Versus Vlad King Part Two

Kyubi was haring down the street, following Whisper's direction to reach the escape gate. " We're almost there, Yuu."

Yuu had his eyes cast down and his lips pursed into a thin line, not even bothering to answer or react to her.

...

" I'll hold him back this time. You head there."

" But..."

" I'm strong and fast. Against him, I can hold better."

" But you're injured!"

" There is no time to think about that, Yuu." She said firmly. " I no longer can fly. I can't reach the gate in time. But Kyubi can. It's the best choice to take at this moment."

" Still-"

" Do you want to be a hero or not?!" She yelled out, taking him by surprise.

" I... I do..."

" Then stop acting based on your feelings! Right now, what a real hero would do? Risk the lives of thousands of innocent people for the safety of his friend?"

Yuu gritted his teeth and balled his hands. "... No..."

" Then be a hero and go ask for help! Plus..." She beamed at him, holding a thumb up. " I'm a hero too! I'm not going down easily!"

...

Was that the right choice? He bit his lip, his head falling even more till his bang covered his eyes. Am I alright with this?...

...

" Yuu is a weirdo! Yuu is a weirdo! Yuu is a weirdo!" The other kids chanted as they threw pebbles at him. Little Yuu crouched down, his head clutched in his hands in defense. " You shouldn't be walking around here!"

" My mama said not to talk to him." A girl away from them told her friend as they halted their swings.

" I know I know. Mom is always telling me the same! She says maybe he's cursed or something."

" Let's leave then."

" You're not welcome around here weirdo! " One of the kids bullying him yelled, a finger pointed at him. " You're cursed! You can see spirits you say? And there were always bad things happening around you!"

It was. But they were pranks from ghosts and spirits for him. No one ever got caught in them. " Leave this park!"

" There is no place for you here!"

" Leave immediately!"

" I'm... Sorry... I just..." Their voices rose over his. There was nothing he could do. Bullied by humans, bullied by ghosts, bullied by his own flesh and blood. There was no place for him in the world.

" That's enough!" A new voice was added. Looking up when a shadow was cast upon him, purple eyes widened when they saw long white hair fluttering in the air like the small wings of a bird, he could see the inside of it was electric blue in color. " This kid has done nothing to you! Why are you bullying him!"

" Who are you?" The older one of them all made a tsk sound. " Don't shove your nose into things that are not of your concern!"

" I can't turn my back on someone who needs help!"

" Needs help?! He is the bad guy here! He is the weirdo! He's the cursed one causing trouble wherever he goes!"

" He didn't hurt anyone! You're the bad guys!"

" You brat!"

" You're awful! Get away from him!"

" It seems you need to be taught manners!" He closed on to her, grabbing her arm tightly.

The girl puffed her cheeks at him before kicking him on his shin, making him drop to his knees in agony.

" Damn you..." He groaned as his friends gathered around him.

Sora grasped the hand of the little boy and pulled him along as she sprang to run. " Wait hold on..."

" Hurry up!" She told him, leading him away from those kids and deep into the grove behind the park. Yuu was befuddled. Who was the girl? And why did she defend him? Wasn't she told like the rest that he was cursed? Wasn't she told to leave him alone? " Why you..."

The girl turned back to him, giving him the brightest smile he had ever received. Not even his mother smiled at him like that. " Isn't it obvious! I wanted to help you!"

Once they were a distance away from the park, the girl stopped to catch her breath before turning to him. " My name is Sora. Shirogane Sora." She pointed at herself.

" S... Seijin ... Yuu..." He muttered in a weak voice.

" Yuu. Such a cute name. I liked it. Can I call you by your name?"

" Eh...?"

" Can I?" She insisted, her eyes sparkling at him.

" Um... Yeah..."

" Cool. Call me Sora then." She said smiling broadly and extending a hand to him. Yuu's eyes widened at how bright and dazzling the girl seemed at that moment. " Let's be friends."...

...

Am I really okay with leaving her behind?...

...

" Do you have any dreams for the future?"

" Dream?" He looked back at her as she picked a pebble and threw it across the river. It bounced three times before it sank to the depth.

" Me you see. I want to be like Papa!"

" Like your dad? " Yuu blinked. " You mean a caretaker?"

" Not that." She swayed on the soles of her feet and looked up at the sky. " I want to be someone who helps those in need."

" Like a hero then?"

" Not a hero... Well, it's somewhat a hero... But whom I want to rescue aren't people who get attacked or held hostages exactly. I want to help those who are lost, those who don't have a roof over their heads, and those whose stomachs rumble due to hunger... Heroes are always busy with more dangerous matters, so it's hard for them to save those people. That's why, as Heroes save us, we should save those in need too. That's what Papa always says."

Yuu blinked at her and then looked back at his feet. " I had a dream too..."

" Had?"

" I wanted to be a Hero. But everyone said that with my Quirk..."

" But your Quirk is awesome! Why can't you be a hero with it?!"

" It scares people..."

" I'm not scared!" She told him firmly, closing the distance between them. " I find your Quirk awesome! Don't you give up on your dream just because other people think you can't achieve it! Don't let them decide for you! You can be a hero if you want!"

" You suddenly sound like my uncle."

" Huh?"

The boy's face flashed red, a smile forming on his lips. " But it's the first time someone told me I can be a Hero... Thank you... Sora..."...

...

The Hero I aspire to be...

...

The little kid sweated before the small ball of fur finally manifested. It was a spirit, a ball of fur with four eyes, a horn on its forehead and ears and teeth similar to that of a rabbit.

" Cute!" Little Sora said before cuddling it. " So fluffy and little! How did you make it show up like that?"

" It's something I discovered lately. I can share my energy with spirits to make them manifest in the real world." Yuu looked down at his hand. " Though I'm still a little weak. I can only make small ones manifest."

" But that's awesome!" Sora shot up. " If you can befriend strong spirits and manifest them, then you can be a strong Hero!" Her eyes sparkled.

" You're exaggerating." He smiled awkwardly.

" I'm not!"...

...

The path I chose to take...

...

" Sora!" The boy rushed over to the girl huddled on herself under a tree in that very grove. It was raining heavily that day and the white head was drenched from head to feet. Still, she didn't raise her head at all as he approached her.

He tilted his umbrella so it was covering her. " Let's go back... Your grandma is worried about you..."

" He didn't die... Papa didn't die..." She moaned, her face still planted in her arms. Her shoulders shook with each breath she took.

" Sora..."

" I don't believe any of them! They're all lying! I know it! He didn't die!" She shouted, finally raising her face, her red eyes begging him. " You believe me, right, Yuu..."

Seeing her quivering lips, her puffed red eyes and her tears streaming down, Yuu felt his heart sink.

He didn't like it. Sora's always beaming bright face, he didn't want to see it contorted in sorrow and pain. It hurt him.

He kneeled down so he was looking into her red eyes. " I do."

" You do... You really really do believe me..."

He nodded. " I do. So, I'll become a Hero, and find him for you. That's why..." He extended a hand to her and smiled at her the best he could.

If he had any doubt about it before, if he had the slightest hesitation, it vanished right then right there. The phrase ' I'll become a Hero ' that he always repeated gained weight that very day, that very moment. "... Don't cry again."...

...

Wasn't it all because of her? Isn't it all the dream she had restored for me?! Even though, I couldn't do anything for her up until now... The escape gate came into view... Is this the Hero I want to be?

_______________

Vlad pinned down a struggling Sora. He panted heavily, blood gushing from a few more scratches she managed to make. This girl is tough, even now, as injured as she is, she is still struggling...

The pressure of his hand increased on her back, making sure she wouldn't be able to escape. But her moves became slower because of the wound. She isn't as fast as before. " Darn it. Even if I restrain her now, I will never catch up with the other kid before he-" Vlad stopped, thunderstruck. A fork of lightning cast light upon the outline of the boy who stood in front of them.

" Why... Yuu..." Sora struggled to look up at him.

Is he crazy?! If he didn't return, he could've passed already through the gate! " Tsk, what shallow-minded. " Just as Eraser mentioned... Those two have no hope...

" You can call me dump for all I care. ..You can make fun of my decision for all I mind!" His eyes sent an intense stare at the teacher. " But this is the path that I've chosen to walk down! This is the Hero I want to be! If I don't make it into reality today, then when am I going to!"

He reached for one of the three flames by his side. One that wasn't Kyubi for Whisper's shock. " Oi Yuu... That one is..."

" Whisper, at first opening secure her." Whisper could see the boy's hands were trembling. Of course he would. He doesn't know how things will turn out. And their time was almost up. If he fails in taming that spirit, they will fail.

" I will become a Hero who saves everyone, that's a given. But I'll also be a Hero who protects what he holds dear!" His eyes glowed as he held up the blue flame. " As your master, I hereby summon you! Let my energy guide you..." How his voice didn't crack was beyond him back then, especially with the great gamble he was placing when attempting to call for that one.

So far, the only Yokai I could summon was Kyubi. I can't summon spirits too strong until I reach a certain threshold of power, that's a given. But I can't also summon spirits that I can't control. I've been pondering on it for a while. But now, it's all or nothing...

The flames grew larger, forming a figure taller and bigger than Kyubi. The flames faded, revealing large black wings, a head with an orange beak and yellow lightning-like strands protruding from near the eyes. The back of the spirit had lightning-like yellow marks and two more strands running longer than the feathers of its tail. The creature then gave a deep shriek, as if threatening everyone there. "... Thunderbird !"

" That's... " Sora was at a loss for words, for she had never seen any other fighting spirit save for Kyubi.

" He really summoned him..." Whisper gulped. " Hope you know what you're doing... Yuu..."

The spirit glared at Vlad and he jolted. There was a strange feeling of superiority around the ginormous bird.

The spirit then reared his head and glared down at Yuu. " I can't believe you did this... How dare you?!" His voice was like the rumbling thunder. " How dare a weakling scaredy boy who can't look in the eyes of anyone summon me?! You annoying piece of scum! I warned you before! Don't you dare bother me!"

Whisper shrank under the glare of the bird. It's true that Thunderbird is a strong spirit. Kyubi's strength and speed are nothing compared to his. But he is one hard to tame. He ended up with Yuu just because he owes him a favor. He never acknowledged him as a master. And Yuu never summoned him because he can't deal with him, he can't control him. That much was evident from their first meeting.

Yuu's fists shuddered, feeling the power of the spirit. Thunderbird made a tsk sound. " You see, you're trembling, you little boy. That's why I told you not to call me! Ever! Just because I'm around you doesn't mean you're my master!"

It's our end... Thought Whisper.

" That's true... I'm a weakling... I'm scared... And I still have a long path before I become a full-fledged Hero..."

The spirit snorted.

" But!" Yuu rose two glimmering eyes at the bird, ones filled with preservation, ones that leveled his intense glare. " If I don't take my first step here then again, when am I going to do it?! When am I going beyond Plus Ultra?! Thunderbird, you still owe me your life! Thus I order you, as your master! Save Sora!"

That's very bold Yuu! Whisper screamed inwardly.

" I don't understand what's happening. But you're a fool to summon a creature that won't obey you!" Vlad launched at them. Suddenly, something unexpected happened...

From up in the sky, three pillars of yellow lightning fell upon the ground, halting Vlad. " Don't interrupt us!" One wave from Thunderbird's large wings sent him flying back to the furthest building.

Thunderbird looked back at Yuu. " You're still a weakling. But for you to have the spur to glare at me while trembling, not to mention ordering me! That's vexing!" Yuu gritted his teeth, still, his glare didn't waver. " It's a remarkable deed, indeed."

Yuu's eyes widened slowly. " It annoys me, but I acknowledge you as my master for now, Seijin Yuu!"

Yuu stared in disbelief. Their contract, one that was for so long hung, was finally sealed with that very phrase. " Don't make me regret my words!" The gigantic bird swiveled around, facing Vlad. " Hop on! And don't dare pluck any feathers!"

" Right!" Yuu jumped on the bird's back as his eyes glowed in white.

" No matter what you do, you're far from passing!" Vlad's blood gushed out of his gauntlet as he rushed at them. " I'm gonna freeze you both!"

" You knew this stormy weather is my favorite, right, master?" Yuu nodded as yellow sparks flew off the bird's body. Just as Vlad splashed his blood, they both disappeared under his eyes. All he saw was a yellow lightning bolting upwards.

Vlad looked up as the rumbling of thunder increased, glimpsing yellow lightning zigzagging through the black sky before it came down at him, striking him with a great force, and rising dust around the area.

When it faded, Thunderbird could be seen pinning Vlad under his talon. Even though he struggled, he couldn't get out from under the weight. Darn it! If it wasn't for the weights!

" It's the end! Vlad-sensei!"

Vlad smirked. " You think so. Yeah, you restrained me. Still, your time ended up. You failed to fulfill any of the requirements to pass." The siren blared as he was speaking.

Yuu's complexion though remained calm. " I wonder..."

Vlad snapped, realizing the pressure around his left wrist that wasn't held under the bird's arm. He turned to see the golden handcuff fastened around him.

" When did you...?"

A few meters from him, Whisper smiled proudly while holding a thumb up. " When Yuu told me to secure Sora, he meant to get the handcuffs from her."

" Team Seijin and Shirogane have passed!"

" I will always help the innocent civilians minding their daily lives," Yuu stated, making Vlad look back at him. " But I won't let any harm reach my angel as well!"

Those eyes... Vlad smirked... Are really the proof of a hero...

_______________

Everyone had their mouths gaping at the screen. " What... Was that..." Uraraka muttered.

" I couldn't see that spirit as it launched for the attack..." Iida's glasses slid down his bridge.

" ... All that was visible were the lightning it left behind." Midoriya marveled. " Seijin-kun... Had such strong spirit with him..."

" He's cool... Ribbit..."

________________

" Yuu!" The girl wiggled her way to him as he slid the long of Thunderbird's back with a tired expression. His feet too wobbly to hold him, he sat cross-legged down on the ground with a sigh.

" You were amazing!" She cried hugging him tightly, almost tumbling him down. She then looked back at the spirit. " Thunderbird, was it, right? You were strong too!"

She said patting his head. " Hey! Don't pet me!" Still, the air around him and the small blush on his face made it clear he kind of liked it.

Vlad watched over the two students, recalling the boy's look as he stated his resolution.

...

" You want me to help with the practical exam of your class?" Vlad was rather surprised at the peculiar request.

" Yeah, you're the best match for the last team I've thought of. As for the two persons in question who will be your opponents..." Aizawa held up two papers at a fuming Vlad.

" Hey, I still didn't agree!" Despite that, he accepted the papers and skimmed through them. " You know, if I didn't know you I would have thought you didn't want them to pass, pairing those two with me. Then, what are your reasons?" He said flailing the papers in the air.

" Shirogane has a habit of holding herself back and rather resort to midair escapes while Seijin would settle most dilemmas by powering his spirits up and then faint," Aizawa explained. " When paired with their care for each other, that would lure them to take reckless decisions in the face of overwhelming danger."

" I see. That's really troublesome," he said looking back at the pictures and his eyes narrowed at the boy. " This one..." He pointed at Yuu's picture. " I wonder how he managed to make it this far. His eyes bear nothing but incertitude and fear."

" You need to get your eyes checked, Vlad."

" Huh?"

" If you fail to see what lays beyond those eyes, then you better get your eyes checked. Even with my half-damaged ones, I can see it... The fire of resolve hidden deep within those eyes."

...

Vlad smirked widely. " Guess you were right, Eraser. Those blazing eyes are really hard to miss."

________________

Sora was panting heavily after receiving Recovery Girl's treatment. The woman was beyond herself back then. " Those guys don't really know how to hold back! I don't know what's the meaning of hurting a student that much!" 

Yuu was standing beside the doc, looking horrid and about to crash on the nearest bed he could find. Though he didn't suffer any physical injuries, summoning two spirits in rows was a tiring feat for him who used to stick one spirit. If it wasn't for his insistence to accompany Sora, seeing her wounds, Recovery Girl would have sent him home with no second delay.

She offered them each some gummies. " Eat up, you need calories. I will still have to take a look at your wounds tomorrow too. They're not completely healed yet."

" Understood." She said throwing the green gummy bear into her mouth.

" Either way, congratulations on passing the exam. You all did well."

" Thank you, Recovery Girl."

" Well then, I have to tend to the others now. You rest well."

" Hold on? Did Midoriya-san's match end?"

" Yeah, and don't worry. Both he and Bakugo passed. Still they had it rough. They're on their way back here as we talk."

" I see."

" You're free to leave as soon as you feel better." With that said, she left them.