Chapter 4: Steps Froward
Izuku trudged out of the school building.
Today, it felt like nothing had gone right. While the home exercises and training with Ginro at the riverside all seemed to be going well, once again, Bakugo had gotten the better of him, leaving burns up and down Izuku's arms and scorch marks on his clothing.
Izuku sighed, listlessly fiddling with the hem of his sleeve where one of Bakugo's small explosions had burned a hole in the fabric. He would have to fix that.
What was worse, the burns on his arms itched.
Izuku clenched his fist and mumbled, "I'll have to stop by the river to see Ginro. I'll need his aloe if I'm going to soothe these before going home. If mom sees them, she'll worry."
Izuku shook himself, trying to stay positive.
That morning, Bakugo had knocked him over with a small blast. Using his training, though, Izuku had quickly rolled over and, after hopping up, sidestepped Bakugo, slipping into the crowd and disappearing so he could get to class.
Unfortunately, after that one success, his day slowly unraveled.
When he finally made it to the classroom, the teacher scolded him for his dirty and rumpled appearance. When Izuku tried to explain, she immediately gave him a detention slip for 'talking back.' Then, she ordered Izuku back to his seat. Izuku had slipped into his desk and sat stiffly.
Throughout the entire exchange, his classmates and the yokai laughed.
Later, during the lunch break, Bakugo found him. Izuku was unable to escape that time. To top it off, Bakugo was livid that Izuku had "just disappeared" that morning, making the encounter that much worse.
And after the long day, it was time for the detention, which was never fun. Especially when you were being punished for something beyond your control and the teacher thought a good, long lecture on not "attracting violence" was acceptable.
Now that the detention was over and Izuku was free, he only wanted to go home and sleep. He did not mind visiting Ginro, but it was one more thing to do – and another reminder of the bad day.
Sighing again, Izuku looked up to see that the sky was painted with bright orange and pink hues as the sun touched the horizon.
Then, something unexpected happened.
About halfway through the yard, a shadow blocked Izuku's path.
Izuku's head swiveled to see what it was, only to find a yokai standing only a few feet from where he stood.
The yokai was one Izuku had seen before. It was thin and a few centimeters taller than Izuku. Long claws tipped the ends of its long fingers on equally long, spindly arms.
It was not a particularly powerful yokai, but it was one of the strongest in the school. The other yokai generally gave it a large berth.
Izuku clenched his jaw and glared.
The yokai quailed for a moment, shivering as it felt the intensity of Izuku's glare – something that had sharpened since the start of elementary school and all the yokai had noticed. The change had become particularly noticeable over the last few months.
Something was growing inside the child, even if it was still weak and underdeveloped – it was there.
The yokai reached out its clawed hand, which Izuku batted away.
"Leave me alone," Izuku growled.
Izuku was done. Even if his meetings with Ginro had been less frequent over the last months due to the training he was doing with his mom, he was well aware he was making progress. It was much easier now than before to reach the hyper-aware state where his senses sharpened exponentially.
While he had yet to use the hyper-focused state at school, it made his base ability to intimidate the yokai with his words easier. It also had an added bonus; he was better able to sense the yokai's aura if he focused.
It was this very progress that let Izuku know – for a fact – that this yokai was one of the strongest.
Today, though, Izuku was not having it. He did not feel like having to intimidate a yokai just to leave the school. He, by all rights, should have been home long ago.
But, the yokai did not move.
Izuku looked around and saw that no one was left on the school grounds. So, he focused his senses and, touching on the first stages of his hyper-aware state, began to funnel all of his energy and all of his will into his voice – into the words that he was about to speak.
He could not command his peers; they'd just laugh at the quirkless nobody.
He could not command his teachers. Regardless of quirk status, he'd just get another detention.
But he could, at the very least, try to command the yokai to leave him alone. If power and strength were the most important things to yokai, he would have to establish himself now. He could not just speak with conviction to try and intimidate them. He needed to use his spiritual energy. The very thing he was developing for the purpose of defending himself. It needed to be his weapon, just like it was for the yokai.
Izuku spoke once again, feeling the flow of energy seep into his very words, "Leave."
The yokai stepped back in shock but quickly regained its barring, eyes narrowing when it realized it had backed off from a mere human.
Tensing, the yokai prepared to spring, and Izuku's eyes narrowed more in response, only provoking the yokai further.
Izuku recognized what the yokai was about to do and willed himself to be calm.
Unbidden, the memory from that morning flashed across his vision again, but only for a moment. He would not be pushed around by the yokai on top of the detention caused by Bakugo's bullying.
Forget it! Don't let yourself be distracted. Don't let the yokai know you're upset – funnel the energy behind the emotion into your body, just like during training.
Izuku faced the yokai, feet planted solidly – just like he did during his training with Ginro. He had practiced the stances for long enough now that it was a natural move. He set his shoulders back, arms in a defensive position, and his chin up to look the yokai in the eyes.
The yokai reached for Izuku again, and Izuku sidestepped it, swinging one leg in a graceful arch while keeping the other planted in place.
The yokai stumbled past, not expecting Izuku to be so fast on his feet. It spun around, hackles rising.
Izuku watched, gauging it, and in that moment, another image flashed in Izuku's mind – one of his analyses of a hero going hand-to-hand with a villain and the over-shoulder throw the hero had performed.
Ginro's lessons had also involved practicing throwing a weighted straw dummy since throws were a good way to unbalance opponents – and then escape if need be.
Izuku tensed as his mind played over the technique, and as Izuku's attention wavered from the present, the yokai snarled in fury and lunged.
Izuku took the opportunity, grabbed the yokai's thin arm, twisted around, and, using the throwing technique – tossed the yokai over his shoulder.
The lanky yokai blinked in surprise at finding itself on its back, on the ground, and a defiant Izuku standing over it. Izuku hid his grimace as an image of Bakugo flashed in his mind. Brushing it to the side, he placed his foot firmly on the yokai's chest.
"Stay," Izuku once again focused all of his energy and will into that one word. Izuku commanded it – he imagined his words becoming weighty, tangible chains to keep the yokai from getting up and attacking him again.
The yokai froze, eyes going wide before it grimaced and nodded.
Izuku stepped back lightly, putting distance between them but never turning his back on the yokai. Izuku was not strong enough to leave first.
The yokai would have to be the first to walk away to signify its defeat.
Only the truly powerful could turn their back and stalk away while the other cowered. Izuku grimaced again. He did not like it. It did not feel right to use power and might to push others down, even if they were yokai. But he could think of nothing else.
Today really was a very-bad, no-good day.
With some space between them, Izuku once again stood firm, and the lanky yokai picked itself up, still growling.
"Leave. Me. Alone." Izuku commanded.
The lanky yokai sniffed but did not attack and stalked off without a second glance.
Keeping the yokai in his peripheral vision, Izuku finally slipped out the school gates. It felt more like a draw than a victory. Like two equally matched opponents had sparred, but where the victor could change at any time.
A few meters away and unseen, Kekyu jumped down from the wall surrounding the school. He had come to meet Izuku today as a surprise, but at the sight of the taller yokai trying to intimidate Izuku, Kekyu had frozen in place.
When Izuku did not back down, Kekyu started to vibrate with excitement.
Will he succeed?
Will Izuku show what he learned?
This was the answer Kekyu had been waiting for. When Izuku finally won, Kekyu's initial instinct was to run up to him. But a thought flashed through its mind and gave Kekyu pause.
Memories of the last Onmyoji, who had rescued Kekyu from a pack of much stronger yokai, rushed through his mind.
Izuku was becoming more powerful, even if only little by little. Kekyu felt the spiritual power rolling off Izuku when Izuku gave his last command. While Izuku was only a little bit stronger than the other yokai, it was enough.
Kekyu continued watching as Izuku left the schoolyard and started walking toward home.
Humans were different than yokai. They changed much more quickly, and Kekyu wondered how much Izuku would change.
Would he always look to Kekyu for guidance?
And how much guidance could Kekyu give?
Kekyu was not sure, but it did want Izuku to succeed. So, it would wait and watch, hoping to see something grand.
At school the next day, the little yokai skittered around Izuku even more than before, and as days passed, Izuku noticed less overt and more subtle goading from the yokai.
The match with the yokai in the schoolyard apparently had some effect. According to the yokai, evenly matching with one of the more powerful yoki that proliferated the school meant that the smaller ones avoided Izuku altogether when he was alone. It was as if they were afraid that he would no longer only tell them to leave him alone but that he might fight them just like he had fought the other yokai.
When he was not alone, they still hid behind the bullies, but this was also different. Before, the yokai would continue to goad the bullies as they pushed Izuku around, but now they only goaded bullies into starting with Izuku, and then they would flee.
Unfortunately, when the bullies focused on the other kids, they went back to their usual tricks.
Izuku knew he had made a step forward, but it bothered him that the yokai were still causing others so much trouble.
Kekyu, as always, had a theory as to why they avoided direct confrontations with Izuku. Since Izuku could touch yokai due to his spiritual power, which was growing in strength, if he performed the same move on the smaller yokai that he did on the yokai during his fight, they would most likely be severely injured.
After all, if Ginro threw Izuku with all his strength, he could kill the boy, which was why Ginro was always careful. Since Izuku did not know how to control his power yet – just like Ginro could injure Izuku – Izuku would most likely injure or even completely defeat the weakest of the yokai. The small yokai knew he was stronger than them, so they resigned themselves to pettiness.
It was not long before Izuku returned to his regular routine with Ginro and Kekyu, and so, his training continued.
Izuku sat in the lotus pose and tried to settle his breathing, but the thought of the yokai at school still plagued him. Earlier, he witnessed one of the yokai taunting a younger student, who was then teased by one of their classmates – using the same words as the yokai. Izuku tried to intervene, but being the 'quirkless kid,' did not help.
Opening his eyes, Izuku studied Ginro and Kekyu for a moment. It did not take long for the two to turn their attention to him.
Ginro tilted his head to the side, and Kekyu eyed Izuku cautiously.
Izuku began slowly, "The yokai at school are still avoiding me."
Ginro nodded and Kekyu puffed its chest proudly.
"Yes, Ignore them. They no longer matter," Kekyu nodded curtly.
Izuku's chest twisted.
He hated being ignored.
Guessing Izuku's thoughts, Kekyu huffed, "Yokai do not seek out relationships like humans do. They care for tricks and cruelty. They do not care if you ignore them. They will just focus on others."
"Yeah, but while they don't bother me as much anymore, it's not like they're completely avoiding me, and they're still as bad as ever when they harass the other kids…," Izuku's voice trailed off.
Kekyu looked confused, "Why does that matter?"
Izuku blinked, surprised, but quickly shook his head.
That's right. Kekyu is a yokai too.
Izuku sighed, "I know you both care about me, but I also want to be a hero. Heroes don't ignore people who are in trouble." He looked pleadingly at the two yokai, "Isn't there something I could do?"
Neither spoke, and Izuku clenched his fists against his knees, "I can't just let them continue to…."
Kekyu cut Izuku off, "Will you defeat them? More will come. Humans do not know they are there. The small yokai only help humans do more… hurt." Kekyu paused, unsure what words would convey his meaning.
Izuku nodded, "You mean that even without the yokai, the bullying would continue. They just make it worse. Whether the yokai encourage the bullying or not, the bullies won't stop, still leaving scars, both visible and invisible. Bullying is bullying."
Kekyu nodded, "Very smart."
Izuku's eyes narrowed, and he cut in quickly, "But I still want to do something. I still want to help in some way. Even if I can't stop the bullies, if I can make the bullying less bad – that's still something. I can't save the days like a hero yet, but I want to do something."
Kekyu studied Izuku for a moment, "If you choose to fight, you must decide. Banish them from the human world – send yokai away so they leave the school. Or you defeat them, and they return to nothingness."
Silent fell, and the only sound was the flowing water of the river beside them. Izuku pondered his next move. Then, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"Kekyu, do you know any stories about how the Onmyoji banished and defeated yokai? I'll banish them if I can figure out how – and only 'defeat' them if they are truly harmful. How can I make the yokai leave the school?"
Kekyu nodded and, speaking slowly, said, "Onmyoji used talismans to fight and banish yokai – keep them out of houses. I know some. You need to find stories, too! I saw talismans once. I think I remember what it looked like, but I do not know how to make them!"
Izuku grimaced, nodding in turn. He researched quirks and always worked to improve his quirk analysis. He had researched workouts with his mom and even continued to look up updated information. What was one more project? More than once, he had noticed a yokai near a villain fight and, in rare cases, latched onto a villain. So, who knew? Knowing how to use talismans might come in handy when he became a hero.
Just like bullies, regardless of yokai, there would always be villains, but if he could make it less bad – if he could lessen the severity of villains' attacks by also taking care of the yokai – he could do good. Excitement built in Izuku, and he began to bounce where he sat. Minimizing the yokai's effect could reduce some of the damage, even if only a little.
Looking at Kekyu and Ginro, he thought about the two and how they might even encounter yokai stronger than them. There would probably even be other yokai who needed help, too. Just like Ginro once needed help. Just like the Ox and Boar yokai, who had disappeared only to leave a small offering before returning to the mountains – if Kekyu's story about where they went was to be depended upon.
Izuku could do this.
Izuku looked at the crudely drawn symbols on the paper Kekyu had given him. They looked more like squiggly lines than anything else.
To start his search on yokai and Onmyoji, he found and watched some reruns of old pre-quirk shows. The talismans in those looked much like the one he held in his hand. Most of the shows also generally involved some sort of monk and temple.
Izuku wondered if one of the temples nearby would have similar talismans so he could compare them, but he was worried that their talismans might be less accurate due to people forgetting about yokai. All his conversations with Kekyu and Ginro about the relationship between yokai and humans centered around how humans and yokai no longer interacted, except in the cases where they instigated mischief.
Izuku puzzled over the paper, and after a quick glance at his mom, who was cooking in the kitchen, he slipped into the computer room and, turning on the device, did a quick search for temples in the area, looking for the oldest – the one with the most rooted history.
After digging through several sites and cross-referencing everything, one very old temple with a very basic website stood out. There were a few talismans for sale on the website, which did not look promising. However, some of the old talismans in the pictures of the temple looked similar to the one Kekyu drew.
Izuku also searched for talismans but found little, except for sham "good luck" papers. Most of it looked suspicious. Still, he compared all the talismans from the various temples and other websites to the one in his hand. After all, Kekyu did have first-hand experience.
After a while, he decided that going to the temple was the best thing to do. Izuku glanced at the door behind him. Now, all he needed to do was convince his mother to take him.
"Are you sure about this, Izu?"
Izuku hopped from one foot to the other as he glanced back and forth between his mom and the long flight of steps leading up to the temple.
His bouncing grew more fervent at finally being able to see what the temple had to offer, and Inko merely smiled wanly.
Izuku had been muttering about yokai for a while, and over the last few days, she knew he was looking into the nearby temples. He was still very focused on his training, and there were times he disappeared for a while before returning to the house exhausted. It was all very bizarre, but if it kept him occupied, it was good.
Inko also knew Izuku's quirk analyses were also coming along nicely. She could only hope he would find the right path for his future.
Inko looked at the long flight of steps worriedly, but Izuku was not worried; he had been training and knew the trek up the steps would be easy.
Inko sighed, "Go on ahead. I'll be right behind you."
Izuku beamed and quickly began the long climb.
Izuku beamed as the first Torii Gate appeared, and he passed through it. Up and up he went, and finally, he came to the last gate. He could see the temple beyond it, but as he passed through, he could feel a change in air.
Izuku paused – everything felt clean and clear.
Looking back, he saw his mom about halfway up the steps.
He glanced back at the temple again and saw one of the monks. With one last look at his mom, he quickly darted forward, hoping to ask about yokai and talismans.
After only a minute, it became apparent that talking to the monks would not help.
"Child, yokai do not exist. The talismans you see were set up by the monks who established this temple."
Izuku sighed, and the monk continued, "But you can see the beautiful architecture and some of the original talismans by the offering box.
Izuku smiled to hide his disappointment but bowed respectfully and then made his way to the offering box.
"Might as well go through the motions," Izuku sighed.
It was so strange; as he went through the Torii Gate, he was sure he had felt something familiar. It felt a bit like the refreshing feeling that washed over him when he meditated.
As he approached the box, he noticed a young-looking male sitting behind the box. No one seemed to take note of him, and while he was dressed similarly to the monks, he was also very different.
Izuku squinted.
I don't think yokai can enter the temples…
Izuku looked around once more before cautiously approaching, eyes never wavering from the young man.
Slight pressure on his shoulder, though, made Izuku jump.
"Izuku, what are you looking at?"
Izuku spun around to see his mom standing behind him.
"Oh, uh, I was just going to see the offering… well, you know."
Inko nodded, "Shall we go together?"
Izuku beamed at her, and he turned to approach the box once more.
As they did, the young man sitting by the offering box merely glanced in their direction lazily, but when its eyes fell on Izuku, it blinked.
Izuku, who was still looking more at him than at the box, noticed right away.
The young man only narrowed its eyes and then turned away indifferently.
A group led by a monk passed by, and Izuku overheard the story the monk was telling them, "They say a familiar watches over the temple to this day."
Izuku turned to observe the young man again as he and his mom stepped up to the box, wondering who the man was.
Izuku feigned ignorance as he and his mother clapped their hands and held a moment of silence.
How will I speak to him without anyone hearing?
Izuku felt his heart pick up. If this young man was, in fact, a familiar, then it could help him make talismans, and maybe it would join him and the others.
Glancing around, Izuku saw the same monk from earlier, still regaling the visitors with a tale, and pointed him out to his mother.
Inko glanced around and, seeing the monk Izuku had pointed out, touched Izuku's shoulder and whispered, "Do you want to listen?"
Izuku shook his head, "In just a minute. I want to look more closely around the offering box. Would you listen and tell me what he says?"
Inko nodded, and Izuku waited until he knew her attention was diverted. Then, he turned back to the young man and spoke, "I was wondering if I could ask a few questions, sir."
The familiar glanced at him again and, seeing Izuku's eyes trained on him, raised an eyebrow.
"I am a guardian of this place. Ask what you may, but I may decline to answer."
"I have the sight, and I've been able to see yokai for a long time. I've been training to protect myself…"
"I know."
Izuku started, "How?"
The familiar looked at him skeptically, "I can sense your spiritual energy. Can you not feel that of others? Given your current abilities, you should be able to feel at least some."
"I can feel some at school when I focus."
The familiar nodded, "Yes, it is easier to feel those who are weaker or who cannot hide it. If the gap is too big, you will not – unless you focus or they want you to feel it. Though you should be careful, if you grow without considering the consequences and without proper control, you will only invite trouble."
"Will you be willing to help train me? I'm looking to use talismans to help keep the yokai out of my school."
The familiar studied him for a moment, "I will not leave this place. Let me see what you carry."
Izuku showed it to the familiar – wide-eyed at the realization that the old familiar knew he had it.
The familiar nodded, "It needs perfecting. You will find what you need by the entrance, at the bottom of the Torii Gate. Once they are done, place one at each corner of the school and grounds to make a perimeter. Go now, human, and be wary. Yokai will seek you out if you continue to grow your power. So carefully consider your path, and always protect yourself."
Izuku started, "How do you know that yoki will look for me?"
"I am not young – I can tell you have only recently started training. You would be advised not to pursue this path without much thought. Carefully consider your path. Heed my warning. If you need refuge, come. Now, go."
Izuku wanted to ask the familiar more but bowed respectfully and backed away. Then, he turned and darted toward the Torii Gate. As he approached, he felt that refreshing atmosphere grow stronger.
At the bottom of the gate, he saw several talismans, each with the same design. His eyes widened as he recognized the patterns on the small slips of paper. Sitting by the foot of the gate, he quickly pulled out his notebook and began to copy the design as accurately as possible.
Once he was done, he looked back toward the offering box but did not see the familiar anymore. Standing, Izuku grinned as he found his mother still listening to the monk. He had what he came for, so listening to a few more stories would not hurt.
That night, Izuku looked at the finalized talisman. He had taken the one Kekyu had given him and his notebook with the copy from the temple and created several talismans for the school.
"The familiar said to put one in each corner of the school and then each corner of the grounds. So, I guess I should make eight? I can put one at each of the four corners of the walls and the outside corners of the school. There are plenty of bushes, so I don't think people will see them, ButWhatIfTheGroundsKeepsFindThemAndTakeThemDownThenIWon'tHaveMyProtection.MaybeISHouldMakeAFewExtra…"
Izuku continued to mutter, considering as many possibilities as he was able.
"Izuku?"
Izuku jumped as his mother called out to him from the bedroom door. He turned quickly to see his mother smiling softly.
Izuku felt his heart stop for a second. What if she heard, but then he smiled. He was sure his mother would worry, but she was his mom after all. She would always be there to help.
"It's time for bed, Izuku. It will be another big day at school tomorrow."
"Yes, mom!"
Inko nodded and left, only glancing back once she was out of sight. While she still smiled, worry pinched her brow. Turning, she left to finish cleaning up the kitchen before she would turn in herself.
The next day, Izuku could not stop fidgeting. It felt like the talismans were burning a hole in his bag. He had no idea when he would find time to place them in each corner of the school.
But he did notice that the yokai seemed to skirt around him even more than usual – eyeing him and his bag suspiciously.
It was not until recess that Izuku was able to clip away to place the first talisman. He cautiously made his way to one of the corners of the building, and kneeling behind a bush, he gently placed the talisman on the wall.
Izuku took a deep breath, "Okay, Kekyu said to infuse it with my energy – how do I do that? Is it the same as when I used my words to fight the yokai before?"
Placing his fingers on the talisman, Izuku concentrated and willed the energy flowing in him to pass into the paper. After a few failed attempts, he settled his mind enough and, feeling the flow of energy, grasped it. With a feeling like static running down his arm, he felt the energy flow into the paper.
At that exact moment, a small yokai jumped, startling Izuku.
Their eyes met, and the yokai glanced at the paper before shuttering and scurrying away, leaping over the wall and out of the grounds.
Izuku started after the yokai, nonplussed. Then, looked back at the talisman.
It worked!
Izuku jumped up and hurried to the second corner. With each new talisman, one at each of the four corners of the school and the four corners of the walls, it became easier and easier.
As he laid the last of the eight talismans, he felt his whole body vibrating with excitement.
Before infusing it with energy, he took one last look around. Several meters away, he saw the tall, lanky yokai he had fought.
It looked at him with horrified awe – anger flashing in its eyes.
Izuku hesitated only a moment but, thinking about the damage the yokai could do, turned back to the talisman and infused it with energy.
As soon as he did, he felt a surge of energy from the talisman, and simultaneously, another surge of energy rose up. Izuku spun around to see flicks of yokai flying and scampering out of the school – all heading for the walls and sky to flee the area designated by the talismans.
Izuku watched in awe, suddenly feeling like he could breathe. As the yokai left, Izuku could feel the air in the school grounds become clearer. It was not as clear as the temple, but it was far better than it had been.
The next day, there were no yokai in the school or on the grounds to harass him or the other students. And, just as he hoped, the gibes and off-hand comments from his classmates had noticeably lessened.
Bakugo and Jiro still pestered him, but even those felt less threatening.
Izuku could not help himself. So, after school, once everyone was gone, he checked all the talismans, touching each softly and willing more energy into them. He could feel the light crackle and tingling of energy following into them.
If this is what he could do now when he just started, what more could he do? How much more could he grow? Now, he needed to figure out how to make it work when he was a hero.
Izuku smiled and darted off, unaware of the consequences that would follow as the little yokai left their territory – the school – and flooded in the surrounding ones.
Chapter 5: Danger in the Shadows
Izuku stood in the middle of the living room, still as a statue. His fourth-grade homework was scattered across the table, and even though the ceiling light was on, the room felt dark and oppressive.
A large orange yokai cat sat crouched on top of the bookshelf while staring down at Izuku. Izuku eyed its tail nervously. The tail had a flame at its tip, and it was flicking one way and then the other while the flame flickered. The yokai cat's narrow, slitted eyes gleamed, reflecting the waning light from outside the window – they seemed to be trying to devour Izuku.
Izuku tried to keep his breathing steady as he observed the yokai cat, taking in as much as possible, tense and prepared for the worst. Curiosity, though, also piqued his interest despite the sense of danger the yokai cat and its tail posed. Something sat on top of the yokai cat's head. It almost looked like horns, but not quite. Izuku could not make out what it was in the fading light.
"So, it is you…" The yokai cat hummed, almost like a purr. The sound distracted Izuku from his observations, and a shiver ran up his spine. Its voice rumbled, deep and throaty, enchanting and possessive, and otherwise altogether betraying its sly and predatorial nature.
The yokai cat's tail flicked again, the flames at its tip coming dangerously close to a cloth wall hanging, almost setting it alight.
Izuku's eyes darted between that tail and the yokai cat's gaze. He nodded once but dared not speak. It was painfully obvious that this yokai was not at all like the average schoolyard yokai. It was not a mere bully or prankster. The sinister aura, which was growing ever thicker, now gave the room a cold, cloying feeling. It took all of Izuku's will to remain calm.
As another shiver passed up his spine, Izuku found himself wishing Kekyu were willing to come home with him. If Kekyu were there, it could help him figure out what to do. Ginro might be able to help him wrestle it out of the home. It was painfully obvious that although he had been able to fight the lanky schoolyard yokai, Izuku would not be successful in any kind of altercation with this yokai on his own. He could feel the difference in their strength. Not to mention, the talismans he had set in the home had done nothing to keep it out, despite their continued success at the school.
This yokai was clearly different. It was more like the yokai who lived in the heart of the city – yokai who feasted on annoyance, anxiety, and hostility – than the schoolyard yokai. Even then, it seemed keener and far more intelligent than any yokai Izuku had yet seen.
Izuku could feel the malevolence of the yokai in front of him. As he grew older, spent time with Kekyu, trained with Ginro, and especially after placing the talismans at school, his ability to sense yokai grew.
Izuku knew this yokai cat was very dangerous.
The yokai cat crouched, and Izuku stiffened.
"You are the human who can see us!" The yokai cat purred again, drawing out the "see" with a low trill. "A few small yokai recently intruded upon my home; they talked of you."
The yokai cat tilted its head, eyes never leaving Izuku's own. "I did not hear much," the cat paused, "after all, they were quite tasty and I didn't quite catch it all."
The yokai cat licked its lips, and Izuku flinched.
Still crouching, the yokai cat's eyes gleamed as it pushed its head forward, eyes growing wider. "Then, I remembered tales told by an old Ox and Boar – a few years ago, they also talked of a small human who could see us."
Izuku flinched again as its tail flicked, this time coming even closer to the wall hanging.
The yokai cat tilted its head even more, and Izuku, skin crawling and the hair on his arms tingling, took a step back.
Only one – because the moment he stepped back – the yokai cat stood like a human, pupils narrowing into thin slits, and a grin flicking across its features.
"Oh?" It questioned and hopped down from its perch to the table, knocking over a picture frame as it went, the sly grin growing even wider across its face. "What is your name, little one?"
Izuku shook his head. Kekyu had been very stern about Izuku not sharing his name with any yokai he came across. Telling a yokai your name was like giving it permission to use it, and use it they would – as a spell to control him.
Izuku took a steadying breath and looked back at the yokai cat intently, attempting to convey his resolve to say nothing. He was not going to tell the yokai cat his name. So, he shook his head more emphatically.
The yokai's eyes narrowed more, and it hissed, but when Izuku did not back away further, it merely raised what looked like an eyebrow, sniffed, and then hopped out the open window.
Izuku let out the breath he had been holding.
Movement in his peripheral made him jump, but it was only Inko, who came out of the short hall connecting the living room to the back of the small apartment where the bedrooms and bathroom were. She was drying her hair with a towel.
Her eyes betrayed her worry. After all, Izuku had seemingly been talking to himself, yet again.
"Izuku, are you okay?"
Izuku nodded and, in a clipped tone, asked, "Can I go for a walk?"
Inko's eyes skimmed the mess of paper on the table by the couch, "Is your homework done?"
Izuku shook his head.
"You need to finish your homework."
Izuku grimaced, "I just need a small break so I can focus. Please? I'll be right back."
Inko took a moment to observe Izuku. Usually, he would not resist if she asked something of him. Izuku was pale and looked a bit sweaty. Inko took a step forward and reached to place her hand on his forehead.
"Are you coming down with something?"
Izuku took a step back, shaking his head. "No, I just need a walk."
Inko nodded slowly and looked outside, "It's getting dark. Don't be out long. Come back before the sun is down."
Izuku glanced out the window and then nodded. He would have just enough time to find Kekyu, ask his question, and then come back. If need be, he could ask Kekyu to come to his room – if they needed more time.
The yokai cat terrified Izuku, and he needed to know how to deal with it if it ever came back.
After Izuku explained the encounter to the hairy yokai, Kekyu nodded, "The Gotoku Neko. Very forgetful but will keep the house warm if taken care of while still a cat, but if not, it will become hostile. They live in rural places, where they can stay by the hearth… Very much like a cat to pop up and then disappear."
"What was that on its head?"
"A trivet."
"Why?"
"I do not know! But not all bakeneko are bad. Some Gotoku Neko are good, but other bakeneko like Maneki Neko are good fortune! Different Maneki Neko have different fortunes."
"What are they?"
"I do not know all, but some bring wealth and fortune!"
Izuku pouted, and Kekyu had the decency to look a bit sheepish. "I know many things about yokai, but only lots about the most common. Many yokai are not the larger type, but born from human emotion or due to being very old objects."
Izuku tilted his head.
"Some yokai are born because things that humans care for last long time – like a nice cup that is lost or thrown away. After gaining power from earth – cup yokai live under the house and warn people there if danger is near, running around."
Izuku nodded. They had not talked much about the more random yokai, but he was more concerned about the Gotoku Neko, "Do you think it heard my mom call my name?"
Kekyu shook its head, "You remember lesson, no?"
"Yes."
"So long as you do not tell it your name – you are fine."
Over the years, Kekyu had given Izuku many long lectures about the importance of names and ranted about how much humans abused them. In the yokai world, it was the act of giving one's name that allowed another to use it. After the long diatribe and Kekyu's descriptions of the horrible things a yokai could do with one's name, Izuku did not want to learn the hard way. He appreciated their warnings and respect now more than ever.
Izuku had also noticed that Kekyu almost never used his name, and it had been reassuring that Kekyu respected the name, so Izuku did the same in return. The feeling of knowing Kekyu had shared its name all those years ago, despite all the ways a name could be used, made Izuku happy. Kekyu, the fuzz-balls, and Ginro were the only yokai Izuku knew, and even now, only Kekyu knew Izuku's name. Ginro had told Izuku his but refused when Izuku offered his in response – much to Izuku's surprise, but not Kekyu's.
Izuku and Kekyu sat in silence for a moment, but Izuku shook himself, and Kekyu turned to face him.
Izuku gave a slight bow, "Thank you for helping. I have to get back now, or Mom will be mad."
Kekyu pouted, and Izuku giggled, "I'll come tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, I will tell you more about Onmyoji… what I saw them do to banish evil yokai. Maybe it will help if Gotoku Neko comes back – or another strong yokai. I do not know spells or how to cast them, but stories may help – like when you made talismans." Kekyu puffed his chest and nodded proudly.
Izuku paused, nodded, and then slipped out of the clearing behind the bush and trotted back home. All the while, he kept his eyes trained on the path ahead of him. Yokai were starting to peek out of their daytime hiding spots as the shadows lengthened. Soon, it would not be entirely safe for him to be outside.
Once back at the apartment, Izuku rushed up the last flight of steps and hurriedly slipped into the apartment, pressing his back against the door, eyes wandering to the now closed window.
Izuku took a deep breath and let it out, moving further into the apartment and peeking into the kitchen where he could see his mother at the stove, humming to herself.
"I'm back!"
Inko turned, "Welcome home, Izuku. Did you have a good walk?"
Izuku nodded.
"Well, dinner will be ready in just a bit. See if you can finish up a little bit more of your homework before then."
Izuku made a face, and Inko giggled, "Yes, you. Now go."
Izuku smiled, glad for the sense of normality. Then, he quietly surveyed the home, checking for another yokai intruder. When he found none, he stood by his scattered homework for a moment before glancing at his mother, then settled down to do more work.
As soon as Izuku sat, and Inko could hear the sound of pen on paper, she glanced over her shoulder, worry etched on her face. She was more than certain she had heard voices from the living room before he left for his walk. She distinctly remembered hearing Izuku, but the other voice was indistinct – she could not even be certain she actually heard it. After Izuku insisted on going out for a walk, she had walked over to the window, surveyed the street below, and then firmly shut it. With a sigh, she decided to wait and see, tucking away her concerns for future contemplation.
Over the next few weeks, Izuku considered the encounter and what he should do if the Gotoku Neko returned. But summer vacation was starting soon, and he had end-of-term tests to worry about. And so, Izuku walked home from yet another day of school. Today, his mother had asked him to stop by the market. Glancing around, he noticed that he was very close to the place where he first met Ginro. Izuku smiled at the memory. He shaded his eyes and stared up at the sky, wondering if this summer was going to be as hot as the summer when they met.
Then, Izuku heard a cry of pain followed by the sound of small popping explosions from the nearby park.
Izuku's heart wrenched, already guessing the circumstances. Quickening his pace, Izuku approached the park, and as he rounded the dome in the playground, he saw one of the smaller students, whose quirk had manifested a little bit later than the others, lying on the ground. Above him, Bakugo and his friends stood glaring down at him. Bakugo's hands were giving off sparks.
Izuku flinched, remembering the feeling of burns littering his skin after Bakugo had done the same to him.
Behind Bakugo and his two friends, several small yokai flittered around, either hovering and flying around the three bullies' heads or scurrying around their feet.
-Go on! Give him another one!
-He's weak! Teach him his place!
-Don't worry about anyone seeing.
-He can't measure up to you! You're invincible!
The yokai egged on the unhearing but very responsive bullies.
The most disturbing yokai, however, was not just flitting around the bullies. This yokai, a yokai that looked like the disembodied head of a grey wolf, was pressed against the side of Bakugo's face, rubbing itself along his jawline.
The wolf-head yokai was looking up at Bakugo pleadingly, like it was attempting a dewy, puppy-dog eye look, but the sinister glint shattered the cute doe-eyed feeling, and the malicious grin, lips curled back almost Joker-like, revealed razor-sharp teeth.
The wolf-head yokai's words were the worst of them all. Its voice dripped with honey, almost like a keening whine, but the edge behind it sent shivers down Izuku's spine.
-Don't worry about the pebbles in your path. You are the best of them all. You are great. Only you can make it to the top anyway.
The wolf-head yokai nuzzled Bakugo again, and Izuku's former friend looked down on their classmate with haughty eyes.
-You're at the top of the food chain. The best. Everything you do is right. So, always do what you want. Burn him. Crush him. Make him bleed. Blood is always the best color. You…
Izuku pushed between Bakugo, desperately trying to avoid an inadvertent glance at the glaring wolf-head.
Izuku glared, "Stop! You shouldn't use your quirks to hurt people. It's wrong."
Everyone jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion, but Bakugo quickly recovered. The wolf-head yokai glaring daggers at Izuku all the while.
"Move it," Bakugo snarled, hands popping.
It was then that Izuku noticed Bakugo's eyes were slightly glazed and unfocused. Izuku flinched back in surprise but froze when the wolf-head yokai's eyes gleamed and its grin widened in pleasure.
Bakugo growled, "What did I say, nerd?"
Bakugo looked down on Izuku, hands popping even more violently. Izuku's eyes widened more. He had never really overcome the human bullies, and the memories of how much those burns hurt made him tremble.
Izuku bit the inside of his lip and steeled himself, eyes glued on Bakugo's own.
The wolf-head yokai huffed and, sliding up to Bakugo once more, whispered in his ear.
-You don't need this…
It looked at Izuku out of the corner of its eye…
-Deku…
Izuku's jaw clenched.
Bakugo growled, "Move it, Deku."
-Burn him. Let him have it instead if he won't move. Make him move.
Bakugo's hands flickered with sparks, "Stop getting in my way! Move it, or I'll make you, Deku."
Izuku's eyes trembled as Bakugo continued to mirror the wolf-head yokai. This is what Bakugo was becoming in the face of his powerful quirk, the fawning and praise doled out by those around him, and the constant meddling of malicious yokai.
A sudden memory leapt to the forefront of Izuku's mind. It was one of the more recent stories Kekyu told after the Gotoku Neko 'visited' only a few months before. While Onmyoji used talismans, they also used their spiritual power to banish yokai. The memory slotted itself together with a training session with Ginro. Their martial lessons were not just for training the body but the spirit as well – it was meant to strengthen the body, mind, and spirit.
He needed to use his spiritual energy directly, connecting it with the martial training. This is what he had done when he fought the schoolyard yokai before placing the talismans, but it had been at a much weaker scale. Now that he knew more about what the Onmyoji could do, and now that he was stronger, maybe he could figure it out.
Now, Izuku wanted to try something new. So, he kept his eyes on Bakugo while watching the wolf-head yokai in his peripheral field of vision.
Izuku performed the most basic fighting stance. Focusing on his core and digging deep with his breath, Izuku willed the energy flowing within him to focus into his fingers, much like he did when he imbued the talismans. Then, with a firm step forward, Izuku performed the move Kekyu described the Onmyoji using. Izuku struck his hand in a cutting gesture, his fore and middle fingers together like a knife, and calling out with conviction, "Begone."
Izuku felt a sudden surge of power, and a weak light, invisible to humans but not to yokai, burst forth from his fingers, drawing a line on the ground between him and Bakugo. At that moment, the yokai swirling around the three bullies scattered.
Only the wolf-head remained in the vicinity – but it now hovered several meters away, staring non-pulsed at Izuku, whose focus remained on Bakugo.
Bakugo's eyes cleared, his brows snapping together in annoyance.
"You're not better than me, nerd. Don't tell me what to do," Bakugo clicked his tongue, hands popping with much smaller sparks. "Quit looking down on me!"
"I'm not looking down on you! You're going to be an awesome hero, but heroes don't hurt other people!"
Izuku imbued each word with as much conviction as he could, just like he did when he spoke to yokai. He stood up to them. Now, he needed to stand up to Bakugo.
Bakugo's eyes twitched, and his face contorted. Then, he surged forward and shoved Izuku with a sharp burst of his quirk.
Izuku fell back a step, but his training kicked in, allowing him to catch himself before he fell. Izuku felt blood seeping from a cut on his forehead.
At the sight of the blood, Bakugo froze, eyes wide, before clicking his tongue again. Spinning on his heels, Bakugo gestured to his two friends and stomped off, "Let's go."
Bakugo only looked back once and slouched, with his hands digging into his pockets, before the three disappeared.
Izuku tried to ignore the wolf-head, and, turning, offered his hand to the boy on the ground.
Small burn marks and a few bruises littered the boy's arms and legs, but the boy slapped Izuku's hand away.
"Go away."
Izuku halted.
"Why did it have to be you?" The boy whined.
Izuku backed up as the boy picked himself up, "Just leave me alone."
Izuku watched as the boy left. He could feel the wolf-head yokai approaching, but it did not move too close.
-See, it's no use – Deku.
Izuku stiffened while the yokai grinned. His thoughts ran a mile a minute.
What should I do? It knows I can see it! The yokai who were in the school knew, but I didn't want any others… No, that's optimistic. Otherwise, why would the Gotoku Neko have come? I think some of the yokai I displaced may have gone to its territory.
Izuku shuddered and took a deep breath, controlling his expression, "Don't approach me or Bakugo again."
The wolf-yokai snickered.
-Oh? And what will you do? An untrained one such as yourself? That borderline was merely a fluke.
Izuku perked when the yokai named the spell. Kekyu did not know what it was called, and even Izuku had been trying to put together pieces of information in a single moment to cast it. To know he had performed a real spell was surprising.
But he could not let the yokai know.
Izuku so desperately wanted to bluff, but doing so and failing would only be dangerous. So, Izuku turned sharply and walked away. The wolf-head merely watched, grin fading to a frown, and solemnly glaring as it watched Izuku disappear down the road.
Once out of sight, Izuku broke into a run, sprinting to the narrow forest path and to the bush under the tree, where he collapsed, panting.
A sudden wave of dizziness overtook him, and Izuku curled up on his side, trying to catch his breath.
Kekyu popped up beside him, but upon seeing Izuku's condition, immediately began to fret.
"I…" Izuku panted, "managed a borderline. That's what the yokai called it."
Kekyu's eyes lit up, but the tension did not leave its face.
"You need to be careful. Do not use too much spirit energy at once. It will be easier from now on, but must have more control. Do not use too much too fast!"
Izuku's arms trembled as he tried to sit up. Kekyu had to help him so that Izuku could lean against the tree, and then Izuku briefly explained.
Kekyu listened carefully, then nodding said, "You put much force behind it, maybe too much, but if the wolf-head did not flee, then it was a strong yokai. Strong enough not to be banished. You need more control. Learn how to draw the right amount. Must be careful not to leave yourself vulnerable if you use too much."
Izuku smiled, nodding. He could tell. He had felt the power build and release, and he could feel how much it drained him.
Kekyu nodded once again, patting Izuku's shoulder, "Probably will not be able to use power for a while, but it will be back. Then you can work on building more! Strengthen it and banish even stronger yokai!"
Izuku gave Kekyu a half-hearted grin, and the hairy yokai cackled happily at the thought of Izuku's progress.
Minutes before, and as soon as Izuku cast the borderline, a yokai with beady eyes in a lion-like face who had been hiding in a nearby waterway, started at the sudden surge of spiritual power coming from above the water's surface. It had been waiting along the path for the small human, continuing its ever-increasing vigil of the boy with the sight. Today, it seemed, the small human confirmed its fears.
The yokai had been watching the child with the sightfor a long time now. The more the child learned, and the stronger its spiritual power became, the more the child was the center of attention in various circles.
The little hairball yokai was a known associate. Even if the hairball yokai was not actively disliked, it was not well-liked either. The little runt was small and easy prey to pick on. But now, it was standing tall as the first familiar of the new human with the sight.
The beady-eyed yokai had first sent others to watch, but it was displeased with some of the most recent turns of events.
The first was the influx of small yokai cast out of the school – those that had settled nearby had been a nuisance to dispose of.
The next was the brief invasion of the Gotoku Neko, who had passed through the beady-eyed yokai's territory. The arrogant cat-yokai had ignored it in favor of satiating its curiosity concerning the child. The beady-eyed yokai did not like being ignored – it dealt with that enough from its own kind.
It did not want vagrant yokai banished from little human schools and wandering yokai from the country invading and trespassing on its territory.
Most of all, it did not need some small human child growing powers that should have been dormant or lost entirely to mere humans. The child had already defeated a yokai in a fight and had even created protective talismans – the reason for its first issue with the human. The talismans were not perfect, enough to chase out the little yokai and keep its subordinates out, but not enough to keep it out – the very reason it had started its personal vigil.
Now, the child had done it again. This sudden new growth spurt of power indicated that the child had stepped over a threshold that the yokai did not like. If it wanted to maintain its place, the beady-eyed yokai with a lion-like face would have to take action.
It needed a plan.