Chapter 52: Aftermath

[3rd POV]

'Where am I...." Kaede thought to herself and found herself lying on something soft.

She sat up and observed her surroundings but wait, she couldn't see anything. Kaede touched her face and sensed that there was fabric covering her eyes. Before Kaede could investigate more, two people pulled her into a hug.

"Kaede, you're awake!" Mikoto and Fugaku yelled with happiness as they embraced Kaede tightly.

Kaede: "Mom, Dad?"

"Yes, we're here. Everything's fine now," Mikoto soothed.

"What's happening? Where are we?" Kaede asked.

Mikoto told her daughter that they were in the hospital and that she had been asleep for a couple of days now. Everyone else has already recovered, but only Kaede remains unconscious. When Kaede finally woke up, Fugaku and Mikoto felt a massive weight being lifted off their chest

Kaede was surprised that she was unconscious for that long but visibly relaxed once, knowing that it was finally over, however, that didn't last long as she started to recall the battle.

"Onii-chan! Where is he!" Kaede asked with panic.

"Itachi's fine. However, it's best if he would be the one to explain." Mikoto's voice gradually trailed off at the end.

"Explain what? Where is he?" Kaede questioned and she felt that whatever her mother was going to say won't be good news. She already guessed what happened, but she prayed in her mind that whatever she was thinking of wasn't true.

Mikoto called Itachi with her phone. Because of his job, he has to deal with the aftermath of the AFO's destruction. Twenty minutes later, Itachi burst into the room. He sighed in relief when they saw his little sister finally woke up.

"Onii-chan, what's wrong! Mom won't tell me!" Kaede snapped with anxiety.

There was silence and nobody says a word. Itachi slowly reaches out his hand and caresses his sister's face. Kaede's lips quivered and she flinched in shock. Instead of feeling the warm touch of her beloved brother, all Kaede could feel was something cold and metallic.

Kaede couldn't believe what she was feeling and snatched Itachi's hand. Her body trembled and not a single flesh could be detected on Itachi's left arm. Kaede's composure completely collapsed and she sobbed with sorrow. Tears streamed down her soaked blindfold like a rapid river and dripped onto Itachi's mechanical hand.

"Be... Because of me.... onii-chan.. lo..lost... his...a....arm..." She stuttered. Kaede believes that she was the cause of this, and she wept loudly.

"It's all my fault. I'm weak and useless!" Kaede continually insults herself.

She suddenly felt pain as Itachi lightly chopped the top of Kaede's head. She winced and rubbed the spot where Itachi hit her.

"Foolish sister of mine, you're not weak. It's not your fault, and it never will be. I would have died that day if it weren't for you. Everyone feel will feel useless once in their life so stop this nonsense. No matter what you do, I will always love you." Itachi said.

Kaede glanced at her parents and they nodded: "Don't bear the pain all by yourself, we will be here for you always, so just let it all out." Fugaku urged with a soft tone.

Kaede started to cry louder than before and she let out all these bottled-up feelings. She tried to act optimistic when she got taken by the villains. Kaede also suppressed the feeling when she killed the nomu during the battle and she wanted to act strong and not be a liability. But the truth was, she was terrified...

With every swing of her blade, Kaede was scared that killing would corrupt her mind and one day does something she will truly regret. In her mind, Kaede believes a hero will always need to have a smile on their face, but by having this mindset, these negative thoughts slowly eat away at her soul.

These emotions led her mind astray and she blamed herself for the harm she caused to her family. Kaede let all of these feelings out in her cry, Itachi and her parents just continued to embrace her, letting her know that they were there for her.

Before anyone had realized it, Kaede had drifted off to sleep and she used all her energy crying. The three Uchihas gently laid her back on her bed. There was a relaxed expression on her face, and the family was glad that Kaede stopped hiding these bad thoughts.

They all decided to leave and let her rest.

[Itachi POV]

Dad brought mom to the car while I talked with the doctor about Kaede's condition. Thankfully, I was told that her injuries will heal naturally, and there was nothing for us to worry about. I was happy that she told us how she truly felt and stopped blaming herself for my injury.

I was also shocked to find her Sharingan evolved, but at the same time, I was incredibly proud of her as she's getting stronger daily. Maybe she will even surpass me in no time. However, she still have to wear the blindfold for a day or so from the strain she placed on her eyes.

On my way back, I heard more crying in one of the other patient rooms. The door was left open, and I instinctively stopped just outside. I turned my head and saw a woman with emerald green hair sitting on her hospital bed and weeping while covering her face with her hands.

'It's Shiretoko.....'

Her hero's name was Ragdoll, and she was the hero taken by the League of Villains along with Kaede. On the debrief, we've been told that AFO has taken her quirk, so she can no longer be a pro-hero.

"Are you okay?" I stood in the doorway and asked.

She raised her head and glanced at me with her round yellow eyes: "Oh, hello, Uchiha-san. I'm fine, thanks for asking..."

It was clear that she was anything but okay. I walked in and said: "I've heard about what happened..."

Shiretoko nodded with a sad smile on her face: "Yeah... But it's fitting for my punishment for allowing your sister to get kidnapped."

Kaede's kidnapping will forever be a sore subject for my family, but no matter how mad I was, I couldn't really blame the Wild Wild Pussy Cats. They were severely outnumbered, and their hero team was fit for mountain rescue instead of fighting. Ultimately, it's the Villain's fault, and UA's security is too weak.

I clenched my fist just thinking about UA. Our family wasn't sure we wanted Kaede to attend that school anymore. I just wish she would understand...

I took a deep breath and said calmly: "Don't put yourself to blame. What's over is over. There's no point talking about the past now."

"Even if you say so, I can't forgive myself for my failure," Shiretoko-san muttered.

"Everyone will make mistakes, no matter how big or small these mistakes are. That's why we get stronger to make sure not to let it happen again."

"But how will I do that if I don't have my quirks anymore?!" Shiretoko replied with a slightly agitated voice.

"Who said that losing your quirk stops you from being a hero? No matter how far or how many times you fall, stand back up and fight to protect the people important to you. That's the true essence of a hero....." I said.

I walked closer to Shiretoko-san and patted her head.

Hearing this, I could see the light returns to her eyes, and she giggled: "You know Uchiha-san, you sure sound like an old man." Shiretoko pointed.

I chuckled at her comment and walked back out to the hallway. "I hope you get well soon," I said before leaving the room.

[3rd POV]

Watching Itachi's leaving figure, Tomoko(Shiretoko) thought back to what he said.

"He's right; a quirk doesn't define me. It's what I do that will make a difference!" She said passionately as she pumped her fists. Her previous energetic personality soon returned.

"Thanks, Uchiha-san, I won't forget this," Tomoko muttered and blushed when she recalled the sensation of Itachi patting her head.

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I hope you enjoy it! :)