The walls of the house were plain and white. It is a house in the middle of the garden, separated from the world. You could say that it was more of a small room than a house. There is a medium-sized bed with blue patterns, a wardrobe for clothes, and a desk filled with children's books, but no kitchen. There were also no windows, only two doors: one for the bathroom and another for the outside world. Only the exhaust fan in the bathroom, and the AC in the room is the source of air for the little girl living inside.

Calling this place a prison would not be considered wrong. But for the girl living inside, it was her world. She had never set foot outside. She was never allowed to do so. In this little prison world, she had lived her three years.

Seeing the little girl would take your breath away. She has a pale blue hair similar to a thin cloud stretched across the morning sky, and her golden eyes would remind you of the sun. Her skin was as smooth and white as silk.

Her only connection to the outside world were the maids who would come and go to give her a bath or feed her, and a pretty lady that visits her once a week.

If the little girl's eyes would remind you of the sun, the lady was the sun herself. Her hair and eyes of gold would shine as she smiles radiantly at the little girl. The child would smile and hug her. She gives books to the child to learn how to speak and read. Then she would spend her entire day with her in the room.

The child would wonder why she couldn't go outside but whenever she asks, the lady would reply,

"It's because you're my treasure. And treasures must be kept safe and hidden."

The little girl was indeed a treasure. She was a precious gift. And the little girl would always remind herself that treasures must stay safe so she never went outside.

It was supposed to be like that. Until one snowy night, the golden lady entered the house, and took the little girl outside.

She ran away with her, as far as she could, no matter how strong the blizzard was. The little girl felt cold in her white dress, but she couldn't do anything to stop the lady. She didn't ask. She trusted her.

Treasures must be kept safe. Maybe that place was no longer safe.

Then the lady found an old temple, few trails away from the road. She left her child there.

"Wait for me, okay? I will come back as soon as I can." The golden lady stated.

The girl asked where she would be going.

"There's no need to be afraid. I will come back."

The girl hesitated. She didn't want her to leave.

"Don't be afraid. I will come back, I promise." Then the lady left.

The little girl waited for hours. She lied down the cold wooden floor and curled like a baby. She waited and waited, but the lady never came. Her thin white dress was not enough to keep her warm, and the demon of sleep wanted to drag her consciousness away.

She didn't reject the demon, and closed her sleepy eyes.

~*~

SHOUTO

"I can't." I stated. "I can't see her." I stated, looking down.

"You can't hide it from her forever. You would have to face the past, you know?" Kuroiwa stated through the smartphone.

I know that. I know that clearly.

"Just...just take care of Aoi."

"Of course~ I will take extra good care of her. You won't mind the right?" Kuroiwa stated in his sly voice. I knew that he was only trying to provoke me so I kept my composure, and merely ended the call.

Placing the phone on the coffee table, I leaned my back on the couch.

I had already decided on this. I already gave Kuroiwa the permission to tell her the truth. When Aoi collapsed four days ago, I was so guilty. I knew that she would get more and more frustrated once she wakes up. She would seek out for answers. There is no other way. We could not tell her bits and pieces of her past since it'll only give her more questions. This is the right decision.

I clenched my fists.

I looked around the living room. The curtains covered the windows, and the rain kept on pouring.

This is the right decision. This is the right decision. I need to remind myself that this is the right decision. She couldn't handle staying in the dark for too long.

But god damn it! I wanted her to stay like this...

I wanted to protect her smile.

~*~

"....r..d"

"I.....r...d..."

"I'm....t...r...d.!"

"I'M TIRED!" Aoi heard a loud cry. She opened her heavy eyes... and slowly crawled with her numb limbs.

Peeking out of the temple, she saw a little boy.

His hair was fire and ice split evenly in half. He was looking down and covering his tear stained face. The boy ran away from home because of his father. He could not handle the harsh trainings. He could not handle seeing his mother in pain.

He was tired.

As the blizzard kept on falling, the girl wondered why he was crying. Her mind speculated that maybe he was feeling cold like her. Maybe the blizzard is hurting him.

So the girl reached out her hand to the boy, and the snow covering him floated up. The falling snow could not reach the boy as if there was a shield covering him.

The boy noticed and looked around. The girl saw his mismatched eyes.

'He stopped crying.' She thought to herself, and smiled.

The boy finally saw her and his eyes widen. He did not expect someone to be here in the middle of the storm. He even thought that maybe she is the spirit in the temple. Her warm smile despite the freezing cold was enough proof for him.

But the little girl was not a spirit, so she lost her consciousness to the cold once again. The boy ran towards her and went inside the temple. He held her in his arms, and his eyes widen as he felt her skin as cold as ice. With his left hand, he held her cheek hoping that he could warm her up.

"Shouto, thank goodness! I finally found you!" The voice of a lady exclaimed as she found her son in the temple. She had white hair and gray eyes. When her son ran away, she immediately searched for him, afraid he might get hurt.

But she didn't expect to see someone else as she walked closer to his son. There was a little girl in his arms. The girl looked like she was just sleeping but the boy told him that she was freezing. Feeling worried for both of the children, she decided to take them home. The boy was afraid of going back, but he could not let her freeze in this storm either.

~*~

When the little girl woke up, she found herself inside a room unknown to her. The ceiling was the color of wood and the floor has a type of mat she does not know. She was lying down on a foam different than what she was used to as well. However, she felt a bit comfortable when she saw the boy. He was sitting on the floor beside her. His eyes looked at her with surprise.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked. The girl nodded. "You're in our house. It's safer here. What are you doing inside the temple?"

The girl remembered the golden lady.

"M-mama..." She spoke. "Mama said to wait..."

"Mama?" The boy frowned in confusion.

Then wooden door slid open. The atmosphere suddenly felt heavy, as a man with spike red hair appeared. He had turquoise eyes and a beard made of flame between his upper lip and nose. The boy looked afraid of the man.

"So this is the girl in the temple." The man said in a deep intimidating voice. The girl felt afraid as well.

Behind the man, was the lady with a worried face, "She was freezing to death when Shouto found her"

"Stand up young lady." The man ordered.

The little girl pulled away her blanket and stood up. She hugged her arms and looked down to avoid the man's gaze.

"Are you sure you found her only wearing that dress?" The man asked.

"Ah..y-yeah." The lady nervously replied.

"There are no frostbites on her body. Staying in that cold place is impossible." The man frowned. "Unless it has something to do with her Quirk."

Then the man turned around. "I will take her to the police when the blizzard stops. For now, she will stay here."

When the man left, the lady sighed in relief. She smiled and went to the little girl. She knelt down at her height. While holding the girl's hand she kindly asked.

"My name is Rei, do you have a name?"

"...Aoi"

"Well then, Aoi, you'll stay here until the blizzard stops. Then we'll find your family. Do you have a family?"

"Family..? Mama... Mama said to wait."

"Okay, we'll find your Mama soon. For now, you'll need to rest. I'll ask them to give you warm milk so you can sleep." The white haired lady named Rei said. Then she turned to her son. "Shouto, let's go. We'll let her rest for now."

The little boy stood up, and walked to his mother. Rei stood up and held her son's hand. They walked towards the door. Shouto looked at Aoi once more.

"Mother?"

"Yes, my child?"

"Can I talk to her later?"

Rei looked at her son, a child who was not allowed to communicate with his siblings, a child who cannot play like a normal child, a child who now has a chance to have a friend at home.

She smiled gently. "Of course."

Shouto smiled brightly, and hugged his mom. "Thank you, mother!"

Then he looked at Aoi cheerfully. "Let's talk later, okay?"

Aoi's golden eyes widen. A child who had a little world. A child who cannot go outside. A child who had no friends. A child who met another child for the first time.

That child gave a heart-melting smile, and nodded.

~*~

The blizzard was so bad that it lasted for two days. It was a cruel weather for most people but it was a blessing for two children. Because of the snowstorm, Shouto's father needed to patrol more and rescue civilians in danger. It meant more free time for Shouto and Aoi. They talked and played together. Also, for being 2 years older than her, he taught her new words and helped her learn how to read. They got so close that they even slept in one futon.

Rei also felt comfortable with Aoi. She even cooked food for the child and watch over her as she plays with her son. She even wished that Aoi was her daughter. The child gave her a feeling of innocence. It made her forget the problems she was facing.

The morning came when the blizzard finally ended. Just like the man said, he would take Aoi to the police station to look for her family. Rei came along with Shouto and they found out that Aoi came from an orphanage and has no family. The "Mama" Aoi was calling was just one of the caretakers of the place.

The man decided to take Aoi back to the orphanage but Rei stopped him. They argued inside the car.

"What we could let her live with us?" Rei suggested.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"She's an orphan. She has no family, wouldn't it be great if we would just adopt her?"

"Are you not contended with those three things at home? You want another one? Why won't you just stick with your duties towards Shouto?"

"But Enji, Shouto has gotten close with her—"

"I don't need your opinion on this matter! She will go back to where she belongs and that's final!" He stated in a harsh tone that it made Aoi hug Shouto in fear.

She was trembling. Her eyes glisten as tears threatened to fall at any moment.

But Enji went out of the car and opened the back seat. He pulled Aoi away from his son.

"N-No...!" Aoi yelled, as tears started streaming down her face.

"You'll be going home to your orphanage. Behave little one—"

"No!" She yelled again. Her golden eyes looked at her only friend.

Shouto then pulled her other arm.

"What are you—"

"I w-won't let you take Aoi!" Shouto stated. His hands holding her were shaking. There was a hint of fear in his voice but he couldn't let the girl go.

He wouldn't let her go.

"Please Enji." Rei pleaded causing the red haired man to get furious. The people around them started staring, wondering what was happening.

"Don't be stubborn! You'll go back whether you like it or not!" Enji yelled, gripping firmly at the little girl's small arm.

"NO!" She yelled as loud as she could. A pale gold light appeared from her. And then the car started moving. It floated few inches above the ground. Enji's eyes widen along with Shouto.

Then in the middle of the commotion, a person suddenly pulled the little girl away from them. It happened so suddenly that Aoi felt like her arms were torn apart. The person ran dragging the child. Both Rei and Shouto were stunned by what happened. Enji, on the other hand, chased the man taking the child away.

When he caught up, the man was already gone. And Aoi's chest was full of stabs.

It was a horrible scene. The little girl was lying down the ground full of blood. The clothes Rei gave her were torn apart.

Enji, knelt down looking at the child. Her golden eyes were open yet there was no light reflecting from it. There was blood from the corner of her mouth. He lightly touched her neck, then he felt a light weak pulse.

A pale golden light enveloped Aoi once again. And it closed the holes in her chest. Her eyes showed light once again, and she coughed.

When the pale light disappeared, her body was completely healed.

~*~

The police never found the culprit but everyone felt relieved to see the child well again. Enji took her to the hospital to run some tests on her and they finally confirmed.

Telekinesis and Self-Healing; her brain has the ability to send countless of nerve impulses throughout her body that could reach to other surface near her, making her manipulate molecules. This includes non-living objects. And since her body receives most amount of signals, it could regenerate through converting the molecules into cells her body needs.

After finding that out, Enji finally decided.

"She is not a Todoroki. She won't be able to fulfill my desire." Enji stated. Rei looked down sadly.

Her husband was still thinking about his goal more than anything else.

"She won't use the family name."

"Eh?" Rei responded with wide eyes.

"She won't use the family name so you should give her one. I don't care what it is but if you want to adopt her, don't stain my family name."

"So you're saying that—"

"Yes. We could adopt her, but we will only be her guardian until she comes of age. Understood?" Enji stated.

Rei covered her mouth. She could not hide her happiness. She thanked her husband so many times. She could even hug him at that moment. Then she looked at the window where she could see the two children inside the hospital room. They were both sitting on the bed and talking. She went inside and embraced both of them.

"R-Rei—san?"

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Aoi and Shouto asked respectively. She smiled happily.

"Aoi will be staying with us!" She replied. Their eyes widen.

"Really?!" Shouto exclaimed. "T-then, she won't leave anymore?"

"Never."

"Yes!" Shouto embraced the little girl. "You'll stay by my side forever!"

"For...ever?" Aoi asked. Shouto let go and nodded. He held both of her cheeks.

"We'll be together from now on." 

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08-10-2018

Hello~ The next chapter will have two parts since it was too long to fit it in one go. ^^;

I'm so glad that we've made it this far, we've reached halfway!~

Have a great day~