Finished - August 1, 2022

Word Count - 4323 

Music - Enigmatic Soul - Two Steps from Hell

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Flashes of color, explosions of anger and blasts of chaos filled the air. A disagreement between Heroes and Villains disrupted the friendly neighborhood. Children's playgrounds, innocent mailboxes and peaceful homes; now covered in ash. Different teams of heroes escorted civilians to safety, while others jumped directly into the line of fire. The heroes worked diligently to keep their city safe from miscreants who decided to use their quirks for evil.

No matter how attentive they try to be, Heroes can not be responsible for everything. Heroes try to save everyone and keep everyone happy, but they are still human. As hard as they try, they are not perfect and things will seep through the cracks.

Nevertheless, they still push themselves beyond their limits. Heroes do what they can whenever they can. That is what it means to be a Hero.

While the battle raged, two people sat in the darkness, hiding away from the commotion. Tucked away in a closet, a father and daughter clung to each other.

Hands gripped tightly around the soft clothes of her fathers shirt. Her tiny hands trembled with anxiety, tensing with every sudden noise from just beyond the window. Tears fell from her eyes, both squeezed tight, not wanting to know what was happening beyond the small apartment.

The small girl hid with her father in the back of a closet, the darkness keeping them safe. Shirts and dresses hung from their hangers and tickled their shoulders. Swaying from the trembles of the foundation under their feet.

When Yuu Takari saw the ruckus outside, he knew he had to keep his daughter safe, without even thinking he grabbed his child and ran to the closet. He would not leave her alone, he would not let her feel such fear by herself.

Yuu was no Hero, he was what some people considered, quirkless. No power behind his hands and no strength under his feet to help him defend his family from terrors. Instead he trained to be healer and savior of those who were hurt in battle. He worked as a full time Nurse at his local Hospital.

Nevertheless, in situations such as these, he felt useless and unworthy. His wife, she was the true hero. She ran an agency to help train young heroes. She was a powerful Hero who helped countless people. She was what inspired Yuu to be a healer. Her powers were beautiful and elegant.

Her official title was Ultraviolet. But he called her Hisano, his beloved wife. While Yuu was cowering in fear, holding his daughter; Hisano was out there. Fighting and saving those caught in the quarrel. He didn't even know who was fighting, or why they were fighting.

All Yuu knew; protect his daughter. His precious little girl, curled in his arms. The small child trembled, tears falling from her eyes, yet she stayed silent. She didn't want to be caught, therefore she was quiet.

Little fingers trembled around the cloth of Yuu's shirt, face buried in his shoulder. The child sat frozen in fear of the battle just outside the walls. Allira Takari repeated her mothers words over and over in her mind, as a sort of comfort.

"Heroes do what they can whenever they can. That is what it means to be a Hero." The exact words floated around Allira's head, the reminder that the Heros are trying their best.

The familiarity of her mothers voice soothes her panicked brain, keeping her sane as the attacks continue. She prayed that her mother would come back to them safely, that she would be alright in the end.

Somewhere during the struggle, a large blast crashed into their little hiding space. Walls crumbled and light spilled into their enclosure, exposing them to the fight. Yuu grabbed tighter to Allira, trying to keep her away from the danger. However the damage was done. As if tearing off a lid, their apartment had been opened to the elements.

The living room was completely gone, and their personal items started falling through cracks in the floor. There was little opportunity to escape, since living on the third floor. Never thought it would be a problem, until now.

Allira watched the destruction from under the arm of her father, holding her safe. But not even the hands of her father could hide the scene beyond. To see her home wrecked and falling to pieces, any child would remember this for years to come.

As she peeked through Yuu's grasp she saw something, something large coming down on them.

"Dad!" She called out, warning her father of the coming danger.

Even at the young age of five, Allira was learning her quirk. Given to her by her mother and they spent many hours together, training. Therefore, she took hold of the tiny crystal around her neck and held it tightly in her hand. Using her quirk, she sent her energy through the small crystal and created a small shield around herself and her father. Protecting them from the ceiling crushing down upon them. However, the weight was immense and too much for the small child.

"Allira, no!" Yuu knew the weight was too great for his daughter and warned her.

However, Allira continued her quirk and held her shield. The purple field reverberated as the heavy chunk of ceiling landed upon it. She cried out in pain as she caught the rubble, the pressure too much for her small body.

The slight sounds of cracking flitted into her ears, as the skin on her right thigh started to crack. Lightning shaped cracks slowly etched itself across the side of her upper thigh muscle, giving the effect of broken glass. But the wound did not bleed, instead it seeped black dust, hardening the flesh underneath. Dark particles falling from the wound, as if it was stone crumbling to ash.

Unable to keep her voice down, Allira screamed out in pain at the curious wound. Her small hands kept their place above her, holding the heavy ceiling off their heads. However, the pressure was immense and she couldn't hold it for long.

For someone so young and so new to her quirk, it was a miracle that she was able to hold something so grand.

"Allira, stop. It's too much for you, your quirk cant handle it yet." Yuu, her father tried to stop her.

But Allira knew that if she stopped, they would be crushed. A risk her father was willing to take, not because he wanted them to be hurt, but because then the weight would be placed on his shoulders. From his current position, his fate was in Allira's hands and he couldn't do anything to help her. If she stopped using her quirk, Yuu would be able to take the eight himself and protect his daughter from harm. Yuu never wanted to see his only child hurt herself to protect him. He was the father, the man of the family and he needed to be ab;e to help his family. Nevertheless, he felt powerless.

As the time increased, her bubble of safety decreased, Allira was losing strength and the pain on her leg only grew. Again, Yuu would plead for his daughter to stop and give in to the pressure, but she didn't.

Yuu was about ready to rip the crystal from his daughter's hands, ready to cover her head and keep the rubble from falling upon her. But before he was able to activate his plan, a light blue beacon blinded him.

The familiar color of Hisano's quirk captured his senses, sending a swell of relief into his soul. Help had finally come, not just any help, his wife.

"Ultraviolet!" Yuu called, using her Hero name. Even though she was family, she was working and you never know who was listening.

"Don't worry, we are coming for you. Stay very still, the foundation is very unstable." Simply hearing his wife's voice soothed his panicked heart.

Yuu looked around, trying to find anything he could do to help. Though he soon realized that he was running out of room to move, after a short fifteen minutes, Allira was struggling to continue. Her face was squeezed shut, closed in concentration, her knees and arms visibly shaking from holding the heavy rocks up. Every second that passed the shield inched smaller and smaller. Causing their space to shrink every second.

"Please hurry!" Yuu begged the Heros. "We can't hold it for much longer!"

From outside of the rubble, Hisano heard the voice of her husband. She was unable to see him, but she knew he was there. She tapped a soft spot on her helmet and activated her aventurine crystal, closed her eyes for a moment and opened them. When her sight returned, her quirk activated a special part of her senses. Heightening them to a severely elevated level. Now she was able to see personal energy fields, in a sense, she could see people through solid walls. Not their exact forms, but shapes and essences of a soul. She could count how many and how powerful, but not see exactly what they were doing.

Ultraviolet used this quirk to find her family, not too deep into the collapsed structure, she saw them. Two forms of energy curled underneath the rubble. Her daughter's energy, Allira, was shaking. This meant that her daughter was struggling, her soul scared and hurting. Hisano needed to get to them quickly.

"Allira, my brave girl. Be safe." Hisano spoke softly to herself. She knew that Allira was using her quirk to protect them, that would be too much physical and emotional pressure. Something a five year old was not read for.

Shutting off her aventurine, Ultraviolet channeled her energy through her labradorite rings and quickly lifted the large rocks and rubble away. Carefully tossing them aside, to a safe place. She kept a wary eye out for her loved ones, searching diligently through the rubble for her family.

It wasn't long before Ultraviolet was able to see the familiar purple of her daughter's identical quirk. She called out to them and lifted away the last of the large pisces from their heads.

Upon seeing her mother and having her burden lifted, the last of her strength left as her quirk fizzled and disappeared. The crystal in her palm dropped back down to her chest as her hands fell, feeling as heavy as the weight she had carried. Allira fell to the floor, her small body was exhausted and in pain.

"Allira!" Both her parents called out to her and caught her before she hit the floor. Examining their child wound, Hisano recognized it immediately, having had many identical injuries herself. Caused by their shared quirk, Colloidal. When the quirk is unable to handle what is asked of it, the effect is taken upon its user. Therefore, the host's body will literally crack under pressure.

The small family of three embraced each other firmly, thankful that they were alive. Taking time to revel in the moment of peace.

"Thank goodness you are both alright. When I saw the crash, I came as quickly as I could." Tears of relief washed from Profesional Hero's eyes.

"Any longer and it would have been worse, but you were just in time." Yuu placed a hand on his wife's cheek, thankful for her impeccable timing.

"M-mom..." Allira's soft voice trembled, her head resting in her mothers lap.

Upon seeing her awake, Hisno bent over and kissed her forehead gently. "You were so strong, I am so proud of you."

Satisfied and safe, the small child relaxed and fell asleep. Her body melted in the arms of her parents, she felt secure. In the middle of their trashed living room, her body aching, Allira was at peace.

************

Ten years have passed since the attack of the Takari family and many things have changed.

Currently living in a small town just outside of Shizuoka, called Warabi. The takari family had called many places home over the last few years. Never staying somewhere for more than six months, they have almost exhausted the amount of new places to live.

Because of her fathers work, he is forced to transfer from one hospital to another, very frequently. Almost twice a year (sometimes three) Yuu Takari would be asked to move his employment to another division. He was a skilled nurse and his qualities highly valued in his field. Therefore, people all around the country required his help and Yuu could never say no.

Because of this, Allira had attended over a dozen schools in such a short period of time. Never forming true roots or real relationships. She found it almost impossible to keep a sense of commonality. It was easy to keep her distance and not make attachments. She came to the conclusion that it wouldn't hurt if she never created any friendships. Therefore, she never did.

However, compared to all this, the biggest change was the loss of her mother. Hisano was taken from them not long after the attack on their family. Said to have died in battle against a terrible villain.

It had a great impact on the small family, to lose a key member of their trio. Yuu had lost the love of his life and Allira lost the only person who could teach her to control her quirk. It took years for them to pick themselves up.

Yuu placed his energy into his work to keep his mind off his loneliness, forcing the tight relationship he had with Allira to slacken. His work became everything, the only thing keeping him sane. Which quickly took over his life and became his soul purpose. Which again, pushed him further away from his daughter, who needed him.

Knowing he could be more present in his daughter's life, he tried his best to be there when he could. It was her birthday today so he got her something he knew she would enjoy.

Yuu fiddled with the small ribbon atop the box in his hands. He picked at the edges of the colorful paper and his legs taped up and down as he sat on the train. His commute home from the hospital wasn't too long, but he was tired after a long day. Trying to keep himself awake was always a challenge after an extra long shift on the floor.

Thankfully, the train pulled up to his station and he clambered out with many of his neighboring commuters. Like a herd of cattle they all pushed politely through the small doors and up the stairs from the station.

After a fifteen minute walk, Yuu approached their small house. A simple three bedroom home with a little yard. The place looked empty and hollow. No decorations, no personal items and nothing to prove that anyone lived there. The building looked bare and uninviting. This was how the Takari family had lived for many years. Void of personality and life.

Before opening the gate, he checked the mail. Lifting the mailbox lid to see if anything had come. Naturally, several letters sat inside the small container, waiting for him. Yuu shuffled the items in his hands to make room for the white envelopes.

Closing the mailbox, he continued into the house.

"Allira, I'm home." Yuu announced as he opened the door.

Dropping his bags and taking off his coat he started to relax. As he put away his things, his nose caught the smell of something amazing.

After he took off his shoes he waltzed further into the house to find the source of the great smell.

As he turned the corner, he saw his lovely daughter standing over the kitchen stove. Apron around her wait, hair up in a clip and spoon on her hand. Stirring something in a pot that wafted that amazing smell.

"Welcome home." Allira cleaned the fog from her glasses.

Yuu admired Allira's charm. So sweet and so kind. Allira had bloomed into a beautiful young woman, yet he still saw her as his little girl.

Allira was born different from most babies, she was small, fragile, pale and weak. They later realized that she was diagnosed with something called albinism. Which meanh that she was deficient in melanin, a pigment that occurs in the hair, eyes and skin. Without sufficient melanin, her skin was incredibly pale, her hair white as snow and eyes slightly cloudy. Even her eyelashes and eyebrows shined that beautiful porcelain color.

Because of her symptoms, Yuu had a hard time letting Allira go. Found it hard to let her grow up, felt the need to protect her from everything. She was his fragile lily and she would always need him.

"What are you making?" Yuu asked as he looked over her shoulder at the stove.

"Same thing I make every birthday." Allira smiled, a slight giggle to her words.

"Hisano's favorite." Yuu smiled sadly as he said her name.

"We should almost be ready,just a few more minutes."

Nodding, Yuu stepped away and retreated to the small dining room. Inside was a simple wooden table, covered in books, clothes and even personal items. He shoved the items to the side, to make space for them to eat. As he did so, his eyes caught the letters he had gathered from the mailbox earlier.

He sat down in one of the uncomfortable chairs and started sifting through the envelopes. Each one business related, or simply junk mail. However, one letter sent a deadly shiver down his spine.

Yuu's world froze as his eyes landed upon the white paper, sweat immediately sprouted from his pores as his fingers trembled.

He looked around, making sure Allira was still in the kitchen, that she didn't see. Clutching the letter to his chest he stumbled to his bedroom and locked the door behind him.

Unable to stand any longer, his knees buckled upon his bed as he sat on the edge of his mattress. He stared at the paper, willing for it to disappear. Praying that he was imagining it and not holding it physically in his hands.

The envelope was blank, no return address, no name. Just a simple, mysterious letter with no indication of who it was from. A sight familiar to Yuu, which he dreaded to ever see again.

With numb fingertips, he slowly opened the letter. Hands shaking so violently, he almost tore it into pieces. Ripping the paper, the folds opened to reveal a set of photographs. Each with one thing in common, the face of his daughter.

Photos showing Allira walking home, studying at school and even shopping for tonight's dinner. Paparazzi pictures taken without her knowledge or consent. His innocent girl sprawled across the glossy pictures of blackmail.

Written on one of the photographs were two words. Two simple words that caused Yuu's heart to lurch with terror. Painted with black marker, directly over Allira's face, it read.

Found You

Emotions flooded Yuu's being, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest. Panic set in as he couldn't control his breathing, his lungs trying desperately to grab at the air. However no matter how hard he breathed, the oxygen felt thin and dry.

Yuu was not prepared for this moment, he knew the time would come eventually, yet he was never ready for it. After years of being so careful, time had caught up to him and could no longer run from his problems. It was time to go home.

"Father, dinner is ready." He heard Allira knock on his door softly.

"I'll be out in a minute." He tried his best to keep his voice steady.

With a deep breath, Yuu collected his thoughts and emotions. Placed the photographs back into the envelope and hid it in his bedside table. He refused to let Allira know about it, he didn't want her to worry. He didn't want her to be scared.

Slowly, he opened his door and walked into the dining room. Forcing his face not to give away his emotions, to look calm and serene.

Allira was waiting for him at the table. She had moved the stack of stuff he had shoved over earlier, the table set with delicious food. In-front of the two chairs sat pairs of plates, cups, utensils and napkins. Not only had she made a delicious meal, but she also cleaned up and made their place feel like a home.

"Thank you Allira. I should have been the one to make dinner, it's your birthday." Yuu felt guilty as he sat down.

"Nonsense, you were working and I had some extra time since school is out for the summer."

"Well, happy fifteenth birthday."

Yuu placed a colorful box on the table, the material catching Allira's eye. Her face brightened upon seeing the present and she lifted it into her hands. Her fingers traced the edges of the red ribbon and pulled it away from the glossy paper. Carefully she tore into its contents. Once she broke through the first layer, she opened the lid of the box to see a small pouch. With the general shape of a pencil case, she unzipped, examining what was inside.

The pouch opened to reveal a new set of padded crochet hooks, a complete set all color coordinated. Each with its own rubber padding, to soften each loop she made.

"No way!" Allira pulled out each hook with excitement.

Yuu chuckled at her childish reaction to something so simple. In all her tails, Allira kept her heart.

Even after the loss of her mother, she didn't lose hope and did not let herself sulk in silence. She poured herself into making things. Anything. She collected hoards of crafting supplies. Everything from yarn, fake flowers, tools, colored paper, paints and needles. She had tried every type of art possible. Woodworking, jewelry making, cross-stitching, crocheting, knitting, sewing, drawing, painting, sculpting, scrapbooking, macrame, you name it. She was even lucky enough to try glass blowing, but it didn't last long, because they moved. Shockingly.

Nonetheless, she poured her energy into creating art, physical representations of her emotions. It was one of the only ways she could express her feelings. She always bottled everything inside and never had anyone to talk to. Therefore, art came naturally to her and helped her let out her fragile spirit.

She especially loved baking, creating and trying new recipes. Combining ingredients and testing new flavor pairings. The experimenting made her feel like a true witch, dashing salt and pouding the dough. Plus, she always had something yummy to eat after her hard work.

"Thank you!" Allira jumped with glee at her new collection of crochet hooks. "I can't wait to start a new project with these."

"How about you finish one of your other projects first?"

"What's the fun in that?" She giggled, ignoring the massive pile of unfinished projects collecting dust.

Together, the small Takari family ate their celebratory dinner. Savoring the familiar flavors and enjoying each other's company.

However, Yuu's mind was distracted by the weight of the envelope in his bedside table. The thoughts plagued him and tainted the memory of tonight. No longer was he able to savor the evening.

"Allira, I have some news." Yuu caught her attention.

Immediately, Allira's ears perked up. She knew this phrase, and became familiar with it; she had heard it too many times. Dreaded to hear his tone, to know what followed. Before Yuu even continued, she knew what was coming.

"I got a call from the head hospital in Shizuoka, they offered me a full time position." Yuu's voice was soft and slow, knowing that this was not easy information for Allira to accept.

"That's great." She may have smiled, but her eyes glazed over.

While her face and voice said one thing, her heart said another. Yuu could see the pain in her eyes, even if her countenance said otherwise.

"There is a great school there, a hero school." Yuu tried to look on the bright side.

"Why mention a hero school?" Allira asked, confused.

"I think it's time you learned how to properly use your quirk."

"What?" Allira was overly shocked now, almost angry. "But it was you that said to hide my quirk. Why tell me to use it now? After all these years."

"I know what I said and that was to protect you." Yuu could see that Allira was becoming defensive. "Without your mother to teach you, I didn't want you to hurt yourself."

Of course, Yuu had other reasons on why he wanted Allira to learn her quirk. With this threat over her head, he wanted to make sure that she could defend herself.

However, without that information, Allira was left confused and hurt. He had begged her father for years to attend a hero school, to have the opportunity to learn and harness her quirk. It was the only thing left that she had of her mother and when she used it, she felt that connection grow stronger. Why was he saying this now? It also seemed too late to start, like her prime window of opportunity had passed.

Frustrated, Allira left the table. Leaving her father to clean up the mess she had created when making dinner. He did not call out to her, but let her leave. He knew she was upset and she have every right to be angry.

At this point, Allira was not surprised by disappointment anymore. She had learned quickly not to get her hopes up for anything, its only lead to hurt. She never raised expectations, never hoped for better, just lived each day as it came. Never thought about the future, never set herself goals.

Because, too many times had she been tossed from one home to another. Torn from one set of roots and planted into a new, smaller pot.

With every new location, she was forced to start over. New schools, new teachers, new classmates, new house, new neighborhood and even new smells. The only constant thing in her life was her father, her crafts and her clothes.

Happy birthday Allira.