The first sign that something was wrong was the sound of shouting. He woke with a start and leapt from his bed, sneaking down the hallway. He made sure to avoid the floorboard that squeaked as the sound of glass shattering cut through the air. He peeked around the corner, sweeping his neck-length hair behind his ear. There were four men in his living room, one of them looking for his mom. He knew she was getting close to the front door. She had told him it was something that only he could do. Her quirk was called Unseen, and she could become transparent, like glass. She couldn't do it long, only five minutes at a time, but it didn't matter now.

Why were there men in the house? Where was his father? He kept quiet though because if Mom was invisible then they weren't good people. He felt a chill run down his spine, turning into full on shivers. What was happening? He wasn't cold!

Danger run run hide getawayrunhide! He shook his head to clear it. He jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder. "It's okay Shichan. It's me." It was his dad.

"Dad!" He whispered. "Why is Mommy hiding? Why are there men in the house?" He made sure to keep his voice as quiet as possible. He was starting to get scared. His brain was screaming at him, and he was still shaking.

"It's okay sport. But I need you to stay here, and when I tell you to run, you need to listen okay? Mommy and I will come get you when it's safe." His voice was comforting and he wrapped his arms around the boy who tried to sniffle as quietly as possible.

"Dad, I'm scared. My brain keeps telling me to hide, and I'm shivering but not cold. I don't want them to see me." He felt his dad push him away, meeting his eyes with identical violet eyes.

"Listen Shion. I've called the police, but I want you to know that Mommy and I love you so much. Now I need you to promise me something. Can you do that?"

"Yes. I love you and Mommy too Dad. But we're gonna be okay right?" Shion asked. He was confused. His dad was acting like they wouldn't see each other again.

"I need you to promise that no matter what, you'll stay alive. No matter what."

"I promise Dad, but you have to promise that you and Mommy will come back too."

He saw his dad smile, and it seemed almost sad. Why was Dad sad? He was gonna come back, right? "Yeah I pr-" He was interrupted by a scream. Shion whipped around, a scream rising in his throat. His mom was starting to become seeabl-no. Visible. And there was a spike in her chest. Shion met her eyes and she smiled. Her gaze was filled with love and pain. He felt his dad shove him back, whispering for him to hide, to run, before racing around the corner.

"MISAKI!" He screamed, lashing out at one of the men. Dad's quirk wasn't the best for fighting. Sense. He could sense anyone in a radius of thirty meters. Shion whimpered as a spike pierced his father's head. His mom was still staring at him, and everything in him screamed to run, to hide.

He didn't want to be seen, but he had to get to his mom. It was like he was wearing his swimsuit, but on his whole body as he walked towards his mom. He watched her look around frantically before realizing, just as he did, that none of the men knew he was there. They couldn't see him.

He didn't speak, tears slipping down his face. "Shichan." His mom whispered. He listened, keeping the suit on. "Shichan I love you. I'm sorry. I-I," She coughed, and one of the men walked over and kicked her, causing her to cry out. He had a bunch of knives on him. Shion carefully took one. He felt the suit stretch to cover the knife.

"Baby, I'm so proud of you. I need you to get out alive okay? No matter what baby. I'm not sure what your quirk is but please, stay alive. No matter what." Her voice was so small. Nothing like earlier, when she'd laughed and her eyes sparkled. Now everything was small, and covered in red.

"Mommy, I love you." He whispered. "Don't go. Please. Daddy's gone, and I need you both but he's gone." He used his sleeve to wipe his tears only for more to take their place.

His mom smiled, blood leaking from her mouth. "I'm sorry Shichan."

He just stood there as her light faded. He turned around, looking for the four men. They were still in the room, and the front door was closed. He couldn't get out that way, and the back door had a padlock after the old neighbors broke in that way. He hadn't been home for it but his mom had been crying.

He looked at the knife in his hand. He didn't even know why he'd grabbed it. But maybe, maybe he could use it to make the bad men sleep forever. Die. Death. Like Mommy and Dad. But, killing was bad.

No matter what.

No. Not that way. Shion ran towards the door, trusting the suit that clung tightly to his skin. He flung the door open and streaked out, feeling the suit get thinner and thinner as thundering footsteps followed him.

A hand grabbed his collar and the suit was gone. He flailed around, trying to get free as his mind screamed at him. He caught the fist thrown at him and bit down. He was released and dropped to the ground, rolling away.

"It's fine Kojakiru, it's just a brat! I'll take care of him no problem!"

"Just hurry the fuck up Nakoshi! The fucker called the cops!"

"Dammit." The man grumbled, and grinned at Shion. "Don't worry squirt, it'll only hurt a bit."

Shion pulled out the knife that he'd tucked into his pocket. He kept it behind his back, waiting as the man approached. His heart thundered in his ears and he had to force himself not to back up.

Just before the man grabbed him he darted forward, shoving the knife as far into the guy's chest as he could. He pushed hard, and the man fell back with a choked yell. He yanked the knife out and watched the blood drip down the blade. He just killed someone. Tears slipped down his face and he hastily wiped the blade on the dead man's clothes.

"Nakoshi?! Did you deal with the brat? I'm comin' out!"

H̴̞͉̯̼̎̌͛̓̈́̾̾̀̽̕͠i̷̡̨̛̤̤͕̰͍̼̠̟̻͙̪͓͎̎̀̌̔͌̈́͝ḑ̶̭̹̠̞̮̝͔͓̼̓̌̋͌̿̍̽̕͝ͅè̷̢̧̨̦̳͔̭͍̻̙̠͖̜̂͛̀̏́̋͂͐̉̍͐̄̿͘

Shion felt the suit settle over him and he took his chance to charge the spike man, kicking his knee in, sucking in a sharp breath as the suit vanished and the knife landed in the mans' throat. Blood sprayed his face as he yanked the knife out and he rolled out of the way of a spike. The man screamed as he drowned in his blood, and Shion used his damp sleeve to wipe his face.

There were two men left and they probably heard the scream. His hand shook as he gripped the knife tighter and clung to the suit. It was getting lighter again, going away, but he needed it to stay hidden. The man covered in knives came out yelling and he ran forward, the last of the suit falling away. He ripped another knife off the man and stabbed blindly. Blood sprayed again and the man staggered back. The knife was stuck in the mans' thigh, and Shion rushed forward, jumping and stabbing, knocking the off-balance man over with a desperate shout. He stabbed and stabbed and stabbed, hands soaked in blood.

When the man stopped moving, Shion backed up, knife clutched tightly in his hand. One left. He called for the suit, his quirk, and ran into the house. He wouldn't kill, only knock out, he told himself. He saw the man, and barrelled into him, knocking him over and slamming the hilt of the knife into his head.

He used his jump rope to tie the guy up and stood, panting and crying and wanting to get out. He ran to his room and grabbed his bookbag, stuffing a few clothes into it as well as his sketchbook. He moved to the kitchen and shoved random foods into the bag until it was full. Finally, he stood over his parents, still crying, eyes aching. He took their earrings. Mommy had told him they'd gifted them to each other, so if he took them, maybe something good would happen.

He put one of each earring in, shoving the other two into the backpack and walked out of the house. He didn't know how he looked, but he felt filthy. He felt tired and upset, and he wanted his parents. But they were gone. He barely reached the driveway when the sound of someone landing on the ground behind him reached his ears. He swung around, clutching his knife. There was a man with longish messy black hair and a baggy black suit with a long scarf wrapped around his neck. He had yellow goggles over his eyes.

Shion backed up when the man stepped closer. He tensed when the man raised his hands, ready to either run or fight.

"Kid, I'm not going to hurt you. It's okay. I'm a hero." His voice was flat, but his eyes roved over Shion through the slots in the visor-goggles. Shion didn't feel the shivers, so maybe this guy was actually a hero?

"Wh-why didn't you get here faster!" He cried out, collapsing. His breath came shorter as he sobbed, curling in on himself. He wanted Mommy! He wanted Dad to mess up his hair and call him sport! He wanted to learn how to use his quirk with them!

"Kid, I'm sorry. I only just got the call from the station. Can you tell me what happened?"

Shion sniffled. "Men broke in. Mom got hurt and Dad got k-k... He's gone. Mommy's gone. The men tried to get me. Now they're gone too! I-I I don't wanna be a murderer!" He choked, clutching the knife tighter.

He felt hands on his shoulders, and looked up. "Listen to me kid. You aren't a murderer. You took them out in self defense. Not the best way, but you're what? Four? Five? You did what you could to survive. Now the police will be there soon and will take you to get help. I need to go and secure the scene. Can you wait here?"

Shion nodded. This man was nice. He sounded mean, but he was nice. "What's your name?" He asked. The hero stood.

"I'm Eraserhead. What about you kid?"

"Shion Yui." Shion tucked his hair behind his ear, smearing blood across his ear. His front was covered in blood. His face was a mess of blood and tears, and his clothes were drenched. Yet he was uninjured. Physically.

"Okay Shion. Stay here."

Shion just nodded, and watched the hero disappear into the house, passing the three bodies in the yard. His violet eyes roamed over the corpses before he looked away dispassionately. He hated that he killed, hated that he took a life, but he didn't hate that it was those three's lives. They killed Mommy and Dad, so they should die too. It didn't make him feel better, Mommy and Dad were still gone, but still. (somewhere in the future he'll tell someone about this, about the way it didn't help, and hope it discourages them from-)

He heard sirens get closer and closer before they stopped and there were a bunch of people rushing around. He remembered Eraserhead coming up to him and helping him up, remembers being directed to a police car and buckled in, remembers staring out the window. He barely remembers the questioning, the pitying looks, and the wary gazes.

They had him shower and change. They were unable to take the knife from him. When they tried, he'd clutch it tighter and look ready to bolt. He washed the blood off, washed the dirt from his hair, the tears from his face. He slipped into his clothes from the book bag and spent five minutes staring at the earrings before putting them in and looking in the mirror.

Pale skin. Tiny thin frame. Wet black hair that just reached the nape of his neck. Dilated violet eyes. He looked like he'd just gotten out of the bath at home. He could imagine his Mom singing in the kitchen and his dad yelling at the TV while he combed his hair and made funny faces in the mirror. Shion rubbed his eyes when he felt the hot tears trailing down his face. They were gone. He'd never wake up ready to go to the park with Dad. Never complain about Mommy taking his shopping for 'cute' clothes.

It hurt. But he shoved it away for later and walked out. He was asked some more questions before a lady came and took him somewhere. In the car she explained that he was going to an orphanage, and that maybe he'd get adopted, or transferred to a foster home.

He didn't want either. He didn't want to replace Mommy and Dad. They were his only Mommy and Dad. She told him of all the friends he could make and that he'd be happy there.

He didn't feel very happy.

When they got there it was early morning. The sun was just coming up. He shouldered his backpack, knife hidden inside, and followed the lady into the building.

"This is Rising Hope Orphanage." The lady told him before going to talk to the owner/manager/ person in charge. Whatever. He just wanted to cry. Or sleep. Probably both.

Soon a man came out with the lady. "Hello. You must be Shion-kun. I'm Mako Tadashi. Why don't we show you to your room so you can get acquainted with some people your age?" He wore a kind smile on his aged and weathered face, turning to walk down a hallway.

Shion didn't reply. He didn't really care much. He followed Tadashi-san to a door down the hallway and peeked inside. Already a few kids that looked to be between three and five were awake and sitting up in their beds.

"Good morning children," Tadashi-san said, opening the door all the way. Immediately all eyes were on Shion, and he shrunk back. "This is Shion, please welcome him warmly."

Immediately he was accosted by loud voices and questions. He stood stock still and silent until the kids left him alone, clutching his knife. When the crowd dispersed he walked over to the empty bed and sat his backpack down. In the bed next to him, up against the wall, in the corner, a purple haired boy slept.

A call for breakfast sounded and all of the kids fled the room. Shion took his time, not wanting to go anywhere, still overwhelmed with everything. He startled when the purple haired boy moved, groaning and rolling off the bed, onto the floor with a solid thump.

He slowly moved and peeked over the boy's bed and looked down. He met mauve eyes. "Hello." He murmured, holding out his hand. The boy just stared at him. He shifted, getting ready to pull his hand back. "Uh, I'm sorry." He hated how quiet his own voice was. He started drawing his hand back, jumping when he felt another hand clasp his own. He pulled the other boy to his feet.

"I'm Shion Yui. It's ah, nice to meet you. It's nice to know ah, that not everyone here is loud." He fidgeted, turning to grab his knife and slide it under his bed.

"That's a knife." It was said as a statement, but clearly intended as a question. Shion nodded.

"Yeah... The- Tadashi-san knows I have it." He stood up, facing the other boy. "Uhm, What's your name?"

"Shinsou. Hitoshi Shinsou." The boy- Shinsou, seemed to struggle for a moment before giving up visibly and slumping.

"You're talking to me." Another statement meant as a question. Shion nodded. Why was Shinsou trying so hard to not ask a question?

"You mean why am I talking to you? Because you seem calmer and better than the others. You aren't invading my privy-privacy. Can I ask you something?" Shion watched Shinsou tense before slowly nodding.

"You don't have to answer, but why won't you ask questions?" If possible, Shinsou tensed more before shaking his head.

"Sorry Yui, I-I'm not ready to tell you." The other boy almost sounded scared. Shion just nodded, turning around to pull out a notebook and pen. He handed them to Shinsou. The boy took the items with a confused look.

"You can write your questions!" Shion exclaimed. He watched as Shinsou's face scrunched up, an indescribable look in his eyes. Finally the boy nodded and the two made their way to the dining hall. It was less noisy, so they'd probably been in the room for a while.

Maybe, it wouldn't be terrible here. He still cried himself to sleep at night, clutching a photo of his parents.

--

Shinsou was his best friend, and it'd only been two weeks. He'd noticed how everyone avoided the boy, and tried to get him to stay away from him. He never listened, sticking his tongue out and telling the others to go away. They were being mean. He heard a few mutters about him, but he ignored them. However, one kid with a mutant quirk that gave him antlers wouldn't stop bugging him.

"Hey Yui. Why do you hang out with that villain?"

Shion sighed. "I told you Jin, he isn't a villain, I don't know why everyone insists on calling him one. It's not nice."

"It's cuz he's a villain. He's got a villain's quirk so he's a villain." Shion didn't like the sound of that. He felt his brow furrow as he frowned at Jin.

"My mom said it's the person that chooses to be villainous, not the quirk. Any quirk that can be used for villainy can also be used for heroics!"

"Well then your mom was stupid and-" Shion cut him off, socking him in the face before running off, burning anger making him flush. How dare Jin! The orphans had a pact to never talk bad about parents unless it was okay with the others! Hare dare he! He turned on his quirk and felt the suit-skin settle over him. He only wanted to see Shinsou. He ran into the room and dived onto his bed, holding back tears. His mom wasn't stupid! He looked over and saw Shinsou staring at him confusedly. The notebook was held out to him, and he glanced over the question.

Are you okay?

"No. Jin called my Mom stupid!" He buried his face in his pillow. After a second though, he lifted his head, levelling Shinsou with an earnest gaze.

"I don't care what your quirk is, or why you never ask me anything, but no matter what these jerkfaces say, you aren't a villain, and neither is your quirk! And even if you do become a villain I'll be there to make sure you remember not to be!" Shion sniffled, wiping the few tears that had fallen down his face. He watched as Shinsou just stared at him for a moment before leaping from his bed to Shion's burying himself in the dark haired boy's arms.

"Thank you Yui." He murmured.

Shion laughed wetly. "Call me Shion. Can-can I call you Toshi?" His voice was hesitant. Was that too much?

"Yeah! Shichan. Can I call you Shichan?" Shion felt a pang of grief rush through him at the nickname.

"Shichan! Dinner's ready!"

"Shichan we're going to Masa-san's house! Her dog is all better too!"

"Shiichan! My baby boy, where did all this mud come from!?"

"Shiichan..."

Shion rubbed his eyes as he smiled. "Yeah. Shiichan is fine."

He didn't care that he ended up with chores and timeout. That night he slept soundly, no nightmares plaguing him.

--

"This is Fuijimoto-san. She's interested in fostering you!"

What. Shion met the warm brown eyes of Fuijimoto-san. She was smiling at him like she wasn't about to take him away from Toshi. He shook his head. "But I don't want a new mom!" He exclaimed, standing up angrily and running out. It'd only been eight months, he was five now, but still. He didn't want to replace his parents. He ran to Toshi, who glanced up from a book in alarm.

"Shiichan what's wrong!?" A newer development. Toshi started asking him questions three months ago, and had told him his quirk about six weeks ago. Shion rammed into Toshi, wrapping his arms around the boy.

"Someone came to adopt me! I don't wanna go Toshi!" Shion felt tears slip down his face, curling up into a ball next to the boy. He really didn't want to go. He wanted to stay with his best friend forever. He felt something wet seep through his shirt and cried harder as it fully sunk in.

He was leaving Hitoshi behind. He might never see him again. He shot up and rushed over to his bed, pulling out the faded orange backpack. He dug around before gingerly pulling out the other two earrings. He wore one of each of his parents, so he held one white one, and one black one. He held the white one out to Toshi.

"Never ever take this off! That way if we see each other, we'll know who we are! Promise?" A part of him was sad to give away one of his parent's earrings, but the rest of him was determined. He dropped the earring into Toshi's hand.

"I promise." The two smiled at each other. "But you promise to make your hair super long so that there's no way I won't know who you are!" Shion laughed. He'd told Hitoshi his goal of having long hair like his mom, another way to remember her. He'd told Hitoshi a lot of good stories from before, just like Hitoshi told him a lot of stories with his parents before he got his quirk.

Hitoshi helped Shion pack his things into the backpack. It didn't take long for everything to fit before they were done. Well almost. Shion grabbed his knife. It was still as sharp as the day he arrived, he'd not had a reason to use it. He tucked the knife away, wrapped in an old shirt. Finally he turned to Toshi. He felt the telltale sting of tears and forced them back.

"Hey Toshi?" One more thing. One more test, confession.

"Yeah Shichan?"

"What's your dream?"

Hitoshi looked over at Shion, who for a five year old, looked very very forlorn. "I want to be a hero. At first it was to prove that I'm not a villain, but now, I think I want to save people. What about you Shichan? What's your dream?"

"I wanted to be a hero, but I don't think I can." Shion took a deep breath. "I-the night my parents were killed... I killed the killers. The hero who found me said that doesn't make me a murderer. But I can't get it out of my head. I'm a killer, and killers can't be heroes."

Hitoshi slammed into Shion, hugging him tightly. "You aren't a murderer. If you want to be a hero, then save more people than you killed, and promise me you'll at least try to be a hero."

"I promise." It was choked and wet, and dangit he was crying again. A glance out the window showed that it was getting dark.

"Yui-kun, Fuijimoto-san is ready to go." Shion clutched Hitoshi tighter before letting go.

"Don't forget me!" He called back as he was led out the door, tears slipping down his face. The last he saw of Hitoshi Shinsou was his smiling face as he put in the white cross earring.

--

Fuijimoto-san was okay. She wasn't mean, didn't have pity in her gaze when there was no doubt she knew about his history. She gave him snacks and bought him new clothes. He found out she had a husband who was chaperoning their biological son Arumo on a father-son vacation.

He spent the first month adjusting to his new room. He never took anything out of the backpack. He refused to call this place home.

The second month was spent getting him ready for school. He was going to be starting kindergarten so he needed new school supplies. He wanted a new sketchbook too. He never wanted to forget Hitoshi, so he'd used up his last seven pages drawing his friend. His favorite was the face Hitoshi had made when Shon caught him smuggling a cat into the room. He'd looked wide eyed and shocked, cat hanging limply over his shoulder.

He was lonely, and he was sure Fuijimoto-san had noticed. She took him to the park more, but he never found the games much fun. He'd climb a tree and watch as the kids ran around screaming and laughing. They didn't worry about men breaking in and killing them. They didn't think to check the alleyway just in case. They didn't have knives under their clothes, and yet they had such large smiles.

At some point Shion would pull out his knife and make marks on the tree he sat in. He would write out memories, carving them into the bark as deeply as he could. He would break off a dying branch and sharpen it into a crude impression of a shiv, wondering if this would be how every visit to the park was.

Looking back, he almost wishes it hadn't changed.

Fuijimoto-san's husband was okay too. He laughed a lot and ruffled his hair like his dad used too. Part of him hated it, while the rest of him leaned into the touch. Yes, the Fuijimoto's were almost like an aunt and uncle to him. He even took to calling them as such when it slipped out over dinner. And maybe that's where everything changed.

Their son, Arumo had been nice at first. He was eight, and had taken to teaching him about heroes and even some stuff he'd apparently be taught in kindergarten. Then he'd changed one day. He would always be nice to him in front of Aunt and Uncle. But whenever they weren't around it was glares and shoves and 'go aways'.

He didn't understand what he did wrong. He really didn't. Not until the day Aunt took them to the park. He'd been about to climb one of the trees, wanting to just watch, when Arumo came over, a bunch of other kids following him.

"Here he is. I don't know why Mom wanted him. He looks so weak! And you know what she told me?"

What? What did Aunt say? Why did he have that grin, like he was about to get some sort of prize? Shion shrank back, hand going for the knife in his pocket.

"Mom told me to be nice and to help him because he's 'had a hard life so far.' She wouldn't tell me just what was so hard about his life so I'm here to ask him. I'm tired of you being her favorite Yui." Shion felt anger spread through him at the way his family name was spat, like it was a disease.

"So tell me? What's so hard about your life? You're an orphan, which means your parents are either dead or didn't want you!"

Shion winced at the word dead, hand clenching the knife tighter. These kids weren't a threat. They weren't. They wouldn't kill him like Nakoshi or the other men. Not a threat. He stood up straighter, forcing himself to loosen the grip on his knife.

Arumo shoved him. "Huh? Why aren't you answering? Just last week you never shut up! C'mon Yui! Why does Mom like you more!?"

"She doesn't." Shion said. "She doesn't. She has no reason to. She shouldn't have adopted me."

"Then why? She said it's cuz you've had a hard life! You're only five? What, did you get called names?" Shion really didn't like that mocking tone. He grit his teeth and hoisted himself up into the tree, climbing higher than he'd ever gone before. He ignored the jeering and shouting, pulling out his knife to carve a memory of Hitoshi and him sneaking out to get ice cream from around the block.

He hummed a lullaby that Mom used to sing as she cooked, cleaned, or played with his hair as he dozed off. He stayed in the tree even after Arumo and his friends left, finding more empty branches to carve his stories. He carved his name after each, marking the end of that story.

He left the tree when he heard Aunt calling, dropping a few branches at a time before dropping the last five feet, tiny body landing in a crouch he'd grown familiar doing. He darted around kids and equipment as he crossed the park, where Aunt was waiting, Arumo next to her, talking to one of his friends and laughing.

"Ready to go Shion-kun?" Shion nodded, walking next to her as they made their way to their car. He could feel Arumo staring at him, glad the boy was keeping quiet. He was tired from today's events and just wanted to sleep.

The next day he was met with Arumo's open glares, fear hidden behind disgust and contempt. As they left for school, Arumo sped past him whispering words that made Shion freeze.

"I know what you are villain. Is killing people fun?"

How did he find out? Did Aunt or Uncle tell him? Did they not tell him everything? He didn't kill because he wanted to! He killed to stay alive!"

'But you liked it a little, didn't you?' He forced that little voice from his head rushing to not be late. He felt apprehension creep up his spine as he thought of what the day would be like? He'd have to follow Arumo to the park, as Aunt believed Arumo still walked with him, the only reason he was able to walk the four blocks to his school.

He sighed and scuffed his shoe against the ground. It was going to be a long day.

The park had been hell. Absolute hell. Arumo had cornered him again, but this time his friends didn't just linger in the background. They stood next to his 'brother', nothing but malice and disgust in their eyes.

Even though Shion knew he would get hurt, he knew they weren't threats. They had nothing on Nakoshi, nothing on the pure bloodlust that gleamed in demonic looking eyes as he rushed them, fighting to live, to survive, to stayalivenomatterwhat-

Deep breaths. Their punches were weak compared to the tight hold of the man, the arm tightening around his throat. They were nothing compared to the pain of watching his father's light blink out and seeing your mother bleed out slowly, eyes full of pain and love.

He clutched his knife and told himself this over and over, never taking a hit to the face. He wouldn't fight back. Not yet. And when Aunt asked if he was okay because 'Sweetie, you're wincing, are you sure?' He'd given her a small smile, tilting his head, feeling his low ponytail shift with the movement and brushed it off as a stomachache.

Later that night he knew Arumo was listening when he'd asked if Aunt and Uncle could use their quirks on him. Aunt's quirk was the ability to permanently change the color of someone's nails. It only wore off if she wanted it too. He asked for a black on white reverse pattern. On every white nail in the dead center there would be a black cross. On every black nail, a white cross.

"Aunt, if you or Uncle or Arumo are ever in trouble and need me to call for help just make the nails fade. Do the white nails for you, black for Uncle, one hand for Arumo and all of them for all three of you. I know you think we're safe, but..." He didn't finish the sentence, trailing off as memories flashed in his mind.

Then he asked Uncle to use his quirk, Vanidre. His uncle could touch one person and for that night they would forget their dreams the second they woke up. When they bid him goodnight he drifted off into a fitful sleep, forgetting his nightmares the next morning.

---

Not even six months later Shion had a new tree, the former having been carved thoroughly. He came home hiding bruises and cuts, claiming to have been practicing with his knife. He would be turning six soon, and he was going to gift himself by learning a few knife moves.

He'd lived with the Fuijimoto family for eight months, almost nine. He was just beginning to settle, avoiding Arumo and accepting his Aunt and Uncle's affection. The boy was finally starting to accept the house as a home, and the people as true family.

Then Arumo decided that hitting him wasn't enough. Arumo came home bruised and cut, claiming Shion had done it. Uncle had yelled at him and he'd been locked in his room. Later Aunt came in to talk to him and he told her that he hadn't done it, that he'd been in the tree the whole time, that he would never ever hurt Arumo ever. He sobbed when she said she believed him, certain she wouldn't have, certain she would have hurt him.

That night there were angry voices seeping through the walls, and Shion knew it was his fault. If he wasn't here, they'd be a happy family. They'd not have to worry over him. That night there was no Uncle's quirk to stop the nightmares, the memories, and he woke up with a scream on his lips. That morning was tense, Shion wincing as he knocked his bruised side against the table, the worry from Aunt nearly palpable. Uncle looked impassive, eating and leaving. Arumo looked sickly satisfied, whispering that he'd be getting what he deserved soon.

When Arumo left for school, Shion stayed back, hovering between the door and Arumo. He looked back at Aunt. "I'm sorry Aunt... If I wasn't here he wouldn't be doing this. It's my fault because I killed those men, and didn't think of another way. I'm sorry."

"No, Shion-kun. I don't know why my son is acting like this, but it's not your fault. Tell me, did you enjoy killing the men who tried to kill you?"

"No." He hadn't. He'd felt sick and scared. He'd felt terrible because a small part of him thought they deserved it. He watched as Aunt smiled, eyes sad.

"Okay, then, it doesn't make you a murderer. Nor a killer. What do you want to be someday Shion-kun?" Shion looked away. He didn't know anymore. He was such a bad person for killing, yet he longed for...

"I want to be a hero. I don't want this to happen to someone else." He glanced up to meet Aunt's shining gaze.

"Well, I think you can be a hero." Shion beamed, hope surging in his chest. He dashed over to hug Aunt before running for the door. "Oh! Shion, I'm picking you up early today. We don't know what your quirk is, or if you even have one, so we're going to see a Quirkologist." Shion froze. He had never told them his quirk? He turned around.

"Aunt, I have my quirk. It's called Stealth Sense." He smiled at her surprised face as he ran out the door and made his way to school. He knew he'd probably have to explain what his quirk did later, but he didn't really mind. As long as he didn't tell Arumo or the other kids at school. It was how he managed to avoid them after all.

He'd done some testing over the past few months, trying to figure out his quirk. The feeling of a suit clinging to his body turned out to actually be his quirk. He could basically be super sneaky. He'd walked into the room, right in front of Uncle, even waving his hand in front of the man's eyes, and he didn't do more than shift and blink as though his vision had blurred.

He could also feel danger. He discovered just what the chill down his spine meant when he passed an alley full of men who looked like they were on... something. They had just been lurking in the shadows, people not even noticing them, but he'd gotten out of there as fast as possible, telling a policewoman that he saw them, describing them in detail. He later heard of their arrest, and had mentally patted himself on the back.

School wasn't that bad anymore. Most people ignored him, making it easier to use his quirk. He hadn't really found a limit, but he got really tired if he kept his quirk on for more than six hours. Other than that he hadn't really noticed any other side effects of going over six hours. The longest he'd used his quirk consecutively was maybe six and a half hours, maybe seven.

(He never noticed that a lot of the time it wasn't that kids were ignoring him, it was that they were becoming less aware that he was there.)

--

Not even a year and he was on the run. He'd seen the man. The only one he hadn't killed. He'd seen him, spoke to him.

"Oh, it's the brat that got me locked up! Hehe, I'm gonna enjoy killing you and your friends." He had run as fast as he could, mind screaming at him. How had the man broken out?

His family was in danger. He had to leave, to go somewhere far away. He grabbed his old backpack and his new one, replacing his old clothes and taking some food and a little (Sorry Uncle.) money. Aunt had just left for the grocer down the street, they were out of milk and bread. He tore out a piece of notebook paper and carefully wrote out a note, making sure his handwriting was readable.

I'm sorry Aunt, Uncle. But I have to go. If I stay you'll be in danger. I love you, and if you are ever in trouble, use the nails. I'll try to find you. I'm sorry. And tell Arumo I never hated him for what he's done, and that he was a good big brother at the start.

Shion Fuijimoto Yui.

He heard the front door open and pulled at his quirk, managing to slip out the back door easily, taking off down the street, slipping into winding alleys and running until he couldn't. By that time it was dark, the night air chilly. He had no idea where he was, and didn't really care as he pulled his jacket around him and fell asleep behind a dumpster.

Six years old, he was homeless.

He was woken up to the feeling of being nudged. "Hey kid, it's cold out here," He heard, blinking blearily at the figure above him. He didn't move, waiting for his vision to clear. "C'mon, you can warm up and get a good meal at my place."

What? He was being offered shelter? Right after he decided he'd make it on the streets? He sighed, standing, pulling his mid-back length hair back into a high tail. He slowly followed the person, taking in their features.

They wore some sort of uniform, outlining their features. They had kind blue eyes and deep blue hair that curled around their chin. Their nails were painted a soft purple and they wore worn sneakers. They looked to be in their early twenties, humming as they walked.

"My name is Ella. I'm taking you to my bar, so don't drink anything not given to you by me. Okay squirt?" Their voice was cheery and soothing, and something pulled at him, calling for him, begging him to trust them because they wouldn't ever hurt him-

"Yui. Shion Yui. Thank you for helping me. I'll leave as soon as I'm done eating." He made sure his jacket was all the way zipped as a breeze ghosted by him. He was staring at Ella's feet, so he didn't notice the glance of concern from the barista.

"No, kid. You're obviously fresh onto the streets. I can't say it's safe, but you can have the flat above the bar at least, as long as you help me clean up at closing when you can. I can't let you go in good conscience." Shion kept quiet, trying to figure out any possible ulterior motives, hidden negativity. His quirk wasn't going off so he wasn't in any terrible danger, but that could change in an instant.

The bar was run down, well used, maybe even well loved. It looked comfortable. Not uptight, but not like it'd fall over. The sign read Delphie, presumably the name of the bar. Walking in there were already a few early drinkers nursing cups of alcohol or grilled sandwiches. He instinctively turned on Stealth as his Sense creeped up. It wasn't alarming or immediate, just a slight chill making his hair stand on end. This bar was full of potential danger. Yet somehow he still felt safe.

Weird. Shion shook himself as the prickle of danger faded when they entered the kitchen only for it to skyrocket as he spotted a metal machine-contraption-maybe griddle-thing fall towards an unsuspecting teen washing the few dishes. Shion called out, grabbing the teen's arm and pulling him towards him and Ella. The thing crashed where the boy had been and Shion felt his skin buzz from the sudden adrenaline flooding his system.

"Who the hell put the griddle on the top shelf again?! Dabi, you're fucking lucky you didn't get a bashed in skull! Who did it?" Ella's voice sounded strange when they were upset. It was like the voice was still trying to sound calming but at the same time not. It was a bit scary and Shion watched as 'Dabi' winced, noticing the scars pulling with each motion. He also noticed that the teen had a lot of scars.

"I dunno Ella. I think it was there when I came in, but Malakai was here earlier before she stepped out." Blue eyes landed on Shion. "Who's the squirt?"

"This 'squirt' just saved your fucking life." Shion retorted. The curse word sounded foreign, but came out strong. Dabi's eyebrows shot up, a smirk stretching across his face in a way that looked slightly demented.

"Kid's got spunk. Thanks for saving me squirt. Now why're ya here?" Shion huffed and looked away as Ella began explaining.

"Found him on the streets. He's gonna be your bunkmate so buckle up.." Once again he was being stared down by blue eyes that held a certain intensity. Shion's hand shot to his knife as he felt a spike of danger-but-not, not relaxing even as it vanished a moment later.

"Fine, I'm okay with that. Lemme finish this and I'll show him up. I'm assuming you can handle your own bar so see ya Ell'z."

Shion followed Dabi through a door that led to a staircase leading to the flat above the bar. Walking in it was obvious someone lived there, even though the place looked like it was going to fall apart. The walls were cracked and the paint was peeling. The floor wasn't smooth at all, and Shion made a mental note to never walk through here barefoot. The furniture was ratty and worn, the colors faded and cushions lumpy.

"Welcome to your new home kid." Shion looked up and met tired blue eyes.

"Thank you." He murmured, walking down the hallway and peeking into rooms. Two bedrooms and a bathroom. One room was obviously lived in, while the other just had a bed and a dresser. He walked in, dropping his backpack and taking out the things he could leave behind in a pickle.

He could feel Dabi watching him but said nothing, sitting on his bed and pulling out his knife. It was dull, and he wondered if he could find a way to sharpen it. He remembered what his mother would do with the kitchen knives. She'd grab a butter knife and kind of slide the knives together. He remembered hating the sound it made.

Maybe Ella would let him borrow a butter knife? Either way, he'd find a way. He tucked the knife away and pulled out a change of clothes. His were dirty, and there was a tear in his shirt from when the man tried to grab him.

Hopefully things would get better.

--

They did. He was soon introduced to the other few workers. There was Malakai, a blond woman with gold eyes and a lightning bolt tattoo on her cheek. She'd fussed over him, saying how she had a son his age and how she couldn't believe he'd been through so much. There was a man named Kio, he was mute. He was a big burly man with too many scars. He once wrote to Shion that he'd been a soldier in America. He was quirkless.

There was also a man named Hisashi, who looked drawn and tired. When asked, the man just smiled sadly and said he missed his family.

"Is your family alive?" Shion asked one day, rinsing a cup and placing it on the drying rack.

"Yes." Hisashi answered, handing him a soapy plate. He watched the suds slip off as he rinsed.

"Why can't you go visit them?" If his family were alive he'd definitely make sure he could always visit. He watched as Hisashi slumped, his brown eyes full of sadness as he shook his head slowly, black curls shifting.

"I made a mistake, got mixed up with a very bad man. I left to protect them. Now I have nothing left to lose, and at this point it's a matter of when he decides to kill me. My wife thinks I left because of my son, who's quirkless. I didn't, I couldn't care less if he had a quirk or not. I love them with everything I have. But I need them to stay as safe as possible in this world."

Shion found himself humming in thought. His seven year old heart went out to the man, and he found himself speaking without thinking. "Well, if you could write all that you wanted to say, If I were to ever meet them, I could give them what you wrote. You once told me your son was named Izuku? Midoriya Izuku and Inko. I'd give it to them if I ever found them, and burn it before I die if I don't." Because death was something he'd learned to be ready for over the past year.

Fights broke out often at night in the bar, and Ella wasn't always there to use their quirk, Chill Pill. He shuddered as he remembered how pissed she'd gotten after he'd nearly died from getting thrown headfirst through a wall.

Stupid strength quirks.

"I'll.. I'll think about it kid. Thanks. Run along, I can handle the rest of the dishes. And here, wash that dirt off your face." Dirt? He took the cloth offered and rubbed at his face. The cloth came back clean. Huh.

"Dirt? Hisashi-san, there is no dirt..." Brown eyes narrowed slightly as his eyebrows furrowed. Hisashi rubbed his right cheek.

"Huh, look at that. It's growing. Take a look in the mirror." Shion turned to the mirror glued to the freezer next to the dish-sink and watched as a black inky mark grew on his right cheek. It cut through his eye, winding like a vine. On his left cheek, a few pale swirls appeared on his skin, like scars.

Ą̵̼͎̟̪͍̦͕͕͇̔͛̿̈́̒̚ẅ̸̢̢̡̘͓̪̙̞̮̬̩̹͙̦̻͈͎̊̃̀̿͋͘a̷̢̰͇̰̻̦͊͛̆͒̽̾̿̚͝͝k̷̨̡̡̲͈͙͚̝͚̮̦̰̟͉̮͎̫̃̍͜ĕ̷̡̢̪̮͙͍̰̖̠͇̙͇͔̜͚̼̥̗͌̄̍̿̄̈́͋͐̚͝͝

He blinked. "O...kay? This might just be a new part of my quirk, but I'm not entirely sure. Nothing hurts or really feels different but.." He trailed off. Welp. Now he was going to be asked if he had tattoos. At seven. He heard Hisashi-san chuckle.

"Okay kid, run along. Maybe annoy Dabi and go to the store with him for groceries. I heard him complaining about almost being out of food a few days ago." Well, the fridge was rather empty... Shion nodded and walked through the back to the door to the stairs. Hopefully Dabi was up there.

He was, in fact. Along with a man with red wings. They were laughing and chatting. Dabi was smiling in a way Shion had never seen. He immediately decided that if the winged guy could put that look on Dabi's face then he was ok in his book, even if the guy was a villain.

"Dabi, Hisashi-san said that you said we were out of food and that I should drag you to get groceries." He kept his face carefully blank as he laughed internally at how the two jumped. "Also, nice to know you have a friend. Ella was beginning to worry."

"Kami, kid. You have to stop sneaking up on us like that. I swear, no one ever hears you until you're five feet away." Dabi clutched his chest dramatically as Wingman's feathers shook, unruffling from their poofed up state.

"Jeez kid. I should have noticed you at least." Shion decided he liked the Wing Man's voice too. Almost cocky eyes glanced over him, yet Shion could see how all of it was an act. This guy honestly didn't seem completely genuine.

"I'm Yui Shion. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Hawks." The introduction was almost robotic, reflexive and obviously practiced. A wide confident fake smile was flashed his way. Shion furrowed his brow slightly in thought. Hawks wasn't much of a name.

"Is that like, a nickname or something?" He asked curiously. Hawks tensed slightly before relaxing.

"Nah. That's my name. And my hero name. Well, when I graduate." He pulled a face, mumbling under his breath. All Shion caught was 'stupid' and 'commission'.

"Well I'm not calling you that." He stated flatly. And mayyyyybe he was being a little pushy, but people deserved an actual name. "Until you get a name you like I'm just gonna call you Takami." He expected anger or incredulity, but was met with chuckles that seemed just a bit sad.

"Okay kid. I actually kinda like Takami." Takami perked up and spun to face Dabi, who raised his eyebrows at the sudden movement. "So what's this about a grocery trip? Can I come?" He seemed strangely excited. It was amusing.

Dabi dramatically sighed, long and drawn out. "I mean, I gueeeesss you can come. Means we can get more." Takami let out a whoop, smiling.

Shion snuck forward and snagged Dabi's wallet from his pocket before stepping back and waving it for the both of them to see. "Race you." He cackled, dashing out the door and flying down the stairs.

"MY WALLET! When-!??" Shion laughed at the surprised yell and a chirping laughter that followed him down the stairs. He flew by a bemused Hisashi, easily tugging him out of the way from that stupid GRIDDLE as it fell again. He weaved through tables and barely jumped over a crouched Malakai, flying out the door.

The grocer was three blocks away, but there was a shortcut of thin alleys that led right through it. He dashed through them, dodging potential dangers (that brick was damn sharp.) He skidded to a stop right outside the automatic doors. Not a second later he was met with a flurry of feathers and laughter. Takami landed next to him, depositing Dabi onto the ground.

Shion barked out a laugh at Dabi's windblown state, taking note to ask Takami for a flight one day. He wondered what high winds would feel like through his lengthening hair. It was just below his butt, and reached his lower back in a hightail. He adjusted his hair so that a long lock covered half of his face (his right side. He didn't want the tattoo questions.)

He was in the dairy isle when suddenly it was like an ice bucket had been dumped on his back. He instinctively turned on his quirk as his danger sense went haywire. He crept towards the front of the store, grabbing Dabi and Takami, feeling his quirk strain to stretch over them.

"Don't let go of me until I say. Somethings gonna happen." He whispered to them. Dabi had gone through this once before (bar break in), so he made sure Takami listened.

They reached the front just as a group of men entered, They had guns, and their quirks were activated. They started yelling and shouting as they spread through the store, taking hostages and threatening the cashiers.

Shion backed them up, towards the storage room. Once they were in Shion turned to the older men. "If Dabi can get to the police, I can walk Takami around under my quirk and he can take out the bad guys." A simple plan, but those type of plans seemed to work best.

Dabi almost seemed to protest before huffing and letting go of Shion to run out the emergency exit, alarms thankfully not going off. Shion kept a grip on Takami's shirt as they exited the storage room. As they walked around, a few of Takami's feathers started to zip around.

They went around and knocked out the men one by one, dragging them to the storage closet. It was going smoothly until it wasn't. An explosion rang out as one of the hostages screeched in panic. The explosion was from the lights, and glass fell everywhere, leaving thin scratches on everyone. A gunshot rang out and the hostage dropped dead. Shion pulled out his knife and left Takami behind the shelves.

He ran forward, ramming into one of the five men. The knife went through their chest, opposite their heart. As the body dropped he clung to his quirk. He saw one of the guns raise to shoot another hostage and he lunged, slicing the hand off and stabbing his shoulder. He spun and his knife went clean over another man's eyes, blinding them.

His quirk grew dangerously thin as the last two raised their guard. He ran forward, stabbing his knife into a stomach and twisting before viciously ripping it out and wildly spinning around, twisting the knife and ramming it hilt-first into the last guy's temple. He looked at a shocked Takami and gestured to the rest of the store. There weren't many villains left, but they needed to be restrained. He received a hesitant nod before Takami vanished deeper into the store. Shion stood over the men who were bleeding out and carefully helped the hostages up, letting his quirk drop for the moment.

He received shaky thank-yous and smiles as the sound of police sirens grew closer. Dabi entered the store and rushed to his side, making sure he was okay. Shion nodded, wiping his knife on one of the unconscious mens' shirts. He tucked the knife into his pocket as the chill went away. Takami must have restrained the last guy. Police rushed in and started gathering villains and collecting statements. Shion pulled his quirk over him because he was a runaway and he did not need to be found.

As the situation got wrapped up a shard of ice slid down Shion's back and he whipped around to see one of the men up and rushing at Dabi. He felt a strong pull and a rush of HOWDAREHETRYTOHURT- before everything went black. The last thing he heard was a loud, terrifying screech before static filled his mind.

--

Takami thought Shion was a strange kid. He was cute, and smart for his age, but he was strange. He had a look in his eyes that he usually only saw in the eyes of people who've lost everything and was just starting to fill the void. Not to mention just how calm the boy had stayed in a hostage situation, nor the sheer swift certainty he'd wielded that knife.

He'd seen a look of desperate rage form on the boy's face (and why hadn't the police so much as approached him? Could they not see him?) and had followed his gaze to see one of the villains running at Dabi. He was about to send out a few feathers to restrain the villain, but was interrupted by a screech that sent a chill down his spine.

He looked back at the kid. The black mark was growing, bleeding into the boy's eye, turning the sclera black before spreading across his face. There was a snap of rubber as the boy's hair tie broke and his long hair floated around him. Wispy bandages formed and fluttered in an invisible wind as the only white part of the boy shrank until it was gone.

"S̴̡͖͖̰͕͓͓̜̜̺̩̹̓͜ţ̶̠̝̗̥͔̻̈̀̈́̂̉́̅̿͘͜ấ̸͙͔͂y̴͚̞̤̣̱̲̜̞̠̯͖͆̋͒ ̵̩͖̝̪̦͙̝͔̬̦̀͗̂̈́̌̚̕Á̸̡̤̗̱̘̫̣͈̹̻̜͖͙̦͊͊͆͑̉͐͗̌̅̇͗̈́͝͝w̴̨̞̬̻̖͋̒̈́̍̔͂̂͛̒̇͜a̶̡̹͉̰̻̼̩͕̮̬̍̈́́̈͂̊͗̓̃̆͌̚ŷ̵̨̛͍͔̤͕̤́̕͜ͅ!̶̢͓͚̪̩͖͒̿̒"

And woah. The voice that came from not-Shion was headache inducing. Takami watched as the villain collapsed under another screech, eyes rolling up in his head as he dropped in a dead faint. With the villain incapacitated not-Shion just floated there, looking like a terrifying wraith.

"T̶̨͈̖̠̮̥̰̻̀̔̊͌̃̈́į̸̢̢̯̩͖̙̝̪̖͙̳̫̗̩̗͂͐r̵̨̩̞͖͙͙̼̃̊͜ͅe̶̼͈͓̤̬̬͙̙̯̲̤̖͖͖̽͂̂͐̈́̾̑̈́̈́d̸̙̰̲̃̈̓́̚͝..."

The headache-inducing voice murmured before slowly white lines slowly appeared and spread across not-Shion's skin. The bandages faded and Shion was back, but unconscious. Everyone was kind of frozen as what just happened processed before police rushed to restrain the unconscious man. Takami watched Dabi gather the unconscious boy in his arms before slipping away. Curious, he followed, going through alley's until they reached Delphie.

He heard the shouts of worry when the other workers saw Shion, lightly sprayed in blood and unconscious, and listened to Dabi's explanation.

"-his knife. I think his quirk mutated, because he turned into this wraith-ghost-demon thing and it was terrifying. And he wasn't in control. It was sentient. It shouldn't be possible for an emitter type to mutate into a sentient type."

Well, he wasn't wrong. Shion certainly was interesting, but with that kind of power, the commission would surely take him. Takami would have to be careful. He didn't want the boy to go through what he had. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Shion waking up.