Chapter 11

Darkness stood above a broken form in silence. The darkness was slow to fade away and leave a frowning Kuriko in its wake. She adjusted her glasses as she took in the broken form of the boy she came to know as Deku. She felt nothing really. Pity, for the most part. She knew this would happen. She saw it coming. He was being a fool. Hope made him blind. That dream of his was delusional. Look where it got him. Her eyes were cold as she stared down at him. His blood pooled around his figure, seeping into the hard concrete beneath him. He was somehow still alive. She tilted her head in her slight curiosity. How did the boy live? She crouched before him, not touching him. Her eyes bore into him. She was debating whether or not she should help him. She had called the ambulance. They would get there at some point. He might survive until their arrival. She wasn't sure. She reached towards him, but stopped , her hand inches away from his face.

Should she help him?

She pulled her hand back and sat beside him. She was still staring and was not fazed by the blood that touched her uniform pants. He killed himself because everything was shattered by his idol. That's why she gave up on any hope or belief she had. She knew how dangerous it could be in this world. This boy lied to himself everyday and this is where it lead him.

If things were different she could have been like him. In some alternate reality. If she had continued to care. Continued to believe. If she had hope.

She tugged on her gloves when she heard the wail of the ambulance. She had glanced away from the boy for a moment before her attention returned on him. She didn't know why she took an interest in the boy. That would be a lie, wouldn't it? She did know. He had similar emotions. He lived a similar life. The only difference being that he somehow held on for ten years. Kuriko could still not understand that.

Why would he do that?

The sound of the ambulance got closer and she stood. She saw the blood on the leg of her pants, but didn't care too much. He'll live. It's a miracle he didn't die.

Darkness climbed up her body rapidly, her gaze was never leaving the boy. She tilted her head again as the darkness fully took hold of her, leaving nothing but her ice blue eyes as sign of a living creature. The flashing colors were in her eyes now. She looked away from the boy and blended into the shadows. She was late. She had to return home. She'll see the boy again.

She might help him

~~~~~~~~

Pain was the last thing he remembered. He felt broken. He was sure he was literally broken. Every bone in his body. He had been drifting in darkness, wondering if that's how he would spend eternity. He was sure he was dead. How could one survive such a fall? It was impossible or actually quite slim. He was hoping he did actually die. If he didn't it would just prove that he coul do nothing right.

For a moment his thoughts drifted to his mother. How would she feel? She would cry. She would be hurt. She loved him. He loved her. He really did, but it's better if he didn't exist. She'd have far less to worry about. Maybe his father would come back. He didn't know where that man went. He didn't even know who he was. All his mother could say is that he traveled a lot for his work. As the years passed he started to believe the man abandoned him and his mother. It was because of him, wasn't it? It's always him. Maybe his father left because he was born. Maybe he was an accident.

He shouldn't have come to be in the first place.

He didn't know how long he drifted in the darkness. It was oddly comforting and safe. Cold and lonely, but that's nothing new. The darkness understood. The darkness soothes him. The dark did not judge. The dark hides anyone from the world.

The dark was his only confident.

He didn't mind staying there forever. It would be better than any day in the real world. A lot safer. No more pain. No more worries. Nothing. He could just be.

But it did not last. The darkness was interrupted. There was a light. It was beckoning him, but he did not want to go. He enjoyed the darkness now. He didn't want to leave, but it was not up to him.

White ceilings is what he met. The beeping of the cardiogram let him know where he was. Upon the realization he wanted to curse in his anger and self loathing. He could never do anything right. Little Deku couldn't even kill himself.

Pathetic.

Why was he alive? Why did they help him? Of all the times they decided to be of help it was the one time he was not seeking it. He didn't want this. He didn't want to continue in this accursed world. He tried to move, but everything hurt. He whimpered pathetically and stayed where he was.

Why?

The door to his room bursted open. His eyes followed the sound and he met his crying mother. She looked a mess. He looked away the minute he met her eyes. Great. Just great. If he had been dead his mother would have to get over it. She would move on. But he lived and now she was worried sick. She'll continue to be worried. She knows that he tried to kill himself . She's heart broken. She would ask questions. Questions he did not want to answer.

"Izuku"

She was at his side. Her hands shaking in his own. She was so worried. She was scared. When she had gotten the call complete dread washed over her. They weren't sure he would make it. It was a miracle he lived. Why would he try to kill himself? She knew he was being bullied. She had found ou, but he told her not to worry. He said it wasn't too bad. Just a few bad names. Here she is finding out that he had multiple burns on his skin. They were old and still healing. He had lied. He lied so she wouldn't worry. He shouldn't have done that. She could have done something. She would have pulled him out of school. Talk to the parents of the bullies. Anything.

"Izuku, why.. "She sobbed and gripped his hand tighter. She couldn't bring herself to ask the question. The look in Izuku's eyes said it all. She felt terrible. She was a terrible mother, wasn't she? How could she not know what her son was going through? She should have paid closer attention. She should've been better.

Izuku could see his mother start to blame herself. It wasn't her fault. It was all his. He didn't say anything. He only stared at the ceiling, his green eyes glazed over.

He couldn't do the most simplistic thing. He really was a useless Deku.

~~~~~~~

Kuriko returned home only minutes before her mother. She had already taken a shower and changed by that time. She also managed to get ice cream. Nozomi wouldn't be too happy about that. She kept telling her to eat properly but she never listened.

"I'm back" Nozomi said as she stepped into her house. Kuriko was nowhere to be found but Nozomi knew better. She placed her stuff on the sofa and made her way to the kitchen. On her trip Kuriko manifested out of the shadows, a bowl of ice cream in her hands and a marsh mellow in her mouth. Nozomi shot her a scolding glance, but she wasn't affected. She waved and disappeared into the darkness again.

"Where are you going? "Nozomi asked the open air. She got nothing. She sighed knowing that meant Kuriko did not see the need t inform her. "If you're leaving the house be back by seven "

Kuriko had heard her loud and clear as she drifted in her familiar darkness. She was casually eating her ice cream as she let the darkness carry her away.

~~~~~~~~

Izuku was still staring at the ceiling. His mother had cried herself to sleep at his side. He felt guilty. He felt guily because she felt guilty. He felt guilty because he could not answer her questions. He felt guilty because he still wished to die. He still despised the people that helped him. He still hated himself for failing to accomplish such a simple task.

Useless Deku.

He felt A presence in the room, but saw no one. He was on edge again, wasnt he? The last he thought that he ended up being attacked by a sludge creature and almost died. He found himself wishing such a thing was about to happen again . He believed such a thing would happen when a silhouette stepped out of the shadows. It had to form of a person. A girl? He couldn't tell much. All he knew for certain is that whoever or whatever stood in his room had blue eyes. Blue eyes that sent a chill down his spine.

He was silent as the shadow moved towards him. He wasn't even sure it was walking. It looked as if it glided across the floor. It came to stop right next to him. He suddenly felt overwhelming cold. All feeling of heat disappeared immediately. Izuku felt as if he should be afraid. Normally he would, but at that moment he couldn't care. If this shadow was here to kll him so be it. That's what he wanted anyway.

A hand reached towards him. Total blackness. It didn't touch him but dark tendrels expanded from it's finger tips and latched onto his body. He felt it climb all over his body, taking hold of him. Claiming him.

He let it happen.

He didn't mind returning to the darkness.

~~~~~~~

He found himself drifting in darkness again. It was cold and lonely, just like before. It was comforting. It was safe. There was only one difference.

He was not alone.

Drifting in front of him was a girl apparently his age. Her hair was a mess of curls and as black as the dkness he found himself in. Her eyes the familiar ice blue of the shadow. She was dressed in casual wear. A blue hoodie and long pants. In her hands was a big bowl of ice cream with marsh mellows scattered within. She was staring at him, even a she munched on a mellow. She quickly adjusted the round glasses she wore and tilted her head. She was asking a question but she did not speak.

Izuku didn't know how he somehow knew what she was asking but he did. He knew. There were no words spoken. He didn't know this girl, but he knew what she was asking.

Should she help him?

That was the question she had ask with the curious tilt of her head. She casually sucked on a spoon full of ice cream as she awaited his answer. She could feel his emotions. She could feel it all. His emotions. His thoughts. Nothing was hidden from her in this darkness. Everything was bare for her to see.

"Help me with what? " He questioned. His tone flat and emotionless. He didn't know what she wanted to help him with. He didn't know what he wanted help with. Why would she help him? He didn't need it. He didn't need anything anymore. He didn't want to exist. Could she help him with that? "I don't want anything anymore"

She didn't respond or react in anyway. She only ate her ice cream. Izuku noted the air around her. She felt like darkness. This darkness he found himself in, he felt as if it was hers. It belonged to her. She was its friend . The darkness was her. She was the darkness.

Another question was asked. No words again, just the knowledge of the question.

Would he like a quirk?

The question made him look at her skeptically. Stupid question. There was no way he could get a quirk. He was quirkless and shall remain that way. He was nothing and shall remain that way. Helpless. Useless. Worthless.

She looked at him blue eyes as cold as ice. He didn't want anything from her. He had given up completely. He didn't even take interest in her question. He was empty. An emptiness she could understand and recognize. Her gaze on him shifted. She knew what she could offer. She could relate. He could relate.

Power means everything in this world. He found those words in his head. There was no voice. Just thoughts. Voiceless thoughts. He knew that power meant everything. He learned it at a young age. Those with power abuse those without. He looked at the casual girl in front of him. Her eyes boring into him. She looked at him as if he was an object. He couldn't meet her eyes. For the first time in a while he felt apprehension . Something about her was a bit off, yet relatable. He couldn't understand it.

Would he like power?

Would he? If he had power he could make them all see, couldn't he? He would let Katsuki see. He was not useless. He wasn't worthless. He would make them all see. He would make them all taste their own medicine. He wanted them all to feel what he had felt. Powerless. He'll show them all. He'll show All Might.

"Power"

The girl was munching on a marsh mellow when the boy said that. Her expression was still neutral. He looked at her, she smiled. Why did that smile look so innocent? Why did it look as if she was smiling at a friend?

She looked too friendly while he felt as if he just shook hands with the devil.

He didn't care. She was darkness and the darkness was comforting

He didn't know what this innocent devil had in mind, but he could care less. She promised power and he found himself wanting it.

The rolls will be reversed.

~~~~~~

He was staring at white ceilings again. The dark figure looming over him again. Those eyes were still staring at him. Slowly the shadows disappeared leaving the girl standing in front of her. Her bowl of ice cream was empty and she didn't seem happy with it.

"Who are you? "

She looked at him, but said nothing. She signed something. He didn't understand. She didn't seem surprised. She didn't seem to care all too much.

"You can't talk? "

She shook her head no, tugging on her glove. The door to his room was being opened. He had looked at it for just a moment and the girl was gone, leaving him with his mother and the approaching doctor.

Kuriko

That name suddenly popped into his head.

Voiceless Kuriko