again.
"Come on!" He shouted angrily.
He tried to take Michi's hand over and over. It never worked but that didn't stop him from trying. He began to cry as Michi's life began to fade. Her screams grew quiet and lights flashed. Izuku looked up and saw the sun, then the moon, then the sun again. The cycle repeated endlessly, and when Izuku looked down, he saw Michi's lifeless body. He couldn't breathe and started shaking. He failed.
He closed his eyes and started crying, he couldn't stop and without realizing he let out a scream of agony and sorrow. He roared into the sky with a pained howl, he was a wolf wounded in the forest by a hunter. Izuku sank his head and wept quietly, he couldn't stop no matter how hard he tried, but he had to do something.
Damnit… DAMNIT!
He looked up and looked around, he needed to leave. Find an exit. He walked into the darkness and found himself in the abyss once again. He breathed and wept more and more, until he started floating again. He felt the room squeeze him; it caved in around him like a coffin. He wanted it all to end…
But the golden light that lived inside him wouldn't die. He woke up and saw the blood red eyes of someone familiar appear, and they started walking. A figure appeared in the darkness, and he revealed himself. He was wearing a gakuran suit, typical for most middle school aged boys. His bangs rained down his face and his eyes were as pure as rubies. Izuku noticed the faint smell of blood on this boy, and he prepared himself.
The boy shushed him once again, and vanished. The memories all repeated themselves over and over. The cycle was maddening, Izuku watched it again and again. The first encounter, the duals, the first kiss, the death. That boy appeared in every memory.
"It's you! What did you do to Akiyama?!"
The boy winked and disappeared once again.
"Who are you?!"
There was no response, Izuku's voice merely echoed off the walls of the abyss.
He needed to do something, send this Yuki Onna onward. The memories replayed again and again, Izuku fought off everything he could. He was bombarded by the darkness, it attacked him like an animal. He dodged the attacks the best he could, he blasted it with his Blessing. A figure appeared and charged him with a knife, and Izuku felt his threads coil into a golden katana. He deflected the attack but the shadowy figure teleported and slashed at him again. The shadows wrapped around his arms and legs and tried to drown him. Izuku screamed and screamed, desperate to survive. His anger had reached the surface, and with the might of a storm, light exploded from his body and destroyed the darkness.
WELL NOW, SUSANOO WAS RIGHT.
"What?" Izuku grunted. His breathing became animalistic.
YOU'RE WAYYYYYY STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT. CONGRATS! YOU PASSED THE TEST!
Izuku could barely feel his surroundings. He looked around in a crazed manner trying to find this voice.
LOOK IT'S A REAL SHAME ABOUT THIS YOKAI BUT TRY NOT TO GET TOO ATTACHED YOU KNOW? SHE'S PRETTY MEANINGLESS ANYWAY.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!": Izuku roared.
OH YEAH? WHATTYA GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
"Shut up!"
AH FINE. MY JOB'S DONE ANYWAY SO THERE'S NO REAL POINT IN STAYING HERE ANYMORE. BUT I GOTTA SAY MIDORYIA-
The voice came so close that Izuku could feel it pressing on his very soul. It whispered in his ear, and he felt someone standing behind him. He snapped around and saw the boy again, and his sanguine eyes held nothing but pure bloodlust.
The boy's Blight was unlike anything he had seen. A monochrome face flashed him for a split second and it was the boy. His entire face was slathered in gray blood and his smile was something that drowned him in horror. His eyes were empty and filled with pure intent. It was sickening, intoxicating…
Izuku whipped him with his Blessing and his face suddenly broke away into fragments. Inside the boy was a shining light. It was warm and soothing, it was inviting.
WOW. WOW WOW WOW WOW! I LOVE IT!
The boy started to fade away.
I'll BE SEEING YOU AGAIN MIDORIYA, YOU BEAT ME. YOU FIGURED IT ALL OUT.
His body disappeared, and his face dissolved into nothing. The light overwhelmed Izuku and he covered his eyes.
SEND HER OFF FOR ALL I CARE, EVERYTHING I SAW TODAY WAS IRREFUTABLE FOR MY WORK. SO HERE YA GO, TAKE THIS AND GO AHEAD WITH YOUR DUTIES. SEEYA!
"It all makes sense now."
Izuku felt the golden katana in his hands, he looked at its incandescent glow, and saw his foe. The Yuki was barely alive and cleaved in two and her dark skeletal body was slowly fading into a blue light.
"Midoriya?!"
Izuku slowly turned around and saw Jiro standing there in awe, and Dabi was still healing from the battle. Dabi's blue flames were slowly regenerating his skin and body, while Jiro was in shock from her near-death experience. Izuku turned his attention back to the Yuki, who was crying on the ground.
"You've gone so far and yet nothing has changed." She wept.
Izuku knelt down and grabbed what remained of the Yuki's hand. She gasped and felt her tears grow stronger. Izuku's touch was soft and warm, she felt safe. His emerald eyes looked at her with sorrow… but deep inside that pit was something else.
"Himura never stopped loving you, Akiyama." He said softly.
"What?" The Yuki muttered.
Jiro couldn't speak, she merely approached Izuku and knelt down beside him in shock.
"When I went into your Niwa, I found something buried deep. Someone was hiding it from you, and when I touched it, I realized…"
"Your memories were altered."
The Yuki gasped as her right arm vanished.
"I'm sorry?" She cried.
"Midoriya?" Jiro muttered. Izuku took a deep breath, and looked at the Yuki with hope.
"That day when you were trapped. Himura did everything he could to save you. He refused to leave the mountain even in the storm."
The Yuki suddenly saw the memory. Kyohei was screaming and on his knees as he beat through the snow trying to reach her. He felt his hands turn numb and his tears started to freeze to his cheeks.
"He was crying so much that a small group of villagers came up and searched for you."
"Hello?!"
Kyohei snapped his head around and saw several villagers running toward him. Tsuji was one of them and she fell to her knees when she approached him.
"They tried to help… but it was too late."
Kyohei screamed into the night sky and Tsuji hugged him with all her might. Tears ran down her face as the man howled in anguish.
"Himura was depressed for months. He couldn't accept your death and he would go up there on the mountain every year. The village came together and made a grave for you on the mountain."
The Yuki sniffled as her right shoulder disintegrated.
"But that doesn't mean he lived like this forever. He found love again with Tsuji."
"Tsuji… helped him?" The Yuki asked. Tears continued to rain down her face.
"Yeah, she… breathed life back into him if that makes sense." Izuku said with a smile. "It took a few years, but eventually Himura learned to be happy again. They got married and started their own family. They had two daughters and a son."
Izuku continued smiling, and the Yuki widened her eyes. The young man let a golden strand flow and it touched her forehead.
"I see it! They were happy, they've aged."
"But they never forgot about you. They still visited your grave every year, and-"
"They named their eldest daughter after me…"
She couldn't hold it back, the Yuki let out a cry of sorrow. She cried and cried into the sky. The city of Fukuoka felt the pain of the storm and all of its citizens huddled around each other to stay warm. Hawks was flying around at great speeds, but stopped. He looked down and spotted the group, and he flew down toward them. Dabi could feel the pain subsiding, and with all the strength he could muster, he stood up, and joined Izuku and Jiro.
"That's what really happened Akiyama, I'm sorry you had to live as a Yuki Onna for so long." Izuku said. He comforted the spirit the best he could.
Jiro noticed that Izuku could barely keep himself together, he was shaking immensely and he started to tear up. The Yuki's body was fading away, and only her head remained.
"I… I must atone for what I've done."
"No, it's okay." Jiro said, Izuku looked over at her with surprise. "You can rest now Akiyama, we'll figure out what to do, we always have."
Jiro smiled.
"You don't have to worry anymore."
Michi tried to smile, and she looked at Dabi.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea I was being manipulated."
"It's fine, that was a helluva fight though." He said, kneeling to the ground. "But I gotta ask, you kept saying Himura a few moments ago, and when we fought you kept calling me Kyohei."
"I see now." Michi replied. "No wonder."
"Dabi?" Izuku asked. The Hero sighed.
"My mom's maiden name is Himura." He said. "And if I look just like this Kyohei guy then well, I think you can put it together."
Izuku felt his heart flare up.
"You're Kyohei's descendent!" He cried.
"How foolish of me…" Michi replied. "Clan Himura lived on after all. Even now in this modern age…"
To everyone's surprise, Michi smiled, and she began to fade away.
"I'm truly sorry for everything I've done. Please, whatever you do with me now, know that I only wish the best for all of you."
Her mouth disappeared and only her eyes remained.
"Farewell Izuku Midoriya… and thank you… for saving me…"
With her last breath, Michi blew a small cloud of snow, and disappeared into the sky. Jiro took her katashiro doll and placed it on the ground. She clapped her hands together, and prayed.
"May you find happiness in the Grand Golden Woods."
The katashiro doll glowed blue, and faded away into the sky. Jiro stood up and helped Izuku to his feet.
"You did a good thing Midoriya." She said quietly.
The snow and ice began to thaw, and the storm clouds broke apart. The sun peered through the thick walls of the cloud, and the snow melted all across the city. Civilians everywhere left the buildings and looked around in amazement. Heroes and police acted quickly and rounded up whatever villains they could find, and the citizens all stayed together for protection.
Dabi watched this all transpire; he was astounded by everything he saw. He lowered his head and smiled as the pain finally vanished, and his body was restored completely.
"Dabi!"
He looked up and saw Hawks touch down right in front of him. The Winged Hero looked around and saw the aftermath of the battle. Ice was scattered across the street, blades of ice and snow had damaged several buildings, yet not a single thing was burned.
"What happened here? Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, let's just say I had a pretty crazy fight. It was… the 'other' kind of villain."
Hawks squinted his eyes.
"Oh I see, right. One of them. "
"Yep, so we need this one to stay off the books."
"I know."
Hawks suddenly ruffled his hand in Dabi's hair.
"Oh come on, again?!" Dabi yelled.
"Hey hey I'm just messing around!" Hawks said happily. "I'm just tryin' to loosen you up after such a big fight!"
Hawks let go of the young man and put his hands in his pockets.
"But in all seriousness, good job Todoroki."
Dabi widened his eyes, but smiled. He raised his hand and high-fived Hawks.
"Thanks."
In the midst of this, Izuku and Jiro stood alone in the Place Between, invisible to the two Heroes. They stood there recovering from everything that had happened, and Jiro sighed.
"Hey."
Izuku looked at her as he wiped his tears.
"For someone who hasn't finished his training you really came through for us there. Seriously, that was unbelievable."
Izuku sniffled for a moment and wiped his face again.
"Thanks." He wept.
Without warning, Jiro hugged him, and Izuku collapsed. He cried into her shoulder and wailed a muted yell into her jacket. They stood there for what felt like days and Izuku cried for even longer.
"It's alright, I know it's hard, but just like the Yokai, we have to learn not to get too attached." Jiro said as she hugged Izuku. "It's gonna take a long time for that to happen, but right now I just want you to let it out."
Izuku hugged her through the pain for a while longer, and after time passed, he let go. He wiped his face and looked her in the eye.
"Thank you Jiro." He said, he suddenly bowed. "I guess I owe you twice now huh?"
Jiro chuckled.
"I'm gonna hold you up to that." She joked. "Come on, we should get back to the Spirit World. Tsukuyomi and Inari will want a report of all this."
"Right." Izuku said.
Together they approached a nearby door, and Izuku looked back one last time. He saw the remaining dust that was on the ground of where Michi laid. He couldn't help but stare at it, wondering if things could've been different. Then, Dabi approached that same spot and looked down at it. He held a hand out and stared, and then he looked around. He caught Izuku and looked at him for a moment, much to the boy's shock. He was in the Place between wasn't he?
Even with that in mind, Dabi smiled, and waved at the boy before taking off into the sky. Blue flames shot from his feet and Hawks flew off with him. They vanished between buildings, and Izuku grinned.
"Toguchi!" Jiro shouted.
戸口
Jiro opened the door and it led into Inari's home, and she stepped right through it. She turned back and saw Izuku approaching. Just before he entered however, he grabbed his coat pocket and felt something inside. He frowned, and stepped through. The door closed behind him, and he walked on.
And all that remained on the battlefield… was the snow.