#todokachakko

[lovetnaomi]

Secrets of the Dusk Chapter 21

Chapter 21

                 “I’m fine, mom, don’t worry about it….no…. he’s in the other room. He said he’d be willing to meet you.”

               “But you don’t want us to see him.” Her parents were quiet as they pondered the thought over, “we embarrassed you; and we deserve it.”

               Uraraka took a breath, they had always done what they could to protect her from the world which had more to offer than they would ever realize, and putting herself in their shoes right now wasn’t easy. Especially, when she knew Katsuki and Todoroki so well. But if her daughter came home one day with a demon hooked on her arm and someone in her ear whispering about how her daughter was in danger how would she react? Would she wait to figure out if that was her daughter’s decision or if she was possessed? Would she worry if the actions she was taking were too late? Would she attempt to get to know them before taking such a rash decision? Uraraka’s hand tightened on the phone, “Mom, you’re just doing your best. It’s all we can do.”

               Her mom was quiet, but she knew it was her mother attempting to muffle the tears, and the sound of embarrassment mixing with relief as though those were the words that she was never expecting. Likely, they were preparing to play the villains before she had even called them.  

               “Mom, what do you know about magic?”

               Her mom was quiet, “Not much….” There was a quiet shuffling, “I think whatever’s happening comes from your grandmother, we thought she was eccentric, but you probably got a stronger version of what she had. Your grandmother, was highly intelligent, but she was always talking to things that weren’t there,” another soft shuffle, “But we haven’t seen her in years, she just disappeared. We put in a report to the police, but…”

               Uraraka suppressed a sigh of disappointment. She was someone she had never known, she would be glad to meet her grandmother, but there was no way that could compare the loss her mother felt about not being able to find her own. Or the reason that she disappeared. Uraraka glanced towards the walls of the house she was currently residing in, plain with no pictures, maybe she would try to fill them later. If not for herself, then for the two who she would leave remaining behind in this house. They would need a better atmosphere. Especially-especially, if she wouldn’t live as long as they would. Her hand tightened on the phone. She was young, there wasn’t any time to worry about such things. She needed to focus on saving Katsuki from his solitude first. Her eyes lingered towards Todoroki, barely peering at him through the ajar office door, hair hanging in his face, a leg crossed over the other and a book in his lap as he stared down at it, as though if his eyes were to burn into the book it would eventually croak and give him the answers he desired. He had yet to open it, the scene almost made her laugh.

               “Uraraka, I made dinner-breakfast; whatever, I have food.”

               “I’ll be right there.”

               “Who’s that? It doesn’t sound like Todoroki.”

               “Don’t worry about it, mom, I’ll introduce you sometime, it’s another of my housemates, he’s been a little busy lately. I’ll to you later.” Uraraka slipped the phone back onto the hook, taking a breath before she turned to Katsuki already leaning on the doorway, seeming as if he was an annoyed mother calling repeatedly across the house.  

It all seemed so mundane. Normal. As if she wasn’t a psychic living in a house with a vampire and a half-demon. But after all she guessed this was normal, she just didn’t know about it yet. It wasn’t as if they didn’t exist in the world before she knew the existed, they had been there the whole time. A soft smile glowed on her face, “I’ll be right there.”

This kind of normal was okay, if she was honest it was as though everything wasn’t normal until she had found them. The night she beat on Todoroki’s door, the minute she saw him, as unreasonable as she knew that feeling beating in her head was she felt safe. Not only safe. There was an overwhelming amount of relief that rushed through her being, vibrating through her arms. It was as if she was looking for more than someone to save her from the being that was chasing her, but something-or someone-who hadn’t been there previously. It was as if she had known him her whole life and that something inside of her had been desperately searching for something, but it turned out that what she was desperately searching for had been him all along. She had everything she ever thought she needed, a loving family, a safe place to live, desperately trying to achieve her dreams. And yet the minute she saw him, she realized that it felt empty, as though something was desperately missing. Something that she had been missing. Maybe she did realize. Maybe she had realized all along and just didn’t want to admit to herself that something was missing, but at least now she could say whatever was missing was there now. Maybe that was the feeling that her grandmother was desperately searching for. Something told Uraraka that her grandmother hadn’t simply gone missing. Her grandmother knew exactly where she was, but was desperately searching for answers of her own and she would come home when she was ready.

Uraraka glanced up to Katsuki physically dragging Todoroki out of his chair, “I took this time cooking this food all morning, night whatever you want to call it and you’re going to eat it!”

“In a moment,”

���Yeah, yeah, we can save the world later. Right now, we can have breakfast.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“I’m not trying to-“ He shouted, voice beginning to mellow at as he looked towards her then back to Katsuki, mumbling words she was positive that she wasn’t supposed to hear, “I am. I’m trying to save our world.”

Katsuki grumbled, snatching the book out of his hands, “Do that later.” Katsuki glanced towards her, “You too.” Clearly disgruntled Katsuki stormed into the kitchen checking to see if the food he had desperately worked on was cold.

Uraraka slid into her seat at the table, breakfast dishes already lined up around them. Todoroki quietly beginning to eat and Katsuki already yelling, there was something mundane about it, the noise that echoed around the table from the yelling to the laughter, this, right here, was what she wanted to consider normal for the rest of her life. Uraraka blinked. Thoughts occurring in her mind. They were letting her live here because she couldn’t afford a place to stay while in college. Was she impeding? Sure, they had been distracted for a while, but what about rent? And even if they were okay with that, what about after she graduated college? Wouldn’t it make sense for her to go back home? Uraraka glanced between Todoroki and Katsuki, her hands tightening on her utensils. It wasn’t like she would never see them again. But she wouldn’t have a specific reason to see them again. Would it be discouraged? They had technically come from different worlds; would they even want to see her?

“Uraraka?” She glanced up towards Todoroki’s voice soft and full of concern, she must’ve been distracted as the two of them seemed like they had started fighting and were tangled around each other, only to pause when they realized something was wrong, “Are you alright?”

Darn it. Living with two people who could hear your heartrate the same way someone could hear a quarter hit the floor wasn’t ideal in most situations. “It’s okay, I was-I just got off the phone with my mom, I was just thinking about some things. It’s alright.”

They nodded, untangling from each other, and quietly beginning to eat their meals while shooting each other glances. Katsuki got up shuffling at the kitchen counter, before throwing a cup in the sink. Clearly trying to be courteous of her as to not be drinking blood in front of her, especially while she was eating her breakfast. Uraraka sighed wishing they hadn’t heard her heartrate rising, wishing she could keep her own concerns to herself even if she tried to hide it, they would certainly hear her heartrate rising and they would be considering that there was a problem, if not mental, physical. Either way they would both be concerned.

“My mom told me my grandmother might be around, and she might have some answers to…this.” Uraraka gestured, hoping that somehow either of them would be able to provide her further answers or a further explanation on what was beginning to happen to her. They had been involved with other supernaturals for much longer than she had, they would have to be her main source of information to start with.

Katsuki shuffled, “I think you should finish your investigation on….my death, that’s time orientated, before you search for your grandmother. It’s going to take a lot longer if her missing reports been out for most your life.”

Uraraka nodded, that made sense, she shuffled towards the folder, would it be unfair to ask Katuski about the details? There would be no way to cite the words of a dead man. It would be too cruel to ask him for more than she already had. Katsuki held out his hand. “I couldn’t-“

“I’ll just proof it, and read if anything sounds weird. Supernatural entities and explanations that you may have accidentally added in that don’t make sense to human minds. You won’t pick it up because it makes sense.”

“What do you mean? Of course, I will.”

Todoroki shuffled his plate, “He’s worried you might’ve psychically slipped something in about his death that you won’t be able to explain. Plus he didn’t write it, it’s not like he’s read it ten times already.”

Uraraka nodded, her hands moving back to her lap, “I appreciate it.” There was so much she appreciated. She wondered if they would ever be able to understand her full extend of how much she appreciated them. Her eyes slid towards Todoroki’s desk, barely peaking out from the door, the book he had been staring at sat on top of the desk.

“Todoroki?”

“Yes?”

“What’s in that books?” Her voice was quiet, beginning to crack and shiver, she hadn’t felt like that before she asked the question. But now that the words rested in the air, she wanted to know-she needed to know- her hands buzzed. Begging her to open it.

A strange look of nostalgia and regret ran through Todoroki’s eyes as they lingered towards the book sitting on the desk. It was as though that book sitting on his desk had been filled with contradictions. The contradictions that caused him to spend all morning deciding if he would or wouldn’t open that book. The fact that, that book still sat, shut on the desk. Todoroki lowered the dishes into the sink, before turning back towards them and settling at the table, Katsuki set his pen down, glancing towards Todoroki as though he didn’t know the answer either.

“Come on man, I’ve learned very quickly how to feel if an entity is inside that book. I’ve known the whole time not to open that. Even before I learned that you kept prison worlds in a library. It’s better if we just know.”

Todoroki nodded, his breath escaping as a soft frost, moving onto the table as it evaporated into the air, a thousand icicles dancing back into the sky, “Inside that book is my older brother.” He glanced between the two of them, waiting for an outburst that he couldn’t treat his family that way, or a demand for an explanation. Yet the two of them sat there, patiently waiting for the rest of what he had to say. He took this as an opportunity to continue, “my older brother…the eldest of us. And the most deadly,” Todoroki paused, likely trying to figure out the proper words to say, “He has learned what keeps him alive. And what does not. His answer is no one can try to kill you if they’re already dead. He’s wanted by several human governments, if those who saw him made it out alive. They actually don’t have a good description of him because most of those who made their reports were on their deathbeds. And the supernatural governments…..have a warning out to run if they see him. He shows no mercy to those of either side.”

“But isn’t he both?”

Todoroki glanced at his hands, “Isn’t being both demon and human, the same as being neither? In his eyes that meant if neither government could protect him, then neither should control him.”

He glanced towards Uraraka wondering what she had been thinking of this situation. His brother clearly sounded like a villain, yet the reasoning….it made too much sense to him. He had to do his best to control the impulse, the need, to run after the same reasoning. The ability to burn the world at his fingertips. And yet the ability to keep it all reeled in and controlled at the same time.

She glanced towards him-his older brother, trapped in a prison world shaped like a book-an understanding in her eyes, and a sadness, “This world must’ve been cruel to him.”

Todoroki glanced down, “It was. But there was nothing more I could do….I couldn’t….”

Katsuki sat back, glaring at the roof, “You couldn’t just let a serial killer with the ability to turn the world to ash and dance in it run lose. Even if he is your brother.”

Uraraka nodded.

“But that’s the problem about having so much control. I am basically the monarch of supernaturals around here. When do I let them out? When do I let them roam free?” He shook his head, glancing towards the time, before scuffling to his feet and rushing to grab his keys, “Uraraka I’ll drive you I didn’t realize the time.”

Uraraka glanced towards him, shuffling the paperwork away, and offering Katsuki a quick thank you and ushering towards the car.

“Jackets you two!” Katsuki yelled, throwing jackets towards them as he grumbled over their foolishness, heading further into the house to explore as they left once again.

Todoroki keyed the engine revving the car to life as Uraraka slipped into the passenger seat, sliding her bag into the back and her seatbelt on. He glanced towards the speed limit, driving them down the mountain, it would be fine, hopefully she would be unlikely to notice as she paged through the notes. Plus, humans wouldn’t really notice. He was allowed to break some of the laws humans believed to be how the world worked. He was a half-demon after all. It was just the elements were his main strengths. He shook his head, his braid trailing down his shoulder, realizing that he hadn’t asked the most basic of questions to fulfill the role of a landlord.

“Uraraka?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you like it here?”

“The town’s nice, it’s got a lot going on,” Uraraka added a little chuckle as though she had just told some form of joke, “But I like it, my college is good, my professors are kind, don’t get me started on the nightlife here it is booming, and my roommates are great.”

A small scoff escaped him. The nightlife here really was booming. Although, it really wasn’t “life”. He skidded the car to a stop, they had arrived ten minutes early, just enough for her to slide into class unnoticed. “Did you want me to come pick you up after?”

Uraraka paused, then nodded, “Yeah. I would appreciate that.”  

“We probably won’t be walking for a while.”

“That’s fine, it’s getting cold soon anyway.” She paused, beginning to walk away, before turning back, “Actually,” Her hands tightened on the bag, “I don’t want to suspect her….but Seraphina was the only other person in the house….that…on that night when we went to Katsuki’s parents. The book with that supernatural creature winding up in my bag. I don’t want to suspect her.”

“It’ll be okay. We’ll figure it all out.”

Uraraka nodded, glancing at the time, before ushering a good-bye and darting towards the building that encompassed many knowledges. But not the one’s he needed. The place he was going to get his knowledge was much darker ones.  

Todoroki nodded, letting her go inside, watching as she shut the door behind her, before turning the car. He had some research to do. He wouldn’t turn to his older brother. He wouldn’t let him out of that prison world no matter what he did. No matter how much he wanted to meet him. He couldn’t let someone who would likely kill them all and then make matters worse than the person running around out of that book. Even if he likely had the most answers. He shook his head. That man had been trapped in that book for years, there was no way his information network was as powerful as it was when he was free outside the book and in a supernatural gang that started a turf war. He glanced towards the clock, his older brother’s gang was still roaming free. Would it be worth his while to visit any of them? Would they have any answers about vampires that aren’t quite vampires? Or what was happening to Katsuki? Or would they know the man running around rampaging in his streets? His hand tightened on the wheel, they would understand about someone crossing his territory uninvited. But they wouldn’t. They likely would think he was losing and would wait at the edges waiting until he was weak to see if they could make a play at him for his territory. Todoroki sighed. Governing was exhausting. He just wanted to live. Be left alone. But he knew that wouldn’t work. He had to rise to the hierarchy, destroy it, and create his own, if he wanted to live in peace. Todoroki glanced towards the college shrinking in the review mirror. And he would find his peace.

He swung into the parking lot of the convenience store, glancing towards the shop, trying not to grimace. And elderly lady sat in her rocker in the front of the store, glaring at him through her busy work. Her glare almost made him want to raise his hand and insist he came in peace. Almost. The other half of him wanted to pick a fight with her, he could still see the spark in her eyes, the one that dared him to set foot on her territory. It almost excited him to try. He pushed pressure on the car, pushing that feeling out. Yelling “fight me” at a lady nearing her nineties wasn’t the best way to get along with the humans in the area. There was just so much spark of life in her, he hadn’t seen in a long time, even most of the younger one’s didn’t have it anymore, and yet he felt as though he could somehow leech that feeling from her. “Breathe, control it.” He wasn’t his demon half. But he wasn’t his human half either. He was both. And he was in control of both, no matter how impulsive both were being.

Todoroki let go of the car window, locking the door, and controlling his speed as he walked towards the door. The woman sat her busywork into her lap, “I told you not to come back here.”

“Just passing through, have to be a good host to my visitor.”

“Leave child. This can’t be your territory; a fearsome creature already lives on that mountain. You’ll get devoured.”  

Her warning almost seemed caring. Almost. It made him laugh none the less. He was that monster. Or maybe she meant Katsuki? Maybe someone had seen him siphoning blood from other supernaturals, it wasn’t exactly a pretty sight. He remembered how much he gagged the first time he had to do it. Almost puking, but had to remember he was now in charge of keeping Katsuki alive. He was in charge of keeping two people alive when his whole life he had been in charge of killing. He had been in charge of defending territory. And now he’s in charge of defending people. Two who rely on him.

“We don’t serve demons child. Leave. We have nothing for you here.”

“My mother’s human.”

The elder woman shook her head, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ve given you three now. Now hurry up and make your purchase before my late husband’s soul hunts you for sport.”

“I’ll tell him you said hi if I do manage to catch a glimpse.”

The elderly woman laughed, “Tell him dinners gone long cold, he’s going to have to reheat it himself this time.”

“If I ever see him. Will I know it’s him?”

“Loudest ghost you’ll ever see.”

“I understand.” Todoroki hurried inside, buying his purchases, before heading out, glancing down towards the elder woman-gone.

“Sir, may I ask what you’re looking at?”

“I was just wondering how she got out of here so quietly.”

The cashier blinked towards him, “Old grannie?”

“Yeah, she was.”

“Nah, everyone had called her grannie around here.”

“Had?”

“She passed a couple years ago.”  

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it was talk of the town everyone knew her.”

Todoroki nodded. It was so odd; most ghosts typically weren’t so full of life. Honestly, he wasn’t sure he had met other ghosts, but that wasn’t what he had been expecting on meeting a ghost. He swallowed. She seemed so lively, so peaceful, so full of spunk. He hoped she was indeed a ghost and not another zombie creature send to spy on them from whoever had decided to be his enemy. Todoroki shifted his bags to one arm, digging in his pockets for his phone, dialing Uraraka’s number first, the phone continued to ring. He tried again.

“Todoroki, I’m in the middle of class.”

“Sorry, I was just checking-“

“are you alright?”

“I am. There was just something that concerned me. It’s alright now. I’ll see you after.” Todoroki hung up. It was unlike him to panic. Sliding groceries into the back seat of his car, he dialed the house’s phone number. He dialed again, he understood Uraraka not picking up on the first ring, but Katsuki had supernatural speed and hearing; and nothing better to do.  

“Alright, alright, stop calling, what’s the emergency?” He could almost picture Katsuki leaning on the phone a half-annoyed look on his face as though he really did have something better to do or a place he could be.

“It’s nothing, I’ll be back soon.”

“Can’t be nothing if it freaked you out. Feeling skittish lately?” He could almost hear the soft teasing laughter behind the rough voice he was attempting to disguise it with.

Todoroki glanced over his shoulder, shutting the trunk and sliding into the driver’s seat, “Can I feel territorial over a ghost being in my territory?”

Katsuki laughed, “Honestly, there’s so many supernaturals in your area that I wouldn’t see you as territorial, sure there’s a borderer they don’t pass, but they’re about. They follow your laws, but their not part of your pack so I don’t think I’ve seen you really territorial.” Katsuki laughed, a burst of laughter finally escaping him, “Wait, wait, I want to see you try to throw hands with a ghost for being in your territory, I’m going to record it.”

Todoroki shook his head, “I’m not going to throw hands with a ghost,” His eyes lingering in the review mirror. Maybe that buzzing feeling would go away if he tried. No. No, he wasn’t going to spin the car to go back to fight something he couldn’t even touch. He pushed the peddle down, as if making the car go faster towards his home would make it harder to spin the car around. He wasn’t going to be the crazy talk of the town after he had done so well trying to blend with the local humans. Todoroki leaned his head back, his conscious whispering about how it was just a small convenience store. It wouldn’t last that long and most passersby wouldn’t recognize him again. No. He wasn’t going to try to fight a ghost. Todoroki slid himself out of the car, bringing the groceries in, and sliding them into their cabinets. He stood there, hands on the products barely on the shelf. Fuck it. He was going to fight the ghost. Todoroki grabbed the keys off of the counter, darting towards the front door.

               Katsuki’s laughter bounced off the living room’s walls, “You’re really going to fight the ghost?”

               “I don’t know. I just need to do something.”

               “Out of all the enemies, the one you want to fight is the one you can’t get your hands on?”

               “I want to fight all of them.”

               Katsuki shook his head, “We’ll get there. It’s not like we’re going to get an opportunity to fight them all at once.”

               “Unless I make one.”

               Katsuki rolled his eyes, “That’s just stupid. You want to fight whatever made me into this, in a convenience store so you might have an opportunity to get the ghost in your territory?”

               “A man can dream.”

               “you’re crazed.”

               “I know you’d fight them too if I can get them in the territory.”

               “Go take a nap you’re not sounding like yourself.”

               Todoroki ran a hand through his hair, he was right, maybe he needed a hobby to help. He hadn’t been able to get his hands on the incoming danger and his mind was constantly buzzing that there was some form of danger around the corner. In fact, he hadn’t had a dragged-out fight with a bunch of supernaturals invading in his territory since Uraraka moved in. His hands were buzzing from the age-old habit since he had moved in, like a ritual, going outside to fight with the other supernaturals like it was his rite of passage. They fought like it was a ritual. The wood roamers, the one’s that didn’t blend with human society that well, each night. And not a single one had been brave, or stupid enough, to cross his path since the last bloodbath he created outside. And now he had a threat that he wasn’t sure he could fight. And people he wasn’t sure he could protect. Todoroki clenched and unclenched his hands. He had been shown a future, let to imagine a future that didn’t taste like blood. Todoroki lowered himself to the floor next to the couch, staring towards the ceiling.

               Katsuki shuffled the decorations on the shelf, likely thinking about rearranging the living room once again. They had an odd way of finding each other in a house covered in magic to be a mansion, and yet they each used only three or four rooms. They had an odd way of finding each other. Maybe that was what a family was. Todoroki clenched his hand. The word was bitter. It was a word for his sister. But the word family didn’t sit right with him. Family had a negative connotation in his mind. Yet, these two were given a positive definition to the word. And if they would want Uraraka to live, they would have to let her go.

               “Have you considered she hadn’t saved us from a world of blood, but we’ve doomed her to it?”

               Katsuki scoffed, “Stop thinking too much, this world was already a tragic place. Even if she wasn’t full of the psychic energy running off of her, a force of our world would’ve chased after her anyway. She’s too powerful for them to not glance at her, and not just her psychic energy.”

               “I know,” Todoroki was silent as Katsuki slid the cabinet back and forth, before ultimately deciding it stayed in the same position.

Katsuki was quiet as he stared at it, “It’s a cruel fate. To know that the only way out is to be murdered. I just….I hope she’s moved on, before that happens.” Katsuki’s glowing red eyes stared into the cabinet, likely not realizing that Todoroki could tell his expression from the reflection of the light they illuminated. Katsuki’s mouth opened and then shut.

“If you ask me if worse comes to it to grant you your final mercy, I’ll throw you out. There’s only so much you can ask of your generous landlord. You don’t pay rent.”

“And you don’t pay a bodyguard fee for your house,” Katsuki pushed the cabinet again, sliding it over and grumbling as he rearranged, eyeballing the couch for his next victim, “Pretty sure you just don’t want to clean up when the house eats them.”

Todoroki shrugged, “Might have to talk to the witch of the forest, she might’ve cursed the house before she gave it to me.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, “Self-preservation skills zero, who accepts a whole house they think is cursed?”

Todoroki shrugged, “Who breaks into a demon’s cursed house?”

Katsuki scoffed, “Half-demon.”

A soft chuckle escaped Todoroki as he stood back up, “I’m going to get Uraraka, you want anything?”

“As if they have what I need at the local convenience store.”

Todoroki shrugged, reaching for his car keys.

“A canister of paint.”

“You are not repainting the house while I am gone.”

“Red.”

“You’re not getting paint. I’m just going to get Uraraka.”

“This living room could use some color.”

“Are you sure you want to paint the living room red when you just instituted the house is cursed?”

Katsuki glanced towards the walls, likely trying to decipher whatever curse the house was under that would cause it to play tricks on him. Likely followed by the thoughts of the red paint running off of the walls in the middle of the night, “Just get me something to do while you’re out.”

Todoroki nodded, in the next moment he was sliding into the car, driving towards the college. Moments later he parked the car, ten minutes early. Hopefully that was enough, not too much to be an inconvenience if she was still busy, but enough that it was still considerate. The campus grounds looked relatively empty, maybe the classes had let out early? Actually, wait, if everyone was in class it made sense for the campus was empty. Todoroki slid out his phone, beginning to search his contacts for Uraraka’s number. He dropped it into the cupholder. No, he would wait until after her classes were over to send a message that he was there, he wanted her to know he was there, but he didn’t want her to feel rushed.  

He let a breath escape as Uraraka slid into the passenger seat, “How’d it go?”

Uraraka smiled, nodding at him, “Did our presentation today, I think it went over well, well at least what we could say about the human half of the information. Somehow, we made it make sense, well enough for the actually interested portion of the class.”

Todoroki nodded, wondering what it would’ve been like to sit in the middle of the presentation, listening to Uraraka’s presentation, completely unaware how close to the truth she was telling them. That she not only had found the body as she had been asked to, but the serial killer, and was closer than any of the human investigation teams had gotten so far…all with her own effort. No large corporation to back her up. She was a marvel. Uraraka scanned the paperwork over.

“You’re done with the project?”

“For the college assignment I’m done.”

Todoroki’s eyes slid from the road towards her, her powerful eyes and powerful presence as she dug through the paperwork, like a cop from the movies their righteousness overpowering their being. And they usually wound up dead in the end. “You’re not thinking of going after them?”

“I am. I’m going to get Katsuki’s killer. We’re going to figure out what happened to him, at the very least so we can help him.”

“And what are you going to do when you find them? They’re not exactly the most credible source of information.”

Uraraka nodded, “I know,” she paged through another piece of information she had collected, flipping from folder to folder, likely organized on what she could tell the non-supernatural population of the town and what was the supernatural information, “but there’s got to be something I can do, some pattern I can find.”  

Todoroki threw his car in park, following Uraraka into the house as she poured through her paperwork, her eyes glancing up towards the rustling in the house. Todoroki moved forwards beginning to move in front of her, whatever was rustling around making a mess of the house moving towards his office. “Katsuki, don’t rearrange that room.” Todoroki shouted; it was too dangerous for the room with the prison-worlds to be shuffled about. They were too fragile. Whoever decided that prison world spells should be equipped to books had a sense of humor, but didn’t think it entirely through considering how easy books were to open.

Uraraka pushed the door open, following him into the office where they found Katsuki wrestling a man with short dark blue hair, even as it looked as though the man were losing there was something gloating, mocking about his atmosphere as he let Katsuki think he was starting to win. The man who had saved them previously when Uraraka’s parents had tried to exorcise him.

Uraraka scoffed, “What brings you back here? Need to be protected by a human again?”

The man scoffed, his blue hair moving with each laugh that clearly vibrated through his chest, “I was curious,” the man’s eyes slid towards Todoroki, “You have a library that defeats libraries of several countries combined, I’ve seen behind that desk, but who determined you’re allowed to play god? Who determined you’re allowed to keep us all trapped forever? Never letting our sentence end?”

Todoroki swallowed, “Are you suggesting I let the serial killers in these books out?”

“It’s not like any of them affect you, you think someone would change their mind after several hundred years of being confound in one of these books.”

“I’m only in my twenties.”

“Please, you know some of these prison worlds were given to you for your reputation of safe keeping. Have you questioned which ones are kept there unfairly? Which one’s the witches decided we wronged them, but they were wrong all along? The one’s who were wronged as we were jammed in a prison world we didn’t belong in?”

“Have you considered how many serial killers are in these books?”

The man with the blue hair’s laughter bellowed throughout the room, his eyes sliding towards Uraraka, “And yet you still let me out. And yet you still thought I would even try to save you two when you needed me.”

A light laugh escaped her, “And yet, you did.”

The creature laughed, “Chances, chances,” they let go of Katsuki, moving around the room, touching the spines on the books as though they were examining which book to pick out first, “You’d think some of these books would have summaries on who were in each book and what they did.”

Uraraka slid towards the desk, wondering which half was the spells and which half of the books were the prison worlds. It was only recently that Todoroki mentioned that Katsuki was likely to have a better reign on which was what in here. Even with the room being Todoroki’s office. Uraraka’s eyes slid towards him, “You don’t have the serial killer vibe, how’d you get trapped in one of those worlds?”

“Not every crime is a serial killing offence, mighty terrible if this room was filled with serial killers.” The man glanced between Katsuki and Todoroki, “And not just of humans.” His eyes slid down towards the grey book covered in blue decorum laying on Todoroki’s desk, reaching for it.

Uraraka didn’t know what she was doing, but she knew, something vibrated off of that book. Telling her that she should never open it. That this book was one of the most dangerous books in the whole room, “Not that one,” It was too late, it was already up in his hands as he flipped it back and forth.

“Oh, okay.” It slipped from his hands, as Uraraka scrambled to get the book, Todoroki already reaching for the book, panic written across his face.

The book landed. Face-down. And open. For a moment, the world was quiet. They each stared at the book, waiting for something to happen. Todoroki let out a breath, leaning against the bookshelf nearest to the door. Anger flaring in his eyes, “I didn’t hunt you down to put you back in that book because of I looked up why you were in that prison world, I’m sorting the information right now. We both know you don’t actually want to let serial killers out.”

The man shrugged, “Guess that one was empty. Please, you don’t know me. If you did you would’ve realized that whatever report you found was extremely wrong. Sure, I killed a lot of people, but they earned it. Only a serial killer because I killed other serial killers. Wouldn’t that mean that you two both belong in prison worlds yourselves?”

The prison world lit up, the glowing blue beginning to illuminate the room.

“Uraraka! Katsuki! Get back!” Todoroki shouted as Katsuki slid next to her watching as the book’s illumination grew bright enough to pay for the electricity bill for three months. Smoke vented throughout the room, stronger than a fog machine in a haunted house when the ventilation wasn’t working, the book beginning to spin, a silhouette rising out of the prison world.

Uraraka stood there, steadying her breaths, she needed to focus. She had just let out someone she had been told was a worse problem than they were already facing. Someone who would burn the world to ash if they let him. And now he was standing in front of her, examining her, as though she was some sort of specimen, some sort of odd creature that he had never-no that look in his eyes. He had seen someone like her before. He knew what she was. And it created a wild look in her eyes. A look she wasn’t sure she liked. She had seen it from Todoroki before. Only when he was angry. Only when he was jumping to protect her. It was the chaos in blooming in his heart. Except in this person’s eyes that chaos, that idea of destruction, somewhere in his heart, it excited him. His heart would pound to watch the world burn. And in his eyes, the world deserved to burn. He looked her over with curiosity, his eyes swinging to Todoroki,

 “Little brother? Where’d you find yourself a goddess?”

[lovetnaomi]

Secrets of the Dusk Chapter 24

Chapter 24

               Todoroki had found himself running through the streets wishing that he had considered saying something to Uraraka or Katsuki before he had left, instead, he had left a short note on the table that he was exploring the territory and that he might be too far to hear and to call him if they needed anything, then locked the doors, the windows, checked the barrier, and left a sacrifice of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the house on his way out. Hopefully, that would be enough of a reward for a monster house that had managed to protect so much for so long. But he knew it was too little.

 Katsuki was likely right to be worried about the fact that it hadn’t eaten them yet, they likely should consider moving soon. Then there were the other reasons he should’ve told them that he was leaving. Mostly because between the two of them they likely would’ve taken more consideration into the human side of his situation. The wind blowing against his sleeves, although covered by cloth, still felt as though they were cutting against his flesh. And he was still too unsteady with his fire powers to not fear burning himself. Especially if he would need them later. But he didn’t have time to turn back. There was no time, he needed answers. He needed to find a way to help Katsuki. Even with the little amount from the person that turned Katsuki might have, even lies had pieces of the truth, it was likely he would be able to find something about Katsuki’s situation even a little bit to lead them in the right direction. It had been too long before there was any movement on the information, they were gathering about Katsuki’s situation. A year trapped somewhere was much too long. He could feel his feet digging into the ground as he ran as fast as he could, he didn’t have time to relax his already burning muscles, if he was able to protect his friend he needed to get there. The images of the world blurred around him, the human world becoming almost blurry but he knew the humans wouldn’t be able to see him at this point, although his muscles wouldn’t hold up to too much more, he had to reserve his strength. He was going to have the fight of his life before he would be anywhere near any sort of information that he needed.

               His muscles burned, but currently, he couldn’t afford to lose the trail he had just gained; this person had been incredibly hard to track and as far as they knew was the only person with any answers.  They may have sent several people after them, but right now he knew who he was hunting for. Everything in his gut had him running towards them. Even if he hadn’t seen them, their presence, their trademark, and the brutality they leave behind was written all over the scene he had seen. It made him wish he had told Uraraka or Katsuki, heck, even the Witch of the Forrest in advance. Between protecting themselves and reinforcing the house if he would have to make a strategic retreat, which wasn’t currently part of the plan, or if he needed backup to fight this threat. Which wasn’t something he was going to be getting. He was in charge of protecting them. Using them as backup to save himself wouldn’t work. He wouldn’t do it. That would be considered a loss on his side. And he was two of the most greedy creatures on this planet: A human and A Demon. Greed itself was his essence. Todoroki found his feet skidding past the alley he was looking for, taking a breath as he prepared himself. A mistake. The blood wrenched alleyway ran through his nostrils, his body alerting him to either potential prey or danger. Luckily, he knew what he was walking towards. Or maybe unluckily, maybe he would die tonight. He wondered if he had any promises that were unkept. He never remembered promising Katsuki aloud to solve the curse, but he had promised to protect Uraraka. Todoroki cracked his knuckles, no dying tonight, he had promises to keep. Spoken and unsaid. And dead men can’t keep promises. Not one like that at least.

               He swallowed, part of him had been hoping that he had been wrong, what were the chances he would run straight to an alley drenched in blood from a paper article? They were slim, especially for being in the paper, it wasn’t as if he was watching some security cameras. It was almost as if the article had been calling him deliberately to this location-no, the article wasn’t in his room. The target was Uraraka.

               The living-as much as he could call them that-leaned up, taking their time as if they had to stand one piece of spinal cord at a time, before stumbling to what someone would call a somewhat reasonable position, although there was still something entirely ominous lingering around their presence. Todoroki swallowed wondering if he would live long enough to ask the questions running through his mind: What are you? Why are you doing this? Let go of that person. This is my domain. Everything was spinning in his head as his mind struggling to prioritize, his instincts screaming at him for an incredibly stupid decision as if he believed a serial killer would be a good source of information. Right if he lived he would work on his ability to decide on the credibility of where he was getting the information from. The creature cracked their back, rolling their shoulders just enough so the posture would finally resemble a human’s. If he hadn’t seen them earlier finishing whatever they were doing-their mouth wasn’t stained with blood, so it was unlikely that this creature was eating them, toying with them maybe? The person in their arms gave off the obviously recognizable scent of uncannily human. Katsuki ate primarily supernaturals, but he had assumed that was a choice. Especially after he had a hard time drinking the human blood several weeks ago. Todoroki braced himself, lifting his hand to the sword equipped at his side.

               “I would think it would’ve been the young witch that found me first.” They said, throwing the person, now a carcass, to the side.  Breathe. It wasn’t a person anymore. He needed to focus on keeping himself alive first. And getting answers that would steer them in the right direction to helping Katsuki.

               The papers that laid on Uraraka’s desk. This person was after Uraraka. To get rid of their trail. Or if they were like Katsuki and only supernaturals quenched their thirst, they were looking for something more unique to suit their palate. Goddesses weren’t found frequently or as obviously or lacking as much control of their power as Uraraka was displaying. In their eyes from the information, they were able to collect Uraraka was easy prey, halfway to believing that she was still human.

               Todoroki scoffed, he couldn’t let this person see him shake, he needed to overtake them, he tightened his hand, the other one resting on his sword as he gained a swagger walking towards this person-this killer-this threat that needed to go. Don’t answer the question, they would know he knew where Uraraka was if he answered. Or even who she was. There was no guarantee it could’ve just been insane and rambling, but the minute he answered, it would confirm the creature’s suspicions.

Todoroki felt power rising towards his eyes, knowing they weren’t as scary as Katsuki’s glowing red eyes within the darkness, pushing the demonic energy into his eyes, as much as he could muster, he knew his eyes glowing. An important tactic. A tactic that was typically understood. It showed his anger, it also showed he was one of the more powerful creatures in the area, able to represent his status as not human. Glowing fierce eyes were signs of status. Such an unspoken culture that he needed to learn the hard way. But once he knew he wouldn’t let any of these things he used to cling to his future go. A swagger and a confident stride. A swagger, a confident stride, and a pair of glowing eyes; a collection of things that had made him the most powerful creature in the area for quite some time. A collection of things that he kept him alive. He paused, letting upon his sword as he stared down towards the woman flung to the side, the style of their hunt wasn’t particularly obvious he would likely find another trail of well-hidden bodies by the time this was over with the way the alley was still dripping in blood as if a tsunami had swept through the alley. A tsunami of this woman’s blood. She had fought for her life, bitter and bold. And desperate. She hadn’t gone down without a fight. Todoroki was going to make it worth it. Another promise. And dead man couldn’t keep promises. He was going to live. He had to. His eyes moved quietly from the woman to the man standing there wondering why he hadn’t moved yet, likely observing and believing themselves to be more powerful. The slight slide backward as Todoroki advanced and the fact that there was so much blood led to the conclusion that this was probably the real body of the person who had attacked Katsuki.

“You’ve made a mess of my territory.”

“Your territory? I’ve been here for years. You just so happen to move in.”

“I have a question for you.” His eyes swept through the area, the woman had fought with a silver knife, a smudge of a handprint ran down the bent silver of the blade, no blood, werewolf concepts were out on fighting this person.  

“If you’re going to say it’s your territory because of how long I will roll my eyes,” they moved further down the alley, not seeming to be escaping, but seeming to relish in what they had done, dancing throughout the blood-soaked alley. He wanted to puke, but he couldn’t show it.

It was strange. This man had sent several creatures to his house already to kill them. Shouldn’t he recognize them? Shouldn’t this man already be counterattacking to kill him and get rid of the witnesses? Was he playing with him?

“I know a blonde kid. I want to know how to help him.”

Laughter radiated from them, “You think I’m just going to give you-“

                Todoroki found his sword twisting into the man’s shoulder as he shoved them against the wall, spinning it as deeply as he could scraping against the bricks of the alleyway, “No. I don’t.”

               Their hand reached up, shaking, likely a good sign, pulling on the sword, a twisted malicious smile on their face, “We both know you don’t plan to let me leave alive tonight. Why would I let you know anything?”

               Todoroki inhaled. Right. He had made a mistake. Flames ran down the sword, the shadows of what one might describe as the worst night of their lives playing in the shadows against the walls of the alleys.

               “Hey, hey, hey don’t you want answers?”

               “Start gambling for your life.”

               “What about what Katsuki is? Or what that curse hanging around that young witch even is?”

               “There are no witches here. And I don’t know a Katsuki.”

               “Sure, you don’t, sure you don’t. But let us say you did. Let’s just say you did for a moment-“

               Todoroki twisted the sword, “I know you know what the penalty is for crossing me in my territory is. Consider you’ve been hunting exactly on the perimeter of it for a long time.”

               “Nope, just bored. Maybe I got unlucky,” they paused, gesturing around the alley, “I mean look at this place, who would hang out here?”

               Todoroki paused, he couldn’t lose his footing here, he could feel them pushing back against the sword, and if he lost either battle the physical one or the invisible one where the closest feeling he could explain was demonic energy battling against each other he would die. He was being pushed back and the serial killer was attempting to distract him so he would let up on at least one of them. He knew from the smell of copper and different scents of people who have yet to return home running off of the jacket this person wore that they were the creator of this scene. He leaned in, “You try to convince me of your innocence? But when was the last time you took a shower or changed that jacket?”

               They were hunting obsessively. It was about time he took them out, they needed to go. He had taken in that they likely didn’t have the same circumstances as Katsuki, but they likely had some sort of rule that they had to follow. It the reasoning the killings occasionally let up. But what they didn’t know was when Uraraka was in school, closely guarded by Tsuyu, he was busy visiting and making deals with the local corners. And then the families of the victims that had the most potential to be from the same serial killer. Unbeknownst to the killer, Todoroki had become unwittingly familiar with each scent of each person that had lost their fight. Even if it weren’t for them, even if it weren’t for Uraraka, even if it weren’t for Katsuki, he needed to do this. For himself. His territory was too far stained in blood. It would attract other unreasonable people and it would grow out of control. He didn’t want to spend his days micromanaging supernaturals in the area.  

               A small smile split on their face, their eyes lingering towards the alleyway, their voice in a soft whisper, “And when was the last time you checked for another scent?”

               It was only for a moment, Todoroki could feel himself letting up on the sword as he stepped back startled, glancing down the alley where a woman stood, likely eyes wide, “Get back!”

               “Help! Hurry call the police! There’s a madman on the loose!”

               Todoroki took a breath, taking his other hand, bracing his stance, and slamming the sword further in, dragging it across their shoulder, the noise was terrible as he couldn’t take the risk to remove the sword from their shoulder, he grinded his teeth dragging the sword, scrapping against the wall using as much force as he could physically muster tearing the sword from their shoulder and leaving a gaping bleeding gap that most would struggle to heal in the first place, dragging towards their neck. They took this option to dodge. Todoroki ground his teeth, he wasn’t fast enough. His feet were already moving as the city lights were beginning to move over them. He didn’t have time to bother with the human camouflage. He needed to kill this person in front of him. His legs moved pushing as fast as he could. Todoroki felt his sword plunge into this person’s ribcage, the gurgling noise of gagging and throwing up their guts making him want to do the same. But he needed to stand his ground.

               They swung, “I’m getting sick of you little halfling.” They screeched, grabbing for the sword and sending him flying. Todoroki felt the wall catch him, but not without several cracking sounds echoing down the alley. Blood was boiling up through his throat. No, it was already leaking out his mouth. The world was doubling as this person walked towards him. He had lost his chance. His single chance to ask a simple question, his head felt heavy, “Why can you walk in the moonlight?”

               The serial killer sat in front of him, likely contemplating which seasonings they would need, his blood was already everywhere for the preamble. The floor was doubling, feeling as though it was an elevator in the middle of breaking, but trying to rise to the floor it was expected to anyway. Dropping. The emergency breaks active. Rising again. Dropping. The swaying between the two didn’t help. Ah, he had wished he had made his bed today. It might’ve made it easier to pack up all of his stuff once he was gone. The killer sat in front of him but blurring it was hard to understand what they were saying, or the face they were making at him. Todoroki’s hand curled around the sword they threw at his side, the only clear concept coming from them was that he was a fool. It was strange to worry about the fact that he was dying in a pool of blood. It was strange how mundane everything currently felt. Or that the killer was in the middle of breaking the bones in his right hand so he wouldn’t be able to pick up the sword again, and yet it didn’t hurt. He felt more relieved than he was worried. At least this fool’s decision wouldn’t be painful.

               “You can’t understand me, any more can you? Your playful banter has gone quiet.” The killer laughed, their words fading in and out, “Wouldn’t it be aggravating to find out that I’m talking about what I am. Or at least what I decided I am. And how to help little Katsuki, maybe I’ll start a coven like those vampires do? I think we’re easy to get confused honestly, it’ll be funny, maybe I’ll add a few vampires. Then when they’re comfortable jump em’, it’ll be funny.” They broke his pinky. One-piece at a time. Todoroki pressed his head against the wall. There was something slow about his thoughts, peaceful even. Ah, he wondered if he was dying. Most would still be fighting for their lives. Had his body given up for him? So, exhausted that he was just quietly watching. Was he that outmatched after all? That full of himself?

               “Now, if you take the moonlight’s essence, which he can’t get himself quite funny really-“

               Something cracked in his head, a migraine, and it hurt. He lifted his left hand, glancing towards it, “That’s great.” Todoroki whispered, surrounding himself with the ice, pushing the killer back further. Todoroki stumbled to get up, hoping that somehow his demon-half would kick in and repair the fingers he was in the middle of losing. The fingers pulsed, he was starting to get feeling back in them. He needed to act quickly, it would take a while to heal those. He stumbled towards the wall, using it to support himself.

               The killer laughed, “Here I thought you weren’t conscious anymore.”

               “New motif?”

               “No, just bored. I wanted to see if there was a difference between my recent kills and you. I also wanted to check the healing factor, maybe flavor, or maybe I was just bored. No real science behind what I’m doing, not much more you can do with eternity.”

               He stumbled, “Guess I’ll help you out with having to deal with your boredom of eternity. I’ll fix it for you.”

               The killer laughed, “I’m quite content with my eternity.”

               Todoroki swung, two full punches to the air.

               “You miss-oh, you didn’t, no you didn’t-“ The killer dodged as the empty bridge they were backing onto lit into flames, the territory would soon be covered in smoke akin to the rise of a wildfire. But they were surrounded.

               Todoroki pushed ice over his right hand, hoping to numb whatever pain he would feel soon as he braced himself into a boxer’s stance. He had run here for answers, and at the very least he had gained himself a starting point, even if it was a lie. Even lies had pieces of the truth within them. He had gained something tonight. And he wasn’t ready to lose it.

               “There’s something you’re forgetting little demon.”

               Todoroki paused, stumbling, he knew better than to pay attention to them. He wasn’t but his body was moving on its own.

               “Your body is still half-human. It can’t keep up.”

                And they were right. His stance was barely holding. He would need to bluff. But how much could he? This person knew too much. He knew who and what he was. He knew about Katsuki. And about Uraraka. He knew where the territory laid.

               “Did you escape?”

               They laughed, “When you’ve lived as long as I have you’ve escaped many things.”

               An escapee from the prison worlds would make a lot of sense. They were in there because of their powers and how hard they were to deal with. Between that and the fact that they knew too much about the members of his household, it would make sense if that were a possibility.

               They looked down on them with contempt running through their eyes, likely already thinking he was dead, Todoroki supported his throbbing side, “Any last words?”

               He paused, stumbling towards an awkward stance that maintained his balance, fangs that he primarily kept hidden would be needed to save his life, for the demon-half he had spent his life dreading knowing it was the very clear distinction he was related to that man, would be what was to keep him alive tonight, “Yeah, when I see you again it’s going to be to tell you I’ve booked you a reservation in the morgue.”

               “But I don’t think you’ll get that chance. Since you are going to die tonight, op, is that a lung you’re hacking up?”

               Pain throbbed through his chest as he found himself on his knees, doing his best not to lose track of where the killer would escape to. Unsure about the perspective of the fact that the killer was not escaping. But coming closer.  He ground his fingers into the ground, ice encompassing the path. Knowing he was far too weak to do anything else but delay the killer from coming closer. But there would be no reason for the delay, there was no one coming-

               “Get away from him!” A feminine voice shouted.

               Uraraka? Hope was blossoming in his chest that felt like it had gone to work for a factory to make blood, but also dread. In her current state with uncontrollable powers she had been learning about, she wouldn’t be able to defeat this foe. Sure, she was powerful, but she was at a severely clear disadvantage. Moments felt like hours, but what he knew was he was likely starting to experience blackouts. But what he did know was that his arm was thrown over someone’s shoulder as they pleaded with him not to die, swinging a door open, dragging him into a house.

               “Damn, who’s blood is that?” Katsuki’s voice echoed against the walls of the house.

               “It’s Todoroki’s, help me get him to a room!”

               He felt jostled as something swung him onto a bed, magic encircling him. It wasn’t the first time he felt this way this year. It had been quite some time since he felt like this, but twice in the same year? He was growing weak. There was no way he could keep letting this happen.

               “What do you think did this to him?”

               “I don’t know, but whatever it was he was clearly hunting them.”

               “He hunted them?”

               “When he protects the territory of the house he doesn’t go far. He was halfway across the city. He had been actively chasing them, leaving his blood trail behind all the way,” There was a pause in the voice as they searched through the damage, moving from his ribcage to his hand, “Let’s just say where they ended looks much worse than where they started.”

               “That doesn’t tell me anything.”

               “He was hunting a serial killer, a talented supernatural one, one that uses this situation for sport.”

               “Did you bring them back here?”

               “No, I used a cloak.”

               “Alright. Don’t tell Uraraka about this.” Ah, it must be Seraphina.

               The woman’s voice was silent, a brief pause, “What are we going to do?”

               “About what?”

               “There’s not many things that are capable of taking him on.”

               “Yeah, well, there’s still me. Uraraka if she gets creative enough. The list will go on.”

               “You know I mean in brute strength. It wasn’t a battle of wits, I could tell just by looking at the place,” the woman paused, it had to be Seraphina with the fact that he was starting to feel the puncture his lung and she was only moving her hands searching for the problems, “He was toying with him.” Her voice cracked. There was something about her. She was scared. If he could Todoroki knew his hand would be in a fist, Seraphina, the Witch of the Forest, was considered an equal to him in power. A woman with the devastating ability to draw from the Moon, even on a new moon even if it was her weakest day, she was never powerless. But she was someone that the area had beheld as a power grab, someone that would be able to obtain the territory and control it if ever needed; and she was scared. He hadn’t realized to consider her one of the people that needed to be protected. And yet she protected him tonight. He would be long dead if she hadn’t found him.

               “I’m alive.” He choked out, knowing his hazy eyes were glancing towards Seraphina, her shaking slowly beginning to cease.

               “I know. I know. I feel your heartbeat, I’m-I’m working on reinforcing the barriers of the house at the same time.”

               “I left a sandwich-“ he coughed, blood sputtering up his throat.

               “Don’t talk. I’ve got this.”

               “The birthday party-“

               Katsuki rolled his eyes, if his arms weren’t already crossed he was sure he would’ve seen his fist curl into a ball, trying to suppress yelling at him how stupid it was that not only did he go alone but how stupid it was not to tell anyone where he was going.

               “Katsuki, make sure Uraraka’s still asleep. Also, I’m going to need several ingredients from your cabinets, you might have to call his family.”

               “I don’t have his family’s number.”

               Todoroki watched the patches in the roof waver around, wondering if the stars he was seeing were just smaller spirits he wasn’t typically able to perceive. Maybe they were ghosts coming to collect his spirit for a personal collection. He wondered if he had one or if it was half of one or maybe something else entirely.

               “Todoroki, Todoroki, I need you to answer me” Seraphina’s usually steady voice wavered.

               “the moon’s pretty full tonight.”

               “No, it’s not, that’s why I was on the way here,” Her fingers curled where he was pretty sure the punctured lung would be, “I need you to keep your own strength.”

               “I need the moon’s essence. Just a piece.”

               “Her voice quivered, but she kept talking, “Just a piece, huh? Of the moon? The moon itself?” It was clear she thought he was just babbling from the lack of blood from the way she was replying to him.

               “I don’t know. I don’t know what that means.”

               “Alright, why?” She was glowing, he almost suspected when she was most powerful, she would be glowing a bright essence of blue, but she glowed green. A brilliant green. He had seen a witch glow pink before. He wondered if that meant anything to them. Maybe a sign of their nature or where they drew the power from, or maybe it was just their favorite color.

               “I don’t know. I need to get Katsuki’s the moon’s essence.”

               The door of whichever room he was in slammed, “I know who half-and-half was chasing,” Katsuki grabbed him by the collar against Seraphina’s screams to put him back down and that she wasn’t done the lung was still punctured to the point no human hospital would’ve been able to save him, Katsuki let him go, anger flashing and glowing in his eyes, “Are you stupid? Crazy? You know better than to chase him. You don’t get to have a death wish. I’ll solve my problems on my own!” The door slammed again. Katsuki was gone. It must’ve been hours before his conscience stabilized. Todoroki wondered if he would remember any of the findings he had discovered. Like the man that had turned Katsuki into whatever he was what his real face looked like. Or maybe that Katsuki needed the moon’s essence for-for something. He would need to ask Seraphina.

               Birds chirped in, quietly, he could feel the sunrise starting from behind the curtains of the room. Todoroki sat up, his hand moving towards his lung, nothing felt wrong there, he took a breath almost smiling.

               “This is nothing to laugh at.”

               Todoroki’s eyes swung towards Katsuki sitting next to him, eyes still glowing a brilliant red, looking him over, already sitting up in bed as though he hadn’t been beaten to the point of a morgue hospital visit in the early morning. Already penciling away whatever his latest idea was, it didn’t take Katsuki long to notice his right hand wasn’t moving, “Is it possible to do permanent damage?”

               Todoroki was quiet, “There’s not many half-demons, and many are affected in different ways…” Todoroki glanced at his hand likely thinking about how much more human that it was, but knowing if he were any closer to his human half he would’ve died this morning.

               Katsuki huffed pacing and then slamming back down into the chair next to him, a foot already thrown on the bed, “I don’t care what you do with your life, but don’t go throwing it away.” Katsuki glanced away, “It’ll make Uraraka worry.”

               Todoroki gave a soft nod, it was stiff and curt, “You would’ve given her a heart attack, I got rid of the bloodstained carpets before she woke up….but the other evidence,” Katsuki glanced between Todoroki’s right hand and the bloodstained clothes scattered across the floor, “You’ll have to fix that yourself.”

               Todoroki nodded, “What compensation is the witch of the forest demanding?”

               Katsuki glanced towards him, questions in his eyes.

               “Magic this powerful comes with a price, I’m sure you’ve noticed the moon’s getting smaller. She’s about to get weaker. She needs a compensation. Witch rules.”

               “Yeah, yeah, I’ll pay her. Like a hospital bill right?”

               “No, she’ll need something else.”

               “She said she didn’t need anything.”

               “Then she’s likely in her room, I’ll put plants nearby when I can.”

               Even with Todoroki’s half-demon physiology and the witch of the forest’s latent magical ability, he wasn’t healing. Whatever Todoroki had attacked had done a number on him. Nothing was healing properly in the way it should’ve been. Katsuki sighed, looking back towards him, “What did you go after-“

               Knocking beat on the door, repeatedly. Katsuki moved, Uraraka already shouting that she would get it before he could. Katsuki darted towards the front door, “It’s alright I’m waiting for a package.”

               She raised an eyebrow at him, “But you can’t open the front door?”

               He ground his teeth, fangs clashing against each other. She was right. There wasn’t much more he could tell her. They had already ruined her sense of safety, and she didn’t need to worry about him and Todoroki on top of it. If he stopped her she would know something was wrong. But if he didn’t she could’ve been in danger.

               “Mame’, we’re the local police, we’ve received a tip that a man living in this house was at the scene of a crime last night.”

               “A crime? I believe the people in my house were here the entire time. In bed.” Uraraka’s voice sounded defensive. Katsuki sighed, knowing full well that they were going to lose this battle either way.

               “It’s alright, let them in.” he shouted, one of them must’ve had a latent supernatural ability or heritage they didn’t know about and managed to lead their partner up here to the cabin.

               They glanced towards Uraraka then back to Katsuki, “Contacts?” The one in the back shrugged.

               He leaned on the wall, “Medical condition.” Not entirely a lie. He wondered if either of them and seen the record about his murder or if they were corpses coming to finish the job.

               “Is that everyone in the house?”

               “One more, but he’s ridiculously ill. Puking blood since early this morning. I wouldn’t recommend going to see him.”

               Uraraka shot him a look, a mixture between a warning for his story seeming out of control and curiosity that would likely show her the truth. The man in the back took a step back, “We’re good.”

               The front officer shook his head, “we’ll just pop our heads around.”

               Uraraka slowly shifted behind him, “More zombies?”

               “I don’t think so.”

               “How do you know?”

               “I don’t.”

               The officers popped Todoroki’s door open, almost immediately shutting it. He had been loud enough for Todoroki to know the situation.

               “Sorry to waste your time when you’re taking care of someone so ill we’ll hurry on, you might want to help him. Or get him to a hospital.”

               Katsuki watched as Uraraka saw them off, moving towards Todoroki’s room where he was on the floor begging the bed to pick him back up. Uraraka glanced towards him a mixture of relief, confusion, and accusation for him hiding the situation, “He’s sick? Should we take him to a hospital?”

               “It’s okay. He had a run-in over a territory dispute and hasn’t been able to change yet. We needed an alibi for the humans. Or at least those who still think they’re human.”

               Uraraka nodded, glancing at the men making their way back down the hill away from Todoroki’s territory the fog slowly beginning to rewrap around the path they were taking.

               Todoroki glanced towards Uraraka, standing up again, as he gathered the clothing around the room.

               “I know that’s what Katsuki said, but this is a little too far. Are you sure you’re okay?” Uraraka glanced at Todoroki, worry beginning to bloom in her eyes.

               “I’m fine, gotta play the part. Besides, if they look at the records of the local convenience store I’ve been in there several times buying the medical supplies. The alibi will hold up.”

               Uraraka nodded, her eyes sliding down towards his right hand an expression on her face he wasn’t quite sure of, before sliding back towards him, “So, your sister’s birthday party? It’s a surprise but she’s already made arrangements for Katsuki, doesn’t that sound weird?”

               “I think she doesn’t realize it’s going to be a whole party. She’s likely planning a small get-together.”

               Uraraka nodded, glancing back towards the floor.

               Katsuki sighed, annoyance in his voice, “It’ll probably be a formal affair, I’m sure I saw a room covered in dresses somewhere in this house.” Katsuki pushed her down the hall, glancing back towards Todoroki struggling to move his right hand, his hand shaking showing that he was clearly struggling to move it. He needed to hide that from Uraraka. They couldn’t make her worry any more than they had already. It would feel as though she would be starting to lose faith in their ability to protect her. Katsuki’s hand tightened, they would protect her. If that was the last thing they did with their lives. What was the point of being granted eternity if he couldn’t protect one person?

               “Katsuki are you okay?”

               He nodded, slamming the door open to the room that contained the dresses, “Demon house after all.” A scoff left him.

               “The house is a demon too?”

               “I don’t know. Todoroki said something about it used to eat people then left it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If it used to eat people, he should’ve tried to leave it meat.”

                Uraraka shrugged, her eyes glancing over the dresses that laid throughout the room. There was a dazzling array of colors it almost blinded him, dresses that were green, pink, and blue, sparkles contaminating the majority of the dresses. Uraraka picked at each one, likely considering how expensive each one must’ve been worth. He had his fashion designer parents to thank for this situation. “Don’t bother with the prices, take this, and this,” He began pulling dresses for her to try on, off of the shelves, glancing between the dresses, shoes, and gloves. Todoroki’s family seemed a little old fashion, if she was trying to impress them-which it was probably a good point to leave a good impression on a family of your host-a little old fashion might’ve helped. He threw those clothes aside. He was from a family of fashion designers. Even if it would please them he still had his pride.

               “Katsuki, this is too much.”

               “At least try them on.”

               “I mean the party is in a couple of hours, I could just go in a t-shirt and jeans.”

               “Have you seen Todoroki’s family? It’s not a party, it’s a damn ball. Frankly, all of these dresses are likely underdressed for the occasion.” His eyes lingered towards the jewelry he had always seen her in pink, but there was a glittering green dress and an emerald that was glowing by his side. It piqued his curiosity to know how she would look in those.  He threw them on top of the pile, along with white heels and white gloves, the only complete outfit he had given her so far.

               She was changing rapidly, but it felt like hours were going by as they tried to pick out an outfit. Nothing was working, and frankly, they were both feeling exhausted. At the very least it had gotten his mind off of Todoroki’s loss and the fact that he was likely hiding that he was still fighting for his life. If he wasn’t he would’ve been able to heal that hand already, that told him even if Todoroki didn’t know, his body was still working on focusing on healing vital parts of his being. They were in danger. And so was the person who had made him into, into this thing.

               “Katsuki?”

               His eyes lingered back to Uraraka, realizing that she hadn’t tried on the outfit he had given her eyes, she was taking his breath away before he could speak, he was right, she was gorgeous in that. If she wasn’t already possibly a goddess his mind would be reeling with the possibility that she was one. He could feel his mouth almost drop. Silently he thanked his parents for their designer's eyes.

               “I was thinking…maybe we could go matching? The three of us? Would that be weird?”

               There was something in him that liked the idea, playing with it in his head. But the green she was wearing didn’t quite fit him, or Todoroki. But it wasn’t the easiest to match outfits to Todoroki, especially because of his hair. Between Todoroki’s hair being extremely long for a male, it was two different colors. His mind was reeling trying to figure out how to make the outfits work. It would be weird if it was all exactly the same outfit, there needed to be something picturesque to it.

               “That’s alright, you can pick out a different one, I was just thinking, like a team-“

               “No, it’s alright. I’m just trying to work with the idea. Sit here I’ll do your hair.”

               “It’s okay, you’ve done enough, hair is a lot-“ She moved sitting anyway as he was already working with it.

               “I’m a son of two of the most powerful fashion designers in the industry, I do everything to the utmost, don’t underestimate me.”

               “I wasn’t-“

               “I know.” He paused, glancing towards the pearls on the vanity, wondering if sewing pearls into her hair would be too much on top of the emerald adorn around her neck. Uraraka was already stunning in the first place, all of this effort was over-doing it. But anyone who didn’t say she was drop-dead gorgeous was a liar.  He couldn’t wait to watch Todoroki stumble over himself with the masterpiece. Uraraka was already gorgeous, to begin with, but he knew that he would catch Todoroki off guard with this. It was the right choice after all.

               A whistle came from the doorway, Katsuki glancing towards the entranceway, annoyed that he was being interrupted before he was done. The only one in this house with the gall to whisper, it had to be Seraphina.

               “Damn. You look good.”

               Uraraka blushed, glancing towards Seraphina in the mirror, “What brings you here?”

               “New moon’s tonight,” She paused, waving an invitation, “But it looks like we’ve got other plans.”

               “Are you sure? It’s the new moon your weakest night?”

               “Only you three know that. Plus, who turns down an invitation from the all-powerful Todoroki clan. Anyone who’s anyone wants to get one. Even their enemies. It’s a real rule of thumb around here, shows who’s who, it’s like a display of power. A political gamble.”

               “Even to a birthday party?”

               “A birthday party of the daughter of the most powerful demon clan in the area, even with a bunch of half-demon children signifying how powerful they are, who so happens to be dating one of the people set up to inherit the most powerful gang in the area? A party is just a political affair. A need to show face and consider your alignments.” Seraphina paged through the dresses, pausing on the pink one Katsuki had considered Uraraka might’ve picked for herself, before paging again, pulling a cobalt blue one, “And who doesn’t love a good party?”

               Katsuki nodded, “I guess that’s what she meant by accommodations.”

               “The party is on the new moon on purpose.” Seraphina nodded, “Get out for a bit.”

               Katsuki shook his head, going back to paging through the outfits. An all green tux, what he had considered first, would look ridiculous. He needed something else. Uraraka reached into the rack, pulling out a black jacket and pants, with a green button-down for underneath with a green tie. That was perfect for the first outfit. But what else? She wanted a theme like a team-He reached, a green tuxedo top, a white button-down, and black pants. Perfect. He gathered them up, “We’ll be outside in ten.”

               Katsuki hurried to Todoroki’s room, where he was staring down at his hand, likely begging it to move. Doing his best not to be found by his housemates to keep them from worrying. He threw the outfit towards him, “Get dressed, we’re going.”

               Todoroki looked down towards the clothes, confusion clear on his face, “Where?”

               “Your big sister’s birthday party.”  

               Katsuki paused, digging through his pocket throwing white gloves to Todoroki. It would likely hide most of the bruising of his hand not healing.  

               Todoroki nodded, it didn’t need to be said. Even if it wasn’t for his big sister, the Todoroki’s had a wide array of people they knew, each of these people likely contained a different piece of information, they would use them. Gather them up like a library. Todoroki glanced back towards Katsuki, eyes lingering towards the outfit in his arms, “Matching outfits? That’s unlike you.”

               “Uraraka’s request, she wants to look like a team.” He paused, glancing away. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to match. Especially since they would be entering with Todoroki, it would give them protection and some sort of precedence, he might be able to get more answers out of the supernaturals that knew something about his condition. A strategy to give them an advantage.  They were going to need an edge, especially since their standards were by human society and now, they would have to face a whole new world, literally.

               They glanced towards the car. Seraphina and Uraraka already waiting for them. The sparkles on their dresses making it seem as though that had enraptured the stars and contained them within a fleeting piece of fabric. Todoroki’s eyes slid towards his car. Todoroki and Katsuki glancing at each other, Todoroki’s right hand still unmoving. His car was stick shift.

               Katsuki snatched the keys, “I’ll drive.”

               “But you don’t know where we’re going?” Seraphina laughed, her voice becoming hollow as the realization dawned on her, her eyes sliding down to the glove on Todoroki’s right hand, she stumbled for an excuse, “I guess if he doesn’t feel like driving, I’ll drive. I’ve got the directions.” Seraphina waved the card, slipping herself the keys and sliding in the driver’s seat before anyone could ask any questions. It didn’t take long before they were there. Especially with Seraphina’s lack of fear against getting a speeding ticket. They slipped out of the car, Seraphina clicking the lock of the car as though there was anything of value within it and the people they were surrounded by weren’t capable of getting in the vehicle with little to no effort.

               “Wow, I’ve never seen it this hopping before. So much for a surprise party.” Seraphina exclaimed, already making her way inside.

               Uraraka glanced around, “It’s so different.”

               “I was fighting for my life last time.” Liar. Every time he seemed to return to this place it was only because he was fighting for his life. Todoroki glanced back towards the doors, the two of them picking a side of Uraraka and escorting her inside. This time her presence was unkempt, unrestricted, and flowing out onto the floor. If it wasn’t because she was a new face or gorgeous, she was definitely getting glances for her unparalleled energy leaking onto the floor. If it wasn’t for several powerful families running the floor he was sure she would’ve been swarmed with people already.

               Todoroki pushed the door open as a blonde ran up to him, red flamboyant wings spread around him, “Hey, you made it!” A slight pink already attached to his cheeks, waving for them to join the group, Fuyumi already at his side, in a sky-blue dress and a necklace of pearls around her neck. He was right to have them dress up for the occasion.

               “I thought it was a surprise party?”

               Fuyumi laughed, “I don’t think he can keep a secret of the life of himself.”

               Hawks shook his head, “You’d be surprised.”

               “Besides, how is anyone supposed to hide a party of this scale?” Fuyumi gestured around the room, catering staff running to and fro, partiers already scattered around the dance floor. The main lobby almost appeared to be a ballroom as it glowed with what someone would’ve considered their fantasy.

               Uraraka let out a small breath, likely knowing that they were here to investigate. Katsuki held out his hand, “If you don’t mind, I’ll take the first dance.”

               Uraraka nodded, letting Katsuki pull her to the dance floor. He glanced towards Todoroki, glancing away, but attempting to keep an eye on them, yet converse with his elder sister and her boyfriend.

               “I’m surprised you can dance.” Uraraka smiled, he held his arm tightly around her waist, she was incredibly close. It was almost unbearable as her scent was waving towards him, her hair brushing against his chest.  There was something so enticing about her. He wanted her in his life with such a desire that he had never felt before. It vibrated in his chest. To keep these people around him. Some part of him made him feel as though if he kept spinning her they wouldn’t ever have to leave the dancefloor and he would be able to keep her in his arms forever.

               “I told you earlier, don’t underestimate me.”

               She laughed, “Sure, sure.” She took control spinning them back the other way, the dance becoming wilder but more unrestrained by the moment, showing how clearly, she had a hold on life. More glances glanced towards him and Uraraka. After they had gone through such painstaking efforts to hide him and Uraraka, he was unsure this was the best of decisions. But they were making their alliances clear, they needed to show them who they were messing with. And likely obtain allies. No matter how much he didn’t want to say it, in what they were fighting they were going to need allies. If they continued hunting who they needed to hunt to make themselves feel safe again, Seraphina wouldn’t be able to protect them or even come close to saving them. And the first ally they needed to secure would be Todoroki’s family. A powerful ally. One full of half-humans, the chances of betrayal would be far less likely from them than any other ally they were about to make. There was also the possibility of getting the demon slayers of Tsuyu’s family on their side. But he wasn’t ready to deal with the possibility of them trying to kill them after especially when they were exhausted. Everything was currently being a risky gamble. And they were gambling with their lives.

               Katsuki paused, already swinging them back to Todoroki. He paused, nudging Todoroki forwards to her, “Make it obvious.”

               Red tinted Todoroki’s ears, “I don’t know what you’re-“

               “Don’t lie to me.” Katsuki snapped, pushing Todoroki forwards. They were powerful. And they needed to show that the most coveted woman currently had extremely powerful allies on the dancefloor, people wanted to feel safe. If they could they would likely start talking to the three of them as they began to seem approachable. The information gathering and gossip would likely start after the guests were starting to settle in, and likely drunk. Katsuki glanced towards the people within the room, the majority of them seeming perfectly human although some not bothering to hide that they weren’t. It was a private event of a powerful demon family’s daughter after all. No reason to hide who or what you were. Katsuki paused, pulling at his mouth in the reflection of the liquid, fangs protruding in the reflection. He wondered if he would ever get used to seeing them. Pretending that they were always that long. Pretending that those fangs hadn’t killed anyone against his will in a desperate need not to die again.

               “I’m saying she’s just a half-demon.”

               “I know but shh”

               “Listen, I’m sure if-“

               Katsuki glanced up, “Sure, the children here are half-demons, but I know he can kick both your asses.”

               The two across from him stood up, appalled, unable to hide their embarrassment on their faces, “Why I never-“

               “If you’re not enjoying the party, I can arrange to have the host have you thrown out.”

               The men gasped before standing up, “No, we were uh just leaving.” They moved throughout the room, another hitting the one that had spoken those words, “We came to ally with them, not make a feud. Are you stupid?”

               “I figured he wouldn’t say anything. He just danced with that girl and it looked like the youngest one stole her away I thought he’d be mad or jealous-“

               “Stupid, they clearly are all on good terms, did you not see between the dances that they were standing together laughing? They’re clearly all together. Have some respect.”

               Katsuki sighed, shaking his head as he moved to the wall. He had no jealousy for Todoroki, they were friends. There was no reason for the jealousy when it was clear that Uraraka had cared for both of them. A hand tightened on his sleeve, he wondered if those feelings would ever be something more. For either of them. And pushed that thought down. No matter what she was still human. From her perspective, she was as human as she could get. And they were killers. Even if it was for a reason, neither of them could ever actually be with her. He watched Todoroki swing her around the dancefloor, more carefully then he would’ve previously. Frankly, part of him was surprised. Todoroki usually showed a lack of etiquette for social decorum.  Knowing how to dance was surprising. But it was almost fairly obvious to him that Todoroki was barely touching her with his right hand. By the end of the dance, she would know something was wrong. From the beginning of moving in he had known that Todoroki was doing his best to control his half-demon strength, but wasn’t always quite aware of it. He had broken everything from pencils to mugs to doorknobs, when he touched another human being it was likely the attempt of the lightest pressure he was able. Which was still a lot for a human. Uraraka would know immediately that something was wrong with him. Especially after this morning’s debacle.

               “Did you know he almost died yesterday?” A new voice leaned next to him, quietly observing Todoroki.

               Katsuki rolled his eyes, knowing he had to make alignments, but he also needed them to know he was aligned with the Todoroki’s he had thought he had made that pretty clear on their entrance, he couldn’t let anyone know that he was in a weaker state, “He’s clearly fine, I don’t know why would you think that.”

               “He may have said and felt it was for himself, but he was dying why do you think that was?”

               Fury was blooming in Katsuki’s chest, he was getting annoyed, maybe he should try a different route and attempt to beat up the drunks making a racket outside, “Bother explaining yourself clearly.”

               “He was looking for answers for you.”

               Katsuki rolled his eyes, he needed to show them that he was looking for idle chatter some way to begin the conversation and control it, “I was thinking it’d be nice to have someone to talk to, but I think I’m going to need to start with someone sane, I’m not drunk enough for this.”

               The man laughed, a soft curt laugh, their eyes never leaving the dance floor, “Who do you think almost killed the little Todoroki yesterday? Rendered his hand useless too. Damn, that’s some good poison circling through, if I knew I would’ve saved it for a more powerful opponent.”

               A glass shattered near them, “You did what?” Katsuki’s eyes lingered towards Fuyumi, frantic eyes glancing towards the dance floor, her eyes immediately resting on Todoroki’s gloved right hand, before her eyes darting back towards the man standing next to him. “This isn’t the place for jokes.”

               “Right, right, but I’m not a liar either. I came here to finish a job, but seeing as she’s in his arms right now, don’t want to bloody the nice dancefloor, awfully expensive tiling we have there.” The man cracked his bones, neck beginning to strain as though it was an owl with a broken neck still in control of it, tilting as he stumbled.

               Katsuki’s eyes widened, “Don’t!” He snapped, his voice echoing through the corridor as he reached for the man. But it was too late Fuyumi was gone. Only her pearl necklace with speckles of blood traced along it, laying on the floor. Katsuki hissed, his hand curling around the pearl necklace, as he glanced towards Todoroki spinning Uraraka around on the dance floor, still not knowing of the poison circulating in his hand destroying his healing factor, but the happiest smile he had seen on his face in a long time, it was making his way to his eyes as Uraraka laughed, her head leaning into him, likely in the middle of some sort of joke. Katsuki glanced back towards the blood-covered pearl necklace. His hand curling around it, knowing that he would have to destroy their smiles.

Red wings obscured his vision, the eyes of likely the worst person to see this situation right now glancing down towards the blood-covered pearls in his grip, his voice cracked, “Katsuki, where is Fuyumi?”

[lovetnaomi]

Secrets of the Dusk Chapter 17

               Todoroki stumbled, the bloodlust was boiling in his own blood and he had never gone such a long time without allowing it to quench itself over the target. 

Each of his targets had been well sought out and deserving of his bloodlust, he had also never had to hide the bloodlust from anyone. But from the crevices of his heart, he didn’t want Uraraka to see it blossoming within him to the point of physically painting his face, from his facial expression to his glowing eyes. He knew how a human would feel about it. His human-half had panicked the first time he saw such an expression in the mirror, he could still feel the bile that rose in his throat in such disgust for it. But this bloodlust was what had kept him alive all of this time. He turned from the house, glaring at the fiery stars as though they would be able to overpower the glow that was radiating from his eyes.

               He felt himself tense then instinctively relax as arms slipped around him, Uraraka stuffing her face between his shoulder blades, “We’re going to be okay.”

               His hands wrapped around her arms, letting himself embrace such a luxury, just for a moment, just for a moment was all he needed. The world that felt like it was slipping underneath his feet finally shifting back into place. He knew that he should’ve never had to face a world that was too dark for him with his own powers, but with Uraraka’s arms around him, the world felt so much brighter than it had before as the stars painted the sky. “I know. I’ll make it okay again. I have to.”

               She buried her head deeper in his shoulder blades, “You don’t have to make anything okay and not again. There’s the possibility of things being completely different, and that’s alright. It’s okay if it’s different,” She paused, loosening her grip and peering around so he could see her eyes shining in the darkness, “And it’s okay if you rely on us.”

               Todoroki lowered his head, “How am I supposed to rely on you when you can’t rely on me?”

               Her grip tightened on him as-if if she let up for a single moment she would lose this chance, losing him in the wave of forever, “Feel that?” she pulled him backwards, pushing her forehead into his shoulder blades and standing him upright again, “I do that for you when you fall and vice-versa, but it doesn’t always look or feel the same. Right now, you need us, but we also need you. Although I’m sure Katsuki would never admit it, I’m sure he appreciates that you’re around.”

               Todoroki nodded, “Alright, we’ll move forwards. But what do we do about Katsuki?”

               Uraraka glanced towards the house, “We let him out.”

               Todoroki paused, glancing back towards the stars, his thoughts cycling around to the point he knew that it should’ve sounded like the screams of a riot breaking out the influence of mob-mentality rippling through the crowd in a high crime rate city, yet-it felt quiet. It only took a moment, but it felt as though the quiet of a field with the soft chirp of crickets on a summer night and the wind playing with his hair was passing through his head. He glanced down towards Uraraka’s eyes, and he knew the answer on why. He trusted them, both of them. Katsuki would never lay a finger on her nor would she let him. He trusted both of them with his life. Katsuki wasn’t his prisoner, far from it. Katsuki wouldn’t admit it, but he was his friend. Deep down he knew that Katsuki knew what he had done was for his own good. Todoroki nodded, “Just keep the book near you until we can figure out if he has blood-bingeing qualities and until he can sort it out on his own.”

               Uraraka nodded, rushing inside to the book Katsuki was sealed in. It wasn’t long until he could hear what was likely profanities being ushered out the door in the form of Katsuki’s voice likely cursing his name to the high heavens, if there were any. The long list of profanities echoing into the night making it seem as though they were arguing over what to make for dinner and a serial killer hadn’t just broken into their home. He could feel his muscles relaxing before turning and heading inside. Todoroki moved to a chair, pulling open another book and stuffing his hands into his hair. He didn’t know how long he had been there nor did he notice the scent of food drafting into the disaster zone of a room, whoever had made them a target had gone out of their way to give the damage similar to a tsunami to the room. If he wasn’t here, he would’ve considered someone breaking into the house in an attempt of a burglary that didn’t end well.

               A bowl filled with his favorite food slammed down in front of him, barely avoiding splashing its contents onto the books sprawled across the desk, “Don’t do that shit ever again. We both know you need me.”

               Todoroki nodded, “I’m-“

               “Don’t tell me your sorry, I don’t need to hear that crap,” Katsuki moved, picking up some books off the floor and stuffing them on the shelf, before pulling another, “just keep moving forwards. We’ll figure it out.”

               Todoroki glanced down into his book, “I don’t know how to protect her. I don’t think you would purposely hurt her….but now that you’ve gotten a taste for it….did you want me to give you some of mine?”

               Katsuki made a loud choking noise, slamming the book he was holding shut, “Don’t bring that nonsense up again. Also, you’ve been supplying me with supernatural creatures’ blood, consider yourself once in a while you’re probably in more danger.” Katsuki shuffled his hand through his hair, “I wouldn’t hurt you. Only a weak fool would lose control,” Katsuki’s hand brushed the files and collection of blood-bingers that he kept, a soft “I refuse to wind up like them” under his breath.

               Todoroki curled his hands around the book, “Katsuki….What happened….what happened to your friend?”

                Katsuki paused, staring down the bookshelves as if the books would release the answers to him instead of being required to page through them, his demeanor was quiet in the opposite relation to the swirling chaotic presence that rushed around the room. Katsuki bubbled, taking a breath and leaving the room before he came back with two chairs and Uraraka. Todoroki swallowed wondering if he had just hit a very bad topic between them, shutting the book as he glanced towards Katsuki lowering himself into his chair, a suppressed look of shame and guilt on his face.

               “My friend’s name was Izuku Midoriya, and if you asked me the person who killed him was probably me.” Katsuki tapped his foot attempting not to let his voice waver, “He was a very weak child from the beginning, my parents were always very strict about making sure that I was protecting him, but he frequently did too much, too far, so I tried to push him away. Some nights I got in over my head…he was still there for me, not that I would admit the amount of times he pulled me out of trouble when he could barely hold his own.” Katsuki shook his head, “But there was one night we had gotten into a large fight, spending your whole life protecting someone who won’t even protect themselves is too much to ask a child. And pushing it down their throats for twenty-three years is a little much. So, I hopped on my motorcycle and I floored it. It wasn’t until two days later I got a call from his mom frantic and crying.” Katsuki paused, his hands tightening together. “I spent three days after that looking for him and the police had already declared him missing, they weren’t doing anything since the case was opened and closed so fast. It’s what happens when someone that weak goes missing, they assume they didn’t make it after forty-eight hours.” Katsuki swallowed glancing towards the ground. “I figured the good guys weren’t giving me any information than I’d beat it out of the bad guys, typically they had a good network for finding stuff out. The more I looked the deeper and deeper I went into….” Katsuki glanced towards Todoroki, “This world. And when you get deeper into the dark side of things, darker things come looking for you. Especially when you build yourself up a reputation. Criminals looking for a partner get curious, gangs get curious,” Katsuki glanced towards his hand, “we get curious. I just wasn’t lucky enough for something a little less sinister to find me. Whatever took an interest in me likes to play games.”

               Katsuki paused, glancing towards the blanketed window as if he would’ve been able to see through it, “I don’t even know if I found him that night or not.” He ran a hand through his hair, “They get in your head, I was so confused already and then he was standing there, in the middle of the alley, looking down on me with that smug look he gives me like he knows more than he lets on. And then he was running, and I had been looking for him for nearly two months by then. So, I threw my bike down I didn’t even think I just ran, I ran until I could almost grab his hood in my hands, I could feel the fabric of the hood on my fingertips, then he turned into a building that was less than livable. And there he was on the ground, just a body bleeding out. The next thing I knew, they had me over the ledge of the building, hanging by holding my throat I could barely understand what was happening I just knew I was losing.” Katsuki glanced towards the window again, “I knew now why they were laughing as they glanced towards the sun to rise, but at the last moment they changed their minds and dropped me, I crawled into the building and they were both gone. Blood laid about the streets and across the entire building. There was no way all of that blood was his….I woke several days later, glancing around, knowing half that blood was mine, and unsure how I had lived.” Katsuki’s hand curled on his pants, “It took one look in the mirror for me to realize I hadn’t. And neither had Midoriya.”

               Uraraka tightened her hands on each other, “Then that means your friend could still be alive?”

               Katsuki shook his head, “He was so weak. I’ve researched it. Whatever I am, vampire or not, it’s not good to turn someone so weak into a vampire if we even are that.”

               Todoroki swallowed, wishing he didn’t know what that meant.

               Uraraka glanced between the two of them.

               “It’s not on purpose, it never is with blood-bingers or rippers, but he’ll desperately crave the life his body was never able to handle, even if he has to rip it from the other’s around him.” Todoroki looked down at his book wishing he didn’t have to say it, but he didn’t want to force Katsuki to say it either.

               “It’s better that he didn’t become one, the best we can hope for is I find his body decent enough to give back to his mother and I wipe her mind on how she got him back to bury him.” Katsuki sighed, already over by the curtained-window, hands holding onto his own hips likely trying to convince himself to be patient with himself as he did something out of character and explained what had happened. “It might’ve all just been in my head. I don’t know what they did to me.”

               Uraraka glanced towards the floor, “You said you left your motorcycle? And you remember where it all happened.”

               “Not exactly, that alley I told you I died in is the alley I woke up in later on. Newly born vampires don’t have much strength to keep their memories in order. The police report says that alley, but as the memories have started clearing out, I know it was worse than any of the pictures of those police reports that were brought home. It was a disaster. Whoever had found me was desperately looking for something to show them a good time.” Katsuki paused, “Never found my motorcycle either.”

               Uraraka nodded, leaving the room before coming back with her laptop typing furiously, “I may have not had a lot of money growing up but that didn’t mean I didn’t take full advantage of every possible opportunity offered to me.” A final aggressive tap turning their attention to her, “I found it. Hopefully. It’s been sold two to three times but it’s still in the area, but all of the hands it’s passed through have been shady.”

               “It’s okay, I don’t need it back.”

               “That’s not the point.”

               “How did you even find the plate number?”

               Uraraka blushed, not ready to admit she pulled it up in a background check, “Let’s just blame this on the elective class and move on. But that’s not the point, if we can trace it back to who sold it and then trace where those people have been hopefully somehow we can get ahold of where they’ve been and get a hold of footage and backtrack it until we find out where they took it from.”

               Katsuki nodded, beginning to draw up a map and leaving the room to turn off the whistling stove.

               Todoroki glanced towards Uraraka, already furiously paging through the pages, “Uraraka….if you see Katsuki’s friend….don’t approach him. Alert one of us.”

               “I know, it’s dangerous, I’ll figure it out.”

               Todoroki moved, lowering himself to her pouring herself through the books she was researching not realizing the first mistake he had made, he lifted her head to meet his eyes, a blush covering her face as confusion ran through it, “If you see Izuku Midoriya, run, contact us next.” And with those words, he had mistakenly sealed their fates for the next several days.

[lovetnaomi]

Secrets of the Dusk Chapter 18

               The hours passed in a mundane way, leaving Uraraka feeling as though she was in the middle of cramming for her finals, exhausted. They had found little to no information on what Katsuki was or who had attacked him. And on top of that, she had found herself opening several books that were actually prison worlds in which Todoroki had to dart into the library only to slam them back into the book before the prisoner was able to become coherent of their situation.

 After he had separated the books, explaining how he categorized the room, embarrassingly glancing towards Katuski explaining that he might have more of a grip on the organization of the room due to the fact that he typically would toss the prison world over and say be his guest if he decided that, that supernatural creature would be dinner for tonight. Also, by the pure chance that Katsuki was able to explore the household due to his sunlight containment.

               Uraraka took a breath, steadying herself as she shoved her own books into her backpack, moving towards the door, “I’m going to head to class. Tsuyu is going to meet me halfway, so if you two want to keep pouring through these books, I have human books to pour through myself.”

               Katsuki and Todoroki glanced at each other, “I think that would work. If it’s her family….” Todoroki’s eyes darted like trying to decide between trust issues and if it was safe enough to let her walk with Tsuyu, “She should be strong enough for anyone unruly to pick a random fight.” Todoroki’s eyes darted towards the desk.

               “Just admit you like walking with her.” Katsuki snorted from behind the desk pulling another book down, catching the one’s that shuffled down with it in his other hand.

               Todoroki blushed, opening his mouth, but his voice cracking instead of forming words.

               “It’s okay if you want to walk with me.” She whispered as Todoroki glanced towards Katsuki.

               “The murderer has been running loose for two years without the bodies piling up, I’m sure one of us doing the research instead of three is okay for a spare hour.”

               Todoroki nodded, shuffling from his spot to Uraraka, “I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

               Katsuki rolled his eyes, “Don’t need a babysitter.”

               Todoroki shut the door behind himself, “I don’t think he’s a vampire, but that bothers me more. I don’t know how to help him if he isn’t….” Todoroki glanced in the distance, “And if he isn’t a vampire, my research to help him….it starts over. Two years of wasted time-“

               Uraraka placed a hand on his arm, “It’s not wasted time, you were busy trying to help your friend.  Trying to help someone, even if you don’t get any results, isn’t a waste of time.”

               Todoroki nodded trying to feel more reassured then he had previously. He had to find a way to help him. One way or another.

               Uraraka paused, glancing towards the stars that illuminated the morning sky, the wind rustling in her hair, and cotton-candy painting the sky behind her, “Do you think he wants to be a human again? Did you two ever sit down and talk about it?”

               “Why wouldn’t he?”

               “I think he does, but at the same time, he needs someone to talk to about it. From a different perspective, not just a human one.”  

               Todoroki sighed, “I know, but I’m still human.”

               “You are,” she took his hand, “And you’re not…just like him. Reassure him. We need to make him feel like you make me feel.” The words slipped Uraraka’s mouth, slipping her hands out of his to hide her darkening face but unable to disguise her quickening heart rate.

               A smirk played on the corner of his lips as he leaned closer towards her, “And how is that?” doing his best to let his voice roll from the back of his throat knowing he was struggling with it.

               Uraraka’s eyes popped out from behind her fingers, “Like he belongs. We’re a family now. An odd one, but it’s what we’ve got.”

               Todoroki glanced towards the candy-colored sky, “How am I supposed to do that when I’m struggling to accept myself at the same time.”

               She smiled, fist-pumping the air, “Rely on each other, we’ve got this. And this first thing we’re going to do as a family activity is take down a serial killer.”

               An irresistible puff of laughter escaped him, “Doesn’t sound very family game-night friendly.”

               “Oh, we can do that right after!” She smiled already calculating who to invite over, the conversation melting into random small talk and various topics. The topics were random and chaotic, they showed Uraraka’s nature to him and he knew he could relax around her, but most of all they felt safe.

All too soon he could see Tsuyu’s silhouette over the horizon and hear her heartbeat, “I better let you go, she’s here.”

“You can walk us the rest of the way if you want to. I’m sure Tsuyu has a different opinion of you two than her family does.”

Todoroki shook his head, “I don’t want to get mixed up in hunter business. They get confused too easily and too fast in these situations, especially since I have so many supernatural creatures under my protection, and territory. And if anything were to happen to any of us they wouldn’t realize the full scale of the problems they are about to cause. It’s not because I don’t like her, but I’m protecting not only her, but ourselves by keeping my distance. It’s better that her family doesn’t even know I’m in the area.”

“But haven’t you been in charge of this territory for a while?”

“Something like that, but humans, even the one’s that know about supernatural variety, typically don’t know about supernaturals territories and when they do find out about them….there’s typically a large problem in both communities with high numbers of casualties.”

Uraraka nodded, glancing towards Tsuyu already over the hill, waving towards them. Todoroki waved towards her before turning to Uraraka, saying good-bye and disappearing.

“We’re going to be late if you just stand there all day.”

“I know, I’m coming.” She darted towards Tsuyu, wishing her heavy backpack didn’t bounce with every step that she took.  She glanced towards Uraraka thoughts of a different time coming back to her, the soft whispers of one of the villains they were hunting threatening Katsuki by attacking Tsuyu because of the similarity between her and his childhood friend. “Hey, what-have you been okay lately?”

Tsuyu sent her a bemused look, “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

Todoroki’s warning muttered through her head but keeping her friend safe didn’t have anything to do with the territories, this was a warning about the serial killer, a just-in-case. Uraraka swallowed, “We found the person that murdered Katsuki.”

Tsuyu glanced towards her, her mouth agape, “We were supposed to solve how he died, not who killed him.”

Uraraka nodded, “I know, I know, but listen. It’s not something that can go into our project.”

Tsuyu glanced over her shoulder, “Are you sure it’s safe to go to class today?”

“Yeah, I don’t think they would’ve let me leave the house if it wasn’t for you though, they’re such worrywarts.”

Tsuyu nodded, “So, what do they look like? Can they not go out during the moonlight like Katsuki?”

Uraraka took a breath this was going to be a whole lot of explaining, maybe they shouldn’t have gone to class today, but instead they should’ve just invited Tsuyu over for more manpower. “We don’t think Katsuki’s a vampire.”

Tsuyu drew back, “He drinks blood and is weak to the moonlight. What else would he be?”

Uraraka shrugged, “We don’t know. The person who broke into the house last night-“

“Wait! Someone broke in and you didn’t think to tell me?”

“Todoroki and Katsuki were there, it was fine.”

“You mean the serial killer broke into the house and was looking for something….or someone….which was likely Katsuki…and you stumbled onto new information.”

“They can possess people…but not people…whoever-what ever it was they sent to our house, when I killed it…..It wasn’t naturally it foamed so badly.” Uraraka attempted to suppress the shaking in her voice. She had always told herself she wanted to help people, but she had never discussed with herself if she was driven to the corner where she had to decide to kill to help someone would she. She just did.  “Tsuyu, I killed them. Todoroki won’t say it, but I know…from the look on their face they were innocent.” Her voice shook as she glanced towards Tsuyu, “I took one look and grabbed a knife. I just did it.” Uraraka took a breath steadying her breathing, “They first appeared as the officer I was supposed to interview, but after I met them on the street and Katsuki was out and we barely escaped, that officer showed up dead. The reports are confusing because the autopsy says months before. Todoroki burned the second corpse that showed up later. We don’t know who their possessing or how many they can possess at a time, or what they are or what they look like.”

Tsuyu nodded, taking a breath, “But we do know that they were there at the time of Officer Jenkins actual death and the person Todoroki gave an arbitrary funeral too.”

Uraraka nodded, “We just have to find that too. If they went for them themselves or send a corpse.”

Tsuyu nodded, “If we consider the fact that Katsuki’s….well, alive-ish right now we can assume they went themselves for him.”

Uraraka nodded, that was a good sign hopefully they would make some progress and soon in their investigation. She glanced towards the girl entering the class before them, her eyes likely run dry and still wearing black. Uraraka swallowed. It was the girl in their group. She likely needed to attend her boyfriend’s funeral soon. Tsuyu sighed, glancing the girl over likely thinking about how she would never truly know how her boyfriend died. Or what killed him. Uraraka took a breath, patting Tsuyu on the back before following her into the class. She nodded at Professor Bakugo, before sliding into her regular desk and glancing towards Emily, “Hey, are you okay?”

Emily nodded, “I guess the case just got personal is all….” Her eyes slid to across the room but not as if she was really looking there, “I just keep thinking what if Jasper…what if he found out something? Something too much and was on the case and well….” She paused taking a breath, her hand scratching the opposing arm, “I haven’t told the police…but you know, it’s personal…”

Uraraka nodded, it made sense, but that could put Emily herself in danger. The human police could get in their way at the same time….her eyes slid over to Tsuyu likely pondering the same things over. Emily had the right to attempt to avenge her lover if she was going to go for it, but not at the cost of her own life. Tsuyu glanced towards her, likely thinking over the same thing. “I think it would be okay to tell them. Just as a precautionary measure to protect yourself. You don’t know if they hunted him down for a different reason.”

Emily sighed, nodding, an arm tightening around the other, “I just keep thinking maybe if I went with him, you know how it is all these maybe scenarios where you figure out how you could’ve saved them or what you could’ve done in your head, knowing full-well you’d never get the chanc-“ Emily glanced up behind Uraraka causing her to spin around.

“Professor Bakugo, we’re sorry we’ll get started soon-“

He held his hand up, “Actually, Uraraka, I wanted to see you out in the hall.”

Uraraka shuffled through her books, doing her best not to let the fluster of questioning why show on her face, “I’ll be right back, Tsuyu can you-“

Tsuyu nodded, already setting up the presentation and their theories to explain their research to Emily, each lacking the true supernatural aspects. Uraraka nodded, following Professor Bakugo to the hallway, letting him shut the door behind himself, before pulling out his phone tapping at it.

“Um, prof-“

“Uraraka, I know you’re a good student and a rather good person, but I’m going to need you to answer this honestly. I need to know,” He flipped his phone, revealing a photo of her and Katsuki talking in the kitchen, time-stamp of only two days previous glowing at the bottom, “What have you done with my son?”

Her mouth ran dry, she couldn’t possibly say that was faked, she didn’t know Katsuki before his death. So, that also eliminated the confusion of her knowing him beforehand as a secret girlfriend since not only was it in the professor’s phone, but also, she wasn’t around Katsuki before he went missing. “I haven’t done anything to him.”

“Please, Uraraka.”

“I haven’t done anything to him.”

“Uraraka, you may not know this, but Katsuki is my son and I need to know how you know him or why you two were apparently at my home and why I don’t remember any of it.”

“Katsuki doesn’t breathe professor. Please, please stop looking.”

The professor squinted at her, seeming to think something over, before glancing at the long cascading hallway, it seemed longer than she had ever considered it before. “Is he at least happy?”

“Who could be in that state?”

“At least you’re not lying.” The professor ran a hand through his hair, looking very similar to Katsuki in that moment, “If he did breathe, I think he would’ve liked you very much.” A soft smile came to the professor as if he understands how much he truly understood. And that he shouldn’t go looking for Katsuki. Professor Bakugo turned his hand on the doorknob, “If by some form of supernatural mistake, if you meet my son, even for a moment, can you tell him I was-no, I am proud of him. Always will be.”

“If such an occasion did exist I certainly would.”

Professor Bakugo nodded, as if saying I know you would, even if I didn’t ask, before silently heading back into the classroom.

Uraraka slid into the seat next to Tsuyu, glancing over the project. The lies carefully constructed and displayed on a PowerPoint in a way that the rest of the class would deem plausible and likely mistakenly nod in agreement at. Emily nodded, fixing the last image into place on her own laptop, before glancing towards them, “So, for the presentation, we’re going with the fact that it’s likely the work of a serial killer. We don’t think they were caught, but caught the eyes of a different victim and moved onto a different territory,” Emily presented various other imagery with similar circumstance, “And since it’s not famous it’s likely not a copy-cat killer, but the same killer moving about as each victim catches their eyes.”

Tsuyu nodded, “I think that will help, that’s what we’ll go with for the presentation on Wednesday.”

Uraraka nodded, right now it was better than the truth. Most of the time she was sure that the truth and being straight-forwards with most people would solve most of the problems between them, but reciting that there’s a supernatural killer running around creating other supernatural creatures and killing as they pleased wasn’t a very scientific theory, or information that would typically be listed in a professional environment. Especially one where everyone else wasn’t a supernatural themselves. They shuffled quietly looking at each other, before stuffing everything away, “So, I need to go talk to my family, I’ll see you guys around” They nodded at Emily, before her and Tsuyu left the room, Tsuyu clinging to her arm as if she was afraid of losing her.

“Ochako, you know….you’ve been under a lot of really strenuous supernatural circumstances lately, did you want to come over to my place for now?”

Uraraka glanced down, genuine concern glowing in her friend’s eyes, if she knew what was happening lately the concern likely would’ve only grown stronger. She resisted the urge to sigh, Tsuyu would’ve been a massive help in the research for helping Katsuki and finding the killer, but she couldn’t risk worrying her any more than she already was.

“You know you can rely on me for anything you need…” She paused, glancing away, “Even if it’s problems with the guys, I promise to not try to kill them again.”

Uraraka let a laugh escape her, “It’s not that, we’ve all been busy with rather stressful things, but I appreciate it.” She smiled, placing a hand on Tsuyu’s that rested on her arm.  She didn’t want to worry her more than she already was. “I appreciate you being around, and also that I can talk to you about anything.”

Tsuyu nodded, “Just don’t get too headstrong, you can rely on me.”

Uraraka smiled, pushing the backdoor open to where Tsuyu’s car was parked, they were leaving later than most, so most people had already cleared the campus or were currently in another class. Only a person lingered in the outskirts of the campus. She glanced down at Tsuyu happy that they were practically done with their project and almost ready to present, but feeling unsteady knowing that she would have to move forward with the real case without her. She couldn’t put this burden on-Uraraka’s eyes shifted back towards the person in the outskirts, staring the two of them down. Uraraka took Tsuyu’s arm, not letting her let go.

“Ochako?” Tsuyu whispered.

Uraraka took a breath, ushering up the least suspicious voice and carefree voice she could, “Hey, how about you let me come over to your place tonight? I heard the guys were making killer pancakes.”

“They don’t-“ Tsuyu nodded, slowing seeming to understand, “Actually yeah, I thought I saw that they just left, but they must’ve meant that they left to get the ingredients.”

The person watching them approached them carefully, almost in front of them even with Uraraka’s efforts to move to the side of them to carefully walk by, keeping Tsuyu on the side away from them.

“I’ve been looking for you.” The man laughed.

Uraraka took a breath, “Must’ve had the wrong person, sorry.” Before pushing Tsuyu forwards hoping she wouldn’t look.

“Not you.” The man smiled, glancing down towards Tsuyu.  

“Didn’t you ever wonder what happened to the last one the little green-haired one you tried protecting?” He scoffed, “I honestly, thought about grabbing that green-haired girl off the streets, I thought it’d be fun to do it all over again with similar circumstances-”

Uraraka scrambled for her phone, shifting it from her pocket, pressing the dial button as fast as she could, Tsuyu’s presence directly behind her, she hadn’t started running. And likely she wouldn’t either, she likely could tell that she wouldn’t be able to outrun the danger they were facing. Her heart was pounding, and she was sure that any supernatural could hear it in a five-kilometer radius, Uraraka swallowed glaring them down, “Stay back.” She pressed her back against Tsuyu, half-hoping to shield her, half-hoping Tsuyu would realize that there was the outline of a knife hidden in the back pocket.

“You know, I thought it would be fun to drag the green-haired one to Katsuki, you know see a re-enactment. Watch him make the same mistakes all over again, just cuz of the minor resemblance. But after being in that house, I’m starting to think I’ve got the wrong target. Maybe I’ll see something better this time with you.” The man reached for her hair, Tsuyu pulling the knife out of the back of the backpack, before pushing herself in front of Uraraka pushing her back and swinging.

“Hello?”

Tsuyu ran towards the man, before he swung sending Tsuyu’s form tumbling through the air and slamming into the wall, she slid down the wall, hitting the ground, unconscious and blood leaking from her mouth.

“Tsuyu!” Uraraka darted between the two, her phone rattling, “We’re at the college! Stay there I’ve got it!”

The man grabbed her arm as she couldn’t resist a gasp of panic escaping from her. Uraraka glanced towards the movement of the doors leading to the outside from the college; Professor Bakugo stuffing his paperwork hastily into his bag as he headed out for the day.

“Professor! Stay back!” Uraraka shouted, the next thing she knew, she was being thrown the professor’s widening eyes as he darted towards the perpetrator yelling at them for attacking his students being one of the last things she saw, slamming against the building, she slid down it. Uraraka glanced towards Tsuyu, then towards her phone practically vibrating with Todoroki’s and Bakugo’s reassurance that they would be right there. Uraraka could feel her unconscious fading, but she needed to do something fast, or Bakugo’s father would be that man’s next meal. Uraraka took a breath, moving in front of Tsuyu with the last of her strength, she reached for her bracelet snapping it into little pieces as it exploded across the courtyard.

Power welled up inside her as if this time instead of being suppressed it was building, stacking latent power, she didn’t know how she knew it but she knew, she had the power of a volcano coursing through her; raw, deadly, and indiscriminatory. She was a force of nature. Uraraka took a breath, soft wind ripping Professor Bakugo from the man’s clutches, and then without a second to spare ripping the walls off of the university building, Uraraka pulled attempting to resist the urge to barf knowing that if she fainted any moment now the vomit would not be a good place to land. The building collapsed on the man, leaving no traces, he would have to be unburied. And hopefully, they would find something there. Uraraka pushed herself up, stumbling to move forward, ignoring how drained she felt. Todoroki was half-way across town and moving rapidly towards them, he would be here soon. Her shoulders relaxed, as black blurred through her vision, she needed to know they were underneath that pile of rubbage, but her feet tripped, and she was going down. The last thing she heard was the buzzing of her phone with Bakugo’s voice in an attempt of reassurance.  

[lovetnaomi]

Secrets of the Dusk Chapter 13

Chapter 13

                 Uraraka glanced down towards his hand, unsteady, but the smile of a friend decorating his face. She smiled, taking his hand, but taking the lead, “I may be a princess in your eyes, but I have the heart of a warrior.”  She pulled him forwards into the carnival with that warrior’s strength. 

Uraraka glanced around at the stalls, the hesitation in her heart. It was fine. This was a carnival. It was supposed to be fun. The change was still in her purse from the last time she attempted to go to a festival. Her mind beginning to wander towards the last time she had attempted a carnival, pulling closer to Todoroki. She glanced towards Todoroki not seeming to mind her clinging to his arm. She could feel the bandages wrapped around his abdomen. He hadn’t been bleeding when she found him, but they must’ve done something internally. A small frown formed on her face.

               “Hey, what’s wrong?”

               “It’s nothing, just stay close to me?” She shrugged, glancing away, hoping that he wouldn’t be able to tell the reasoning of her fading smile. They were out here to have fun, she couldn’t let her worries get to her. Todoroki glanced around each stall, ride, or attraction, his eyes slowly drifting back to her. “What’s the matter?”

               “I was looking for something that might seem the most normal for a human.”

               “You don’t have to worry about that. Besides, I’d like to see what you considered normal growing up.”

               Todoroki glanced towards the side, then back towards her. “Honestly, growing up…most of my life was spent focusing on controlling my powers. My dad….there was a territory dispute and he didn’t want us to lose.” His hand moved to his neck as he attempted to resist glancing away from her, “We didn’t come here much. My mom brought us once, but with a bodyguard that didn’t leave our side, so it wasn’t really…fun.” Uraraka nodded as Todoroki’s eyes slid to above her head before beginning to move, “I know a good start though.”

               Uraraka glanced towards him as he pulled her along the streets containing barely enough people to consider a crowd and enough to keep the streets from forming an eerie atmosphere of being empty. The leaves softly crunched under his feet as he moved forwards. Uraraka glanced up towards something totally normal-totally human. A Ferris Wheel. Uraraka’s heels clicked against the metal of the ride, sliding into the seat next to Todoroki, as he leaned over the window towards the viewing of the rest of the carnival. She followed his eyes, Hawks impossible to miss with his brilliant red wings, spinning Fuyumi throughout the streets. The cart moved rotating them into the sky. Uraraka glanced towards him as Todoroki instinctively moved closer, “You know you’re not going to fall.” She smiled.

               Todoroki shook his head, “I should be comforting you, not the other way around.” His eyes slid down towards Hawks spinning Fuyumi in the streets, laughter still radiating from her. “Did you want to do that?”

               “You want to spin in this cart? Where you just moved closer to me?”

               Todoroki scoffed, holding out his hand, “I’m not scared.”

               “Alright, if you say so.” She smiled, slipping her hand into his own. He pulled her hand, dragging her into the center of the cart. The cart swinging in the wind as he rotated her around. She pulled closer to him, attempting to watch her steps and the swinging of the cart.

               “I thought you wanted to go to space and you’re scared of being this high up?” Laughter escaped him.

               “Gravity is still down here you know!” She attempted to yell over the wind, laughter blooming from her instead. “I’m guessing you came up here to find something to do?”

               “I wanted to start with something that was most similar to the human experience.”

               “I said I want to get to know you, just take me wherever you would want to go. It’s an experience we share together.”

               Todoroki nodded, his eyes gazing the world below him as if it was the first time, he had seen its existence.

               “It’s nice when everything’s put in a new light.” She smiled; the world seemed so much more joyful than she was told it was. She eyed the horizon the moon nearing the ending of its waning phase, she was sure that Katsuki wouldn’t be able to take being trapped in that house much longer. He wanted out so badly, she could remember trekking to the bathroom in the middle of the night, seeing a door open only to peer in to see Katsuki surrounded by books running his hands aggravatedly through his hair. He didn’t want them to see his weakness. He wouldn’t ask to rely on them. Would it embarrass him to tell him that they were hunting a way to help him? Would that imply he was helpless? Trapped in a house that seemed to become smaller to him with each passing day.

               “He’s not going to be able to take it much longer.”

               Uraraka glanced back towards Todoroki, “We’ll figure it out, we’ve all been working hard on trying to find answers. We’ll find them.”

               They moved back to their seats, “How are you doing on Katsuki’s murder case?”

               “It’s going alright, but I feel like we keep hitting snags. I did say I was going to do an interview with the officer that oversaw the case.”

               “Did you need help finding him?”

               “No, while you were sleeping, I managed to schedule an interview, he said he’d collect the paperwork and we’d meet in a couple of days.”

               Todoroki nodded, a distant look in eyes, as though he were feeling that he was missing some vital piece of information or that he had missed something. “Be careful. We don’t know who was involved or what happened.” He paused, glancing the streets over, “vampires have a hierarchy, they tend to come back for those they created.”

               Uraraka nodded, glancing back towards him, “He’s already established a home, what purpose would they have to take him?”

               “Either they make him part of their own coven or hierarchy, or they kill him. It ensures there’s no liability to the coven.”

               Uraraka nodded, glancing towards the crowd. She wasn’t sure how strong Katsuki was, but that likely didn’t give her a good idea of what it would be like to fight off a vampire. She wouldn’t let them take him against his will or kill him. He was family now. Her hand tightened on the jewelry. It wouldn’t be easy. She would just have to hope it was just one or two people and they wouldn’t have to fight off whatever numbers a whole coven consisted of.

               Todoroki leaned his head against the window, “I’ve told you before, the type of being I am….we’re greedy. I’m not going to let them take him. I’m a demon just as much as I’m human, they’re two creatures known for their greed. Only a fool would steal from such a creature.”

               “And if they are fools?”

               “I’ve got claws for a reason.”

               Uraraka nodded, “I’m glad you understand how greedy humans can be too. Don’t expect me to sit on the sidelines.”

               “I know. Do your best to get him out of there. Although, it’s going to be a fight.”

               “You don’t understand. I want to protect him, but not just him. You’re both family. The thing about relationships, they’re a two-way street. It’s not a give and take like most want you to think, it’s about putting yourself in the other’s shoes, the thing about families is it’s a messy time, struggling to understand each other, being comfortable enough to argue with one another without worrying that you’ll never speak again, having each other’s backs-“ Uraraka’s face heated as she glanced towards her shoes, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be the one lecturing on how families work at the moment.”

               A laugh that could’ve almost been mistaken for a scoff it was so light escaped Todoroki, ”Guess a family can be a half-demon, a vampire, and a possible witch.”

               Uraraka laughed, patting him on the back as they exited the cart, “There we go.”

               The night continued on as they pulled each other from ride to ride as though they were in high school all over again, enjoying the atmosphere without any other care in the world, the way an amusement park was intended to be. Uraraka slid back into the car, pushing the stuffed animals they had won between them, and glancing towards Todoroki a pleased smile on his face and a look in his eyes that he was ready to go back. “When Katsuki is able to get out of the house let’s bring him here.”

               Todoroki nodded, moving one of the stuffed animals into his arms, “That would be a good idea.”

               Hawks started the car soft laughter coming off of him, “You’ll have to introduce me to your friend sometime. Keep me in the loop on how that vampire research is going.”

               Todoroki turned to Hawks, “If I’m honest….I’m kind of relieved about that it wasn’t my fault he was trapped in the house. But I also feel guilty, because the answer to help him would’ve been so simple.”

               Uraraka glanced towards him, one of their prizes in her lap, “I think he wouldn’t have settled with that as the answer. He would’ve kept looking. Honestly, he probably would’ve understood that as you calling him weak. There are times when each person is weak. And I don’t think he really feels safe showing anyone his weakness.”

               Todoroki nodded, “That makes sense. Should we tell him?”

               Hawks glanced in the mirror, “What if he doesn’t have any psychic energy at all?” His eyes moved to Fuyumi, “Is there a way to build it up so he’s able to leave the house?”

               Fuyumi glanced towards him, “I don’t know. And if the amount of psychic energy isn’t the problem, he builds up the psychic energy and drops it while outside we might be risking his life. Honestly, while harder we should probably hope he got cursed or something. Without knowing the circumstances of the curse at this point it sounds a lot safer and easier to break the curse. There would be less of a backlash.”

               Todoroki nodded as Hawks swerved, the house beginning to come into view on the horizon, “I’ve got a couple of connections that might be able to help you out, I’ll let you know if I get ahold of any good information that might help.”

               “That would be appreciated.”

               Hawks parked the car.

               They waved good-bye to each other before turning to Todoroki’s car, miraculously already packed with their belongings. Todoroki let out a soft smile, “It must’ve been Natsuo, he tries to avoid this place, but I feel like he feels that he wasn’t able to be a decent elder brother. He does things like this. But they’re always sly things that I never see him for.”

               “Did you want to go in and say good-bye?”

               “He’s probably long gone back to his college.”

               Todoroki pulled the car keys out of his pocket, as Uraraka threw the stuffed animals into the back, “Guess it’s my turn to drive.”

               “Sure, you don’t want me to try wrecking it part three?”

               Todoroki shook his head, “I don’t think I’d mind, but tonight, I’d rather get home in one piece.”

               Uraraka laughed, sliding into the passenger seat, “Alright, I mean me trying to wreck the car didn’t end too poorly either yet though.”

               Todoroki nodded, sliding another case into the back.

               “What’s that?”

               His eyes darted to the side, his voice quieting, “It’s something from Fuyumi.”  

               Uraraka nodded, trying not to eye the bandages barely being contained in the bag, and a bottle that looked like medication. He was trying to hide whatever it was because it was her fault that he got hurt in the first place. Todoroki slid into the driver seat, giving a soft wave to his sister and her new boyfriend, the conversation shift into soft conversation between favorite colors and birthdays and who could count the most cars in each color on their way home. It wasn’t long until Todoroki pulled into the driveway of their home. They shuffled the bags into the doorway. Uraraka glanced towards Todoroki going back to the car, then back into the house, the atmosphere of the house not feeling quite right. The lights were all out and each of the doors were opened. The usually prim and properly taken care of household was trashed. No noise came from the kitchen. Uraraka found her hand moving for the knife that was on the counter. If it wasn’t Katsuki for Todoroki to not notice their presence it must’ve been a weak one. But if it was Katsuki what had happened? “Katsuki?” She whispered, knowing that he was completely able to hear her, wherever he was in the house. “Katsuki?” She kept her steps so to the point Todoroki wouldn’t have even noticed her movement throughout the house, following the trail of the mess, her muscles relaxing when she opened the door to find Katsuki buried in the books once again.

               “Hey, we’re back.”

               His red eyes flared up and he was in front of her without a second pause, a growl rumbled from deep in his throat, “What happened?”

               Heat flared up her face, Uraraka glanced down, shame filling her chest. Katsuki might not take what had happened with as much grace as Todoroki had taken it. Her parents were a literal danger to all of their lives. Especially, since they knew of the existence of supernaturals, and the first thing they tried to do, the minute she brought one home was to kill him. Her voice cracked, “I-“ Heat rising up her face further. There was no other way to explain it to him, but she couldn’t hide that they had attacked Todoroki. “My parents….they attacked Todoroki.”

               Katsuki’s eyes flared, fire swirling in it, but he was calm, his arms crossing, “Where is he?”

               “I’m here.” Todoroki set the bag down outside the door, “I didn’t grab you anything while we were out.”

               “Clearly, you all went to a human house,” his eyes flickered towards Uraraka, “From my understanding, it didn’t go well.”

               “I’m sorry. I’ll go finish unpacking the car.” Uraraka whispered, moving herself to the other room.

               Todoroki slid the bag into the room, a slight wheeze escaping him, as the pulse echoed on his chest, shutting the door behind him. Katuski glanced down to him, his eyes widening, “What happened?” He growled leaning down next to him.

               “It’s not that bad, it wasn’t anything.” Todoroki gasped, putting pressure onto his side, pushing the door closed behind him as he slid into the wall, further away from the door. “Go cook dinner, tell Uraraka that I’m just researching something in the library and will be out a little bit.”

               Katsuki sighed, kicking open the bag he brought in with him, band-aids, ointments, and remedies falling out of the bag. “Fine, my ass.” He glanced down towards Todoroki, blood dripping through his shirt.

               “It was supposed to last longer. At least until tonight.”

               “Then what? We’re you going to drip around the house. What did you expect? What happened?”

               “Her parents…they hired very competent exorcists. Fuyumi hasn’t been able to do much for me. I think she’s worried we left too soon, they had a diversion to attempt to get us from leaving, but…” Todoroki’s eyes lingered towards him.

               “I see.” Katsuki sighed, pushing himself back up, “Move to your room, I’m telling her you went to bed. I’ll be in, in a few minutes.”

               Todoroki nodded, pushing pressure against his side attempting not to let the sheer amount of blood that was leaking through the wound drip onto the floor. They had stabbed him, but he had spent most of his energy repeatedly healing the wound. Anyone else would’ve been dead hours ago. He was lucky to have Uraraka’s quick thinking by his side who dragged him to his sister. The doctors probably didn’t expect him to be awake for another week and likely wouldn’t have checked on him soon. He pressed the back of his head to the siding of the room. If anyone outside realized how weak he was currently he was endangering both Uraraka and Katsuki he couldn’t afford to leave his house in very different ways.

               Katsuki moved, careful to make sure the sound of his feet echoed down the hall, the soft sound of tears dripping against the wood and fabric against skin from another room. He suppressed an annoyed growl, he needed to comfort her. Somehow. Uraraka took a breath, standing up. Katsuki pressed himself against the darkness of the wall watching as she moved back to the car dragging the supplies back inside. Katsuki sighed, grabbing the bag out of her hands.

               “My parents, I don’t know how to make it up….to him…or to you….it’s like I’ve broken both of your trusts.” Uraraka glanced down, “I wanted to protect you guys in the same way you protect me, but I’ve just been making things worse.” Her hands tightened on the luggage she carried in, “Maybe it’s better if I leav-“

               His hand landed on her head, messing her hair, “Sometimes people are trying to do the best for others, but sometimes what you think is right for you is wrong for others.”

               Uraraka glanced towards him.

               “Don’t go anywhere. You’re strong than you think. And just because you don’t protect us in the same way we protect you makes you any weaker or not as if you are a contributing member of this household. Just keep moving forwards.” He paused, moving forwards towards Todoroki’s room, “Besides, who’s going to report back to me on who’s head needs the guillotine after a research paper? Come to Todoroki’s room later, I don’t think he’ll mind.”

               Uraraka nodded, moving to her room to put her stuff away, the rest of the supplies strewn throughout the living room, “I’m going to put out stuff away, real quick.”

               Katsuki moved back towards Todoroki’s room, opening the door and shutting it behind himself. He glanced Todoroki over, he had thrown his shirt to the side and enough bandages to create a mummy from scratch laid throughout the room. Todoroki was half leaned over panting as he reached for the ointment to change the bandages.

               “Move.” He snapped, placing himself next to him, “What would you two do without me?”

               Todoroki sighed, “I know, I should probably hire a maid. But…” He glanced down.

               “This isn’t a question of if you should or shouldn’t hire a maid. This is a question of you coming home like this all the time.”

               “This is only the third time.”

               “In the past month.”

               “Hey, better than last year.”

               “oh, shut up before I tighten your bandages too tight.”

               Todoroki let out a small scoff, “What do you think she’s going to do when she figures out who murdered you?”

               “Show him how to finish the job properly.” Katsuki growled, glancing at what Fuyumi had given him.

               “I guess we shouldn’t let her finish her project then.”

               “What are we going to do? Stop her?” Katsuki laughed, knowing full well that one way or another once she had put her mind on a task, she was going to find a way to finish it. Even if they were the obstacles in her way.

               Todoroki shook his head, “You can try, I’m staying far out of her way.”

               “Thought so. She’ll figure it out.” His hands tightened on the bandages reaching for more, the wound wasn’t stopping. “Who’d they call to help you?”

               “A couple family doctors.”

               “A bunch of incompetents. I’ll go find the witch of the forest.” He sighed, standing up.

               “How do you plan to do that?”

               “Summon her, somehow.”

               “If you invite her in remember to add circumstances.”

               Katsuki shook his head, “She’s smart enough to not mess with us.  Besides, she clearly regards our powers. And she’s given you hints about Uraraka.”

               Todoroki nodded, “Remember witches look out for their own. She’ll want whatever help she’s offering in exchange for something.”

               Katsuki nodded, moving to the living room. He glanced towards Uraraka already asleep on the couch, some of the stuffed animals she and Todoroki had won wrapped in her arms. He sighed, scooping her up into his arms and moving her into her room. He drew the blanket up, her hand wrapping around the collar of his sleeve, “I’ll do better.”

               He reached down, gently letting her hand off of his wrist and setting it down, “You’re doing fine.” Katsuki sighed, shutting the door as he left, his feet stepped back from the drawn curtains the barely-there waning moon still there, moonlight echoing onto the floor. He glanced towards the shadow that kept him from burning his feet when he left Uraraka’s room.

               The witch of the forest smiled down towards him, “You called?”

               Katsuki glanced towards the moonlight that would make his feet begin to sizzle, it was a very dangerous way for one to introduce themselves, especially when they knew better. She was likely threatening him.

               “I’m not threatening you, depending on what kind of witch, you’re talking to they get their powers from different places. I’m going to need the moon’s power to save that one.”

               “So, you’ll save him? At what cost?”

               She lowered herself, swinging herself off the broom, the posture and grace of a composed goddess or a seductress moving with her and a smile to match, her eyes lingered towards Uraraka’s room as though she was waiting for him to tell her anything would be a decent price in the way most desperate people do.

               “If you can’t help us, I’ll figure out the problem myself.” He scoffed as the witch opened the door, testing her boundaries.

               “I do not know if that girl is a witch or not, or something of a different kind. But I would appreciate as she grows more powerful you are shielding her. As someone who does not have a coven of her own, I have already come to consider her one of my own as long as she resides in this forest. And from now until the day she says she does not desire it anymore.”

               Katsuki let out a small scoff, “So continue doing what we’re already doing,” he paused leaning on the wall, “You don’t plan on harming her? Even if she doesn’t turn out to be a witch?”

               The witch laughed, making her way to Todoroki’s room with little to no instruction, “Has he ever told you who owns this home?” A smile twitched on her lips, “The deed is in my name. Although, I’m sure not a single one of you can speak it. But I am no fool, only a fool would steal from a demon. I would not harm any of you. It’s best to get on their good nature.”

               Katsuki shook his head, “You’re telling me you own the home, but are afraid of not being on Todoroki’s good side?”

               “We’ve had a couple entanglements of unreasonable variety.” She held her broom behind her, “Speaking of which, little vampire have you figured out your moon problem?” She glanced over her shoulder, waving her hand and closing the curtains.

               He sighed, “Not yet, but we’re not going to ask you for that too.”

               She laughed, “I’m not just the witch of the forest for any reason. There’s a reason there’s such an abundant forest in the middle of this city.”  

               “Supernatural research and herbal research are very different kinds of research.”

               “But oh, woo’s to those who seek knowledge like it’s their drug. Maybe I’ll ask him to use the library at my leisure.” She smiled before dipping into Todoroki’s room and shutting the door.

               Katsuki sighed, rolling his eyes. He didn’t have time for the witch who was too nosy and too curious for her own good. It was surprising that she wasn’t the one who was murdered with the vast variety of knowledges in her head. Katsuki shook his head, heading to the library to supernatural proof the room, Todoroki would give her, her way. Even if she had trashed the library last time fighting a goblin from the mines in the eighteen century over her necklace. A known kleptomaniac. And she had let him out. On accident. Katsuki sighed, thinking of the fact that the witch had the various knowledges of the world, that necklace storing one of the more deadly foes she had faced, and she had almost let them out in their house. Katuski sighed, glancing over the library he had been so particular about since arriving, knowing that it would be trashed by morning.