9 Mindscape

Izuku stared at the pretty ball that was radiating light in front of him. It was the only thing he was able to see in the darkness. It pulsed with a deep shade of crimson, reminding him of Kacchan. Moments before, he had been cold, cold, cold, but now he was warm.

Izuku felt like he spent countless hours staring at the ball of light, completely enchanted. The ball trembled, quivered, and radiated a warm heat, making him wonder if this would be what Kacchan would be like if he were to be represented by a ball of light.

The green-haired boy felt smitten, watching the calming pulses of the light. He almost felt like he was back with Kacchan, the feeling of love and affection that constantly permeated from the depths of his Soul.

The thought jolted him from his watching.

It reminded him of Kacchan?

Is this ball the manifestation of 'Certain Death'? Am I dead? Or am I alive? Izuku thought doubtfully.

He didn't know why he was trapped in this dark space. Shouldn't he have either ascended to Heaven or descended to Hell? Fading to nothingness was what he thought would happen, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

Izuku sat in the dark with only the ball resembling Kacchan as his friend. It shone a gentle red light, basking him in warmth and affection. He felt calm and soothed, like he was lying in his bed, under the covers.

If this ball was the result of his Quirk, did that mean that this was the manifestation of Kacchan's Soul? In that case, that meant that whenever changes the ball experienced, was Kacchan experiencing some fluctuation of emotion?

Izuku still didn't know if he was dead or alive. Could it be that through death, his Quirk had followed him? Izuku let out a hollow laugh. 'Till Death Do Us Part' indeed.

Suddenly, the light weakened, causing panic to flare up within him. Where are you going? Don't leave!

The messy-haired boy resolutely pressed his hand towards the crimson ball of light, reaching out for it.

The emotions of guilt, sadness, regret, mixed along with hope slammed into him. Izuku gasped. The feelings were intense. Izuku felt the emotions pressing into him, confusing him. Were these Kacchan's feelings?

The extra emotions were making it hard for him to think. He felt like he couldn't form any cohesive thoughts. It was like a thick cloud had enveloped his thoughts, leaving him fumbling in the dark. The emotions were extremely overwhelming. They almost felt like his own. He felt like he was wading through quicksand. It was sinking him deeper and deeper into the emotions. He was being drawn in even thought he was putting up a fight.

He struggled. He tried containing the emotions. He tried pushing them out. In the end, he managed to erect a barrier within himself and the Manifestation of Kacchan's Soul.

Izuku panted heavily, lying on the ground after his legs gave out. He'd ripped his hand away from Soul Manifestation earlier whilst trying to contain he emotions, but it hadn't seemed to do much to decrease the intensity.

The feelings still sat on a thin layer across his skin, giving him access to the emotions, but they were less intense now. Less over-bearing.

Izuku laughed slightly, the fondness for Kacchan filling his entire being. Even Kacchan's emotions reflected his personality perfectly. His face changed at the thought. Guilt? Sadness. Regret. Hope!

The teen struggled to his feet. He had to get out of here!

But…was he alive or dead?

If he was alive, he was probably unconscious, but if he was dead, was he just destined to remain here for eternity?

Izuku frowned, determination filling him. Kacchan was hurt. He couldn't just sit here and do nothing. He had to at least try!

Izuku looked around him. There was nothing but darkness and oblivion. It was devoid of all things, both living and non-living. What greeted him was the void.

There was nothing there. It also seemed that trying to move away was impossible. He couldn't leave the vicinity of five meters from Kacchan's Soul. Izuku paused. There should be some way to return to consciousness through his link with Kacchan's Soul.

Izuku pressed onto the Soul Manifestation with both hands this time. He was once again immediately assaulted with the feelings of guilt, sadness, hope, regret. He embraced the pulsing soul, letting go of his defences.

He sank into the feelings.

Darkness enveloped him. There was nothing in his sights. No more Soul Manifestation, no more colors, no more light. He was part of the void, and the void was him.

He felt feelings pressing insistently against his skin, a thin layer of concern, hope and guilt. Izuku felt both elated and guilty at the feelings. Were they for him? Were those feelings for him?

Izuku wished fervently for it to be so. He would take anything other than hate, contempt and despise. Wait, no. That wasn't true, he thought, backtracking. He imagined Kacchan feeling nothing but indifference for him, and shivered, the cold permeating his bones.

His hand twitched a little at the thought, feeling distressed at the mere thought of Kacchan simply ignoring his existence. Haha, he'd rather go for another round of suicide if that was the case.

Izuku struggled against the invisible chains that seemed to bind him, restricting his movements. He felt a slight warmth against his index finger. What was that?

He almost felt like a stranger in his body. It was almost as if he didn't have full control over his body, or was rusty, like he hadn't used it for a long time. His breathing slightly sped up at the loss of control. He felt helpless and distressed. The feelings that were pressing against his skin didn't help any matters. Despair and numbness mixed into one, influencing him.

Izuku struggled to open his eyelids. His eyelids fluttered as a piercing bright light blinded him in its intensity.

He opened his mouth to ask if they could turn off the lights, but only a weak rasping cough left his lungs.

Izuku tried again, his eyes watering from the light, blinking furiously.

As his vision cleared up, he spotted blonde hair in the vicinity.

He cleared his throat, saying in disbelief, "K-Kacchan…?"

Izuku broke out the waterworks. It wasn't only because of the lights, but also the feelings that Kacchan and he were experiencing.

Relief, happiness, joy, and guilt, guilt, guilt.

The rush of positive emotions left him teary.

He was enveloped in warmth, a body temperature higher than other's held close against his own.

Izuku realized that the body pressed against him was chanting his name.

"Izuku, Izuku, Izuku, Izuku, Izuku…" the voice carried pure relief and guilt in spades.