Chapter Text
When All for One had finally cried until he had no tears left, it gave him a strange feeling of relief. The twins leaned against each other. Yoichi said, “You should go back home and make up with Gigantomachia. Heaven knows why, but that man might be the only person in the world who can put up with your nonsense.”
All for One tensed. “That’s completely impossible, after what he did to me.”
Yet after hearing the whole story, Yoichi seemed completely unimpressed. “That’s your own fault, big brother. You made Gigantomachia feel unwelcome in your bed. He was only trying to be considerate to you by sleeping on the floor.”
“He left me alone,” All for One insisted, still confused that Yoichi did not understand the magnitude of this offense.
Yoichi rolled his eyes and muttered something again about how no one else would put up with his brother. Then he said, “Very well, if you’re going to be stubborn, you can come home with me.”
Sanzou did not speak a word when Yoichi brought All for One home and made him breakfast. However, he had very expressive eyebrows.
After dragging Kaiji aside, Sanzou hissed, “Are we really going to let All for One move into our home?”
Kaiji hunched up his shoulders. “I tried to tell Yoichi no, but he gave me the puppy eyes. He promised me it would be temporary. And he said he loved me. How can I resist that?”
“All for One tried to kill you.”
“I know, and he’s glaring at me as if he still would like to.”
“Look, I initially had my objections about Yoichi, but he later proved to be a great friend and I’m glad I met him. But All for One is very…All for One. He’s a murderer. He may still be dangerous to us even as a human.”
Quietly, Kaiji said, “It would make Yoichi very happy if he could reconcile with his brother. He had to give up his only family to be with me. I want to give him a chance.”
Knowing he’d been outvoted, Sanzou groaned. He grumbled, “You’re lucky I promised your parents I’d look after you.”
“You’re the best brother I could ever have.” Kaiji grinned. “I haven’t told you the good part yet.”
“There’s a good part to having a killer spirit at our dining room table?”
“I convinced Yoichi that if his brother stays with us, then he has to do chores.”
Had All for One chopped wood as a human child? Yes, he’d done all manner of chores to survive. Sometimes people had paid him with a bit of moldy bread. Other times, the only payment he’d gotten had been a lighter beating.
Did All for One want to chop wood now? No, he did not. When he’d become a powerful spirit, he’d reveled in the knowledge no one would ever oppress him again. The beautiful and majestic Nyavka did not have chores.
All for One dropped his axe (carefully, so as not to hurt himself.) He wrung his hand. “Ow! Ow! I’m too weak to swing an axe.” Glancing sidelong at the spiky-haired brother thief, he attempted to assess if his act was working.
Kaiji Kudou crossed his arms. “You can either chop wood with me, or you can leave and see if your foolish lover will take you back. Don’t even try to appeal to Yoichi. He agrees with me.” Kaiji’s grin became diabolical. “I even convinced Yoichi this will put you in touch with your human side.”
The human was truly evil. All for One wanted to return to Gigantomachia where he’d been pampered and adored—but when he remembered how they’d parted, his mind revolted. No, no, he could not go crawling back after such a show of weakness. Part of All for One also felt guilty about wanting to drown Gigantomachia. He did not want to feel this strange emotion, nor did he understand it. As a Nyavka, it had always been his nature and right to drown whoever offended him. But when he thought about Gigantomachia’s gentle hands, his smiles, and his gifts, then that lively body lying cold and dead, All for One shuddered. He did not like feeling bad and wished it would stop. This stupid human body contained all manner of unpleasant feelings, both physical and mental.
At the same time, All for One wondered why Gigantomachia hadn’t yet come to fetch him. He’d gone to his brother’s inn. He wouldn’t be very hard to find—if his most loyal follower was looking. Thinking about this made All for One’s stomach hurt more, a swirling mixture of anger, fear that he’d been abandoned, and fear it might be his own fault. He tried to put these stupid human concerns out of his mind.
Kaiji gestured at the axe. With a sudden need for activity, All for One picked up the axe and swung it down at the pile of wood. A log broke into a smaller piece with a hard crack. Kaiji picked up his own axe to help. All for One quickly grew tired. Unfortunately, Kaiji would only break a piece of wood every time All for One did, preventing All for One from working more slowly to avoid work.
When they finally finished, All for One panted and whined, “My hands feel sore.”
“Tough, we still have to carry some of the wood inside,” Kaiji said.
All for One picked up a piece. “Ugh, that was dreadful. I think we’re even now for that time I nearly arranged for your death.”
“No, we’re not,” Kaiji growled. What a rude lout, All for One couldn’t understand what his brother saw in him.
Sanzou planted his hands on his hips. “In my kitchen, you follow my rules. I have everything in place, just how I like it.”
All for One sat on a chair and attempted a winning smile. “I would hate to interfere with your organization system. What if I serve as taste-tester?”
Sanzou glared. “You’re going to help me roll out the dough.”
All for One whined, “More manual labor? But my arms are already sore.”
“It’s all you’re good for without training,” Sanzou said scornfully.
All for One’s shoulders rose up around his ears. “Excuse me, I’m sure I could cook better than a mere human if I wanted to.”
“Humph.” Sanzou eyed him. “I’ll accept that challenge.”
After that, Sanzou allowed All for One to work on every step of making cookies while Sanzou prepared his own batch. When the Kiflyky (Crescent Rolls) were done, Sanzou’s looked perfectly white. All for One’s batch was all burned and lumpy.
The other brother thief’s baking smelled delicious. All for One reached for one of Sanzou’s cookies. Sanzou yanked them away. “Since you’re so much better than me, why not eat your own?”
As if a majestic Nyavka would eat burned food. All for One’s stomach ached from hunger and this stupid human was being impossible. He yelped, “Cookies! I want cookies! Now now now!”
Yoichi stormed in. “Knock that off, Hisashi, I promised my friend that you’d behave. Just for that, you’re helping me clean all the bedrooms.”
“Nooooooooooo!” All for One wailed as he got dragged off without a single cookie.
Sanzou took a couple fresh cookies for Kaiji to eat. Kaiji was tending to the fireplace. Looking up, he said, “I heard that temper-tantrum from the other side of the inn.”
“I was going to let him have a cookie as soon as he admitted mine were better. Perhaps I’m too petty.”
Kaiji bit into a cookie. “Delicious. Nah, after what he put us through, we’re entitled to some mild revenge. His reaction was odd, though.”
“He seemed…childish.” Sanzou’s brow furrowed.
“I wonder if All for One got frozen in time when he drowned. He never matured past being a scared little boy. Now that he’s human again, he doesn’t know how to handle his emotions because he never grew up.” Kaiji wiped his mouth of crumbs. “Ugh, now I nearly feel sorry for the bastard.”
“I suspect All for One would be at least a bit insufferable even if he’d grown up as a human.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Kaiji laughed. “I can’t imagine him not being insufferable.”
Yoichi said brightly, “I enjoy cleaning. There’s something cathartic about wiping away dirt. It makes me feel useful. Plus, a little exercise gets the blood flowing and works up an appetite for dinner. Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dryly, All for One said, “You’re definitely insane, but at least it doesn’t seem to be hereditary.”
“Less talking, more cleaning!” Yoichi put his hands on his hips. “I want this floor perfectly clean to impress all our future guests. My inn will be known around Ukraine for hospitality.”
As All for One scrubbed the floor, he imagined himself back in Gigantomachia’s house. He’d be sitting next to the fire while Gigantomachia brought him a hot drink. He accidentally spilled some dirty water on his sleeve and hissed. “I miss Gigantomachia.”
Yoichi gasped. “Big brother, that’s a huge breakthrough. You miss a human, and you’re even willing to admit it. Well-done. I knew that cleaning would help you get in touch with your humanity!”
All for One fell into a deep sleep of exhaustion that night. Fortunately, Yoichi did not wake him up to see the sunrise. All for One wouldn’t be held responsible if he committed fratricide after one more such intrusion.
Still groggy, All for One headed downstairs. He wasn’t hungry because he’d eaten a big dinner last night. (It turned out Sanzou wasn’t a mere braggart—his cooking was amazing.) However, All for One still planned to eat breakfast to delay the inevitable chores.
At the bottom of the stairs, Yoichi and Kaiji kissed.
All for One froze with one foot raised. He expected to feel murderous. But the drowning urge never came. Instead he only felt annoyed. After All for One had experienced it himself, he now understood why his little brother would take a human lover. It felt good, and All for One firmly believed both he and his twin deserved nice things. Although All for One still did not understand why Yoichi had picked a spiky-haired imbecile.
Surely Yoichi could do better. Ugly spiky-head couldn’t possibly be as skilled in bed as Gigantomachia. Maybe All for One should lend Gigantomachia to his brother—
Another stab of pain hit All for One’s stomach. No, he didn’t like that idea, not one bit. It turned out there were some things he wasn’t willing to share with his twin. Jealousy was another strange human emotion he did not fully understand.
Yoichi gripped his lover’s hair as they embraced. Softly, Yoichi moaned. A green spark passed between them. And a floral scent filled the air.
All for One blurted out, “You can still use your powers? Why didn’t you tell me?! Why did that never happen when I kissed Gigantomachia?” Resentment filled him, that his stupid brother who didn’t even appreciate their power had more than him.
“Ack!” Kaiji jumped and glared, clearly not appreciating the interruption.
Yoichi straightened his hair. “Love, I need to talk to my brother alone.”
All for One and Yoichi sat side by side on Yoichi’s bed. The room was full of flowers, from the window boxes to the vases. At least his foolish little brother hadn’t completely forgotten his roots. The smell was comforting and familiar, like their old cave. Yoichi said, “When I turned human, part of my power passed to Kaiji.”
“I knew he was a thief!” All for One shouted triumphantly.
“Not a thief. He helped me. He shared humanity with me, and in turn, I shared my power with him. We’ve found the abilities pass back and forth between us when we touch.” Yoichi’s smile turned dreamy. “Especially when it’s particularly passionate—”
“Ugh, no details.” All for One shuddered. “Why can’t I do that with Gigantomachia?”
“I don’t know. You became human because of En’s magic. That might be different.” Yoichi leaned closer. “Big brother, why do you want to become Nyavka again so badly? I’ve tried very hard to show you the joys of humanity. Don’t you want to stay with me?”
“You’re the one who left,” All for One spat out, indignant.
“Only because you forced me into it by threatening Kaiji.”
“Liar! You wanted to become human before that! You were obsessed with going back to the past! Even though those days sucked.”
“Becoming human didn’t have to mean leaving you.”
“There was nothing of value to our human days.”
“What about me?” Yoichi screamed. “I’m the last remnant of your time as a human. If you want to kill that part of yourself so much, then why would you never let me go?”
“Because I love you, you fool,” All for One screamed back.
“I love you, too.” Tears welled up in Yoichi’s eyes. “I’ve missed you, big brother.”
The sight of those tears erased All for One’s anger. He pulled his twin into a hug. They held each other even as the moment stretched on. Neither let go.
Eventually, Yoichi said into All for One’s shoulder, “Why did you like being Nyavka so much?”
All for One twitched. “What was there not to like? We had fine things. We had power. When we were human, everyone mistreated and bullied us. Why would you want to be associated with such horrible creatures as humans?”
“Not all humans are horrible. As a Nyavka, I felt muffled. Dead inside.”
“Human emotions are painful. I don’t understand why you like having them.” All for One hesitated, then finally admitted, “I’ve felt so much in the past few days, it drives me crazy. But some of the emotions felt good. I still don’t think the trade is worth it.”
Yoichi stroked his brother’s curls. “I understand why you didn’t want to return to our old life. Our childhood was horrible. But when we were Nyavka, in some ways it felt like you were still stuck as that angry child. You never moved past resenting the whole world. I want you to be happy, like me.”
“Being weak doesn’t make me happy. It just reminds me of the bad days. Without my power, what worth do I have? I can’t protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection any longer.” Yoichi said it gently, yet still the words made his brother flinch. Yoichi took his twin’s hands in his own. “But I still value your company whether you have power or not. Gigantomachia still loves you regardless.” He winked. “You should make sure you hold onto such a good man, big brother. No one else would ever be so devoted.”
A confusing mass of feelings washed over All for One, including that same unpleasant guilt. Out of the mess, one pitiful thought emerged: “What if he doesn’t love me any longer?”
“I stopped you before you reached the point of no return. You can still make up.”
“I’m glad you stopped me,” All for One admitted, although the words felt like they were being ripped out of his throat by a hook. “I feel terrible. Guilt is dreadful, Yoichi, why would you want to feel it?”
Dryly, Yoichi said, “Because it stops you from doing crazy things like murdering someone you love!”
“I don’t love G—” All for One found he couldn’t finish that sentence. He did not know what to make of that. Surely he could not love a mere human, that would be embarrassing. Not that his Gigantomachia was just any old human.
Judging from Yoichi’s teasing grin, he had drawn his own conclusions. “Oh-ho! Big brother is in love!” His tone turned sing-song.
“Stop it,” All for One moaned.
Yoichi scolded, “You should apologize to Gigantomachia. You got upset with him because he tried to respect your wishes and couldn’t read your mind. That’s not fair.”
“I don’t wanna,” All for One grumbled. “Besides, what if he doesn’t accept?” Those last words slipped out.
Yoichi winked. “Human men can be astoundingly forgiving. Kaiji forgave me far too easily for nearly drowning him.” His tone turned serious. “And I’ve also let you off too easy for your part. I blamed it all on your Nyavka urges, but you still tried to drown someone as a full human, so it’s clearly at least partly your own free will. You owe Kaiji an apology.”
“I really don’t wanna!” All for One protested. How could a great spirit humble himself before the brother thief?
“Kaiji is important to me. It would mean a lot if you’d at least try to make peace with him. He’s done so much for me. Without Kaiji and Sanzou, I wouldn’t have been able to settle into my new life.”
Those words only filled All for One with more resentment. Someone else had taken over the job of looking after his little brother. Yoichi no longer needed him.
When All for One had been a human child, he would have been grateful to anyone who helped him look after his little brother. Up until the moment he’d died holding his brother’s hand, he’d been silently begging for someone to save them. What an odd thought to come to him now. After his transformation, he’d never begged again. The only reason he was capable of admitting his old humiliation was because of his new human memories and emotions. As a Nyavka, Yoichi had been the reason All for One had clawed his way back from the grave and his obsession. He couldn’t have let anyone else have his brother, his reason for existing. Hence why his reaction to thieves had been swift and merciless.
But chasing after Yoichi had only gotten him turned into a powerless human. As little though All for One wanted to admit it, he had no way to take Yoichi back. As a Nyavka he wasn’t capable of leaving the forest, and as a human he lacked the power. Even if he could somehow drag Yoichi to the cave, if Yoichi wasn’t a Nyavka, how would he survive without human food? His human experience had painfully bashed cold hard reality into All for One’s head. He simply did not have the ability to look after a human, in either form. Since Yoichi no longer needed him, All for One could only keep his twin in his life if he made sure Yoichi wanted him there.
Slowly, All for One asked, “We can’t return to how we used to be, can we?”
“No, but maybe we can be better. Perhaps you have only nostalgia for the old days, but I wasn’t happy cooped up in that cave. Maybe this time we can both find a way to be happy together.” Yoichi took a deep breath. “I’m willing to compromise if you are. I won’t call you Hisashi. I never should have forced it if the name is too painful for you. If you prefer All for One, then I’ll only call you that.”
“I don’t mind Hisashi as much from you. But I prefer big brother.”
“Big brother, if you’ve decided you want to become Nyavka again, then I’ll talk to En and convince him to help you.”
All for One’s breath left him. He’d never expected such a generous offer. (And he knew if the positions had been reversed, and his twin was a Nyavka who wanted to return to being human, he never would have helped.) Fearing a trap, All for One asked, “What about afterward? Do you plan to leave me all alone in the forest and never see me again?”
“If you promise not to drown anyone or trap me, then I’ll visit you regularly. My friends might also be able to share ways for you to visit me too. Nana can move between worlds. Perhaps the line between spirit and human is less solid than either of us realized. I was surprised you retained the capacity to drown someone as a human, but that also means you might be able to hold onto your compassion as a Nyavka. We’ll find a compromise.” Yoichi squeezed his brother’s hands. “I want to see you again. You know, I missed you too. I felt happy when you became human, because I believed it meant I could get my brother back.”
All for One thought about how much he’d missed his twin. He remembered how he’d nearly drowned Gigantomachia, and his regrets afterward. This deal was tolerable. “I accept those terms. I swear not to trap you in the forest. I’ll never again drown a human no matter how stupid they act.” He hesitated. Then, before he lost his nerve, he blurted out: “I’m sorry for locking you up and tricking you into thinking your lover betrayed you.”
All for One still had no intention of apologizing to the ugly spiky-head. But his brother’s brilliant and loving smile was nearly enough to change his mind.
Just as All for One picked up a piece of firewood, he heard the rumbling of carriage wheels. Was it a guest for the inn? All for One picked up his pace, because he didn’t like to see strange humans. He’d rather go up to his room and avoid people.
The wagon crested the hill. Gigantomachia was in front, his strong arms easily pulling the cart. The wagon was loaded with flowers.
Waving, Gigantomachia called, “My lord! I came with a gift to apologize for my unforgiveable offense of leaving you alone.”
The wood slipped from All for One’s hands. He barely even noticed when it bounced off his toe. His cheeks flushed and his whole body trembled. The flowers were beautiful, a dazzling mixture of daffodils, tulips, irises, and crocuses. This must have taken great time and expense to gather. It was a perfect gesture of love for a Nyavka. Seeing solid proof of that love filled a hole in All for One’s heart.
Gigantomachia ran forward. “You’ve injured your toe! Oh, my poor darling, can you walk?” Without waiting for an answer, he lifted All for One off his feet. “How dare they have someone of your stature fetching firewood?”
“That’s what I said.” All for One nodded.
Gazing into his beloved’s eyes, Gigantomachia declared, “Please, forgive me! If you’ll only return to my side, then I swear you will never have to work again.”
This sounded absolutely perfect. “Humph, then I graciously accept your apology. I will even allow you to sleep in the same bed as me from now on.” All for One leaned up and pressed his lips against Gigantomachia’s.
Strange, how such a soft touch could fill him with a trembling all the way to his toes, but All for One had decided he liked this particular emotion. He deepened the kiss.
From the doorway, Yoichi said, “I’m happy for you, big brother. Although I feel like you should be the one apologizing, not Gigantomachia. And you should do your fair share of chores.”
“Let’s leave at once,” All for One hissed, worried that his brother might corrupt Gigantomachia with these insane ideas.
Gigantomachia wrapped his scarf around All for One to keep him warm and lifted him onto the wagon.
On a deep, fundamental level, All for One had always wanted to be loved. He couldn’t remember his parents’ love. He’d only known the hateful scorn in the eyes of the villagers as a child. For a long time, All for One had only possessed Yoichi’s love and had only loved Yoichi in return. When they’d been children, All for One had been the provider of food and shelter while Yoichi’s sickness had severely limited his contributions. Even after their transformation, All for One had kept the habit of being Yoichi’s protector long after it had been unnecessary.
All for One had never before experienced the sensation of being lovingly cared for by someone else. Not until Gigantomachia. Now All for One leaned backward in Gigantomachia’s arms as his lover crafted a flower crown. Flames crackled in the fireplace. The scent of the flowers filled the entire house, as they spread across every available surface. It felt peaceful.
“You look lovely,” Gigantomachia said as he placed the crown on All for One’s head.
“Mm-hm,” All for One agreed. He’d fretted about his looks since becoming human, so he craved the reassurance.
Someone knocked on the door. Gigantomachia stood up. “I’ll send away whoever is disturbing our time together.”
“Go ahead,” All for One said lazily. He suspected Gigantomachia was annoyed because he’d planned a seduction tonight, and since All for One felt in the mood to be seduced, he shared the sentiment.
However, the giant on the other side of the door said, “I’m All Might. Nana and Yoichi asked me to talk to you about your transformation.”
All for One straightened. “Gigantomachia, let him in.” Information about getting his magic back took top priority.
All Might was tall, taller even than All for One (to his annoyance) with blond hair tufts and the white coat of a Chuhaister, a protector of the woods. The two of them sat at the dining room table. All for One ordered, “Gigantomachia, please leave us alone. We have spirit business to discuss.” All for One didn’t want his follower to overhear his desperation to get his powers back. It wasn’t even that he thought Gigantomachia would abandon him at this point. That test had already been passed. He just didn’t like anyone else to see him weak.
Gigantomachia inclined his head. “I understand, I’ll fetch more firewood.” All for One blew him a kiss as an encouragement. Loyalty deserved to be rewarded. (Doing human chores at Yoichi’s place had given him a new appreciation for his current good circumstances.)
Turning to the Chuhaister, All for One said, “I thought Yoichi planned to send the wizard En.”
All Might coughed uncomfortably. “En refused to come. He said you’d attack him on sight.”
All for One felt annoyed, because this was completely accurate. He’d planned to beat the wizard until he revealed the secrets to change back into a Nyavka, then steal that cool coat too. Nevertheless, he said, “How silly. I only wanted to repay him for teaching me such a valuable lesson.”
Looking relieved, All Might said, “I’m glad that you’ve benefitted from getting in touch with your human side. A lot of spirits are frozen in time after the transformation, unable to move past the rage and pain of their deaths. I’ve worked to help many of them find peace, in one form or another. Some spirits pass on. Some turn human. Some spirits become happy as they are. I have good news: it’s possible to keep your powers without losing your mind to the urges.”
“How about the ability to…love a human?” All for One asked. He’d nearly said sex, because sexual pleasure had been the greatest benefit he’d found in his transformation. However he decided not to be so crude.
With a smile, All Might said, “If you already have someone you love, that’s even better. The easiest way to ensure that you don’t lose touch with your human side is to share some of your power with a lover. In that way, you two bear the burden together. In return, your lover shares the warmth and life of humanity. You’ll be able to travel outside the forest and resist your urges.”
All for One frowned. He did not like the idea of sharing with anyone, even someone he trusted as much as Gigantomachia. But he did want to make his relationship work and find a way to keep his promise to his brother. “Would I become as weak as Yoichi?”
All Might shook his head. “You would probably stay a spirit, like Nana. Yoichi wanted to become human. That doesn’t seem to be your heart’s desire.”
Those words again. En had spoken them. All for One wrinkled his nose. “How do I find this heart’s desire or whatever?”
“It’s always been inside of you.”
All for One glared. “I was hoping for a more concrete answer.”
“I’m serious. You have to figure it out yourself.” All Might leaned forward. “En’s magic was not a curse. He gave you a choice. If you truly had nothing tying you to humanity, then you shouldn’t have stayed human this long. What is it that you can’t let go?”
All for One knew the answer immediately. “My brother. I wouldn’t leave without my brother.” From the very first moment he’d taken his little brother’s hands as babies, that had always been true. “If the price is giving up Yoichi, I won’t pay it!”
“Yoichi said you two had already reached a compromise.” All Might watched All for One closely. “I’m a little surprised you didn’t change back at that moment. Perhaps because you didn’t realize you could?”
No, All for One knew why right away. Because he had only reluctantly accepted that compromise. He would have preferred to drag Yoichi back home, if he had the power. Then what, he could only obtain the power to imprison Yoichi if he let go of the desire to imprison Yoichi? What a nasty little trap Yoichi’s friend had laid for him.
Except, if All for One dragged Yoichi back to the cave, then Yoichi would die. All for One’s time as a human had proven to him that humans couldn’t survive without food. That had also been a very important factor in All for One’s agreement.
All for One closed his eyes. He thought about his little brother smiling at his silly human friends, happier than he’d ever been in the cave. He remembered the two of them talking and sharing their feelings. They’d stopped being open and honest with each other even before Yoichi had left. All for One asked himself: would he rather be a brother to Yoichi again, or risk killing Yoichi trying to own him?
There could be only one answer from the older brother who had died trying to save his younger brother, now that he remembered being that person again.
Exhaling, All for One let go. Not of his dear twin brother. He would never let go of that smaller hand. He let go of the belief that he could control Yoichi’s life.
A ripping sound filled the air. All for One’s eyes shot open. The floorboards were twisting and straining under the force of the white baby’s breath flowers poking up from the ground. Energy hummed under All for One’s skin. He dared touch his own back. He could feel his bloody, exposed spine.
All Might smiled. “Congratulations. You’re a Nyavka again.”
Spring had turned to fall. The passage of time had taken its toll on the trees, turning the green leaves red and orange. At the boundary of the forest, All for One waited. Even when footsteps approached, he did not move from his spot sitting on the rock. He knew he looked bewitching when he let his hair fall over his eyes.
Sure enough, Gigantomachia murmured behind him, “You’re as lovely as ever.”
All for One turned with a dazzling smile and rose gracefully. “I smell sweetness.”
“I can’t fool your nose.” Gigantomachia handed him a bottle of lily-scented perfume. “Not that you need it, you always smell perfect.”
Gifts mattered deeply to him, because of his nature as a spirit and because they meant love. All for One let the perfume bottle vanish into his pocket. Drawing Gigantomachia close, he breathed, “I have something for you as well.”
Their lips crushed together, hungry and consuming. When they drew apart, a red glow had settled on Gigantomachia. A Nyavka’s power, even stronger than the previous blessings. This power kept Gigantomachia’s business thriving. At the same time, All for One felt a little more solid. The faint breeze suddenly seeped through his skin. However, they’d done this enough times that it did not surprise or upset him. Gigantomachia was ready, taking out a fur coat from his pack and wrapping it around All for One’s shoulders.
It had been a delicate balance at first, All for One figuring out how much power he could share without completely losing his abilities. Sometimes it still took more than one kiss to get it right. But this time, All for One was able to easily step across the forest boundary.
Hand in hand, they headed to the One for All Inn. Today was the day the twins had mutually decided to celebrate as their birthday. Since they would never know the real date they’d been born, they’d picked a day when the inn had no guests and everyone was free for a party.
The weather was sunny and not too cold, so the tables for food had been placed outside: Borscht with garlic fritters, vareniki dumplings, and holodets (a jellylike meat broth with bits of meat inside.) Naturally there was also ample vodka.
All of Yoichi’s friends were gathered: his insufferable boyfriend, the other spiky-haired one, Daigoro, All Might, Nana, her husband Symon, and his brother En. Although En vanished whenever All for One laid eyes directly on him. In truth All for One had given up on stealing that magical coat after realizing it wouldn’t fit him. However he’d heavily hinted to Gigantomachia that he expected a replica for his birthday. Perhaps that might be one of the packages lying against the table legs?
“Big brother!” Yoichi cried, flinging his arms around his twin. “Happy birthday.”
“Happy birthday,” All for One said, swinging his twin around with a smile.
The others also gave him traditional birthday wishes for health, friendship, and wealth. Kaiji told All for One that he wished him a very successful love life so he’d never need to come live with them again. All for One had not realized H.S. had come to the party until the hermit popped up and softly wished him better relations with animals. It actually seemed sincere, not a jab, but All for One’s brow still furrowed with annoyance. When he opened his mouth to complain, the hermit was already gone, and so were half a dozen dumplings.
All for One headed straight to the table to eat. Food was truly the best part of any celebration. Besides, this group contained people with massive appetites, so he needed to make sure he got his fair share.
Daigoro whipped out an accordion, and everyone sang the Bukovyna birthday clapping song. The sharp beat rang through the yard: daaaaa daa daa da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da daaaaa daaaaa da da da. It was the first time anyone had ever celebrated All for One’s birthday. He felt a strange heaviness under his chest, so he drank a bit more to make sure he didn’t cry.
Afterward, Daigoro tugged on All Might’s arm and said, “Come, get out your drums. Let’s have some dancing music!”
All Might was easily persuaded to fetch his drum set. En brought out his violin. They cleared aside the tables to make room for three couples to dance: Gigantomachia and All for One, Kaiji and Yoichi, and Nana and Symon.
The Bereznyanka dance started with the couples moving in a circle hand in hand, then they spun into separate groups. As the music beat faster, All for One jumped higher into the air. At Pentecost every year, he’d been considered one of the most skilled spirits in dancing. Next to him, he saw Kaiji spin Yoichi into the air (an unscripted move.) Then the competition was on.
“Throw me higher,” All for One hissed at Gigantomachia, who immediately obliged. Then All for One tossed Gigantomachia just to show they were amazing enough to do it both ways. Oh, look, Yoichi could toss Kaiji too—he was stronger than he looked. It must be all the chopping firewood.
Driven by competitive spirit, the dance turned into a mess until the four of them collapsed on the ground, panting. Only Nana and Symon danced to the very end, finishing with their arms flung out to accept the group applause.
“I think we both lost,” Yoichi whispered.
“I’ll get you next time,” All for One replied, already planning his practice sessions with Gigantomachia.
Sanzou called, “The cake is done.” He carried out a massive honey cake with cream frosting dusted with crumbs and at least twenty thin layers. All for One salivated just looking at it.
Stepping forward, All for One said, “As guest of honor, I get the first slice.”
Yoichi cleared his throat. “I’m also the guest of honor.”
“I was born first,” All for One said.
“Can you prove that?” Yoichi asked.
All for One stuttered. “Proof? We were both there!”
“I don’t remember it. I don’t believe you do either!”
While the brothers bickered, Kaiji snuck over and cut a slice, then handed it to Yoichi. All for One gasped in indignation, then made up for it by claiming a slice twice as big.
Around them, the group chattered and complimented Sanzou on his cake. Even All for One had to admit pineapple head had done something right for once.
As All for One licked his fork of frosting, Yoichi slipped over and hissed, “Pssst! I have something to show you.” Yoichi opened his palm to reveal a seed. His brow furrowed. The seed opened into a sprout, then blossomed into a peace lily. He said, “I’ve been practicing using my power again. Kaiji and I have been working together on sharing and controlling the magic. It can be very useful. I’ve realized not all aspects of being a Nyavka were bad.”
“Yes, you’re completely right,” All for One said, then resumed eating cake.
Yoichi groaned and threw down the flower. “Big brother! We were having a moment! I acknowledged my Nyavka side, now you’re supposed to admit there are benefits to being more human too.”
“I don’t see any advantages.” All for One snorted.
“You’re stuffing your face with a human’s cake right now,” Yoichi pointed out.
“The cake made by your rusalka friend was better,” All for One insisted, though in truth it had been a tie. He simply refused to let one of the brother thieves win at anything.
“Admit it, you’re happier now. We’re both living much fuller lives. You love Gigantomachia.”
“Shhh,” All for One hissed, glancing over his shoulder. “You can’t tell Gigantomachia that. He’s much more eager to please when he doesn’t feel secure in my affections.”
Yoichi groaned and put a hand over his eyes. “You never change, big brother.”
Slowly, All for One smiled. “I have changed, actually. I think I like it.”
“I like it too.” Yoichi took his brother’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you for meeting me halfway. I love you.”
Looking down at their interconnected hands, All for One remembered how they’d held hands as children. For the first time in a long time, he could remember the past without pain, but rather as a step in the road to lead him here, where he and his brother were both happy.
OMAKE TIME!
Omake: The Shigaraki Charm
Kaiji: I’d do anything for Yoichi, including letting the brother-in-law who tried to murder me move in with us.
Sanzou: The modern word for you would be a simp.
#
Omake: Milking the Apology
All for One: I refuse to apologize to that spiky-haired human no matter what my brother demands. Instead I’ll make it up to him with compensation.
Kaiji: Great, I need someone to chop firewood.
Yoichi: You really should make my brother apologize.
Kaiji: Shhhh, I’m having more fun tormenting him like this.
#
Omake: Better to Stay Out of the Toxic Romance
Yoichi: Big brother, I feel like you owe Gigantomachia the truth about nearly drowning him.
Gigantomachia: My lord, I will immediately die if you desire.
Yoichi: Well, that was a terrible idea.
#
Omake: How All for One Got Dragged Kicking and Screaming to Redemption
Yoichi: Now that you’re human, you can no longer flood away your problems. This will lead to character development.
All for One: But I want to cause floods.
Yoichi: No.
All for One: I don’t want character development.
Yoichi: Too bad.
All for One: Everything would be easier if I had powers, an army of loyal followers, and a bank vault. Right now I can’t force you to stay with me or rip you away from your lover.
Yoichi: Exactly.
All for One: This AU sucks.
Yoichi: Character development. Please just try it.
#
Omake: The All for Ones Club
Nyavka for One: My little brother ran off.
Human All for One: Have you considered a bank vault?
Nyavka for One: A dark place with no sunlight or flowers? How horrible! Only a monster like a human would do such a thing.
Human All for One: Ugh, are you one of my rare redeemable versions? That’s instant grounds for being thrown out of the club.
#
Omake: Good Enough Redemption
Yoichi: Finally, I managed to redeem my brother in at least one AU!
All for One: Not only have I moved past my desire to imprison you, I’ll even stop killing people.
Yoichi: It’s a miracle! The Firsts Club will be in shock. Will you get along with my boyfriend?
All for One: No. A line must be drawn.
#
Omake: Names
Yoichi: I’ll call you whatever you want. But the villagers won’t call you All for One. They’re going to think you’re crazy.
All for One: I don’t plan to associate with the plebs. I have Gigantomachia to buy stuff for me.
#
Omake: Loophole Abuse
All for One: We’re not killing your business rivals any longer. It upsets my brother.
Gigantomachia: Awwww.
All for One: I didn’t make any promises about breaking legs though.
Gigantomachia: Yay!
All for One: I was also careful to promise not to drown people instead of promising not to kill people. I can still bash in someone’s head, then throw them in the river afterward. But I’m saving that loophole in case anyone threatens my family.
#
Omake: True Love?
Gigantomachia: Can you tell me the precise moment you fell in love with me?
All for One: When you told me I’d never have to do chores again.
Gigantomachia: How romantic!
Yoichi: You two are messed up but whatever makes you happy.
#
Omake: The Reconciliation
All for One: I miss drowning people.
Kaiji: Fine, you can use my basement rat-drowning lair.
All for One: I might even start to like you. Wait, no, the brief moment is gone.
