~Emi's POV~

I woke wrapped in a warm embrace. My face was sticking to a hot bare muscular chest. Heat burned in my face and I tried to jerk back as I realized I was laying atop Toshinori's chest. As I attempted to pull back, I met resistance, his arms were wrapped securely around me keeping me frozen in place. A soft panicked squeak escaped me. My face felt like it was on fire, I was sure it was as red as a boiled lobster.

A loud yawn escaped him as he woke up and opened his bright blue eyes. He blinked his eyes a few times and looked down at me trapped against his chest. His cheeks reddened and his grip loosened. I hurriedly scrambled away from him and out of bed before bowing my head.

"S-sorry...th-thank you for taking care of me last night..." And with that said I turned to make my escape as he sat up in bed.

His big strong hand reached out and caught my hand in his, "...Emi..."

I paused too embarrassed to turn and face him. "I-I'll get started on breakfast." I attempted to break free from his grasp and scramble away. I wasn't entirely sure what I was thinking, he was the number one hero, there was no way I was getting away if he didn't want me to.

"Emi." He repeated my name and held my hand gently in his grasp, keeping me from fleeing.

I felt so hot, my face was burning. I was afraid to look at him. "I-I'm sorry for troubling you." I don't know why I kept apologizing.

He lightly tugged on my hand pulling me back toward him, "Emi." He repeated my name as he turned me with ease so I was facing him. My head was bowed, my gaze stubbornly glued to the floor in an attempt to hide my burning face. My heart stuttered in my chest as his fingers lightly traced my jawline before slowly lifting my chin so I was forced to look at him. There was a heartwarming smile dancing across his lips. I could feel the nervous fluttering of butterflies in my gut as I looked into his striking blue eyes. "Did you sleep okay?"

I chewed on my bottom lip and nodded my head.

His smile took my breath away, "that's a relief."

My pulse quickened and my skin beneath his touch began to grow hot. I opened my mouth about to blurt another apology but he spoke before I could utter a word.

"Thank you, Emi."

I stared at him in awe. "For what?"

"For letting me watch over you last night." He smiled.

My heart felt like it was going to catapult out of my chest and the nervous butterflies in my stomach were throwing some kind of party. I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks and averted my gaze before mumbling softly, "thank you for looking after me."

"You're always welcome to share my bed." He paused as he realized what he'd said might come off wrong and his face reddened, "ah, I mean, if it helps with...not that..." His face was as red as my own. "That didn't come out right." He choked.

I couldn't help but giggle. "I understand what you meant, and I really appreciate it, but I don't want to trouble you agai-."

"It was no trouble." He assured me, "in fact, it was probably the best sleep I've gotten in ages." He admitted red faced.

I was too embarrassed to tell him that it had also been the best night of sleep I'd gotten in a very long time. Instead I looked away shyly, "I-I'll get started on breakfast."

"Ah, alright." He smiled but had yet to release my hand from his hold.

"T-Toshinori?" I squeaked.

"Hm?"

"I might need my hand to make breakfast." I said softly.

He glanced down at our interlocked hands and blushed once more, "sorry about that." He chuckled nervously. "I'm going to get in a quick morning workout." He jumped to his feet and beat me to the door.

I stared after him in awe for a moment. Was he embarrassed too? I smiled, it was sweet and it made me feel better to not be the only one flustered and awkward about our innocent night together. As he went off to work out, I headed for the kitchen to get started on breakfast.

It took a while for my body temperature and coloring to return to normal. I calmed down as I carefully chopped up some potatoes and peppers for a breakfast hash. As I finished chopping the ingredients and prepared to put them in the skillet, I heard a crash from the patio. A muted scream of surprise escaped me and I nearly jumped out of my skin. The near abduction had made me extra jumpy.

"Emi?!" Toshinori appeared at my side in an instant, "what happened?"

"Ah." My face flushed scarlet, he was shirtless and glistening from his morning workout. "I-I don't know it sounded like there was a crash on the patio." I looked away from him.

"Stay here." He headed for the patio.

Nervously, I waited in the kitchen, inching closer to the phone ready to call the police if it was something dangerous. A moment later, Toshinori stepped back inside with what looked like a kitten tucked in his arm.

"Is that a cat?!" I gasped as I rushed toward him. "How did it get all the way up here?"

"I'm not really sure but the little guy knocked over some potted plants." He chuckled as he placed the kitten in my outstretched hands. "Why don't you keep him company for a bit, I'll ask the property manager if anyone is missing a kitten."

"O-okay." I looked down at the tiny orange kitten sitting in my hands. It was such a tiny little thing. It had bright orange eyes and mewed at me softly.

I stroked the top of its head and smiled as it began to purr loudly. I noticed some potting soil clinging to his tiny paws and matted in his coat and grabbed a spare dishtowel from one of the drawers before dampening it with some warm water.

"Let's get you cleaned up." I smiled down at the kitten as I sat on the cool tiled floor and began wiping away the dirt and grime, he'd caked on to himself.

Toshinori returned, with a shirt, after I'd gotten the kitten cleaned up. He smiled as he spotted us sitting on the floor. I looked up at him curiously and he shook his head, "It doesn't seem like he belongs to anyone here. They think he's just a stray."

"We're so high up though, how did he get up here?" I asked worriedly.

"Seems one of the maintenance guys had left the door to the service stairwell open on accident, they thought they'd seen the little guy but were sure he'd left, guess they overlooked him." He pointed. "Any ideas on what to do with him?"

I thought for a moment before smiling down at the kitten, "I bet Mittens could use a friend for when Chet's busy with schoolwork."

Toshinori smiled. "I think that's a grand idea. I'll see if I can get an appointment with a vet to get him checked out and we can pay Young Chet a visit." He paused as he was about to turn to go make the appointment and looked back at me, "unless you want to keep him?"

I was happy that he'd considered it and seemed willing to let me keep the kitten but I knew it wouldn't be wise. I was going to die, I didn't know when but from Toshinori and Nighteye's reactions, I had a feeling it wouldn't be too long. I couldn't put the poor thing through that kind of heartbreak, and it would be good for Chet to be surrounded by things he loved when I did end up dying. "I don't think I can do that to the kitten...and besides it'll be good for Chet to have friends, when I'm gone..."

Toshinori paled and his face contorted with pain as guilt flooded his striking blue eyes, "...I won't let it happen..."

I offered him a reassuring smile, "it's oka-."

He shook his head, "no, it's not. I'll find some way to stop it from happening."

"Has Nighteye ever been wrong?" I asked him curiously.

He frowned. I had my answer. Still looking upset, he walked away to call a vet.

The kitten in my hands mewed at me and I jumped in surprise as I felt a single tear fall onto my cheek. I hadn't even realized I'd been crying. The thought of dying, of leaving everyone I loved behind to grieve, hurt. I didn't want any of them to hurt. I hurriedly wiped at my eyes not wanting Toshinori to see. He'd only feel guiltier if he saw me crying.

After making an appointment and taking a quick shower, Toshinori took the kitten from me so I could finish making breakfast. He was quiet and there was a solemnness about him that worried me. He didn't say anything as I cooked. We ate in silence before I excused myself to get ready.

After a quiet vet visit and getting the kitten his vaccines, we headed to the church. I kept throwing worried glances in his direction as we walked. Once we got to the church, I paused as we passed by the alley next to it as a chill ran down my spine. Toshinori froze in place and glanced down the dark alley. He placed a hand on my shoulder and swiftly moved me away from the alley so that he was standing closest to it. His hand stayed firmly on my shoulder as we marched up the steps of the church. I looked over at him curiously wondering why he'd done that but didn't get a chance to question him as the doors to the church flew open and a small blur darted out of it.

In the next moment I felt a pair of small arms sidle around my waist, "Emi!" Chet beamed up at me before noticing the kitten in my arms. "What's that?" He asked in awe.

"I thought Mittens could use a friend for when you are busy with your schoolwork." I smiled down at him before a troublesome thought crossed my mind and I paled, "oh...maybe I should have asked Pastor Dave if that was okay first."

I heard Pastor Dave chuckle from inside the door and smiled as he stepped out of the church to join us on the front steps and welcome us in. "It's alright with me."

A wave of relief washed over me as I handed the kitten over to Chet and smiled as it instantly began to purr in his arms. "What are you going to name him?" I asked him curiously as I ruffled his unruly ginger hair in an attempt to straighten it out.

"Pumpkin." He beamed.

"I think that's a perfect name." I smiled and allowed Chet to pull me away. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure it was alright with Toshinori. He waved me off before asking Pastor Dave something I couldn't quite hear and they disappeared to his office to discuss something.

Chet was happy to show me his room at the church. Mittens was lying atop his bed; the kitten had grown in the short amount of time since my last visit. He opened his single eye and glanced at the orange kitten in Chet's arms before getting up with a stretch. I smiled as the orange kitten and the one-eyed tabby sniffed at each other and immediately started playing. They were fast friends.

Chet was excited to be awake enough to show me his room and even asked me to look over some of his homework. We settled in on the floor and the kittens climbed all over us as we worked on his schoolwork. I couldn't help but giggle as both kittens tried to swat at Chet's pencil as he tried to write down some answers on his homework. They were making it difficult for him to write neatly and soon we were both giggling. I was happy he had some friends to look after him when I died.

After a while, Toshinori came to collect me. I gave Chet and the kittens a hug goodbye and we headed on our way back home. He was quiet as we walked away from the church.

"What did you and Pastor Dave talk about?" I asked him curiously.

He cleared his throat, "I was just telling him it might be a good idea to block that alley to cut down on potential crimes." He indicated the alley he was strangely keeping me away from.

"Oh, but a lot of kids like to play there after Sunday School." I pointed.

He frowned a little but said nothing more. The alley had given me a strange feeling the last few times I'd walked by it, but I wasn't sure why Toshinori was being so strange. Did he get a weird feeling too? He still seemed to be feeling guilty after our earlier talk.

"All Might?"

He opened his mouth to correct me before remembering we were in public and closed it once more, giving me his full attention.

"Do you think you can promise me something?" I asked softly.

"What's that?"

"Promise you won't blame yourself when I die..."

He stopped walking, and a morose look crossed his face, "I'm not sure I can do that, Emi."

I offered him a smile, "but, I'm the one making the choice."

"I should be trying harder to stop you." He grimaced.

"Why aren't you?" I asked curiously.

"Purely selfish reasons." He looked sick with guilt.

"Huh? You're the least selfish person I know." I gaped at him, confused. A cool breeze swept past us instantly chilling me to the bone.

He draped his arm around me and pulled me close to warm me up. "I like having you by my side." He responded quietly, his eyes clouded with guilt and self-loathing.

I couldn't help but giggle softly, "then I guess that makes my reasons selfish as well."

Color splashed across his cheeks.