"You've got it bad, Deku," laughed Katsuku. Izuku just growled, and tried to focus, only for a blue blur to suddenly flash across the screen and Izuku to start swearing and grumbling as Katsuki passed him and won the race. Katsuki turned to his friend and sighed, "I was kidding, but that's the third round in a row I've beat you. Get your head in the game, shitty nerd. It's no fun if it's not a fair fight. Forget your little girlfriend, and have some fun dammit!"

Izuku looked away, but Katsuki saw the sadness in his friend's eyes, if only for a moment, "Pony isn't my girlfriend. It would never work, and you know why."

Katsuki scowled, "This isn't more of your 'empty' shit is it? You know I think that's all a bunch of crap."

Izuku growled, "Not empty, hollow, and yes. She's a soul reaper. Their whole purpose is killing monsters, and I'm a monster. Sure she didn't seem bothered by the pit but-"

"YOU TOOK HER TO THE FUCKING PIT. ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?" shouted Katsuki, and Izuku covered his mouth.

Izuku glowered, "No. We don't need one of our moms hearing and getting suspicious. Naomasa is already pissed that I told you. We do not need to involve them too."

Katsuki pushed Izuku away and nodded, but he still seethed, "In that case, why did you involve her? This doesn't make any sense."

Izuku massaged his temples with his right hand, "Ok, I'll lay it out for you. Firstly, this improves my cover. Now all those women will stop trying to cozy up to me, and convince me to claim them. Secondly, after last night nobody will touch her. She's strong and it wasn't my plan, but thanks to that asshole they think she's mine, so even the top players will think twice." Izuku chuckled, "Entei may be rank ten, but he holds the leash of the rank two fighter, and Lobo doesn't play."

Katsuki smirked, "Cut the bullshit, Deku. You just wanted to show off. You love the little cow, and wanted to let her see… at least a part of you. It's not your real mask, but it's one of them. Stop making excuses, and just accept it. You want her. You care about her. Fucking just do it. Stop being a pussy, and really claim her." Katsuki sighed, "DAMMIT. I wasn't going to say anything, but the day you started acting weird… I tried to attack her-"

Izuku snarled, "You attacked my Pony!"

Katsuki felt the room get hot and charged and he held up his hands to defend himself, "Technically yes, but she beat me back. Point is, afterwards she asked about you. She fucking wants you, nerd."

Izuku blushed, "She did? Are you sure she wants me, and doesn't just want to use me?"

Katsuki rolled his eyes, "Come the fuck on, Deku. I know how to spot a user. They follow me like flies. That girl cares about you, so man up, and stop being a baby bitch!"

Izuku just contemplated for a minute before he smiled, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks Kat."

Katsuki lightly rested his right fist against Izuku's forehead, "Whatever. Just don't fuck it up, and stop being so fucking distant. If it comes to a fight, I've got your back. I'm the only one allowed to beat you, Izuku." As Katsuki pulled away his fist Izuku smiled, and they returned to their game.

The next two weeks brought a lot of changes for the students of Aldara middle. The eternal loner Izuku became a lot more friendly, and rumors started to get around that it was because of the new student, Pony Tsunotori. Wherever she went he followed, and both would simply disappear during lunch, soon followed by Katsuki and Reiko. What they didn't know was that Izuku had shown them a secret way up to the roof, and they started using it as a quiet place to eat. Izuku even brought Pony a bento a few times of teriyaki beef and vegetable rice or grilled chicken and pork dumplings. After a particularly long string of jobs one day, Izuku started to fall asleep against Pony's shoulder, but when he woke up it was to a blue sky, and the feeling of someone running their fingers through his hair while he laid in their lap. Izuku wanted to spring away, but Pony just smiled down at him, and continued her conversation with Reiko, so he stayed.

Katsuki had to skip lunch the next day, so Izuku asked, "What does Soul Society teach when it comes to Hollows? I've observed some, but what's the 'professional' perspective?"

Pony sighed, "You handle this, Rei. I never had the patience for long lectures."

Reiko nodded, "Well to begin, the living can be considered wholes. They live and grow unaware of us. When they die they either become a plus or a minus. A plus is a 'pure' soul, and either goes to Soul Society on its own, or we need to perform a Konso to help them along. Those pluses become the citizens of Soul Society and linger until it is time for them to be reborn and live new lives. Sometimes they become strong enough to become Soul Reapers during that time along with natural born Reapers like myself."

Izuku nodded, "I've done a few of those, Konso, I think."

Pony smiled, "Good, it's an important part of the job."

Reiko continued, "Minuses are made up of 'impure' souls and souls that lingered too long. They slowly go mad, or slip into negativity and darkness until they are left empty inside… a hollow. They try to fill the emptiness inside them with the souls of others, but that only drives them deeper into emptiness. The same way pluses can become Reapers. Hollows become Menos. Menos are collections of thousands of souls fighting for control and are the lowest form of 'evolved' hollows. Nothing more than an incredibly powerful beast driven by instinct. Once one soul becomes strong enough to take control of the hoard they become an adjucha. A more focused being, but constantly looking for more souls to maintain control, or they'll return to Menos."

Izuku nodded, "Ok. Is that it though? An eternity of hunger and emptiness. That doesn't seem right?"

Reiko looked away, "There's supposed to be another level, Vaste lorde, but I don't know anything about them. All the records are restricted, and there isn't much to start with. The only thing I know is they're supposed to be stronger than Captains."

Izuku shrugged, "That sucks, but thanks for filling me in. It could help, and maybe I'll run into one of those Vaste things. Get you some good data." Izuku finished with a smile.

Reiko sighed, "For once, I hope not."

A few days later a problem reared its head. There hadn't been any sightings of the Hunter in weeks, and Soul Society was getting increasingly agitated. A few incredibly weak hollows had popped up, but disappeared before the duo of reapers could even exit their gigai. Finally a suitably powerful hollow appeared, an adjucha. As Izuku made his way toward it with Izuka, he whispered to Entei, "You ready?"

Entei grumbled, "Only this one time. You'd better make this worth it, or I'll take matters into my own hands."

Izuku scoffed, "What are you going to do? You can't take over my body like Lobo can."

Entei chuckled darkly, "I can burn away your pants. That should get her attention."

Izuku blushed and grumbled, "Stupid pervy cat." Izuku threw Entei's unreleased blade to Izuka, "Ok, sis. Time to put on a show." As soon as they got close, Izuku raised his hand in front of his face and clawed down, making his hollow mask appear on his face, and he released a hollow roar that sounded like a howl.

Pony and Reiko had been rushing to confront the new hollow when they felt an unbelievably heavy pressure and Pony saw it for the first time against the moon as it clawed at another hollow… the Hunter. When they got close enough, Pony saw a humanoid hollow with a long mane of emerald hair that hung wild down to the middle of its back with a bone white vest and shorts. Its arms, legs, and torso were covered in mint fur, and on its face was a wolf-like hollow mask. Reiko immediately started recording in her tome, while Pony felt conflicted. Why did seeing this beast fight make her heart flutter?

Hiding behind some cover they found 'Izuku' nursing an injured shoulder, and Pony rushed to help him, but as soon as she looked into his eyes something felt off. Pushing the feeling aside, Pony rushed to do what she could, but her Kaido (healing kido) was incredibly weak. All the same, Izuku smiled at her, but it felt wrong… like someone doing a good impression, but still an impression. Before she could ask, Izuku spoke, "We need to get out of here. That thing is stronger than any of us. If the Hunter didn't attack it, I think I might have died."

Pony scoffed, and Reiko nodded, "He's right Pony. That this is an adjucha. It's near captain level. We'd never stand a chance."

Pony growled, "That's weak talk. I won't get beat by some third rate hollow." Much to Izuka and Reiko's horror, Pony rushed at the amphibian looking adjucha with her blade. As she charged, Pony screamed, "SHOW THEM OUR POWER, TSUNO NO OMO!!!" And to her credit she managed to pierce the hollows back, but that only seemed to piss it off.

The adjucha howled, "Traitor! Coward! Weakling! Working with reapers against your own kind! I will tear you to pieces and become the next Gran Rey Hueco!" The adjucha shoved Lobo back, and rounded on Pony, preparing to use its claws to rip her apart first, but just as the claws were about to strike. Pony felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her, and shield her with his body.

Pony looked up, expecting to see Izuku, but instead saw a pair of emerald rings in a pool of darkness looking at her from the eye holes of a hollow wolf mask. After a moment, the Hunter released her and spun around enraged as it started releasing another challenging howl, revealing the four long gashes on its back. The pressure the wolf released started to grow and become so thick it was hard to breathe before it just seemed to stop. Pony's senses screamed at her to run… that the pressure hadn't stopped growing. It had simply become so powerful she couldn't sense it anymore… Her conscious mind blocking it out to protect itself. The clouds above began to twist and circle with occasional emerald lightning forking between them as they were twisted and darkened into storm clouds by the reiatsu this one hollow was releasing. It was beautiful and terrifying. Suddenly it raised a hand and emerald lightning struck it, but the wolf barely moved until it lowered its hand and Pony heard a faint distorted whisper…

Rayo del Dragón Aullador

Suddenly an emerald dragon made of lightning came rushing toward the adjucha like a striking snake, and as it slammed into it there was a flash and a loud thundercrack like howl could be heard. The reapers watched as the flash faded and the smoking disintegrating form of the adjucha was quickly being carried away by the Hunter. Its masked face was being palmed all the way as it disappeared in a familiar crackle of static.

With the hollows gone, Pony turned to interrogate 'Izuku' and saw 'him' trying to escape, but it was noticeably slower than usual. Reiko moved to chase him, but Pony just flash stepped in front of her, "Rei, go report what we just saw to Soul Society. We may need to get an update to our orders. I'll go after Midoriya."

Reiko noticed the change in Pony's tone, and sighed, "Fine, but don't hurt him. His injury didn't look serious, but he could have others he's hiding. Go check on your boyfriend." Reiko flashed a slight smile, and flash stepped away before Pony could retort.

Pony scowled, "Ya… sure. I think this conversation is going to be very informative." Pony started rushing after 'Izuku' and much to her surprise, she managed to catch up. After another block, Pony shouted, "Hey, wait up!" Pony didn't miss the fearful look 'Izuku' had, and that just proved the final straw. Extending a hand and pointing with her index and middle finger, Pony growled, "Bakudo number one, Sai!" Suddenly making 'Izuku' stumble as 'his' arms were forcibly locked behind their back, but this only seemed to make them run faster and more frantically. Pony only got more annoyed at that, so she got closer and her hands started to crackle with yellow energy as she shouted, "Bakudo number four, Hainawa."

As a yellow rope snaked and tied up 'Izuku', Pony prepared to start shouting and interrogating, but was stunned by what she saw… 'Izuku' was crying and trembling as 'he' begged in a more feminine voice, "Please, I'm sorry. Please don't kill me. Please, I don't want to die. Onii-chan, please save me."

The next moment, the rope snapped and once more the Hunter stood before Pony, and in its arms was a trembling 'Izuku'. Pony heard a small distorted whisper, "Shhh, it's ok Izuka. Big bro is right here. I'm sorry. I promise, nobodies going to hurt you." Much to Pony's shock she saw the trembling figure cuddle closer to the hollow as if it was the only thing between them and oblivion. Pony saw the Hunter lean down and strap Izuku's zanpakuto to its right hip, and she was shocked when she saw a matching blade on its left. It moved and sat on an air conditioner as it protectively cradled the teen in its arms. Suddenly it spoke, "I was an idiot to believe this plan would work. None of my others have, when you were involved. Well, little Ram. I know you have questions, and I'll answer them, but if I think for an instant you're going to hurt my little sister… I will cut you down. No matter how much I care for you, she's my family, and I will not abandon her."

Pony couldn't make sense of any of this, and it was simply too much for her to handle, so she raised her blade, "Who are you? I don't know what you've done to Izuku, but I'll find a way to kill you if you don't start making sense!"

The hollow started to laugh, and raised its hand over its masked face, "Oh, little Ram. I thought that would be easy. I am Izuku." Pony was shocked as the mask crumbled away into green spirit particles before being inhaled by Izuku. He smiled, "So… ya. Hi, Pony."

Pony fell backwards onto her butt as she stammered, "No. Nonono no. Izuku Midoriya is a soul reaper, not a hollow. This is impossible."

Izuku sighed, as his hollow attire burned away into his normal shinigami clothes, "It's not, and also… I'm a Reaper AND a Hollow. More specifically, I'm a Vizard, a hollowfied soul reaper. And this adorable scamp is Izuka. She's a mod soul I found shortly after becoming what I am. She was alone, and desperate for someone to look after her, so I became her brother. Due to what I am, normal gikon break down after a few uses for me, but Izuka is special. She's an endurance type mod soul, and as a result we've been cleaning up this area together for almost ten years."

Pony gaped, "Ten years! How is that possible?" Pony suddenly scowled, "Are you why there aren't any wandering spirits around?"

Izuku scratched the back of his head, "Yes, but not for the reason you're thinking. I created a place where all of them can collect safely, and exist without being hunted until they are ready to receive Konso… or they start to become hollows. I didn't lie when I said I only eat hollows, and they don't 'remain with me' like they would if eaten by another hollow." Izuku sighed seeing the skeptical look on Pony's face, "So yes, I absorb their strength, and reitsu, but I also purify them and send them on to Soul Society… if that is where they belong. Wicked or evil souls ARE locked inside me for a time, but Lobo and Entei helped me create a special ritual that I perform twice a month, where I release them all at once into Hell. I'm really tired the day after, but even at half strength I'm still a powerful opponent."

Pony scoffed, "Don't bullshit me, Midoriya! Entei was the name you went by in the fighting pit."

Izuku shrugged, "Yep, but it's also my reaper zanpakuto's name. My hollow zanpakuto isn't ready to share its release command with me yet, but I do know his name… Lobo de tormenta, Storm Wolf."

Izuka finally managed to calm herself down, and free herself from Izuku's embrace, but just sat on the floor in front of Izuku looking sad, "I'm sorry, Pony-chan. I thought I did a good job of being onii-chan, but I must have messed up. This is all my fault. I've ruined everything. Please don't hate him. It would break his heart."

Izuku blushed and growled desperately, "~Izuka~, shut up!"

Izuka bowed her head to a very confused Pony, "Please, Pony-sama. He talks about you all the time, he loves-"

Izuku covered her mouth with both hands desperately, "I don't do that. Izuka, don't make things up." Suddenly Izuku got a disgusted look and retracted his now wet hands, "DID YOU REALLY LICK MY HANDS! THAT'S NASTY!"

Izuka just kept staring at Pony, "He loves you. Loves you enough to take the risk of setting up this whole plan so you wouldn't figure out his secret until he was ready. He just wanted to get to know you without having to be afraid he'd slip up. The whole point of me acting like him was so you'd see us in the same room. That way if you got suspicious you'd think he couldn't be Lobo. I know it was dumb, but we risked our lives just so that there was a chance. Does that mean nothing?"

Pony didn't know how to feel. Her crush, and after the fighting pit she had admitted that fact to herself, was a hollow or part hollow. That shouldn't be possible, but either way she needed more information, so she let out a sigh, "Izuku, do you promise no matter what I ask you… you'll tell me the truth?"

Izuku looked around hesitantly, and Izuka reached up and patted his knee, making him sigh as well, "I don't see what harm it can do at this point, but… Pony, I know you don't trust me. Not now anyway, so I'll make it so that someone will call me on it if I try." Pony seemed confused, and flinched when Izuku drew both his katana, but a moment later he plunged them into the ground. With a smile Izuku challenged, "I wonder if you can tell which spirit scares souls more?"

The two blades seemed to burst into emerald lightning and flames resulting in a blinding flash, and when Pony could see again she saw a large white wolf, with a lupin black hollow mask that had green and red streaks along the top and sides of the mask giving it more color and making the mask look even more intimidating. The other a similarly sized liger-esqu cat with red stripes across its blue coat, a pair of saber tooth fangs, and a mane of emerald flame. While the cat sat at regal attention and gave off a stuffy noble vibe like it was above everything before it, and wasn't impressed. The wolf seemed perfectly content to just lay beside Izuka and let her pet him contently. Immediately Pony saw the resemblance both had to the aliases Izuku used for them, and not just because the hollows mask was an inversion of the one Izuku had worn.

Pony was pulled out of her awe as the cat spoke, "Close your mouth! Your awe is warranted, but an empress does not slouch and look like they are attempting to catch flies. Perhaps our other has chosen poorly. What say you, mutt?"

The wolf grumbled, "I think you should be nice, you mangy hairball. It's not her fault. You know as well as I do that manifestation isn't a normal or easy trick to perform. Also, screw off. She's cute. The pup made a good choice."

The cat growled at the wolf, but Izuku just rolled his eyes, "Guys, not the time. Pony, the lazy hound is my inner hollow, Lobo, and the grumpy cat is my reaper spirit, Entei. As you can see, they have no filter, so they'll call me out if I'm being less than honest."

Pony reached out and felt the rippling heat pouring off of Entei, and she stammered, "I've heard of this technique, but I didn't think it could be done. Izuku, have you unlocked your banki?"

Entei scoffed, "Of course not, my lady. Though he is closer then he knows. This is simply an exercise to help him train, and allow us to stretch our legs. Also, do not touch me if you wish to keep that hand! Only one may touch me, and you have yet to earn that right."

Pony pulled back her hand, "I'm sorry. So, can I assume everything has been true so far?"

Lobo chuckled, "Yup, the pup is utterly smitten with you. Also, I hope you liked the light show earlier. My Howling dragon bolt is an incredibly powerful attack, and he doesn't use it lightly. You should feel honored."

Entei scoffed, "Still nothing compared to my Kōtei no ongaeshi (Emperor's rend), but I will admit it has some strength."

Pony gave them a hard look, "Ok, explanation time. How did Izuku become a hollow?"

Lobo looked away, "That's my fault. I used to be a normal adjucha, and I found Izuku when he was really small. I don't eat non-hollow souls, haven't for a long time. He was hurt, and I was bored. We ended up being attacked by a hollow that I knew as Kongquester, but if I remember correctly you already heard this story… and met that hollow." Pony looked confused, so Lobo smiled, "The hollow that attacked your farm, it escaped through a garganta into the living world, am I right?" Pony nodded. "It's dead. It was Izuku's first kill, after it nearly erased me, and I merged with Izuku. Don't ask how. We won't say… for the safety of Soul Society, it has to remain a secret or any disgruntled reaper might try to use the knowledge to get stronger. Suffice it to say, the process should have killed him soon after, but Instead we became one."

Pony gave the hollow a hard look, "So what? Do you slowly consume him from within?"

Izuku growled, "Pony, he's not a parasite, he's a symbiotic soul shard. We're partners in the same way Entei and I are. He saved my life, and he's never hurt a re-"

Lobo stood up and growled, "Don't! Don't you dare finish that sentence Izuku. I'm old enough to remember the time before the wave, and if you think I was always this controlled you're wrong. I was a savage hunter once. I didn't care who I consumed, be they plus, minus, reaper, or menos, but I am not that beast anymore. She has a right to hate me for who I was. Can we move on, please?"

Pony was shocked by the emotion and humanity that Lobo just displayed, so she did as he asked, "I want to see the place you've hidden all the souls, but before we go… how powerful are you?"

Entei preened, "Since a banki is required to be considered a captain class reaper, Izuku is a solid lieutenant level. Though we know almost nothing about the spells you cast, and we could probably fight weaker captains if we had to with just our power."

Lobo seemed to think about it, "We lost a lot of power in the merger, but we gained it all back and more since. I'd guess I'll evolve at some point in the next year, and we won't have to consume any hollows after that if we don't want to, even if our consumption is even more efficient than normal reaping. By the way, Tsunatori, the reapers got most of their information correct, but not all of it, and as someone on the cusp of Vasto Lorde I should know."

Pony blinked, "So up until now…"

Izuku looked away and Entei scoffed as he puffed his chest, "You haven't seen anything. The brat hasn't even released me yet. There isn't a soul, reaper, or hollow around that can even serve as a warm up for our true power."

With that Izuku stood and made both spirits burst back into spirit particles that he once more took a deep breath in and swallowed. After returning his blades to their scabbards Izuku held out a hand to Pony, "Take my hand, and I'll show you the world through my eyes." Pony looked into Izuku's eyes, and without thinking… she took his hand. The warm comforting feeling of Izuku's reishi washed over her leaving a charge across every nerve ending of her skin as the world seemed to slow around them, and Pony felt like she was being pulled through syrup as Izuku reeled her in close to him and held her close. He began to run with her held close to him, and Pony saw the world turn around them and change with every long step. Pony noticed entire blocks fading away faster than she had ever imagined before, and that same static sound that always happened when Izuku dashed away was constant and all around her.

Pony was standing, while slightly dizzy and breathless, on the edge of a forest when Izuku finally let go of her hand, and Pony felt the electricity and warmth fade from around her, much to her dismay. After a minute to recover, Pony asked, "What was that? It felt amazing, and faster than anything I've ever experienced."

Izuku smirked, "My sonido, it functions similarly to reaper flash steps, or so I'm told, but it doesn't require as much strength to perform, and is undetectable except for the buzzing at each end." Izuku suddenly gave her a stern look, "I need you to promise not to try to perform a konso while you're here unless asked. These people are my friends, and I will not have them forced to do something they are not ready for." Pony nodded, and Izuku guided her for a short ways into the woods before raising a hand and making a distortion open in the air.

Pony gasped and followed him though, but Izuku still heard her mumble, "A Kyomon?! How does he know an advanced Bakudo barrier spell, and how does he maintain it? This is impossible!"

Izuku laughed, "The door is a Kyomon, yes. It's one of only two spells I know. The rest of this is the second spell, Hachigyo Sogai, and both are maintained by me. I have to come by at least once a day to recharge them, but… you can feel them now, can't you?" Pony took a moment to feel the waves of reishi around her, and felt dozens of souls just outside her range of sight in the trees. Before she could ask, Izuku yelled, "IT'S SAFE. I BROUGHT THE REAPER HERE TO MEET YOU. WHY NOT COME AND SAY HELLO?"

A number of older looking ghosts poked out their heads, only for four little kids to come running out and start cheering and trying to get Izuku's attention, "Aniki, will you play with us? Aniki, we missed you? Aniki, who's the pretty lady… Is she your girlfriend?"

Izuku blushed at the little girl who asked the last question, but Pony came over and pet the girl's black hair, "Is it alright with you if I am? A big strong girl like you can share, right?"

The girl giggled, "Ok, but remember, I saw him first so no kissy stuff. Promise?"

Pony smiled, and hooked the girls pinky, "I promise. Now, could you do me a favor and answer just a few questions?" The girl nodded her head excitedly, and Pony tilted her head to watch Izuku, "Does Izuku take good care of all of you?"

The girl giggled, "Aniki is the best. He saved me from a mean monster with a rat face. He brought me here a while ago, while he helps me. He says I have to go somewhere else though. A nice place where I can find my daddy, but I want to make sure Mommy is ok first, so he promised to give her a message as soon as she wakes up."

Pony nods, and Izuku gives her a 'I'll explain later look' from behind the girl. Pony points at all the ghosts around as she asks, "Did he offer to help them all too?"

The girl thinks for a moment before shaking her head, "Aniki offered to help, but some of them just want to be left alone to think before they move to this new place he takes about. Izu doesn't seem to mind though, and even when the scary noises happen he just has all of us hide while he protects us." The little girl tries to look stern, and only manages a cute pout, "Aniki is nice, so you better be nice too, pretty lady, or I'll get mad. He says I'm too little to marry him now, but someday I'm gonna be big enough, so you better not hurt him before that."

Pony smiles, "I'll remember that, and I'll try to protect him for you until then, ok?" The girl smiled and gave Pony a small hug before running off with the other kids, who were being called by an old man who looked exhausted.

Pony spent the next hour walking about and asking ghosts questions until Izuku nudged Pony's shoulder, "Thanks for humoring Ino. She's a cute kid, but her mom was in a car accident with her in the backseat. Her mom has been in a coma ever since, but I heard some doctors say she's showing signs of waking up soon. It'll suck, but… letting her say goodbye should help them both get some closer, and a gentleman offered to go with her so she's not alone in the Rukongai. Also, the scary noises she mentioned are the few times a hollow formed. It's only happened once in the last two years, but it was… memorable."

Pony sighed, "I don't like this. I should turn you over the Head Captain right now… but I won't. If I find any sign of deception, or that you are a threat… That will change before you can so much as blink, but ugh." Pony grumbled, "I hate you."

Izuku smiled, "Whatever you saw my little lamb."

With that Izuku started walking back into the woods followed by a stuttering Pony, "Now wait a second! I never agreed to… We're not… I hate you."

Izuku just laughed, "It's ok Lamb. I know you don't mean it, and I feel the same way. You're different from every other person I've met, but I know we can't actually be together. You could never love a monster, like me, and I'll never be good enough, but I still care deeply about you, so… let me lie to myself… just for tonight. Please?"

Pony reached out and took Izuku's hand again tentatively, "What did you have in mind?"

An hour later, they were both back in their gigai/bodies, and Izuku was leading Pony up to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the city. When they arrived at the spot Izuku wanted to show her, they were able to see the whole city spread out before them, and Izuku smiled at Pony's awestruck face at all the lights below them. Removing a few things from the bag he brought with him, Izuku prepares a small dinner for the two of them, and Pony watches his practiced movements as he dices vegetables and chicken like a professional chef before frying it all with rice. It was mesmerizing, and they ate in silence, though Pony couldn't help noticing the smile that never left Izuku's face, one she had never seen him wear before.

When they were done eating, Izuku sat with his back to a wall, and indicated for Pony to sit beside him. Deciding to humor him, Pony did so, and received an ever warmer smile for it. Pony sighed, "So, I'll admit this place is nice, and your cooking is surprisingly good, but what's the point of this? Why are we here?"

Izuku looked up to the sky, and focused his reiatsu into his finger and used it to move clouds, "Most people think the clear night sky is the most beautiful." As he spoke he cleared away a section so Pony could see what he meant, before the clouds knit back together and darkened, "But I have always enjoyed the storm, the tempest, and the pitter patter of rain." The sky grew even darker until a soft rain began to fall, but they remained dry as if under a dome. "The wrathful power of the storm and the calming sound that accompanies it are like a lullaby to me. Every roll of thunder is like the beating of nature's heart." Izuku reached down, and interlaced his finger with Pony's and she didn't stop him. "I find power and purity beautiful, and I see both in you. Pony, you keep saying you want to understand me, so that's why we're here. I wanted to show you… just who I am. I am the storm, powerful and boundless. Both calming and terrifying, but also pure." Pony felt a pair of lips on her forehead and froze, "I know you have big dreams, and in order to reach them… you will have to sacrifice me, so before that I wanted to let you know two things."

Pony looked at Izuku's shining emerald eyes, and whispered tremblingly, "And that is?"

Izuku gave her another kiss on the forehead, "I forgive you. I will never blame you for what has to happen… and secondly, I love you. I know you'll never feel the same, but I do. From the moment I saw you, I knew that you were special. That you were going to do amazing things, and if I must sacrifice myself for that to happen… you may take my life because only you have my heart. You are what I was missing, the calm soothing eye to my storm."

Pony absentmindedly nuzzled closer to Izuku, "I'm not powerful, and if I was pure… I'd know what to do. I've spent years trying to get stronger… like my Captain. She's so unbelievably strong. When the second true Kenpatchi left to find an opponent worth fighting, he named her his successor, but she's barely acted since. The only way to be accepted as a Kenpachi is to become the strongest member without question, but only one person ever challenged her for the position… and he never even landed a hit on her. She crushed him under the pressure of her power alone. Since then, only our lieutenant is challenged, and only someone who can beat him is permitted to challenge the Captain. I want to beat her. I want to be the one to bring our idol, Zaraki, back, but I'm not strong enough… and I don't know if I'll ever be. Izuku, what if I'm right. What if I sacrifice being with you, but in the end… I'm not good enough?"

Pony felt Izuku pull her into his lap and hold her close, "Then I'll help you. Whatever time I have left… I'll use it to help you get stronger. My final act with this life… will be giving you the wings you need to soar to the top because I know you can. You might doubt it, but I don't." Pony buried her face in Izuku's chest, and he rubbed circles on her back as she cried out her emotions, "It's ok, Pony. Let it all out… my love."

Elsewhere a male voice could be heard talking to a bowing girl with long green hair, "A mission has come down from the captain's. You are to gather your things and prepare for a mission to the living world. It appears your friends have an issue, and require seated support. I know your promotion is still new, but we expect great things from you… eighteenth seat, Ibara Shiozaki."

Ibara raised her head and her dark green eyes shined, "I live to serve, sir. Anything for the glory, and prestige of Soul Society."

The man chuckled, "It appears they might have found something else as well, the lost heir to your noble house."

Ibara's eyes widened, "But Uncle Hisashi is dead?"

The man laughed, "But it appears he had a rebellious side... A son. A lost half reaper in need of collection."

Ibara bowed her head, "Truly this is a momentous day then. I will bring him back personally, and help guide him in understanding our noble purpose. Thank you, and thank the Soul King." Ibara disappeared in a burst of speed with an overjoyed look, unaware of the devastation that was to come.

Breakdown: So ya, Izuku is letting Pony in, but they're both in danger now. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, and shine on beautiful readers. Shine on.