A mother's fury

Izuku kept driving as his mom kept nagging him about him eating properly. She had only started nagging Izuku about this because she heard his stomach growl, and then he made the mistake of telling her that he forgot to eat that morning. Izuku didn't like her nagging but at the same time he was relieved that she was still here to nag him about not eating. Had she been killed in the fire last night, Izuku would be sitting here with her ashes next to him instead.

"Are you listening Izuku?" "Yes, mom…" "So why do you look so lost in thought?"

Izuku stopped at a red light and sat back in the driver's seat.

"I'm just glad it's actually you right here next to me rather than your ashes mom… I was really scared last night when I was told your house got set on fire… I was afraid that you had died…" "Oh Izuku…"

Inko looked at her son with love and sadness. She was only worried about her son ever since she had called him four days ago. She could sense that something was up as soon as she asked him if he was okay, and then her suspicions were justified when she asked him about the break-in rapist and he hung up the phone not long after. She needed to know why her son was acting strange.

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Izuku pulled up to the driveway of his house and stepped out of the car. He went to the other side, helped his mom out of the car, and got her stuff. He carried all of the overnight stuff inside of the house and carried it up to the guest room. After he placed the clothes and others in the room he walked up to his mom.

"All right mom, all of your stuff has been placed in the guest room and-" "Izuku, we need to talk." "Not until we eat first mom…" "No, Izuku. You promised me you would!"

Izuku looked at his mom, mainly sadness filling his eyes.

"Most of the stuff that's happened to me will make you lose your appetite, I don't want you to end up the same way I was for 4 days." "Izuku…"

Inko brang Izuku down to her level and kissed him on the forehead.

"I don't care how bad it is. You can tell me things. And unless you can explain the reason why I haven't seen Kenzo waltzing around the house like usual I won't let it go."

Izuku sat down on the staircase and patted the space next to him.

"I'm going to need you to brace yourself mom… Some of this stuff will hurt too much to hear." "I'm ready Izuku… And just know that I will always be here for you, ok?"

Izuku nodded and began to tell her what had happened to him within the past week

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"Oh, my baby…My didn't you tell me earlier?" "I didn't want you to be upset."

Inko cried as she hugged Izuku tightly.

"I want to see that damn rapist burn in hell…How dare he touch my child…Oh, Izuku. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." "It's not your fault mom, if anything it's mine…I opened the door on that night which allowed him to rape me…Had I just decided to not be lazy-"

Inko slapped Izuku, He didn't get why. He felt like he deserved it though.

"Izuku, you listen to me and you listen to me good and well, you did not deserve that. Whatever happened that night happened only because you happened to be his next target. It's not your fault… Do you understand?" "..." "I asked if you understood Izuku Midoriya." "Yes mom…"

Inko kissed Izuku on his forehead and stood up. She walked downstairs and looked back up at Izuku and said:

"Change your clothes and wash your hands honey, I'm going to make sukiyaki tonight!"

Izuku rushed into his room and jumped up and down. It was a little embarrassing to admit, but he felt like he was a little kid again.

/

Izuku was downstairs while Inko was cooking when he heard the doorbell ring. Izuku rushed to the door, but instead of opening it he just stood by the door. He didn't want to open it unless he could confirm someone he knew was on the other side. The doorbell rang again and the person on the other side said:

"Izuku, please open the door. I need to talk to you and Aunt Inko…"

Izuku sighed with relief and opened the door for Katsuki. He was going to ask why Katsuki was back so soon but Katsuki had beaten him to it already.

"The director got sick and everyone got the week off." "Oh, ok then. Come inside and feel free to make yourself at home then. Mom's making sukiyaki tonight!" "That's cool but we need to talk first… Alone."

Just then Inko had walked into the foyer from the kitchen and hugged Katsuki.

"Hello Katsuki! How have you been?" "I've been doing ok Aunt Inko." "Oh, that's good! I'm happy that you're not being worn out in show business and all…" "Thanks Aunt Inko. Hey, do you mind If me and Izuku talk real quick?" "Oh no, I don't mind at all!"

Inko walked back into the kitchen, then Katsuki quickly dragged Izuku into his room and closed the door. Izuku sat on the bed and looked away from katsuki.

"Izuku." "..." "Izuku, look at me, please…"

Izuku stared back at Katsuki, who had a look of severe concern on his face.

"Izuku, the police stopped me on the way here, they told me what happened. And I don't agree with them using you as bait for the rapist, but they do need help to arrest this guy. You're their only hope." "I already told them that I would think about it… They're rushing me for a decision…" "They don't want anyone else to get hurt before then that's all. I'm not here to push you to make a decision." "Then what are you here for?" "I'm here to support you, whether that option is to help them or not I'll support it. I just want to know why you're afraid of catching him…" "Well, If it's only rape then he won't be given many years, then he'll come back and kill me…" "He's raped multiple people before you, he's definitely going to get life in prison without parole. So he won't be coming back after they arrest him." "But what if he breaks out?" "I doubt that even the inmates will let him do that." "What if they ask me to testify in court and he says I'm lying?"

Katsuki put his hand on Izuku's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"I understand your concerns Izuku, but please… I don't want you or aunt Inko to get any more hurt than you already have."

Izuku thought about it for another minute. If he could convince the police to find another way for Izuku to help arrest him and not testify then maybe he would do it after all.

"I guess I could… I just need to convince them to not use me as 'bait' for their plan…" "If that's your decision Izuku. I'll stick by it. Now let's go downstairs and eat, then we'll help auntie Inko find a new house together ok?" "Yea, let's do that…"

Izuku walked downstairs with Katsuki, but when they entered the living room they saw Inko staring at some pictures. Izuku immediately knew what she was looking at and quickly grabbed the pictures from her hands and threw them into the kitchen cabinet where they were stored before. Izuku walked back into the living room and sat down silently. He could feel both pairs of eyes on him as he folded his hands and looked at the floor. Nothing good was going to be asked of him and he knew that, but there was nothing he could do to stop the questioning. Katsuki and Inko would be equally hurt by what he was going to explain to them.

"I-Izuku, why are there pictures?" "..." "Answer your mom Izuku. Why are there pictures!?" "I-I think that man took them…." "And you let him!?" "Katsuki, there's no reason for you to scream…" "No! Why didn't you stop him!?" "Don't you think I tried to? I couldn't have stopped him! The first time it happened I was bound and the second time he did I was held at gunpoint!"

Katsuki stared at Izuku regretfully while Izuku got up and walked upstairs. Izuku knew it was his fault, Katsuki thought so too. He walked into the bathroom and locked the door. As he leaned against the wall he thought to himself:

'Am I really that weak? Could I have stopped him if I wanted to? Is it still my fault?'

Izuku wanted to cry but he felt that there were no more tears he needed to give. It was his fault, It still is his fault. Everyone else was getting hurt or injured by that man because he was too scared to show up in front of that guy.

"I'm such a bitch….I'm so weak…." "Aww don't cry freckled bunny~ In my opinion you're very strong~"

Izuku looked around the small bathroom frantically. He couldn't have gotten in, there were no windows in the bathroom. It couldn't have been the front door, or the backdoor, or any door. He didn't see him anywhere.

"Hey~ why are you ignoring me?" "W-Where are you?" "Why don't you look in the mirror Izuku~"

Izuku, against his better judgment, looked into the mirror and saw no one but himself. He waved his hand and his reflection copied. He laughed at how childish he was acting, being scared of his own reflection. He looked in the mirror at himself still laughing. Was he really scared of his own reflection now? He needed something to drink. Izuku walked back downstairs and into the kitchen and took a cup from the cabinet silently and turned to get a drink from the fridge, but he heard talking so he waited and listened in on the conversation.

"Katsuki, don't you think you were too rough on him?" "I'm just scared for him auntie…" "That's not an excuse for the way you acted." "I know." "So why did you speak towards him like you were mad at him?" "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to go back to old habits again. I ended up taking my anger towards myself out on him again… I have to apologize." "Apologizing isn't always about what you did, It's saying sorry for who you are and hoping he'll stick around to see the better person you become." "You're right, but how do I apologize for that?"

Izuku walked into the living room and sat down next to Katsuki as Inko walked into the kitchen to start cooking. Katsuki looked away from Izuku in guilt while tightening the grip on the couch beneath him. He glanced at Izuku slowly and was relieved to see that he didn't look upset. But that didn't mean he wasn't feeling that way.

"Izuku-" "It's okay kacchan." "No, It isn't. I said something horrible and you shouldn't forgive me for that." "But I do Kacchan, because I know you weren't mad at me…" "You're lying Izuku…" "But-" "Izuku I've been your friend for years and I've known you for longer. I can tell when you're lying…" "I guess in a way you're right. Yes, I thought it was my fault. Sure I felt some sort of way when you said that, but I'm a grown man Kat. I'm not weak, I'm not a child, and I'm not defenseless."

Izuku felt a surge of confidence rush through himself as he said that. He repeated it over and over again in his mind until his head hurt.

"I forgive you Katsuki." "...Thank you Izuku, I want you to promise me one thing though, as soon as this whole thing is over you're moving elsewhere. Don't stay In Chiba ok? I don't want you to get hurt again because some random person decides to act out." "I promise you Katsuki."

Izuku smiled and hugged Katsuki tightly. Katsuki hugged him back and they stayed like that for about five minutes. Izuku broke the hug first because he had just remembered something important.

"Oh! Katsuki, are you going to be here before I go to work tomorrow? I planned to visit Mina and I wanted to know if you wanted to come." "Why? What's the sudden occasion?" "Well it's not something to celebrate…" "What is it?" "I thought you knew!?" "Knew what!?" "Mina got shot!" "What the hell! When!?" "Just two days ago!"

Suddenly Inko rushed into the room eyes wide with shock and worry

"You mean Mina Ashido was the girl that got shot by the rapist!?" "Yes mom, I told you about it during our talk!" "It doesn't matter! We're going to visit her right now!"

Katsuki chuckled a little bit and sat back

"Visiting hours are over auntie. We'll all go tomorrow." "Ok, and make sure to wake up Izuku because I won't be back by the time you both wake up." "Why?" "Because I'm going to pick up some coffee so we can drink before we go." "Please pick up some mocha for me aunt Inko?" "Ooh, Can you pick up some dark roast too? I'm going to be dealing with my boss again starting tomorrow and I know he's already going to give me shit about work and get on my nerves."

Inko giggled and walked back into the kitchen making a mental note to pick up the two different kinds of coffee.

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Izuku stared up at the ceiling of an unknown place. Where was this? How did he get here? Why was he here in the first place? Izuku tried to sit up but he couldn't move at all again. He wasn't even breathing! This was bad, he needed to start breathing again and fast. He tried to take a deep breath in but the air refused to enter his body. He was about to scream. When suddenly he saw Katsuki walk up to him he was shouting for Katsuki to help him, but nothing came out of his mouth. What was wrong with him? Katsuki turned towards him and looked down at whatever vessel Izuku was residing in.

"I…You....I'm sorry, I couldn't save you…"

Izuku was going to ask Katsuki what he meant but Katsuki had already walked away crying. Was This Kirishima's funeral? It couldn't be, Katsuki had stubble just like he did every morning he woke up. This was HIS funeral, but how? He hadn't died yet, and he wasn't going to die anytime soon. Just then his mom walked up to him with Mitsuki and took a quick glance at him but she quickly looked away crying as she did so. Mitsuki hugged her tightly and stared at the strange vessel Izuku's conscience was put into. Suddenly, someone Dressed in completely black with a veil completely covering their face walked up to where Izuku laid. Izuku was confused, who was this mysterious person? The person lifted the veil and a mixture of screams of fear, hatred and sadness filled the room, but Izuku's was the loudest out of them all. He could hear someone else screaming with him too, someone with a familiar voice. Izuku saw a flash and he woke up in a field. A tree could be seen in the distance, it was peaceful and quiet with birds chirping all around him. Izuku walked closer to the tree, but as he got closer he realized that there was someone at the base of the tree, it was Kirishima.

"K-Kirishima! Kirishima, why are you here?" "What do you mean Midobro? I've been here for a while…" "T-this is heaven?" "Not exactly, it's more like a place where the dead come to visit the living. An in between if you want to call it that! But better known as a dream."

Izuku looked around and took in the beautiful scenery around him.

"How come nobody's here?" "Oh, I have a specialized space for everyone. So none of them are ever the same really. This is our special place! Call it the photographer's field if you want to." "I wish I could take a picture of this field myself." "Speaking of which, why did you leave my poor camera to collect dust for so damn long!?"

He punched Izuku in the arm playfully and leaned on the tree.

"I was too depressed to use it, and any time I wanted to use it something came up." "What changed that?"

Izuku looked away from him somberly, avoiding the question completely.

"I see…"

Izuku looked back at Kirishima.

"You want to know dont you? How I really died, right?" "Did he?" "Another time, Katsuki's about to wake you up, and it's gonna be painful. Brace yourself and tell him I said hi!"

Izuku felt a sting on his chest as he sat up quickly. He looked next to him to see Katsuki looking at him, panicked and concerned.

"Ummm, Kiri says hi…"