The moment I started to wake up, my eyes shot open, remembering the horror I had to deal with these last couple of days. All I could think about was how I was kept inside a room filled with dolls. Thinking about it, I was afraid of what was going to happen next.

However, when my eyes finally adjusted to the single lamp that was turned on in front of me, I realized I was no longer there. Instead, I was covered in blankets with a pillow placed under my head. I sat up, feeling the couch shift.

A couch. Not the small pink bed I was used to.

"Ah! You're up!" a voice squealed.

My hand grabbed my head at the sudden outburst, but that was the least of my worries when a pair of arms wrapped around from behind me. I froze, not knowing who was right in front of me wrapping me in their arms. I tried to look around, but instead, I just felt my vision failing me. Things were growing dark, like when that woman would—

"Mamá, stop!" Raiden's voice cut through.

"Ay yi yi, hijo!" the voice from before complained as the arms unwrapped from me, allowing me to breathe.

I looked down, trying to control my breathing. She wasn't the pink-haired woman. I was away from her. There was no one that could hurt me. Not right now.

Breathe, Tami, just breathe.

"Sorry about Má," a familiar feminine voice apologized as I felt the couch sink. I lifted my head to see Hatsuko sitting beside me, careful to keep her distance. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun while she wore a simple button up with jeans. It was the same outfit she wore last night. "She just gets excited around new people."

"Oh, of course I'm excited. It's not everyday we get to meet Rai—" the older woman started to say.

Raiden quickly cut her off. "Cállate!"

"Oh hijo," the woman said as she walked over to Raiden and placed her hand on his shoulder.

I looked over at her, seeing a woman who looked like an older version of Raiden and Hatsuko. Her long dark hair was hanging down, showing off thick strips of gray hair mixed inside. It didn't take long for me to realize this was their mother, even if they didn't say anything about that before. She gave me a warm smile as she drop her arms into the pockets of her nightgown. Her arms looked as if they were twigs, looking much different than when she was a hero. I remember Kaito telling me that once, that both of Raiden's parents were heroes. His mom just retired when she married.

Seeing her, I realized she was the one who had hugged me. Guilt washed over me as I looked down at my lap. She wasn't trying to be rude. I knew that. The gesture just took me off guard.

"How are you feeling, Smith?" Mrs. Yamamoto asked.

I nodded my head. "Fine. You—you can call me Tami. I-I'd prefer it if you all did."

My legs pulled up into my chest before I wrapped my arms around them. What was I supposed to say or even do? For a moment, I just kept to myself as we all sat in silence, letting my mind wonder for a bit. Out of habit, I looked down at my watch, only to find that there was nothing there. It wasn't because of the Yamamoto's, but because of them. They took my watch away from me. Without it, I couldn't tell what time it was or how much time had passed if I would use my Quirk.

That was the least of my worries as a certain thought occupied my mind. Had school started already? I shouldn't have cared knowing what my mom warned me not to leave this place until she came, but at the same time, it made me wonder if someone had tried calling. Was it too late to call Ollie and let him know how everything was going? What about Kaito, or even Sakura?

"So, Tami," Mrs. Yamamoto started conversation again. I snapped my head up to look at her, showing her that I was listening. "Raiden said you had a Quirk that lets you change into someone else. Can I see it?"

"Má!" Hatsuko's voice boomed from beside me. "Leave the poor girl alone. She needs rest right now, especially after all she's been through these past few days."

"Sorry," their mother apologized. "I just wanted to see it what all the fuss was about since you two got to see her in action, and yet I've never seen such a thing, even when I was in the field. Plus, a Quirk like hers is almost unheard of."

Everyone's eyes looked at me for a moment, almost thinking the same thing. She was right. My Quirk, it was different. Quirks that were never seen before were considered a mutation, but that wasn't a bad thing. After all, the first Quirk itself was a mutation. Daigo's Dog Quirk was a mutation at one point a long time ago as people started adapting animal-like features. In a few years, maybe a few decades at best, my Quirk would be more common that people wouldn't think twice about it. When that happened, I just hope people would use it for good.

I slowly glanced over at Hatsuko, who was sitting on the couch, smiling at me. She was the only one who witnessed me transform from a rat, or at least, she was the only person to see me as a rat and as a person. The young woman left me in a room alone to transform so that nothing awkward would happen. She didn't actually see the transformation happen like Raiden would back when we were in our classes.

Remember your manners, my mom told me. I was their guest. They were helping me out despite not having to. The least I could do was show them my Quirk. After all, it wasn't like they were going to use it against me. I turned my head to look at Raiden, seeing him watching me carefully. He had already told his family about my Quirk. Not to mention, he had already seen it. He wouldn't have cared, but his mother probably wanted to see it in action, hence why she had asked in the first place.

Besides, these people weren't like those who had kidnapped me. I drew in a deep breath as I dropped my feet to the ground and stood up, pushing down the sweatshirt, so nothing would show.

"Tami," I heard Raiden protest. "You don't have to do it."

I shook my head and looked up at him, smiling. "Don't worry. I can do this. It's the least I can do. I just...I just can't change into any of you since it's easier for me to, uh, change into someone smaller." I told them as my hands kept pulling down the sweatshirt I wore.

Raiden's eyes widened when he realized what I meant by that. He snapped his head towards his mother. I could tell he was about ready to say something to her, but she just nodded her head, giving me the okay.

I smiled before closing my eyes. Maybe it was just because of how close we were, or maybe it was just because how similar in heights we were, I realized I had normally used my Quirk to turn into Sakura Sakai. It didn't matter though. As kids, she loved it when I'd turn into her, especially since we could pull pranks on our teachers. It didn't work out very well back then since I was vastly different from her, but that didn't keep her from trying.

Every time I had shifted my body to look like hers, I never had to really think about it much. It was always quick and easy. This time, as I pictured her, I felt my body go numb, almost as if I couldn't move. My eyes squeezed harder as I tried to imagine what she looked like. Only, every time I saw the image of her in my mind, it faded away. Everything started to fade away.

While it had been a while since I felt something like that, I knew what was going on. This feeling was why I couldn't change into one thing to another faster than ten minutes. If I did, I would get dizzy to the point where I would pass out if I kept trying.

Oh no.

Realizing what was going on, I quickly stopped trying to change into Sakura. Feeling started to return, but it was too late.

"Tami!" a voice in the distance yelled as I felt my legs collapse underneath me. My eyes shot open, finding Raiden was standing in front of me. His hands were placed under my armpits, holding me up on my feet. I just couldn't feel them.

I have never felt paralyzed after trying to transform into someone else.

"It-it-it should've, why did I..." I started to ask as he carried me to the couch. I looked down, seeing my legs looking perfectly normal. I just couldn't feel them yet.

"I'll call the hospital!" I heard someone yell.

"I'm going to go get some water," Hatsuko announced.

What's going on? I thought to myself.

"M-m-m-my Quirk," I whispered. "I-I didn't change into anyone in my sleep, did I? I should've...I should've been able to have transformed into Sakura. Why? Why—what's—what's going on?"

Raiden shook his head, pressing his lips together. "I don't know. I honestly don't know. Have you ever just blacked out in the middle of change like that?"

I nodded my head. "It's why I need ten minutes between a change, otherwise I-I pass out and feel dizzy and—and I thought that was the only setback. I thought I-I thought I wouldn't have to go through something worse."

"Breathe," Raiden said as he knelt down in front of me, keeping his hands on his knees so that he wasn't touching me and so that he could look me in the eyes a bit easier. "Getting worked up over this isn't going to help you, so just breathe. We're going to figure out what's going on. If those villains did something to you, we'll make sure there's hell to pay."

"Here," Hatsuko's voice came from behind. I snapped my head towards her, pulling my hands closer to my stomach. My lips pressed together, realizing how embarrassing everything was.

Not only did my Quirk not work, but I nearly blacked out. If I didn't stop things now, I would go into yet another panic attack. That was something I didn't want all the Yamamotos to witness.

I carefully drew in a deep breath as I looked at what was in her hands. Her hands wrapped around a clear glass with a clear substance in it. Water. It has been so long since I let myself drink something that I didn't hesitate to reach for it and gulp it down. The cold liquid rushed into my mouth before I gulped to make room for more.

The more I drank from the cup, the less shaky I felt. I didn't even know I needed water or how bad I was feeling until the last drop of water dropped into my mouth. I pulled the glass away, finding Raiden shaking his head as he stood up.

"I have to get ready for school, but I'll call Kaito and Sakura to let them know what's going on," he claimed. "Hatsuko, mind if you—"

"Of course," his sister answered before he could even finish. "Make sure you wake up Luz too, so she can get to school. Last thing we'd need is for her teachers calling and complaining cuz she didn't show up to her classes."

Raiden nodded his head before he left. While he did, I just stared at the empty glass in my hands, trying to process everything.

My Quirk wasn't working. I did everything I would do when I'd transform into someone else. Why was it that I can't turn into anyone? That was my Quirk, wasn't it?

Was that what that man made me forget? Did he force me to forget how to use my own Quirk? It would be strange if I was able to leave that place without something to forget as that was what happened to every one of their victims. The only difference was that I was his daughter.

The moment that thought came inside my head, I felt my sides cramping up. I winced in pain, wishing I would forget that detail. How was it I forgot how to use my Quirk, but I remembered that disgusting detail? It didn't make sense. There had to be another explanation, right?

I felt a hand starting to rub my right shoulder. Turning my head, I noticed Hatsuko sitting beside me. How she got there was a mystery, but I decided I wasn't going to ask. I was probably too deep in thought to really notice

Hatsuko gave me a small smile. "It's going to be okay, I promise. We're going to figure this out soon. Right now, we just have to get through it, okay? Now, how about we get you dressed into some better clothing? I'm sure I have some clothes from middle school lying around somewhere that should be able to fit you. Sound good?"

While I nodded my head, I felt far from good. It was a good thing I had drank every last bit of water that was in the glass cup; otherwise, it would've spilt. I just hope Hatsuko didn't see that as I tried my hardest to act normal, to calm down.

The only thing that stuck in my mind was that I forgot how to use my Quirk. Or at least, my body forgot how to use my Quirk. This shouldn't be happening. I mean, I turned into a rat. A stinky, gross, filthy rat! If I could do that to get out of that place, I should still be able to use my Quirk, shouldn't I? There was no way I could've forgotten it.

Maybe if I tried once more, maybe I could do it. I started to close my eyes, but before I could start picturing how Sakura looked, the empty glass was torn from my hands before a hand wrapped around my wrist and yanked me up. My eyes shot open to see Hatsuko sitting there, carefully leaving one hand on my lower back while the other one held the empty glass.

"Take it easy," she reminded me. "The last thing you need is to black out again. Things will get—"

"Okay," I mumbled, looking away. My hands started to shake before I wrapped them around my stomach, hoping for that strange pain to go away. It didn't. Instead, it just grew worse, especially when all I could do was concentrate on my Quirk being gone.

Never in my life did I have this problem. Turning into other people was easy. It was like Ollie memorizing all the heroes who ever lived, or Sakura finding the perfect outfit. Not once did I have troubles with a transformation unless I couldn't memorize what a person looked like.

Why was this happening now?

My answer didn't come as Hatsuko Yamamoto led me out of the room and into her bedroom to get changed. All I could do was dwell on what was going on until I could go to the hospital for more answers.

Author's Note:

Oh no...what is going on with Tami? Did her father do this to her, or is it something else?

For this chapter's question: What would you do if you had a Quirk that had suddenly stopped working?

Character Spotlight: Tami
Quirk: Biochange?
Likes: Dino Chicken Nuggets

Today's character spotlight is a special one because this is the very first, official fanart for this story! Eek! And perfect timing too as this chapter was scheduled to have a Tami spotlight! Words cannot express how overjoyed I am with this! Especially since this looks EXACTLY like Tami. I think it's perfect. So, thank you Juni_Penguin_ for creating this beautiful masterpiece! It's absolutely gorgeous!

Okay, that's all I have for now. Hope you all are enjoying the story so far!

Song: Houseki no Kuni Instrumental/piano cover from Land of Lustrous