A Light in the Darkness

How much time had passed?

That was one of the questions that ran endlessly in her mind.

How was she going to escape?

Where in this darkened realm was she?

Is Terra okay?

What will happen to Ven if she's never comes back to wake him up?

She takes a deep breath as she stands back up, reminding herself she has to keep walking forward. To make it through the Realm of Darkness, if she doesn't keep moving then the darkness would swallow her. Nothing good came from staying idle in this place.

She takes a look around, taking in her surroundings, or rather lack thereof. A long, narrow winding path is the only thing ahead of her. The unknown of the darkness, at every angle stares her down. Barely held away by the invisble aura of light that surrounded her.

A light filled with hope, of determination, of sweet memories of her dearest friends. They are what keep her going, what gives her strength in the ever thriving world of darkness.

Even through they're apart, they've saved her before. When hope was waning, and she had been ready to yield herself to the starving, hateful darkness that wnated nothing more than to consume her and drown her in hopelessness. She had bowed her head, grit her teeth, and welcomed death with open arms. The large creatures that towered over her were more than eager to destroy her.

That's when they came, the powerful keys that had once meant to serve light, answered her silent plea for hope, for a reason to keep moving. They had torn through the monsters like they were nothing, just like those strange creatures they had banished, they banished away any doubt she had. Renewing her resolve to keep moving forward, and to keep searching. But most of all, returning her hope, to once again see her friends.

She held tightly to the charm she made, the small item bringing comfort to her.

As she walked, the question once again rose in her mind.

"How much time has passed?" She asks herself, her soft voice seming to echo endlessly in the void.

"Weeks? Months? Years?" She murmurs softly, receiving no answer from anyone, or anything. It felt like forever since the events of the Keybalde Graveyard, and Radiant Garden. Yet it felt like it was just yesterday. There was no way to tell what happened when, and how long ago it did.

When was the last time she had taken a short rest? Maybe a few minutes ago, maybe hours. Perhaps even days.

Time doesn't exist in this world, only the shadowy creatures and dark intentions.

And the dark, hungry force that seemed to follow her.

How long it's been there, she doesn't know. She felt it appear around the time she had nearly surrendered herself to death. After she had begun to walk forward, she felt it. It was faint at first, distant almost. It was more like a nagging feeling in the back of her mind.

With each step, it seemed to draw closer and closer. Each step she took forward it seemed to take great strides towards her. The closer it got, the more pressure she felt from it. It had evolved from a faint feeling of worry, to an outright fear that made her want to break into a run. She refused though, to let that invisible force frighten her and make her run away. It would come eventually, and whether she liked it or not; she'd have to face it at some point.

Aqua takes a moment to take another look around. The surroundings have changed somewhat, instead of the void that carried the unknown, there were now large rock formations. Gray and black, there are small blue crystals imbedded into the formations, offering a bit of light.

A change in scenery, does that leave her better off or worse? Probably worse, she was most likely far deeper in the dark realm. And the deeper she went, the more malicious creatures waited for her.

She stops in her tracks, looking up to see a large archway. Almost like a gateway, to a pitch black world. Dark, yet darker. Her eyes strained to peer into the black fog, it was almost like a veil. Meant to hide away anything that could be seen from the outside, meant to beckon the curious inside.

"Interesting..." She mutters to herself, so even the Realm of Darkness seemed to adapt to the visitors. Evolving to draw people in, and consume them without a shred of mercy.

She takes a deep breath, looking at the wall of darkness. A shiver runs up her spine as she feels the force that chases her take longer strides to get to her. It must figure she's cornered, thinking she wouldn't dare step further into the darkness she both feared and hated.

Well it was wrong.

She summons her Keyblade, feeling the great power materialize itself into her hands. She looks to her weapon, a heavy weight in her chest.

No, this isn't her Keyblade...it was her Master's.

It was strange, this Keyblade. It wasn't her's, yet it seemed to accept her as it's master. Lending itself to her in the absence of her true blade, it accepted her; and she was relucant to accept it back. It was an internal conflict, a feeling that she shouldn't be weilding it even though she knows she must use it in order to survive. Yet a feeling of relief and comfort, a warm emotion brought on by the familiarity of Eraqus's blade. As if his spirit was with her, guiding her.

An unpleasant coflict, but one she endured.

"Aqua!"

Her head snaps up, turning to look behind her.

Nothing was behind her, but the long path she's been walking this entire time. Did she imagine it?

She shakes her head, reminding herself to focus. She can't afford to be distracted, not right now. She turns back to the wall of darkness, readying herself. She wasn't sure what to expect from what may lie inside.

"Aqua!"

The familiar voice rang out again, sounding scared. She looked back towards the source of the call, seeing and hearing nothing else. She bit her lip, looking away once more. Fear creeping up her spine, goosebumps appearing on her arms. She begins to walk towards the large archway.

"Aqua!" The voice called out, sounding more familiar. Desperation and fear evident. It sounds like...

"Ven?"

"Aqua! Aqua we're here!"

"Ven! Terra!" She throws caution to the wind. Had she been here longer than she thought? Did Terra make it? Did he find Ven, and wake him up?

Did they come for her?

She hesitantly takes a step forward. Then another, and another; breaking into a run after a moment. She could hear them calling to her, they sounded relieved, and scared.

"Aqua, hurry!" The voice belonging to Terra yelled, prompting her to run faster.

"Terra! Ven! Where are you!" She yells, still running.

Hurry...here!" The voice sounded faint, like it was fading.

She grits her teeth, how far could they possibly be? She has to hurry, who knows how long it would be until the path to the Realm of Darkness opens up again. She looks around, seeing the rock formation fade away again, make up the long winding road.

"Terra? Ven?" She calls out again, not hearing them call for her again. She begins to slow down, slowing down to a jog before coming to a complete stop. She strains her ears, not hearing their voices. Was she too late?

She looks around, looking or any indication where they may be. A glint of light, the glow of armor. Any kind of signal to her escape, any kind of evidence that her friends were out there. They saved her once, surely they would come to save her again.

She waits for a moment before shaking her head, wiping her eyes before turning back the way she came.

"You're letting this place get to you Aqua...they're not here..." She tells herself, walking forward before hearing a voice right behind her.

"No...but I am." A soft voice giggles, sending chills running up and down her spine. She jumps back and looks behind her, gaining some distance between her and...her?

The voice behind her, belonged to her. Or rather...a copy. The mimic has a soft, mocking smile. Calm and cool, in response to her shock and surprise. She seems perfect, save for the eyes. Unlike her bright blue orbs, the copy's were a deep, deep blue. Close to black. They seemed to hold some kind of malicious intent.

"Who are you?" Aqua demanded, finding her voice after a moment, summoning her Keyblade.

She frowns as the mimic chuckles, summoning the same Keyblade.

"I'm you of course." She says, nonchalantly. Toying with the blade, twirling it around and dropping it after a moment. Looking down at it and humming, seeming to have lost interest in the item.

Aqua opens her mouth to object to that claim, until she's cut off.

"Everybody has a little dark side Aqua, espacially you." They walk up to the woman, eyeing the blade that could be used against them at anytime. "In a moment of pure hopelessness you just bowed your head and was willing to die. Never, have I tasted such misery, such despair. I must admit, I was just as surprised as you were when you were saved. Pure luck, something that tends to run out quickly around here." They hum, playing with a stray blue hair on their head.

"I'm going to ask you again, and this time I want a real answer." She starts, tightening her grip on her weapon. "Who are you?"

The copy huffs, impatient. "You can't be this dense. You are a Keyblade Master aren't you?" They begin to walk in a circle around Aqua, only being followed by piercing blue eyes. "Or, maybe Master of Failure would suit you better. I mean, you pretty much failed at all the duties you master gave you!"

"You h-have no idea what you're talking about." She says, mentally scolding herself for allowing herself to stutter.

"Really? Well let's go over everything shall we? Master Eraqus asked you to bring Ventus back after he ran away; you failed at that. You had found him twice, and you let him get away. Then there was the request that you watch over Terra, oh you failed at that spectacularly! You were supposed to save him from himself, keep him from teetering off the edge, and instead if anything, you encouraged him!"

"Shut up!"

"Remember how he felt so betrayed? That hurt look on his face. You sure felt bad then, what about now though? I mean, supposedly he's safe right? Then again...you did just dump him back into the Realm of Light and left him. Just like you left Ven." They shrug, smirking at her. "Did I strike a nerve? Oh I am so-"

The copy wasn't able to finish their sentence, the business end of a Keyblade pointed right at their throat. They look to Aqua's face, grinning at the enraged look on her face.

"Oh, are you-"

"Shut up." The copy noted the slight tremble. "You have no idea what you're talking about. And you have no business, none!" She grits her teeth. "To be talking about my friends. So get out of here, and leave me be."

The copy rolls their eyes. "I can't believe you." It sighs. "You still haven't figured it out?"

Before Aqua could respond, she sees a flash of light and feels the end of her Keyblade pressed against her throat. She meets the gaze of her copy.

"I am you."

Aqua barely had enough time to react when the copy had thrust forward, almost cutting into her throat. She jumped back putting a bit of distance between them.

"And I intend to drag you down into the deepest, darkest pits of this realm. And watch you be consumed by darkness!" She grins, her dark eyes flashing. A ring of yellow appearing around her pupils.

Aqua readied herself. "I won't let that happen." She responds, a promise. Between both her copy and herself.

The chuckles and rushes forward, a pale blue light appearing at the edge of the blade. Aqua jumps back, watching large spikes of ice cut into the air where she had been a moment ago. Looks like it was a pretty good copy, it was able to mimic her high spell casting abilities. But could it mimic her skill?

Let's see then.

She rushes forward, jumping over the spikes and bringing the blade down where the copy is. Momentarily surprising her. The sound of the blades clashing rings out into the darkness. Aqua's blade bad barely grazed the copy's face. Blocked barely in time.

Before the copy could counter, Aqua roughly pushed her away, staggering her; and swept her legs under the feet of the copy. She saw the copy fall to the ground but quickly roll back onto her feet.

"Nice move, you ever use that on Terra?"

She smirked as she watched the woman bristle in anger, and come running towards her again. The copy readied herself for a swing, only to see a large ball of fire racing towards her. She dodges to the side and looks to the woman. She doesn't look back as the bright flames crash into the ice she left behind, it makes the ground beneath them quake violently.

Calm down, she's trying to get a rise out of you...and it's working...

"That's rather wreckless you know? Keep it up, and you might end up falling. Then where will you be?"

Aqua frowns, looking to the long path she's been walking. It seemed like it would be sturdy, instead it was rather fragile. The area where the large blast from where the conflicting magics collided left that path crumbling. It could probably support their weight if they didn't make such large clashes.

"Well, who really cares. All that matters is that you defeat me, right?" The copy tilts her head, a small smile on her face. A smile that quickly turns to a frown. "And I'll be damned if I let something as petty as your light to strike me down." The ring of yellow around her pupils seemed to slowly consume her dark blue eyes; sending a chill running down Aqua's spine.

She yells as she points the Keyblade to the sky, a dark yellow light shooting upwards. Leaving Aqua in a moment of confusion, until she hears a violent crackle. She gasps and puts up a barrier as bolts of lightning crash down around her. She watches in worry and fear as the ground around her begins to crumbles under the powerful force. She grits her teeth and yells as she forces her barrier to shatter outwards, crashing and further shattering from the bolts crashing around her.

She forces herself to move forward, her mind flipping through the next series of spells to use. Just enough to give her time and hopefully stun the mimic long enough for her to get a solid hit in. Magical ability was a near perfect, technique and skill? She seemed rather wreckless and more risk taking. What about her physical body though? Was she as tough as Aqua? Could she handle hard hits, or would she shatter under a single, precise strike?

She forces herself to focus as she jumps up, the air around her getting colder and colder. She yells as she shoots a large, spiked sphere of ice towards the mimic. Creating an icypath in mid air for her. She takes the icy path, sliding down as the mimic casts a large fireball to her sphere of ice. When they collide it shatters the icy path she had been using, leaving her in mid air. A thick mist obscures both their vision, leaving the two blind to each other's actions.

Aqua tightens her grip on the Keyblade, sending lightning crackling along the edge of the blade before she had sent the spell in the direction where she had last seen her copy. She lands onto the ground, quickly putting up her barrier as another wave of ice comes barreling towards her. She grunts in effort to keep the barrier up, feeling the magic force pressing hard against her.

She yells, making the barrier explode outwards, giving her a moment to dodge to the side to avoid the rest of the impaling spikes. She runs towards the source, trying to listen for any clue where the copy could be; the mist still lingering.

"Where is she..." Aqua mutters, to herself. Ears straining and eyes darting around. She receives no answer, from either herself or her adversary.

"I'm right here!" She yells, causing Aqua to whirl around. Unable to react fast enough to block or put up a barrier, the copy's Keyblade driving through her side. She yells in pain and rips herself from the blade, holding her bleeding side and looking to the copy's smirking face. The blade had been covered by shadows, shaped into a sharp edge of a long sword. The shadows dissipate after a moment, leaving the copy with the normal form of her weapon.

"Oh look at that, isn't that unfortunate?" She shrugs, flicking the blood of the weapon. Smiling in response to Aqua's scowl.

Aqua grits her teeth, standing up straight. She raises her Keyblade above her head, casting a minor healing spell. Only stopping the bleeding, not fully healed. It was both a physical and mental strain on her; taking up quite a bit of energy. Eraqus's Keyblade may accept her as it's master as a person, that doesn't necessarily mean that it accepts her fighting style. It wasn't wielded by a person who has a more magical affinity, it had been wielded by a more balanced individual. Not depending too much on one force or another.

The new Keyblade had seemed to quarrel with her on this, having setback a bit of her skill. She was no longer able to use a majority of her old spells, now only left with her basic spells and her skill.

"Well..." Part of path crumbles and disappears into the darkness. "Now that you're better. Care to continue? Master Aqua?"

Aqua steels herself, getting ready for the next trade of blows.

It was a delicate dance between the two, between trying not to fall of the edge, trading blows with both magic and blades; and trying to minimize the damage of the pathway. Their clashing beginning to attract a few creatures that are drawn to the ire of the Keyblade Master and her arrogant copy. A few shadows begin to creep around the edges of the collapsing path, aching for the negative energy that seemd to radiate from the battle.

Between trying to block out the copy's mocking words, using vast amount of energy she didn't have, and trying to keep her ever growing temper leashed. Aqua began to grow exhausted, it felt like the battle had been going on for ages. When perhaps it had only been seconds, or maybe hours. The creatures began piling on top of each other, stumbling over each other to try to get to one of the combatants. They would fall off and be blasted away by the powerful blows of the two.

The two race towards the safer parts of the path, the less worn and damaged parts. Trying not to fall into the dark abyss below them.

However, as they run and rush towards the next gateway of darkness the path is strained under their running fight. Continuing to break and disintigrate under their feet. They begin to run out of figting ground as they begin to approach the large archway from before.

"Just give up!" The copy screams, looking as exhaused as Aqua. Sustaining similar injuries to her quarry as well. She yells as she brings the blade down, being blocked by a similar one.

Aqua grunts in strain, the wound to her side had reopened. She feels warm blood run down her side, crimson seeping into the blue cloth. She yells as she pushes the copy away and jumps back. Gritting her teeth against the pain, wiping a bit of blood from her brow. She couldn't find enough time or energy to heal herself, even a little. If she used up too much she wouldn't be able to fight anymore.

"Never!" She responds, steadying herself. She watches the copy run towards her, feeling the path crumble beneath her feet. She braces herself, a plan forming in her mind.

"Fall to the-"

Aqua dodges to the side, swinging the Keyblade in an arc; feeling it slam into a half formed barrier. She jumped back and pointed the weapon to the ground, tensing as she forces flames to appear. A large, raging ball of flames immediately crash into the ground, causing the pathway to collapse and burn away.

"No!" The copy rushes forward, barely able to keep up with the running figure of Aqua. She jumps over the gaps that appear ahead of her, trying to catch up to her origin.

"You can't escape me Keyblade wielder!" She yells as she runs onto stable ground, quickly catching up to Aqua. She was surprised when the woman had whirled around and dashed forward to meet her, the blades ringing out.

"I am the darkness in your heart!" She pushes Aqua away casting a large ball of fire her way, only for it to barely be canceled out by a significantly smaller ice spell. Aqua jumps up from the mist and forms a barrier as a large bolt of lightning had come down upon her. She should have known her barrier wouldn't have been able to hold properly. Shattering instantly and leaving raging sparks to dance through her body as she was slammed to the ground. She groans, trying to get back up. Only to feel a foot press down her her neck.

"I am every ounce of guilt that crosses your mind when you think about your pathetic friends!" She cuts off Aqua's airway, making her choke and gasp for air.

Her copy watches her for a moment, absolute disgust and distaste in her eyes.

"I am the hatred that manifests torwards yourself when you think about what you should have done. All the regrets of what you should have done! Like taking care of those sorry whelps!" She removes her foot from Aqua's neck, allowing her the precious oxygen. Not even a moment later the air was knocked from her relieved lungs as she was kicked in the stomach.

Aqua coughs as she looks up to her copy, trying to will herself to get up.

"I am that heavy weight that fills your heart when you look to that Keyblade! Because you know!" Aqua yells in pain as the copy slams her foot into the wrist that holds Eraqus's Keyblade. "You! Are! Unworthy! Worthless! Pathetic!" She screams. Repeatedly slamming her foot into Aqua's wrist with every word. Both of them hears sickening cracks from the beaten wrist. One of them taking sick delight, and the other only able to yell in response to the pain.

"You can't even get up to beat me! What on earth makes you think you can save your friends!" She yells, looking to the battered, beaten woman below her. Scowling when she doesn't get a response of any kind.

"...Get up...hey! Get up! Get up and fight!" She kicks the woman in the side repeatedly, rage taking up her mind at the moment.

"Did you hear me? I said-"

"You're right..." A soft voice says, prompting the copy to wait for a moment. She looks down, seeing fat tears rolling down Aqua's face.

"What?"

"I said, you're right..." Aqua forces herself to sit up, her body aching in protest. She's barely able to keep the grip on the Keyblade on one hand, and in the other she clutches her charm tightly. Her copy takes a step back.

"I am pathetic...I'm not strong..."I can't even win against you, the darkness in my heart." She grunts as she forces herself to her feet. Looking to her shadow with tears in her eyes, holding up her weapon; shaking terribly. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop fighting!"

"Even though there's no point?" Her shadow asks, her piercing yellow eyes staring her down. Dark shadows slowly begin to appear at the copy's hands. The shadows running up the sacred blade. Forming it into a large, malformed sword.

"The point, is to keep fighting! I won't let the darkness win! I'm going to beat you eventually! I'm going to find my friends, and I'm going to save them!" Aqua yells, gripping the Wayfinder harder, asking, begging for some kind of to be lent towards her. Feeling deflated when she feels no one answer her call, like no one if there.

Terra! Ven! Please, lend me your strength...

Nobody came.

"Are you sure about that?" The shadow grins, watching the desperate Aqua mentally beg for any kind of help. She begins to walk forward, watching the woman back up a bit, limping.

"I am! I'll keep walking...they'll find me..."

Please, I know you're out there..."Really? They won't even answer your call now." She holds up her dark blade. "But it doesn't even matter." She raises the blade.

Please! Anybody...anybody out there...please! Lend me strength..."Fall to the darkness!" She swings the blade down, a wave of churning darkness racing towards Aqua; tearing up the ground undernath it.

Aqua puts up her Keyblade to block, unable to summon her barrier. She knew it was a futile attempt, but at least she'd go down fighting.

Please...

She clenches her eyes shut, waiting for the darkness to tear her apart. Her broken wrist protesting painfully against her feeble attempt. She expected to feel nothing but cold and pain, surprised when the attack crashed into her blade; making her grunt in effort. She opens eyes, looking up and looking at where the dark wave should have struck her.

She's met with the shocked face of her copy, feeling herself equally surprised. Where the Keyblade was, was a great sword of warm, comforting light. She watches the radiant force slowly climb down from the hilt to her wrist. The light wrapping itself around her arm, feeling her shattered wrist slowly begin to heal. She looks once again to the blade before blinking tears from her eyes.

Thank you...

"What!"

Aqua shakes her head looking to her quarry.

"I told you. I'm going to defeat you, and I'm going to save my friends!"

Her shadows looks over her radiant blade and grins, as if she knows omething Aqua doesn't. "Prove it." She smiles, pointing the deformed weapon towards Aqua. Tendrils of darkness rising from the abyss below swirling around the copy. After a moment they come in waves of darkness, barreling towards Aqua.

Aqua races towards the oncoming forces, cutting through the swirling masses of shadow and malice that continually try to smother her final effort. She yells as she dashes through the shadows, cutting through them as if they were nonexistent. Bright light surrounds her, keeping the shadows around her at bay.

Aqua looks to her mimic's face, seeing the fear and disbelief in her eyes. She doesn't let herself feels a shred of guilt as she breaks through the guard of the shadowy Keyblade, hearing the yell of pain and surprise. Aqua yells as she drives the blade through her copies chest, hearing her choke in pain. She keeps her eyes casted downwards as she hears the darker counterpart of the Keyblade clatter to the ground.

"H-Hah...well...would ya look at that." The copy looks to her origin. "You actually beat me, surprisingly." She taps the blade lightly, her finger disintegrating after the touch.

"I told you I would..." Aqua huffs, reganing her breath, not moving at all. "My friends...they heard me..." She says softly, her body trembling. She feels exhausted, yet so relieved.

Her mimic scoffs, earning a sharp glare. "Don't be stupid, that." She points to the blade protruding through her chest. "Was not your friends, don't lie to yourself. You know it, I know it..." She chuckles. "They didn't answer your pathetic plea for help."

Aqua frowns, shaking her head in disbelief. It had to be them right? Who else could it be?

"You haven't quite won yet, you know? Not even close." She shakes her head with a smile.

Aqua frowns. "What do you...what do you mean?" She asks, her knees shaking. She uses whatever energy she has left to stay upright, somehow still maintaining the new form of the Keyblade.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten already Master Aqua." She replies, spitting out the last words. "I'm you. I am the darkness that has slipped into the small cracks in your heart, and forced them to open up wider and wider. Looks like you were able to fight back...for now. But you'll never be rid of me. I'll always be right there, lurking in the darkness depths of both your mind and heart. You can never get rid of me." She says, mostly gone. Her lingering yellow eyes glaring daggers into Aqua's blue orbs.

As the solid form of the mimic fades away Aqua falls to her knees, whatever was left of her borrowed strength finally faded away. Her blade returns to it's normal form, and the small cast of light on her wrist fades away. Her wrist mostly healed from the crush injuires.

She looks over her healed wrist and then to Eraqus's Keyblade.

If it wasn't Terra and Ven, then who was it?

The thought continually runs through her mind, trying to think of who it could have possibly been to save her.

As she ponders over the possibilities, none coming to her mind, she's interrupted with a loud crumbling noise. She looks down in horror as she realizes the long road that had been home to the violent crash was finally giving way. Unable to support any weight upon itself anymore, it starts to crumble and disppearing into the dark abyss from below.

In alarm she tries to get to her feet and dash away, only to find herself unable to move. Her body feels like dead weight, and her limbs refuse to obey anymore desperate commands. She feels stunned as the ground below her gives way, she feels her throat close up with a withheld scream as she begins to fall.

She can't even muster a yell as her heavy body plummets downwards, into the deep, deep darkness.

A feeling of hopelessness overtakes her as she sees the path she had been treading for a long, long time. Was this it? Was this what it came down to? How it ended? After she had been able to beat back the phantom that had been haunting her from the beginning? She was doomed to be consumed by the darkness anyway?

No, this can't be it. This can't be how it ended!

She feels hot tears beginning to sting her eyes. Was she not meant to see her friends again? Ever?

As she continued to fall, and the darkness around her grew greater and greater; emptiness and hopelessness began to replace her newfound hope and power. Of course, she figured, in her current pathetic state, unable to even defeat her own demons on her own, no wonder Terra and Ventus refused to answer her call.

She closed her eyes, ready to accept whatever fate had in store for her, feeling the air around her grow colder and colder. It wasn't until a bright light shone before her, that she had snapped out of her daze. It's so warm and welcoming, like a gateway to a better time. She reaches for the light with a shaky hand, seeing it grow brighter and brighter as it begins to envelop her.

The last thing she remembers is the sensation of falling through a dark sky.

-KH x BNHA-

A small child hums as he draws his idol on paper, a smile on his face as he imagines his own life as a hero. He's only interrupted with the sound of the doorbell ringing.

"I'll get it!" His friend yells to his parents as he runs to the front door.

"Wait for me Kacchan!" The child calls, hurrying after his friend.

"Katsuki don't open the door! I'll be right there!" The blonde child's mother calls from the kitchen.

"Too late old hag!" The child laughs as he manages to unlock the door and open it with a bit of difficulty. He looks up to the smiling visitor.

"Mama!" The three and a half year-old says happily, running forward and hugging the woman.

"Hello Izuku, did you have fun with the Bakugo's?" She asks, picking up her son. She looks up as a blonde woman emerges from the kitchen.

"Inko! Hey, how was work?" She asks as he puts a hand on her own son's head. Ruffling his hair and giving him a look saying she'd scold him later.

"It was fine, I'm sorry I had suddenly dropped this on you so suddenly." Inko apologizes, having asked her friend Mitsuki to pick up Izuku from daycare last minute when she had been called in to work later than she was supposed to.

"It's no problem, he keeps this little shit busy. So that's a plus." Mitsuki looks at her own son as she says this.

"Hey!"

Inko gives a soft chuckle. "Well, it's late. I'm sure you have to put Katsuki to bed soon, I'd better start heading home. Izuku looks worn out as well."

"No I'm not..." Izuku whines softly, rubbing his eyes and yawning softly.

Inko laughs. "See you later Mitsuki." She watches the door close before she turns away, looking to her son as they begin their walk home. "Did you enjoy spending time with Katsuki dear?"

"Yeah! It was fun, we played tag...and drew and..." He yawns again, shaking his head. "We played heroes too! It was fun."

"Well I'm glad you had fun dear." Inko smiles, looking to the sky. She wasn't sure if it was just her but, the night sky looked a bit darker than usual. She hums softly, hearing Izuku hum along with her after a moment. She stops suddenly when she hears her son gasp loudly, scaring her.

"Mama look!" He yells, making her look to him in alarm.

"What is it?" She asks, seeing him look towards the heavens.

"It's a shooting star!" He exclaims excitedly, watching a bright blue light streak across the sky. It looks so close, yet so far away. He hears his mother gasp in awe, murmuring an 'amazing' under her breath.

Neither of them were sure how long they stood there, staring up into the sky. Neither of them had snapped out of their awe until Inko had realized Izuku had begun to cry. Fat tears rolling down his face as he watched the falling star.

"Izuku, honey what's wrong?" She asks, concern filling her voice. She watches her son wipe his eyes, sniffling as he tried to stop the tears.

"I-I..." He stammers, finding it hard to form words. "I feel sad, for the star. It's falling, doesn't that mean it doesn't have a home anymore? It won't be in the sky anymore..."

Inko watches her son for a moment before smiling softly and hugging him tightly. "Oh Izuku..." She looks to the sky, seeing the star begin to fade away. She rubs small circles into his back, trying to think of something to make him feel better. As she thinks, she begins to recall an old story her own mother and told her about the stars.

"You know, when I was your age and whenever I saw a falling star; I'd be sad too..." She starts, walking forward at a slow pace. She feels Izuku's attention on her. "I'd always think they'd be leaving their place in the sky, unable to go back. But by mother told me, that when stars fell they never really left the sky. They were just going to another part of their own world, sometimes it was because they lost their way, other times it was because the stars were looking for something."

The child looks at his mother. "What would they look for mama?"

"My mother told me that some stars were looking for a new home, or for a safe place. One time she even told me that they were looking for their family." She sees their home up ahead.

"Huh?"

"That's a story for another day dear." Inko unlocks the door and heads inside. "Now get ready for bed, I'll be right there to tuck you in." She places her son down and watches him nod tiredly as he walks off.

Izuku finishes wiping away the tears, trying to keep any more from spilling.

The real reason why had had started crying...

Was because the star had sounded so sad, as it lost it's place in the sky. He felt it's heartache, and it's silent wish for a second chance.

Oh how he wished he could grant it.

-KH x BNHA-

Welp, this happened. Consider this a pilot chapter, I might write more in the future.

A majority of this was written on a sugar rush in 2 in the morning.

Fuuuuuuuun

Have a nice day/night everybody!