Thread by @midoriyakacchan

izuku waits a long time before he allows himself to really cry.

asking kacchan to leave was the kindest thing he could have done, but he wishes it didn't have to *hurt* so much.

he thought he wasn't a stranger to loneliness. it was more unbearable than he remembered.

https://twitter.com/midoriyakacchan/status/1125402448619720706

part of him knows what he should keep moving. that even if kacchan has decided to return home, news of it wouldn't be fast enough to stop the ones already ordered to pursue them.

the purification already exhausted him tremendously. he's not sure if it's because he's out of practice, or because purification harms him as much as it would a normal demon, but it was hard to even keep his eyes open. and that's not just because he cried himself sore.

but he knows he can't stay here. not unless he wants to break his promise to kacchan so quickly.

kacchan hates oath breakers.

each step was difficult with how heavy his body felt like, but he needed to keep going.

'stay alive', kacchan had said. so he needs to. for him.

unlike the first time, they were prepared for izuku's exile this time around. aizawa had ensured that he had the reserves and warm clothing for the colder months. they even provided him with a generous amount of coins to last him for a few months, if he was smart about it.

starting back from scratch wasn't easy, but it was easier this time even if he had no one to rely on but himself.

he had taken to rubbing charcoal over his hair to disguise its viridian hues.

there was little he could do to hide his eyes, so he made sure to only pass by the human villages at night so that the dim lighting would not give him away.

in spite of his and kacchan's concerns, he hadn't encountered any demon from the capitol. lesser demons, on the other hand, were everywhere.

but after aizawa's gruelling training, they were nothing.

in some ways, it was good practice. the constant demon attacks kept him sharp and aware of his surroundings.

instances where he had to use his holy powers were rare, but frequent enough that it didn't hurt him as badly as it used to.

(or maybe it still did, and he'd grown numb)

it becomes common for him to save unfortunate travellers along the way.

izuku knows he's supposed to be keeping a low profile, but he's never been able to just stand by when someone's in trouble.

the sounds of an ongoing battle already put him on high alert, but the flash of blond hair has him moving.

he makes quick work of the demons, purity singing from his fingertips, turning them to ash until all traces of murder lust vanished.

and then he stumbles on something, falling clumsily on his face. how embarrassing.

"are you alright, young man?" asks the man izuku had rescued.

"y-yes," he stammers, mortified. looking down at what he had tripped on.

it was a sizeable pearl.

"oh! this must be yours?" he stretches it out to the blond... demon? (he's never seen a human with that colouring.)

the stranger's worried blue gaze suddenly sharpened at the gesture. it made izuku nervous.

"you don't want it for yourself?" the demon asks curiously.

izuku stares at him in confusion. "ah, no. it's not mine, sorry."

the demon (?) looked fascinated.

"what's your name, young man?"

"deku." he says automatically, before realising that maybe he shouldn't just be going around telling random strangers his name.

recognition flashes on the stranger's face, and deku grew more nervous. oh shit, was he someone from the capitol?

"bakugo katsuki's deku?"

SHIT.

seeing the panic on his face, the stranger waved his hands frantically. "no, no, please! lady mitsuki is an old friend of mine."

izuku doesn't know why that is supposed to reassure him.

"o-oh! shit, that's right, you and young bakugo were not aware."

before izuku could ask any questions, the demon (?) continues, "lady mitsuki called for my assistance when she was made aware that there are was a holy being within the capitol. she knew that her people would have called for your execution."

"she requested my aid to assist your escape, young deku. however..."

"kacchan got to me first." he whispers.

an amused look flashed on the stranger's face. "yes. kacchan did."

"i want to believe you." izuku says quietly. "but why should i trust you're who is you say you are?"

"my apologies, young man! how rude of me to ask for your name before introducing myself. for you see, i am..."

izuku froze as a huge surge of power flowed through the stranger, engulfing him in bright energy.

"toshinori yagi!"

gone was the skeletal man, in his place was someone who looked far healthier, and someone that izuku had only seen in aizawa-sensei's scrolls. had only heard of from kacchan's excitable recounts.

"you're the legendary general all might!" izuku gasps.

*you're who you say you are

fjjdndnx twitter let me edit shit

"i see my reputation precedes me!" the demon laughs gallantly.

only to be engulfed by smoke. izuku was alarmed by the amount of blood the blond began to cough out.

"a-all might! oh no! you're injured!"

"no, no, young man! this is quite normal."

"NORMAL?!"

all might laughs nervously. "well, i suppose calling it normal is a bit of stretch."

"internal bleeding being normal is more than just a stretch!" izuku cries, dismayed.

witnessing the frantic way the boy was looking him over, all might sighs and undid his obi.

izuku couldn't look away from the terrible injury on the general's stomach, horrified. "what happened?"

"a cursed blade." the general explains. "it disintegrated most of my stomach."

"and not even demonic healing would restore that." izuku realised.

"correct!" the general nods, retying his obi. "and incorrect."

"huh?" what did that mean?

"you are correct in saying that not even demon bodies would be capable of restoring internal organs." he explains. "but you see, i am no demon."

izuku stares, uncomprehending.

"it is more accurate to say that i am what mortals would call a demigod."

HUH?!

all might laughs at his reaction. "really, boy! surely it's not that surprising?"

he blinks as the boy suddenly prostrated himself on the floor, mumbling furious prayers.

"ah... young deku?"

"I APOLOGISE FOR MY FORWARDNESS KAMI-SAMA."

all might choked on a mouthful of blood.

"get up, you foolish boy!" the general sputters, looking embarrassed.

"how could i speak so disrespectfully to a god?" he hears the boy mutter furiously, mortified with himself. "what would mother say if she could see me now?! i'm a disgrace!"

"young man, i would appreciate if you would get off of the floor this instant." toshinori says awkwardly.

"YES, OF COURSE KAMI-SAMA."

"kid. stop calling me kami-sama, my godly parent isn't quite them."

"YES ALL MIGHT-SAMA."

really. this boy.

"quit it with the -sama. really now."

izuku yelps as the man karate-chopped at his head.

"you foolish boy," the demigod sounded exasperated, but there was a hint of amusement there too.

"sorry," he squeaks. "this is my first time meeting any sort of deity!"

"i'm only part of it." he reminds.

recalling the initial subject of their conversation, izuku straightened up. "so not even holy beings can heal that level of damage?"

"some may," he corrects. "but as i said, i am only part god. the same way you are only part demon, my boy."

"oh."

"although," toshinori looks at him curiously. "i believe your case may be far more interesting than mine."

"..oh?" the boy looked uncomfortable.

"yes. i don't believe i've ever had the pleasure to meet someone born with demonic and holy powers at once."

"you're quite a special one, my boy."

izuku stared at him in shock. "w-what?"

the general smiled kindly. "there's never been anyone like you, kid! your very existence is a miracle."

izuku...? a miracle?

he shakes his head. "that can't be true."

"why is that, kid?"

"i'm a curse." he insists, looking away. "everywhere i go, all i seem to do is cause distress. humans, demons... i don't belong anywhere."

not to mention his mother. his— kacchan.

"my very existence hurts the people that care for me. how is that a miracle?"

"i'm selfish for existing." hands curled into the fabric of his hakama. "if my mother had a normal child, then she wouldn't have had to work so hard to keep me safe. if kacchan never met me, he wouldn't have needed to risk his future."

"you dishonor the people who care for you by saying this."

izuku flinched. "what?"

all might leaned down to meet his gaze properly. "kid, i mean it when i said that there has never been someone like you before. demonic and holy energy don't mix."

"you aren't something that's born of an accident. someone like you can only be possible through a powerful desire."

it was all he could do to stare, his pulse loud in his ears.

"as for your young lord," the demigod's mouth curled up. "believe me when i say no one is capable of forcing that boy into doing anything he doesn't want. i've known that kid since he hatched. you're something special if you're someone he's risking his birthright to protect."

all might's smile was kind, and his touch was gentle as he ruffles izuku's hair.

"i can tell you've got a good heart, young deku." he says gently. "you rushed to my rescue when you did not even know who i was. no true selfish being would blame themselves as harshly as you do."

"the world was cruel to you, my boy."

izuku didn't realise he was crying. it was so hard to breathe.

"do not fault yourself for that."

it was so stupid. why do these kind words hurt more than all the harsh ones ever did?

the mighty general accompanies him to a nearby inn, which, to his surprise, was ran by kitsune

seeing how mystified the young man was by the abnormally warm reception, all might informed him that kitsune cared little for the societal expectations of humans and demons.

demon, human, half. they didn't care who it was, so long as they could practice their little tricks.

the demigod waived away the expenses for their stay, insisting that it was the least he could do for deku saving his life earlier.

"about that," izuku starts tentatively. "all might, is it safe for you to be travelling in your... condition? n-not that i'm implying you're incapable of defending yourself! i'm certain the stories don't do you justice at all and th--"

"young deku!" the man interrupts, laughing.

"it is quite alright, young man. you would be correct in your assumption."

izuku looked confused. "then... why are you...?"

all might smiled. "it's actually quite fortuitous that you came across me, young deku. for you see... i was looking for you."

huh?

he doesn't understand. "but kacchan has already returned to the capitol..?"

then a thought came to mind, freezing his blood to ice. "unless--!"

izuku squeaks as a large hand karate-chopped at his head.

"slow down your frantic thoughts, you foolish boy!" all might scolds, exasperated. "your lord has returned to the palace safe and sound. he remains under lady mitsuki's strict supervision and i've been told is now perpetually frustrated as a result, but he's in good health."

izuku deflates sheepishly. "sorry."

his companion shakes his head, a bemused smile on his gaunt face. "may i explain myself now?"

"yes please."

"i intended to collect you from the beginning, prior to young bakugo's quicker action." all might reminds him. "lady mitsuki recognises you as someone cherished by her only son. she was not about to let you perish knowing the effect it may have on young bakugo."

"oh." he whispers, feeling gratified. "i wish i could thank her."

"i wouldn't advise it." all might says wryly. "i'm certain you're aware that young bakugo has inherited a lot of characteristics from his mother. they would sooner take offense to your good will."

izuku had to laugh at that, nodding. "yes, you're right. but i'm still grateful."

"it relieves me to hear that." the demigod smiles. "am i correct in assuming you aren't opposed to accompanying this old man for quite some time?"

"it'd be my honour, all might!"

right before they set back out on the road, all might surprises him with a gift.

"prayer beads?" he inspects the jade.

"charmed with kitsune magic." all might explains, ruffling izuku's washed hair. "so that you no longer have any need to dirty yourself unnecessarily!"

izuku tries not to cry.

and fails.

"T-THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALL MIGHT!"

"we really must do something about this crying of yours, you silly boy!"

the prayer beads were charmed by the powerful nine-tailed matron, which disguised all that made him stand out from the naked eye. with this, he would be free to visit any human village without suspicion.

with this, he didn't have to worry about standing out.

travelling with the legendary hero provided izuku with a sense of freedom he had never felt before. living in the human village confined him in one place that never quite felt like home.

the demon capitol felt closer, but he also wasn't ignorant of the delicate position he as well as kacchan were in.

but travelling with toshinori-san (as he had insisted to be called), was liberating.

the demigod was every bit as amazing as kacchan said, and more.

he was kind, wise, and quite possibly one of the warmest people izuku had ever known. he was a skilled warrior even with his body not being in the best of shape, and was generous in teaching izuku everything he knew.

but over the course of their travels, he noticed something.

as they make camp by a hot spring, izuku had to ask.

"toshinori-san?"

the demigod looks up from the kindle he was assembling, giving izuku his undivided attention. "yes, my boy?"

he fiddles with his sleeve. "i was wondering... i've travelled on my own, as you know, and it's not necessarily surprising as there's a lot of them constantly out on the prowl. i thought maybe the number of people had something to do with it, but..."

"there was never quite THIS many of them even back when i was travelling with kacchan?"

"my boy," there was a fond exasperation on toshinori's face that made izuku's chest feel tight. "what on earth are you talking about?"

"the demons," he clarifies. "i've been attacked by groups of lesser demons before, but never as frequently like this."

toshinori stares at him in surprised silence. izuku watches apprehensively as it faded into something that looked like... resignation.

he sighs. "you truly are an observant boy, aren't you?"

there was a note of wonder there, a hint of pride that unfurled some of the nerves collecting in izuku's stomach.

"is... is it because you're a demigod?" izuku guesses.

his companion shakes his head. "no, that's not quite it. please sit, my boy."

izuku complies, watching his mentor attentively.

"do you know of the jewel of souls?"

jewel of souls..?

"i can't say i'm familiar with it." he shakes his head.

toshinori's mouth twitched to a small smile as he digs inside his robes for a familiar pearl. "one would think you would, given that you tripped over it when we first met."

izuku flushes in mortification. "oh...!"

"so you do remember!" he jests in good nature.

"s-so... what is the jewel of souls?" he asks, desperate for a subject change.

he regrets it for how quickly his mentor loses his smile.

toshinori tells a tale of the demon king and a powerful holy warrior. it was said that the warrior possessed spiritual powers that paled any other person alive, that he could purify and destroy ten thousand demons at once. that the demon king led a whole army to take him down.

after seven days and seven nights of fighting, the warrior realised he would be unable to fight off the demons. drawn into the creature's massive jaws, he seized the spirit of the demon and bound it within his own with the last of his power, killing them both.

it created the sacred jewel in the process, which burst from his chest.

within the jewel, the warrior's soul and the soul of the demon king battles on. the state of the battle is influenced by the person who possesses the jewel.

"but why are the demons drawn to its power?" izuku asks.

"the jewel grants immense power to whoever possesses it," toshinori explains. "strong enough to grant a wish."

"but make no mistake, young deku." toshinori warns. "for the jewel never truly grants any wish. it is a promise of power at most, and power is easily corrupted."

"so why don't you destroy it?"

the demigod couldn't help but smile. for the young man to ask for a way to ask to destroy a jewel that many would die to possess...

yes. he was the one.

"that is the reason for my journey, my boy." toshinori meets his gaze. "for only a pure wish can destroy this jewel."

"a pure wish..." the young man murmurs. "there's no such thing, is there? any wish can be twisted into something selfish."

"perhaps." toshinori smiles wistfully. "i have travelled to many places, young deku, consulting some of the oldest, the wisest, as well as the youngest."

"but still, i've yet to find the solution." he sighs. "i am quite old, young deku. and this body is failing me. i had feared that i would sooner perish before finding a way to prevent this jewel from falling into the wrong hands."

"...had?" izuku asks quietly.

"yes," toshinori nods. "along with the wish, i had been searching for a successor."

he presents izuku with an expectant gaze.

"me?" the boy says in disbelief. "toshinori-san, i can't possibly be worthy of such an important--!"

"do not finish that sentence, prince of nonsense," he scolds. "you are more than worthy for the task. when we first met, you had no issue parting with the jewel, did you not?"

izuku swallows. "no."

"there are many who would struggle to do what you have done, my boy." the demigod plants a hand to his chest. "myself included."

izuku didn't know what to say.

"tell me," toshinori holds the jewel out. "do you feel any inclination to possess this?"

no. nothing.

his mentor smiles.

"that, my boy," his voice was warm. "is why i have chosen you."

toshinori assures him, however, that he won't be passing the responsibility onto him just yet.

"we must hone your spiritual powers first, my boy!" he explains. "there is no doubt that you possess an extraordinarily strong spirit, but you wield it like you're scared of it."

"i guess i am," izuku admits. "it harms me every time i use it."

"what that tells me is that you do not know how to control it, my boy. tell me, do you know how to meditate?"

"my mother tried to guide me with that before, but, um." he smiles sheepishly. "i'm easily distracted."

the smile the demigod gives him is so patiently fond. izuku wonders what his mother would of thought of him.

"very well, young deku. we'll start there."

he misses her.

for the next few weeks, toshinori has him meditating each time they stopped to rest. it proved immensely difficult for izuku, as he spent years learning to be vigilant and cautious of his surroundings.

in time, the results began to show.

using his spiritual powers no longer felt excruciating. it became even easier when toshinori showed him how to channel his powers through a conduit - a sword.

toshinori told him it didn't have to be a sword. monks preferred staffs, priests took to prayer beads, and priestesses varied between bows and arrows, or sutras. having something physical to channel their powers through made it easier to control the output of their powers.

he had izuku practicing his abilities as they travelled from town to town, exorcising demons and saving numerous lives along the way.

word had spread about the travelling heroes, regaling many with their feats of kindness and bravery.

izuku hadn't realised how infamous he had become until people began to personally seek them out.

"please, noble heroes!" the nobleman pleaded, bowing deeply. "i humbly request for your aid! there is a strange darkness plaguing my son since he returned from his excursion."

"of course," he said immediately. "lead us to him."

toshinori smiled proudly.

as they were welcomed inside the young lord's quarters, izuku couldn't help up pause at the strength aura that surrounded the bed-ridden nobleman.

"who goes there?" the lord demanded, his voice raspy.

"the priests milord's father requested have arrived," said the servant accompanying them. "lord shimura."

strange aura*
i hate that twitter doesn't let me edit

"i'm not dying." the lord said bluntly the second the servant left them.

izuku shares a look with his mentor. "i see."

with a grunt, the young man pushes himself up to sit and get a proper look at them.

for a moment, he sees the lord's eyes flash red.

lord shimura scratches at the back of his neck, looking at them thoughtfully. "you're not normal priests."

neither are you, izuku thinks, guard up. "is that so, milord?"

a smirk stretched on the nobleman's cracked lips.

"you're like me."

a barrier crackles to life as the lord strikes. eyes that are now definitely red are wide with glee. "ohoho, and you can play! yes! this makes this MUCH more exciting!"

toshinori's eyes sharpened as the barrier began to crack. while he often stood back and supervised his student these days, he knows THIS is something beyond his current level of expertise.

"young deku," he steps forward. "allow me to handle this."

"hey!" shimura snarls. "butt out of this, old maAGCK!"

with one spiritual charged punch, the possessed (?) lord was slammed back into his futon. the man screeched as toshinori slapped a sutra on his face, releasing the demon that attached itself to him.

izuku purified it.

"are you fine, young deku?" toshinori casts a concerned glance at his pupil.

izuku shakily realised he had yet to pull his sword from the wooden floor. "y-yes!" he was fine, wasn't he? what was it about this possession that unnerved him so much?

it was clear his mentor was not convinced, but he knew better than to push the subject here. "very well, my boy. let us inform the lord of the manor that his son will soon recover, shall we?"

he nods, holding tightly to the hilt of his sword.

they gave the lord the good news and kindly refused the offer to stay the night, but the lord had been insistent on at least paying them a generous amount of gold for compensation.

they left for the next town, unaware of the eyes watching them.

"are you satisfied, shigaraki tomura?"

"yes. and you know what's even better, kurogiri?"

"what is that, milord?"

"they have it."

something had changed that day.

the frequency of lesser demons increased. they went from trickles to swarms. they had taken to camping within caves as a result. barriers became a necessity even in their downtime.

it was alarming. so much that the higher echleons could no longer afford to ignore it.

so katsuki was sent to investigate.

katsuki was annoyed.

because why the hell did HE have to go and check on what was making the lowlifes so rowdy? there were better things he could do with his time than supervising some brainless gluttons.

the only good thing about it was that he actually got to go out of the stupid capitol.

staying only got even more unbearable without deku around.

there wasn't a day that passed where his thoughts didn't inevitably wander to his childhood playmate. where was he now? what was he doing?

was he safe?

that had been plaguing katsuki's mind the second he'd heard about the lesser demons higher activity. there was no doubt that aizawa had ensured his best friend would be more than capable of defending himself against those shitty worms, but with the volume of their attacks?

...

no. deku was strong. and he promised.

he's never broken any of his promises to katsuki yet.

once this was over, he'll find him.

he'll be fine.

he needs to believe that.

the first few hours of his investigation went quietly.

unnervingly so.

where katsuki would often feel at least a HINT of youki... there was none. as if all of the demons had abandoned the area. a mass hoard of lesser demons could only mean one thing: they had a target.

yet none of the human villages he had passed seemed to have been touched at all.

lesser demons were always hungry for something, it was uncharacteristic for them to ignore human villages, especially when they knew they had the advantage in numbers.

after what felt like an eternity of silence, there was noise. and suddenly, he was stepping into a war zone.

the level of bloodlust almost tempted his own.demon carcasses littered the area, the body count piling up the farther he got until they didn't.

hair and scales stood on end as he recognised the sharp scent of purification.

then katsuki heard him. a voice he would recognise anywhere.

his feet were moving before he could think, unsheathing his sword, slicing through the hoard of demons with one hand and unleashing fire with another. someone gave a furious cry of "DIE!", and it hadn't been katsuki.

he couldn't help but grin. "oi, deku! get your own catchphrase!"

wild green eyes shot over to him. "KACCHAN!?"

"don't get distracted, dumbass!" katsuki barks, launching a fireball at the centipede demon that took advantage of deku's inattentiveness.

"why are you here!?"

"that's my line!"

"boys!" all might calls, strained. "catch up after the demons have been taken care of!"

"sorry, toshinori-san!"

"tch!" katsuki licked his lips, fangs bared with glee. "you barely left any for me!"

with katsuki's assistance, they made quick work of the remaining hoard.

"so you two are responsible for all the noise these peasants were making." katsuki sheaths his sword, sending his senses out to ensure they didn't have any stragglers. "who'd ya piss off?"

katsuki pauses then as something beckons to all might's direction. something was calling out to him. like a promise.

his brows furrowed. "all might, what the hell is that?"

deku shared a glance with the general.

he folds his arms. "alright. what's going on?"

"deku, how'd ya even end up meeting ALL MIGHT of all people?"

"we shall answer your questions accordingly, young bakugo." all might smiled wearily. "but perhaps we should move this discussion somewhere else?"

they bring him to a heavily enchanted cave.

fingers touched his wrist. "ah, kacchan. wait."

katsuki paused, blinking down at him as deku takes off the prayer beads. the fox magic rippled, and he doesn't know why he's so surprised when he finally caught a glimpse of deku without the enchantment.

he'd been on on his thirteenth century since he last saw him. how much time has passed since then? fifty years? a hundred? two hundred? at least three, maybe.

he resembled an adolescent now, green curls falling into equally viridian eyes and bound high behind his head. his ears were no longer too big for his face, his shoulders were a little broader.

katsuki dips his head down when deku reaches up to place the prayer beads on him, and finds himself wondering if he's always had this many freckles.

"there," deku says. katsuki realises with a start that even his voice had gotten a little deeper. "i've modified the spell a bit, that should let you through."

those vibrant eyes rise up to meet his. "kacchan?"

"are you almost as tall as me?" katsuki demands. "when the hell did that happen?"

deku's laugh was bright, clear. "i guess it happened when you weren't looking!"

how did he ever leave him?

as they made their way inside the cave, katsuki felt a shudder run down his spine as he crossed the barrier. demonic and spiritual at once. he marvels at how deku was actually able to combine his powers rather than have them cancel each other out.

not for the first time, he wonders about exactly *what* kind of demonic heritage deku inherited from his absent old man.

they join all might from where he was stroking some kindling. katsuki crouches down, holding his palm out and sparking the fire to life.

"thank you, young bakugo." all might smiles gratefully.

he grunts, sitting down next to deku, across from the demigod he looked up to for most of his life. "you said you would explain."

"yes." the general dug beneath his collar to pull out a familiar jewel.

katsuki's eyes widened as the call became stronger, but ignored the pull, frowning thoughtfully at the pink bauble. "THAT dumb thing? why the fuck is it acting up now?"

beside him, izuku stared at his grown childhood friend with nothing short of admiration. he had seen many people - humans and demons alike, that had taken the chance for the jewel the second it had been bared to them.

and yet here was kacchan, who seemed more annoyed at it than anything.

he really was amazing.

they tell katsuki that they're not quite sure how what had awakened the jewel from dormancy, but there was a name they've been hearing from some of the lesser demons they had encountered.

"shigaraki tomura?" katsuki frowns. "never heard of him."

"neither have i," toshinori sighs.

"should you even be fighting like this in your condition, all might?" katsuki narrows his eyes.

"that's what i've been telling him," deku mutters. "that reminds me. all might, please let me take a look at your wound."

"you're hardly in the position to talk, my boy." all might says wryly, but begins unbuckling his armour nonetheless. "i believe i saw a tail go through you earlier."

"you're both disasters." katsuki deadpans.

all might and deku both looked properly chastised.

"i am fine, really," the general insists, only to start coughing blood.

"here, toshinori-san." deku offers the bamboo container that demigod gratefully drinks from.

“what’re you gonna do?” katsuki watches their interaction with interest. he was still curious about how deku ended up crossing paths with all might. “you can’t keep fighting hoards in your condition.”

the general winces as deku cleans his wound.

“sorry.”

“no harm was done, young deku.” he ruffles at deku’s hair, turning a smile at katsuki’s direction. “i am humbled by your concern, young bakugo. what would you suggest we do? we can’t possibly stay within this cave forever.”

“no,” katsuki agrees. “and demons are gonna keep stalking you around when that tacky jewellery of yours keeps singing at them. can’t you destroy it?”

“only a pure wish can get rid of it.” deku answers.

“who the hell invented that bullshit? there’s no such thing.”

“there has to be,” he murmurs. “otherwise we’re stuck here.”

“tch.” katsuki grunts, standing up.

“kacchan?” “young bakugo?”

“both of you stay put.” katsuki orders, cracking his knuckles. “m’gonna take care a’those peasants outside.”

he strides out before they could say anything.

“he has not changed a bit,” toshinori sighs.

izuku watched his childhood friend waltz out of the cave with apprehension. toshinori notes the tension in his frame, the white knuckled grip he had on the bloodied rag he used to clean up toshinori’s wounds.

“your lord is a strong one, my boy.” he assures. “have faith in him.”

“i do,” izuku mutters. “but there’s no reason he has to face them by himself.”

“then heal.” toshinori ruffles his hair. “rest up and allow your body to restore itself. you’ll be of better use when you aren’t bleeding across the battlefield.”

“...you too, toshinori-san.” izuku agrees reluctantly, cleaning his own wounds.

he knows kacchan is strong. stronger than most demon lords were at his age. his battle sense was like no other, and in all the years he has known him, kacchan had rarely ever lost.

knowing that did nothing for the knots curling up in his gut. but all might was right, he was no use like this.

‘be careful, kacchan.’

not a second out the cave and katsuki was already moving. the imps release a shrill cry. "traitor!"

"hah?" his blade cuts right through them, fire sparking from his fingertips and torching the fools tho thought they could slip past him. "idiots."

he sets his gaze on the remaining hoard, satisfied of the fear radiated off of them in the face of his bloodlust.

"you were foolish enough to go after what's mine."

katsuki smirked.

"die."

it takes him less than five minutes to finish off the remaining hoard.

he sends out his senses to be sure, beginning to make his way back to the cave when he catches it.

a presence. someone else was here.

he launches an explosive attack at the offender, scowling as they narrowly evaded. there was something off about this one. “who the hell are you?”

“that’s what I was wondering about you.” a silhouette appeared from behind the smoke.

what the fuck? were those disembodied hands all over him?

“you’re not part of the game. go away.”

“hah?” sparks lit up from katsuki's hands. “don’t tell me what to do, hand freak.”

the silver haired bastard was fast, and katsuki’s reflexes were sharp.

it results in frustration as neither were able to land a solid hit on one another - until a portal suddenly rippled into existence behind the hand freak.

“shigaraki tomura, we must go.”

“no!” hand creep stomps his foot childishly. “i’m not done here!”

“you got some nerve looking away from me.” katsuki snarls, launching into a howitzer impact. “DIE!”

he makes contact.

but then the portal was gone, and so were the demons. he couldn't sense them anywhere.

fuck.

back in the cave, toshinori watches his student stare unblinkingly out of the cave entrance.

“you care for him deeply,” he remarks.

that startles the young man, bright viridian eyes shifting to his direction, turning a rather unnerving stare to him before answering honestly. “yes.”

toshinori was surprised. normally, conversations of this nature would send young deku into a flustered tangent.

“kacchan was my first friend,” he says softly. “back when i used to live in the old village… none of the other kids wanted me around.”

he pauses, laughing self deprecatingly. “or rather, no one wanted me around at all, to be honest. but my mother was the village priestess, and they knew that they had to endure me if they wanted her protection.”

“how exactly did you two meet?” toshinori asks curiously. “i find it hard to believe that lady mitsuki allowed young bakugo to travel so close to a human village with frequency.”

“she didn’t.” young deku smiles at the memory. “he… uh, actually got in trouble when we first met. because kacchan wasn’t supposed to be there, so mitsuki-sama came and dragged him back home. i didn’t see kacchan for a few days after that until he suddenly came back.”

his young protege tells him about how young bakugo had questions he wanted answered, and that he was the one to suggest to be called ‘kacchan’ in attempts to prevent lady mitsuki from discovering that her son had returned to the human village.

“you also had trouble saying my name,” young bakugo adds, entering the cave. “had a hard time saying ‘tsu’s with your stupid baby mouth.”

young deku’s face lights up, jumping to his feet. “kacchan!”

realising what his friend had said, the boy flushed. "i—didn't struggle that badly, did I?"

"you kept calling me kachuki," young bakugo says dryly. "or kasshuki. i think the worst one was kadsuki. kacchan was the only thing you could say without biting your tongue off."

“you were, what, 200?”

“i… think i was actually around my 30th summer?”

young bakugo tilts his head. “oh yeah, you age faster. no wonder you’re almost catching up to my height now.”

toshinori observes in interest as they bantered while young deku prods and inspects the demon lord for any injuries. for his part, young bakugo didn’t seem bothered as he indulgently allowed the half-demon to get handsy with his assessment.

fascinating.

for all the years toshinori has known bakugo katsuki, he knows that the heir of the east took a particular dislike to people intruding on his personal space and hated being fussed over.

(gonna have to put most of these in summaries bc this is taking me a rly long time sorry gdsjhk)

after deku had confirmed that his childhood friend was perfectly unharmed, kacchan tells them about the weird demon he’d encountered called shigaraki tomura.

there’s recognition in deku and toshinori’s faces.

they let him know that they’ve been hearing that name ever since the demon hoards have started coming - so kacchan demands that they tell him everything from the beginning.

so they start with the jewel - because while kacchan knows about the jewel, he doesn’t know about the full story. they tell him they’re on their way to seek the seer of the south in the case that he may have some answers for them.

but the trip is taking them a long time since they keep encountering attack after attack.

so kacchan makes the decision to join them.

over the course of their trip, toshinori witnesses the closeness between his student and the young lord. while deku had been more than a delight in the time that toshinori had grown to know him, bakugo katsuki brings out a side to him that toshinori has never seen before.

the drive. the determination to succeed.

while young deku had been bright before, now he was positively radiant.

it gives him hope. for even if young deku was still not entirely prepared, toshinori knows that he will be able to pass on the jewel.

the future would succeed with both of them.

he wishes that he had more time. that he could prepare him for longer until he was fully prepared for the burden toshinori was about to unload on him.

but his time had come.

toshinori’s body had long been failing him now, and the demon attacks’ increasing frequency had only accelerated the damage. it wouldn’t be long now.

eventually they make it to the seer, who his companions would soon learn was one of toshinori’s old companions. a man who went by the name nighteye.

he’d been expecting them. and he had no answer to their question anymore than he did a few years prior.

but he does tell toshinori that he had chosen an unworthy successor.

“i advise you to reconsider, all might.” he had said. “the boy is unprepared. to go down this path would lead to ruins.”

toshinori will not hear this. “i respect your counsel, my old friend. but i have made my decision.”

they take their leave. young bakugo’s seething had been more than enough to convince toshinori that his successor was left in good hands.

however he is not oblivious to the seed of doubt planted in his young student, who had always been the first to question whether he was truly worthy.

(of his inheritance, of toshinori’s trust, of living.)

(what a foolish boy.)

in spite of the seer’s words, he passes on the jewel.

“toshinori-san,” young deku trembles, staring at responsibility within his grasp. “i don’t―”

“i do.” toshinori says firmly, kindly. “you have always been more than deserving, my boy.”

perhaps the demons had sensed that the jewel had been given new ownership. or perhaps it had just been bad timing. but the following attack had been more vicious than ever.

the fight lasted on for days. they were worn down. their chances of survival did not look great.

toshinori makes the choice.

with his power, he cracks his sword in half and bestows it to both of them.

“toshinori-san―”

“all might―”

he smiles at them both. “you have made me proud. i entrust the future to you.”

toshinori steps beyond his son’s barrier. using the last of his power, he purifies every single creature within his vicinity.

all but two.

izuku stares in shock, a white-knuckled grip on the blade he’d been given.

‘no…’

the land had been purified with toshinori’s last attack, where there had been devastation was now replaced by lush green grass. only nature stands in its wake. no devastation, no death.

not even a body.

“NO!!!”

they couldn’t find any traces of all might, no matter how long they looked, no matter how hard they tried to stretch out their senses. it was as if he never existed were it not for the gaping hole in their hearts.

deku was unconsolable.

the half-demon wept and wailed, his anguished cries were something that katsuki didn’t think he would ever be able to forget.

“he w-was like the father i never had,” the fur over katsuki’s shoulders were soaked with tears. “i n-never g-got to tell him!”

he wanted to tell him there was no way all might didn’t know, didn’t reciprocate, but what use would those words be to someone grieving?

deku’s voice cracked. “w-we don’t e-even have a b-body to b-b―”

katsuki holds onto him tightly, his own voice strained in spite of his efforts. “i know.”

“kacchan,” deku hiccups, gripping tightly onto him. “i don’t know what to do.”

it gave a haunting sense of deja vu.

only back then, izuku had been mourning a different parent.

but this time, katsuki had an answer. “you keep going.” he says quietly. “he left you with a legacy. don’t let his sacrifice go in vain.”

--

if he’d known what would have happened, he would have answered differently.

he would have told him he wasn’t going to do this alone.

--

he hadn’t realised that it was that exact moment that izuku decided to distance himself.

‘everyone close to me dies,’ izuku thought distantly, kacchan’s heartbeat beneath his ear. ‘i can’t.’

he refuses to present kacchan with the same fate.

they make a grave.

it was standard to cremate holy beings, but with no body to burn, this was all they could do.

(though knowing how humble toshinori was, perhaps he would have preferred a warrior’s burial.)

(not that they could do that, either.)

(he hadn’t been able to cremate his mother, either. they had been too young at the time and even more vulnerable than they were now. a fire for that long would have only drawn unwanted attention.)

(his parents deserved better.)

“i’ll need to go back to the capitol and inform the old hag of what’s going on here.” says kacchan. “i’ve been gone for too long.”

“oh.” was all izuku could say.

“i’ll be back,” kacchan meets his gaze. “are you staying here?”

it was an option. whatever toshinori had done left the area around them with so much holy power than most of the lesser demons that had tried to step foot into the area had been immediately purified.

kacchan had been the one to figure out that the swords toshinori had left them were the only reason why they hadn’t been affected.

but izuku didn’t want to risk soiling toshinori’s final resting place.

“i can’t,” izuku shakes his head. “toshi―” his throat locked up. “―all might wouldn’t want me moping around when i’ve got a responsibility to do.”

kacchan looked like he disagreed. “all might would also give you time to mourn.”

“i can’t let his sacrifice go in vain.” he parrots the words his friend had given him.

scowling, the young lord opens his mouth to respond only for both of them to look up sharply as they sensed the surge of power flying towards them.

the demon stops at the edge of the clearing, where the grass no longer grew.

katsuki’s expression twists as he realises who it was. “what the fuck are you doing here, half and half?”

“bakugo,” todoroki looked like he’d been flying without rest. “the eastern capitol is under attack.”

“then why the hell are you HERE!?” katsuki snarls.

“why are you?” the cat demon counters. “mother sent me to look for you.”

“don’t call her that!”

“mother?” deku mutters.

“this isn’t really the time for this,” todoroki says, irritated. “i don’t want to be betrothed to you anymore than you do. now let’s go.”

...betrothed?

as they hurry back on the way to the capitol, the word continues to ring in izuku’s head.

“who is this?” todoroki glances at his way.

“none of your damn business,” kacchan snaps.

“i’m deku.” he says quietly.

a look of recognition flashes on the impassive demon’s face. “oh, the half-demon.”

for some reason, izuku remembers when he had introduced himself to toshi―to all might.

(“bakugo katsuki’s deku?”)

he didn’t know kacchan had been betrothed.

“i’m todoroki shouto.” he introduces himself.

izuku tilts his head, recollections of kacchan complaining about the ‘awkward, arrogant weather confused cat’ resurfacing in his memories. “the heir of the south. kacchan’s told me about you.”

“quit talking about me as if i’m not here!” kacchan growls. “oi, you stupid feline. who’s attacking us!?”

“i don’t know the full story, but there was a coup,” todoroki explains. “someone from your court’s been conspiring with your rivals.”

“ i’ve been sent to look for you when you didn’t return and only caught wind of it through one of the messenger dragons your mother sent.”

izuku couldn’t help but feel guilty. he had been part of the reason why kacchan didn’t return when he should have.

this was his fault.

“i was dealing with the demon hoards here,” kacchan says irritably. “it wasn’t like i was off having a goddamn vacation.”

“here too?” todoroki frowns.

“whaddya mean ‘too’?”

“there’s been outbreaks in the south, too, only for it to be suddenly quiet again. it’s why i went to the east to begin with.”

“tosh―all might and i were travelling there.” izuku remarks. “they might have been following us.”

“all might?” the cat demon looks surprised. “where is he now? we could use his assistance.”

“he’s dead.”

the cloud vapour flying them forward falters. kacchan surges forward to catch izuku as he stumbles from the sudden imbalance. “you have a passenger, you dumbass!”

“what?” todoroki looks shocked. “he’s dead? how?”

“the demon hoards, what else?” kacchan growls, wrapping his arms securely over izuku’s waist. izuku shifts awkwardly, glancing at one demon from the other. but neither of them seemed bothered by izuku’s proximity to kacchan despite their apparent relationship.

“shit,” todoroki swears, as they pick up the pace again. “we’re in big trouble if not even all might had been able to handle them.”

“shut up. i’ll destroy every single one of those traitors.”

the capitol was a warzone.

the fortress was ablaze. an enormous golden dragon was locked in combat with an equally gigantic two headed dragon. below them was more fighting - demons clashed against demons, lesser and noble. neither side was getting the upper hand.

kacchan launches himself into the fray, izuku just a step behind him.

the traitors had not anticipated the return of the heir of east on top of the southern forces. and once izuku’s spiritual powers had joined the fight, many began to flee to avoid purification.

they win the fight, but not without heavy casualties.

the whole city was in ruins. so much that one could hardly even call it a city anymore. to make matters worse, many of their survivors had been poisoned by a strange miasma that even lady chiyo was struggling to cure.

while izuku had the ability to heal, his powers would only inflict more damage on another demon.

to think he could have this much power and still be useless was frustrating.

but it was nothing compared to kacchan’s frustration.

it didn’t matter that no one expected the level of devastation that occurred, that no one anticipated the horrific army that came with the traitors.

this was his city. his people. he considered this a personal failure.

but nobody had time to mourn. they had a city to rebuild. aid had come from the southern forces to assist, and it’s all izuku could do to watch from a distance as kacchan and todoroki worked in tandem to reconstruct.

and throughout it all, the attacks continued. it was all izuku could do to fend them off, realising that the jewel amplified both sides of his powers. the remaining inhabitants of the capitol suspected it as the traitors’ attempts to finish off the job, but izuku knew better.

they were after the jewel. he couldn’t stay. to do so would mean the end of what kacchan was building to protect.

“i’m leaving.” he tells kacchan.

kacchan’s expression grows stormy. “where are you going?”

“i don’t know.” he admits. far from here, far from you, where i can’t bring you harm.

those intense red eyes consider him, filled with turmoil. once again, his own desires acts against his responsibilities.

“once this all settles down, i’ll find you.” kacchan promises.

izuku shakes his head. “don’t.”

“what?”

“you have to stay here, kacchan.” he forces a smile. “it’s okay. i’ll try to make it to your wedding.”

kacchan’s jaw clenches. “oi, hold on a m―”

“lord bakugo!” a young mouse demon runs to them. “lady bakugo requests your presence.”

“she can fucking wait,” kacchan snaps. “i’m in the middle of something here.”

“m-milord, i must insist, lady bakugo w―”

“i’m not repeating myself a second t―”

“kacchan,” izuku reaches out, grasping the edge of his cloak. “go.”

those frustrated eyes glared at him. “fine,” he bites out. “but your ass better stay put until i’m back. got that?”

the heir of east disappears to the citadel before izuku could say anything.

“i’m sorry.” shutting his eyes, izuku turns his back and takes his leave.

he receives countless messenger dragons.

izuku sends each one back, each message sealed and unread.

they continued to come, until they finally stopped.

he tells himself it’s for the better. the farther kacchan stays, the safer he will be.

izuku’s in the north when he catches wind of a union between the east and the south.

he waits, in spite of himself, for a messenger dragon.

but there was nothing.

that’s okay.

at least this hurt was one he was prepared for.

(it doesn’t hurt any less.)

if only izuku had actually paid close attention, he would have heard that a lady of the east had mated with the south.

not a lord.

while katsuki was solemnly prepared to do what was right for his people, a mutual attraction had actually formed between his widowed mother and lord enji—making the betrothal between katsuki and the southern heir redundant.

"i'm just glad i don't have to share a futon with you anymore." says the stupid bi-coloured cat. "you snore loud enough to wake the dead. and you smell."

"WANNA SAY THAT TO MY FACE, YOU HALF AND HALF BASTARD?!"

"...i just did?"

as soon as the mating ceremony was over, katsuki was already preparing for his trip.

the eastern lands had recovered, and his responsibilities will be handled until his return. he’d done his part to ensure their safety.

now, he was going to find that shitty deku.

that asshole owed him an explanation.

tracking him down took a long time. the frustrating thing about purification was that it cleaned EVERYTHING - scent, energy, presence.

but in that same effect, it also made it a little easier to find him. any area that felt unnaturally cleansed was a sign that he’d been there. and the radius of how far that power had stretched spoke volumes of how much stronger he was getting.

it was weeks before he finally caught his trail.

the second he saw that familiar shade of green, katsuki doubled his speed.

“DEKUUUUU!” he didn’t stop until he collided with deku, keeping a firm grip on the stupid boy’s robes to keep him from running away. he snarled at his surprised face. “YOU GOT SOME NERVE IGNORING ALL MY MESSAGES, YOU SCUM! YOU BETTER HAVE AN EXPLANATION!”

deku smiled. and an unsettled feeling crept onto katsuki.

he realised it too late. “you’re not deku.”

a scarred hand enclosed around the back of katsuki’s neck.

“nope!” the impostor giggled, deku’s face melting off of her. “i’m not.”

a few miles away, izuku looked up sharply, dread gripping his heart. “kacchan.”

izuku didn't know why or how, but every bit of his soul was screaming that kacchan was in danger.

the sacred jewel pulsed.

he ran.

katsuki, on the other hand, was furious at himself for allowing himself to be captured.

he'd been too desperate, too careless. and now he was put in a humiliating position.

bait.

he grits his fangs. 'don't come, deku.'

"i don't see the appeal," says the blonde bitch, scanning katsuki. "he's not cute at all."

"that why you're going around wearing other people's skin?" katsuki sneered. "cause you can't stand how ugly yours is?"

the shapeshifter striked. he refused to flinch even as she scratched at his cheek.

"NOT cute at all!" she huffed. katsuki barely refrained from recoiling in disgust as she lapped her fingers clean of his blood.

"settle down, toga." the hand freak scratched idly at the side of his neck. "we should really be thanking his generous lordship."

fangs itched at the condescension dripping from the bastard's words.

"after all," a smile stretched on his scarred face. "he's delivering the sacred jewel right towards us."

orange bled at the edges of katsuki's vision, scales rippling over his fair skin. "you'll die first."

it was rare for katsuki to shift.

all his life, he'd been praised for his spectacular control. where most hatchlings were still struggling to shift on two feet, katsuki was already running and astounding adults with his precocious mind.

the weak relied on a dragon's natural armor. the strong had no need of one.

but the circumstances were dire.

he couldn't afford another failure.

golden scales spread, limbs stretched and morphed.

instinct demanded victory. to protect.

katsuki released a deafening roar.

and let go.

https://twitter.com/midoriyakacchan/status/1131410408353308673

continuation here bc it is... too long

@threadreaderapp unroll this