"Mama!" Narako screamed as she extended one hand toward her mother's body just as Stain sent his blade through Zakaida, ending the woman's life. Zakaida's blood splattered the walls, as well as covering a bit of Stain himself. The Hero Killer turned to Narako, his crimson eyes showing a conflict. Should he waste one of his four hero kills in this city on this little girl? He took a step toward her, only for her to back up in fright, the shadow tendrils rising to protect her as she fell onto her back. But why should he kill the kid? She could spread word of mouth just as well as any adult, couldn't she? But, then again... She did just witness her mother's death by his hand... That was going to cause some problems for him in the future if she was to become a hero....Before he could act, the sound of pounding footsteps came from outside. Stain growled a bit, his mind made up for him. He put his blade to her cheek and turned her head away from her mother's body, making her look directly into his eyes. "I'll let you live... But I want you to remember this moment, kid, the next time you think you'll ever be more than a scared weakling." He removed his blade from the child's face and disappeared out the back door just as the front door burst open. Narako's eyes returned to her mother, a small part of her hoping against all odds that this was all just a nightmare about to end... Since the only thing she could see was her mother's motionless body, Narako didn't yet notice who had come too late. She winced while trying to sit up, covering her eye again with her hand as she was reminded of what her actions had caused, forcing herself to tear her eyes from her mother. She heard a pair of footsteps coming toward her, and a pair of slightly calloused hands gently helped her sit up the rest of the way.

"Easy does it, kiddo, you don't want to hurt yourself more." A deep but calm voice told her. When she looked up, her good eye met a pair of grey eyes that seemed... Familiar in a way....

Narako strummed her shadow guitar once again, the sound sending the shadow tendrils toward Bakugou to help him in the fight. She didn't really care how Bakugou got into this mess at this point... She just knew she needed to help him get the hell out of it... 3 mini explosions came from Bakugou's hands as he tried fighting back against the villain before a big explosion knocked Narako on her back, the female manipulating the remaining shadow tendrils to protect Midoriya as the freckle faced young man fell as well. Come on, Narako, think... Narako thought as she slowly sat back up. She needed a plan and fast... "Get the hell off of me!" Bakugou yelled, struggling against the villain's grip, both of the males failing to notice that something close to a slime arm with a huge closed fist had formed from the villain, his eyes on Midoriya. Much to the villain's misfortune, however, Narako had noticed.... But pain forced her to stand up much slower than normal.

"Just a little bit longer, kid... And I'm done playing with you!" The villain yelled as he raised a slime arm to crush Midoriya. Narako grit her teeth before pushing off the ground and running toward her green haired friend, manipulating the shadow tendrils to yank Midoriya to safety, a horrified look crossed both boys' faces as she stepped in the way of the hit meant for her quirkless friend. Narako's mind caused things to seem to move in slow motion as she turned toward the villain, shadow tendrils rising to her arms as she glared at the villain keeping Katsuki captive.

"Nara-chan, no!" Izuku shouted. Narako let out a battle cry and raised her shadow covered arms, crossing them as she blocked the attack. The strength of the hit landing on her arms caused Narako to slide a bit, but she pushed back.

"Threatening my friends is where you made your last mistake!" Narako snarled at the villain as she gained a bit of ground, every muscle in her body straining to hold back the villain's attack. With a roar, the villain pushed back harder, the strength forcing her to her knees. I will... Stand my ground! Narako thought as she pushed back, struggling to get back on her feet once more.

"Nara-chan!" Izuku yelled in horror as his female friend was forced all the way to the ground, just a couple inches of shadow protecting her from the hit that the sludge villain was trying to crush her with.

Knowing his friend wouldn't be able to last much longer, Izuku started toward her, running as fast as he could, his mind racing with memories of her protecting him through their entire childhood, even up to this point. She had never thought about her own well being when it came to taking care of him and (sometimes) Kacchan, being her sassy self while also being the best friend anyone could ever ask for, better than any sister he could ever hope to have.... Which was why, though he was going to get in trouble, he couldn't sit back and watch her struggle anymore. He felt the need to help her with the burden...

He slid on his knees, stopping beside her, crossing his arms and pushing against the villain's strength with her. Maybe the combined strength wouldn't be enough to best the villain, but at least they could give whoever could beat this guy a chance to get there in time to save the day... "What the hell are you doing?" She asked him as the two's combined strength started to give Narako more headway.

"I can't stand by and watch either of you two die!" Izuku replied as he helped her push back.

"You really are an idiot, you know that?! You don't even think things through half the time, and the other half of the time, you overthink things!" Narako yelled at him. He didn't reply as the two focused on pushing back, failing to notice the sludge villain's other fist coming toward them. But, just when it looked like Narako couldn't hold the villain back anymore and the fight was about to end gruesomely, a blur got between them, blocking the other fist as well as helping the two kids. When Narako looked, All Might was in front of them, dressed in a white shirt and army green cargo pants, black combat boots adorning his feet as he kept the villain back with ease.

"I really am pathetic." His words caused Midoriya to look up.

"All Might? But..." Midoriya trailed off before All Might continued.

"I told you the traits that make a great champion..." Narako and All Might pushed back, Izuku flat on his back due to having lost his grip the moment before All Might got between them and the villain. "But, I see now I wasn't living up to my own ideal!" All Might broke both attacks, creating an opening for himself as Narako helped Izuku sit up, letting the pro hero finish the villain off. Her sapphire eyes went to Bakugou, the ash blond male's crimson eyes on her before they turned to All Might as the pro hero grabbed the slime keeping Bakugou captive. "Pros are always risking their lives... That's the true test of a hero!"

"Damn you!" The villain shouted, once again raising a slime fist, though this time it was to crush All Might.

"Detroit..... SMASH!" With a single punch, All Might not only blew the villain away, but breaking the villain's hold on Bakugou, which allowed Narako to use her shadow tendrils to bring Bakugou to her and protect her friends as a strong wind blew through shortly before it started to rain. After a stunned silence, the crowd that had gathered during the beginning of the fight burst into cheers, Narako letting the shadow tendrils protecting the trio fall. The boys were knocked out and Narako herself was exhausted, but she knew that she had at least helped a little in protecting her friends... Helped, even if it was just a small part, in protecting the family she had left. But... It was Izuku that had first acted, it was Izuku's actions that forced her to act in order to protect him and at least attempt to save Bakugou's life.

Shortly after, as All Might was being interviewed by the presses, Izuku and Narako both got chewed out big time by Kamuai Woods and Death Arms, meanwhile Bakugou was praised for his bravery during the whole ordeal, but he was hardly listening to it. His crimson eyes were too focused on his oldest friends, particularly the female. He'd always been especially brash with her, wanting her to toughen up and grow a pair, but for her to go and risk her life in order to at least attempt to save him while protecting Deku against a villain she knew she didn't have the right quirk to beat? It took more guts than what Deku even thought he had to even think things through... After a second, he realized her eyes were on him, clearly worried about him. She never had been good at hiding her emotions from him... Or Deku for that matter... He gave her a look that told her he was fine without him having to say it before he tore his eyes from her.

Later that day, as the sun was starting to set, Bakugou caught up to her. "Narako!" His voice calling her first name caused her to stop in her tracks. "Listen, just so you know, I didn't need your weak ass help." The comment caused her to roll her eyes at him before she turned to face him.

"Right, just like the sludge monster wasn't close to killing you via suffocation." Narako sarcastically replied, placing her hands on her hips. He glared at her for the comment, but she only glared right back. After a minute, a curious look crossed her face. "Hang on a second, how did he even get a hold on you anyways? You have twice the fire power I do and I was still able to hold him off...."

"He got me by surprise, okay?!" He cut her off before she could say anything more.

"Did you even try to fight him off?" She questioned. He growled in frustration and looked away from her. The fact was that he hadn't even been given a chance to react when the sludge villain attacked him. Narako sighed. "I swear, you and Midoriya are going to be my death one day." Narako said, crossing her arms over her chest and popping a hip. Bakugou's head instantly turned so he was looking at her.

"What's with the comment?" He asked. She gave a little shrug.

"Just stating the truth... You two combined get into more trouble in a day than I do in a month." She answered, looking up at him as he stepped to be in front of her, looking directly down at her while she leaned casually against the wall behind her, her eyes not leaving his. "As if you two don't scare me half to death enough already." She mumbled under her breath as she looked away. Katsuki heard her but didn't say anything, memories coming to mind of when she scared the hell out of him most days when they were kids....

In the past, some of the other kids would be pushing around Midoriya and as soon as she saw it, there went Narako, going on offense in order to defend the freckle faced idiot.... Half the time before she went all tough, she got her butt kicked because she couldn't fight to save her life back then... Now, though, was a different story. She had better control of her quirk than she did back then and, thanks to Katsuki himself, knew how to handle herself pretty damn well in a fight combat wise... But, she still worried him... Not that he'd ever admit to it... Without thinking, he tucked a stray hair behind her left ear so he could see her face more clearly, watching as a startled expression replaced the stoic calm look she normally had.

Narako felt confusion as well as being flustered. Katsuki hadn't ever done something like this with her... He'd never been this close without the intent of scaring her into listening to him... Had never been... Well... Tender with her.... "Take better care of yourself, loser. You're looking more pale than usual." He told her before walking off, removing himself from her before he could get too close and walking home. Narako stood there for a moment, frozen in confusion. What the hell just happened? By the time she arrived home, it was dark out, the stars just barely beginning to shine through the night sky.

The apartment she lived in wasn't that big... It was a two bedroom apartment that fit everything she needed perfectly, which honestly wasn't much to begin with. The walls were a dark purple with her room having a balcony... It was home to her, and she paid for it herself.... A reason to be proud for being so independent at a young age, but considering what had happened for it to be possible....

All of a sudden, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she softly sang her guitar into her hands once more, cautiously moving further into her home as her sapphire eyes observed the area around her. She automatically dodged to the side as a sudden blast hit where she had been just seconds before, a strum of her guitar shooting to where the blast came from. A shadowed figure jumped to the side, Narako's eyes narrowing as she began to play Ghost Riders In The Sky by Spiderbait, the shadow tendrils shooting forward at the speed she was strumming at, the figure somehow managing to avoid the attacks until a shadow tendril caught the figure by the ankle, a deep voiced cry sounding as the figure was hung upside down. "What the hell are you doing here? Why are you in my home?" She snarled. The figure didn't respond. A red hood covered the figure's head, the darkness the hood providing cover for the figure's face. The rest of the figure was dressed in all black, the only weapon she saw being some kind of shadow knife on the floor next to Narako's foot. When she picked it up, it oddly felt just right for her to use, but it disappeared into shadows shortly after she picked it up. The shadows swirled around her hand before disappearing entirely. Narako looked from her hand to the figure, noticing the eyes that seemed barely there but had never left her. Before she could have a chance to question who the figure was, he disappeared into the shadows, Narako's shadow tendrils dropping in shock. How did this person have the same powers as her? Her mind raced as she sank to the couch, unable to fully comprehend what had happened. Nothing was taken and she wasn't harmed, so there was no point in reporting it to the police, but who had been the figure? What did he want? Narako's eyes shifted to the picture frame on the bookshelf nearby, which held a picture of her mother and a very tiny baby Narako.

"Your father was busy out in the world the day you were born... Saving innocent people's lives... No matter how much people try to tell you different, know that your father loved you very much and that it hurts him to be away from you." Her mother had told her when she was five years old when she had asked where her father was.

"Then why hasn't he come home, Mommy?" Narako had asked back then. The only answer Narako had gotten back then was one of two answers:

"I'll tell you everything when you're older." Or, which was more often, "Because he can't come home until we're truly safe."

Will that day ever come though, Mom? Narako thought as she leaned back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling. I wish you were still here so I could ask you..... With that final thought toward her mother, Narako rose to her feet once more, cleaning any mess the fight caused and beginning to cook dinner for herself. She would think more about the figure later. Right now, she had dinner to make and the entrance exams for UA to think about and study for... She did only have ten more months until the day of the entrance exams and like her mother had always said: It's never too early to start preparing.

A few miles away, the figure stepped out of the shadows in an alley nearby where his boss was waiting. Pulling the black cloth that covered the lower part of his face down for a moment so he could catch his breath from the long distance teleportation, the figure leaned against the wall behind him in exhaustion. Who was that young girl? Why did her shadow power feel stronger than his own? Hell, how did she even have a shadow quirk similar to his own? He looked at his hands before removing his hood from his head. His black hair was cut shorter than the last time anyone saw him, his facial features being similar to his brother, having slightly aged since his last appearance but remarkably still retaining a more youthful appearance than his younger brother... Maybe he was the oldest brother, but for Pete's sake, he was still only 35 years of age... He took out a picture of a pregnant, 20 year old Zakaida, smiling fondly in memory of the woman he loved.

15 years away from Zakaida, and instead of the love of his life in the apartment they once had shared, it had been that fiery young woman that he had found.... He rolled his shoulders back a couple times before tucking Zakaida's picture back out of sight. The hits the young girl had landed hurt pretty good.... She was strong, he could allow himself to give her that much, but either way....It seemed that he had some searching to do. What exactly had he missed in the past 15 years? Where was Zakaida?

And what had happened to the baby Zakaida had given birth to shortly before he left? Was his daughter safe?

(A/N: I realize that it's been a bit since I last updated and I apologize if this chapter is shorter than the first at all, but I was a bit brain dead with this chapter since a majority of it was covered in chapter one.... Anyways, who is the mysterious figure? What'll happen next? To be continued in Chapter 3.....)