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Chapter Text

Nitaro groaned as Yoichi continuously cried out complaints as he dragged Yoichi along, using his meta ability that granted him strength.

This was usual for the Shigaraki brothers, as Yoichi's meta ability, Bestowal, allowed him to take other meta abilities. However, he barely used unless forced by Nitaro, as 'stealing was wrong'. Nitaro thought it was stupid that Yoichi cared about anything more than just surviving.

Nitaro had to take the necessary conditions to defend both of them despite his smaller stature. For what he lacked in size, he made up for with aggression.

Nitaro remembered the day he convinced Yoichi to give him a meta ability, both brothers convinced Nitaro was a mere empty vessel.

It was over-stimulating to have an ability at first, but he enjoyed every bit of it. The ability stockpiled strength, allowing Nitaro to gain speed and strength over many of his adversaries. But when Yoichi found other abilities... Nitaro's greed got to the best of him.

"Yoichi! Give me the fire breathing meta ability!" Nitaro ordered,

"U-uh? You could hurt yourself!.. Why would you need an ability for that...?" Yoichi had clear hesitance.. not that it couldn't be dealt with..

"I just... get so cold, you know how sick I get sometimes.. don't you?" Nitaro said delicately, throwing in a soft little cough at the end for effect.

Yoichi's shoulders slumped in a familiar way and Nitaro knew he had won- ha, had he ever lost?

"Of course I understand, here," Yoichi reached out his hand, "I have to take the previous one first."

"Sure." I replied nonchalantly, just wanting to play with the new ability

Yoichi's sparks of green started up but then he paused, his whole face pulling into a state of shock before yanking his hand back, letting out a yelp

I jolted from such a sound, "Yoichi!? What's wrong?"

"The ability- I- I can't... take it..? It hurt!" Yoichi exclaimed,

"What? Don't be ridiculous, try again."

And he tried.

Again.

And again.

And again.

But he would never be able to take it. Such a stupid meta ability, the ability to not allow Yoichi to take Meta Abilities from me? Yeah, it would be useful if perhaps I could take Meta Abilities on my own!

Which led to the present, me dragging Yoichi to steal the perfect Meta Ability from some random guard while he cried about ethics.

Finally, I saw the man, "Yoichi, there he is! Now it's your turn, just go up, touch him and take it!-"

"No, no no! Wrong, that's wrong, Nitaro!! Captain Hero-"

"Can't save you! Grow up, Yoichi, do you want to protect me or not..!?" I asked him, knowing what he'd reply with, he would always say:

"Of course I do, Nitaro..."

"Then just take it,  it's just an ability, what harm can it do? Let him reconnect with his family and not be forced to participate in a war he was never apart of in the first place? Captain Hero would save him. Don't you want to save him?" I said, Yoichi just needed a nudge, that's all

However agonizing it was...

If I had it, I'd have this done in seconds flat. So much potential wasted with Yoichi.. Stupid brother.. I'll show my potential, even just with the one I've got.. Just you wait and watch, Japan.

"O-okay.. I'll do it.." Yoichi slowly approached the soldier,

Finally.

A simple touch, a simple spark.

But no- the man jolted and turned to him, immediately grabbing Yoichi's shirt by the front- no, something went wrong- something went-

My feet ran underneath me, towards Yoichi, I yanked him from out of the guards grip and turned around to be faced with multiple guards.

Shit, shit, shit, there's already been too much commotion, maybe left or right or...

We were surrounded.

Yoichi froze in fear, eyes bubbling with tears, he started to blubber apologies, "Sorry Nitaro- Sorry, sorry, sorry-"

"Shut up, Yoichi!" I watched as the guards formed around us in a huddle

"Put your hands behind your back, now!" The guards ordered, weapons of all sort pointed at us from all angles

I gritted my teeth, pushing Yoichi behind me, spreading my hands out defensively to protect his body as much I could,

"If you want to touch him, you'll have to get through me first!!" I screamed as loud as I could

Protect him, protect Yoichi.

"Nitaro, little brother, stop-" Yoichi's voice cracked, "It's my fault, it's all me!.."

"Yoichi, little brother or not!" I snarled, "Like hell I am letting them do anything to you."

"This is your last warning!.." I stiffened once more, activating my meta-ability, I watched the guards' fingers move to the trigger

"WAIT!"

Everyone paused, unmoving, a boy ran out in the front, blondish sort of hair, he wore clean and perfectly tailored clothes, his mere presence caused hesitation throughout the entire group of guards.

"Can't you see these two mean no harm? The guard got overly aggressive for no need, the taller boy merely bumped into him, that's all!-"

"Sir, respectfully, that's all that is needed for a meta abilit-"

"ENOUGH!" He yelled once more and the guards lowered their weapons.

The boy turned to me, a soft smile gracing his face, "I'm so sorry about that, are you two alright?"

I was extremely distrustful of him,

but Yoichi wasn't.

He bound forward, "Thank you so much!- uh...mm..."

"Yang Tokitou." the boy replied with a small bow.

"Yoichi Shigaraki!- And this is my little brother, Nitaro Shigaraki! I named him myself!"

"Oh.. uh.. yourself..?" Yang Tokitou replied, a bit perplexed, "That's.. very nice, Yoichi Shigaraki, you chose a.. very good name!.."

"I can introduce myself, Yoichi." I growled, a bit annoyed, stupid golden retriever look on Yoichi's face.

We almost just died. Did he forget that? Guess he probably wasn't concerned, not the good almighty wonderful Yoichi.

Yang Tokitou quirked a smile, "You two have an interesting dynamic."

I rolled my eyes, grabbing Yoichi by the wrist, "Sure, well, we'll be on our way now."

"Wait, uh, but my guards!-"

"Almost killed us."

"Which is why you deserve an apology!.. Can I treat you two to anything- or I can give you my card!" he replied, pulling out his wallet for a business card supposedly.

But it caught my attention, someone in debt? Being handed to me on a platter? Now why  would I turn that down.

Yoichi started speaking before I did however,

"Oh it was only fine thanks to-"

"Hm, yes, it was truly emotionally distressing."

Might as well try and sweeten the pot a bit.

"Oh, I bet! Absolutely, here's my card!" He beamed a bright smile grabbing my hand to put his card in the center on my palm, "Call me?" He asked.

My cheeks felt hot as I huffed looking into his blazing eyes, his hands were so soft, gripping mine...

"Sure..." I barely muttered out,

"Great! Talk to you soon, Nitaro Shigaraki!"

"Mhm..." I mumbled out, clenching my hand where his previously rested.

With my other hand on Yoichi's wrist (why didn't his feel like Yang Tokitou's?) I rushed away, not leaving another word to be said.

However.. he wouldn't leave my head after that moment, I continuously played it through my head, touching the palm that he touched, staring at the card he gave me, I felt like a fool. What was I doing..?!

Just get this over with! Call him, ask for a large sum of cash, hang up, acquire said money.

So, I did just that in some old telephone box, dialing the number.

ring ring ring

"Hello?" I heard a familiar voice greet,

"Hi. It's me," I muttered, twisting my finger in the phone's extension line, "Nitaro Shigaraki."

"Oh! Hi Shigaraki-san." He gushed,

"Hi.. I was wondering.. what you said the other night..." I trailed off,

"Oh, yes, we could meet up for dinner? On me?"

"-I'd love to"

"Then it's a date!"

I could hear his smile over the phone, wait.. date? Like from the comics? Kissing, hugging, andeverythingelsethat-

"Tomorrow night work? 8:00 at the new Italian place in Kamino?"

"Sure."- who was talking, I wasn't even talking, someone else was or something or anything else-

"Great! See you then, Shigaraki-san."

"See you then," I whispered

beeeep

What the hell just happened.

Chapter Text

Nitaro was a grumbling mess as he got ready- well... as ready as he could get with dirty clothing and limited showers available. Yoichi and Nitaro were used to using the small showers at the beach as their options were quite limited outside of that.

Yoichi trailed behind Nitaro, begging to go to dinner with him.

"I'll bring you back food, Yoichi!.."

"But I want to go!" Yoichi cried out, he was in constant search of adventures, regularly getting himself into trouble that Nitaro would have to fish him out of.

"No way, this is serious negotiating, you'll end up bored anyways." Nitaro tried to persuade, silently pleading for Yoichi to take the bait. Nitaro would usually be enthusiastic at Yoichi's want to go but.... this is .. different.

"But I'm the big brother! Shouldn't I be doing the mature talking!?"

"'Mature talking'? Do you even hear yourself? You sound like a babbling idiot."

"Hey! Do not!"

"Definitely do."

Nitaro could see Yoichi's eyes well up out of his peripheral and had to bite back a groan while rolling his eyes. Both Yoichi and Nitaro couldn't remember a single moment where Nitaro cried, while Yoichi cried.. well.. whenever he got overwhelmed.

Yoichi was on such a different level of immaturity, sometimes he questioned their biological relations. In the end, Nitaro chalked it up to Yoichi drowning a bit too much as a baby.

"I won't be gone long, Yoichi." He said, to give light comfort to his older brother

"...Nitaro, please, I don't ever push on things and ho-how you want it. But just this one time!.. Please..."

Desperation leaked into Yoichi's voice, "Let me come.. I- I can protect you!-"

"Don't be ridiculous." Nitaro cut him off, not allowing him to warp such fantasies.

Yoichi? Protecting him?

Not in a million years.

"Ridiculous? That's not ridiculous," Yoichi pushed, "I'm- I'm the big brother and I have the stronger Meta Ability!!-"

"That you refuse to use because of the nature of it." Nitaro paused to give a pointed glare at Yoichi, "That you refuse to use because deep down, you know it's a monster's power."

Yoichi's jaw went slack, his eyes wide, and breath quick,
Even so, he managed to squeak out,

"Is-.. Is that what you really think? Of me..? Do you think I'm a...?"

Yoichi couldn't finish the sentence, too wounded by the mere thought of it.

"I need to go otherwise I'll be late. I'll be back at 9:30 with leftovers." Nitaro answered, turning away from Yoichi. Turning away from his brother.

When the heart gets too heavy with pain,

People don't cry.

They become silent, completely silent.

And so there Yoichi stood, without uttering another word, as Nitaro let his own silence answer the daring question: Do you think I'm a monster?

As Nitaro stood outside the restaurant, he couldn't help but feel under dressed, it was... embarrassing..

"Shigaraki-san! There you are!" Yang Tokitou yelled out, running up to the frazzled boy, "I made a reservation, so we should be able to get in quite easily!"

Nitaro couldn't help but stare. His glowing skin shown brighter by the second, the rubies Tokitou wore were a dull red compared to his ember eyes. But mostly.. he wore a stunning outfit with a ruffled gown that one would think to see on a noble.

Nitaro shuffled his body away from him, his head dropped low, "Maybe we should reschedule."

"Wait- what? Why!? Did something happen? Are you alright?"

"Don't be absurd. Look at me, I'm impoverished and penniless. It shows and anyone who saw you with me would think the worst-"

"Well then, let them think the worst. I don't care." Tokitou's tone dropped a few octaves (Nitaro couldn't help but find it... appealing)

"Sure, until your reputation is ruined by it." I said, continuously scuffling the ground with my torn up shoe.

"If me going to dinner with you, ruins my reputation, then I don't think I have a very big reputation at all."

I stayed quiet for a moment, considering his words, until Tokitou grabbed my hand pulling me along,
(so warm, so soft)
"Come on, it'll be fine!" He said, getting his cheerful beat to his voice back

It was a change of pace though.. having someone else drag me around, contrary to me constantly dragging Big Brother around.

I couldn't help but feel subconscious about all the stares while we got our table and sat down.

"It's fine, don't worry about them." Tokitou comforted, "We didn't come here to talk about them."

My mind snapped back to focus, "Right, the incident. I considered the sum of the physical and additional mental distress to be around two million dollars, I would prefer cash."


"Two million...? That doesn't seem appropriate at all!" Tokitou hollered,"Perhaps three million and a place to live would be adequate? I can... make sure it's close to mine." He emphasized with a wink

I stiffened, going red in the face, "Yes.. uhm.. that sounds.. courteous.."

"Perfect! Then it's settled."

"Mmhm.." I murmured while reaching for my drink to give myself a moment to get a grip.

"And such will be offered to you..." Tokitou continued, "if you meet my demands."

My eyes shot up to meet his, to understand the game being played here,

"Answer me just this, Shigaraki-san, why did you jump in to save your brother?"

Tokitou stared intently, incredibly keen of my answer... my answer that I... didn't know how to give..

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked for clarification, before jumping back to explain, "Is your answer not in your question itself? He's my brother, why else?"

"But he's your big brother, why would you defend someone older and more sustainable than you? Should it not be the other way?"

"It should." I answered immediately

"Then why?" Tokitou sort of paused before giving a sigh and slumping into his chair, "Sorry.. It's not... I know it's an odd question, I just.. have an older brother as well."

"What? You do? The news has never spoken..-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, the news knows nothing about my brother. He's sort of.. disowned by my parents unfortunately. But alas, he's still my brother. And yet... I never find the strength to speak up and defend him from our parents.." Tokitou's voice got soft and weary, "But when I saw the way you ran in, so.. brave ... it made me reevaluate my own decisions regarding him. I see now... I was a coward."

"A coward wouldn't run into the middle of a crowd of guards holding guns with the intent to shoot to save two impoverished kids." I said, cocking an eyebrow.

"They were my own guards." He said with a soft chuckle, "They wouldn't have hurt me."

"But they could have, accidentally. What about the reason for why you have guards? You are a political figure fighting for the rights of Meta-Humans."

"But I'm a Meta-Human, I'm literally benefiting myself."

"So am I, so are hundreds of other people, do you see them standing up? Do you see me standing up?"

I could tell I had Tokitou's attention from the way he stared intensely, falling silent to let me continue, so I did.

"How can I be braver than that? How can I be braver than you?"

"I guess.. we're both brave then, huh?" Tokitou said, quirking a little smile, tilting his head.

I couldn't help but fondly smile back.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Chapter Text

Nitaro and Tokitou continued long and boastiful laughter throughout the entire dinner, chatting about anything that came to mind, a complete lack of a filter. They went from talking about politics to favorite shows and tropes in the span of seconds. It was such a breezy conversation, Nitaro was surprised to find himself actually... enjoying..? Tokitou's company.

….

Fuck it.

He wasn't enjoying it, he was loving it.

The waiter walked up, setting down a receipt on the table.

"Here is the check, Young Tokitou."

"Ah.. Thank you!" Tokitou thanked the waiter, giving his card and tip.

I couldn't help but sort of slump in my chair as I realized dinner was done.

"What are you thinking over there?" Tokitou teased,

"Oh.. Well-" I couldn't help but stutter for a moment, deciding whether I should bring it up, but settled to say something else, (no need to sound desperate!..) "I... really enjoyed dinner, Tokitou."

He gave me a soft smile, "I really enjoyed it too, and please, call me Yang."

I let out a sort of squeak in surprise, which only served to make Tokitou- er.. Yang.. glow brighter, I sort of coughed into my hand before replying, "oh, uh.. sure. The-then you can call me Nitaro, I guess.." I couldn't help but wrap my arms around my head at the last bit, my face kept getting all hot.

"Nitaro.." Yang said softly, as if testing the name to make sure it sounded right, and I- well, I couldn't help but stare at him, he was so.. so!... dazzling...

"one.. two.....four......six" I softly counted under my breath, staring at Yang

"What are you counting?" Yang asked, slightly tilting his head, which only served to make me smile bigger

"Your freckles," I explained, "they're... pretty," I quickly threw in a "I guess.." at the end to make sure I didn't sound- like a.. what is it Yoichi called them? Simp?

Now Yang blushed, only serving to make his skin sort of.. sparkle, "Really, you think that?" He gave a small chuckle, awkwardly scratching his neck, "You would be surprised at the amount of make-up I wasted when I was younger, just trying to cover them up, but because of my Meta Ability, they glow, so it never worked. It would simply glow right past the make-up.. no way to cover that up.." He sheepishly explained,

"Cover them up? They're beautiful, why would you ever try to cover them up!? That's preposterous!" I couldn't help but slam my hands on the table with my rebuttal,

"What? No way, it's just some freckles," Yang babbled,

But they weren't just 'some freckles'... His freckles glowed, dotted all over, looking like constellations across his cheeks. Nitaro wanted to do nothing more than trace them with his fingers.

"Did you know another name for freckles are 'sun kisses'? It fits well, doesn't it?" I asked,

"Oh, heh, it does!" Yang perked back up, bringing his eyes up again to meet mine.

I hadn't realized he had looked away until he had looked back. And.. I just had to say something..

"You shouldn’t shy away from them, honor your beautiful be-spotted self.. They signify uniqueness and add charm to your appearance. Your freckles make you who you are—unique, beautiful, and absolutely remarkable."

Yang did not only glow, but he went all red too,
Is he okay? He isn't sick is he???

"I'll uhm.. keep that in mind... Thanks, Nitaro.." he replied softly, and the way he said my name, made me feel a thousand things before I didn't know I was capable of feeling..

Unfortunately.. Yang's beauty only served to remind me how unlikely we were to be friends or.. anything really..

"You know.. it's funny," Yang started, "you were counting my freckles, I've been counting your scars." He admitted,

"My.. scars..?" I looked down at my hands and couldn't help but feel so subconscious about them, I twisted my sleeve to try and cover them, putting my hands in my lap under the table. I had never tried to count my scars, they only served as a reminder of all the times I failed to protect Yoichi and I- something that shouldn't have my burden to begin with.

"I think they're pretty, you know..."

"What?"

"Your scars. They're.. not beautiful," he chuckled, "but very very handsome if i do say so myself."

"Handsome?" I scoffed, "Don't be a liar, Yang, it doesn't suit you."

"I'm not lying!" He cried out, "Really! Scars, they-they symbolize strength! They tell me stories I don't know of yet, they tell me strong you are! They... tell me how brave you are.."

"We're both brave, we agreed on this already." I reminded him,

"I know!.. I just mean.. they're like... really hot." And.. Yang seemed to really emphasize on those two last words, going to take a sip of his drink after 'confessing' such a thing, however..

"Really.. hot..? What do you mean by that? Why would scars change my temperature?"

Yang choked and spat out his water, "You- uh, I-, you don't know what that means..?"

"It means my temperature is rising, but what does that have to do with my scars?"
I crossed my arms, giving him a look to explain himself.

"That's... not what it means, it's a phrase."

"Oh. What does the phrase mean?"

"Like, uhm... 'really attractive'.."

"Oh.

..oh- oh."

My face got all hot again and so I covered it with my hands, making a sort of oddly strangled noise, was he saying he thought I was attractive? No-NO, there's no way, absolutely not.

"Excuse me, sir, I hate to bother you both, but we had a reservation for another couple and they've already been waiting for a half hour."

I barely peaked out from behind my fingers to see our waiter.

"Oh! Of course, I'm so sorry. Uh, it's fine, we can go back to my place?" Yang offered,

"What?" I choked, was he offering to hook up-

"So we can discuss the area you'll be living in! There's a house six hundred feet away from mine that's for sale! I'd love to show you it!"

"Oh.. yeah- of course, that sounds quite logical. Nothing else to it, obviously.." I awkwardly chuckled, looking to the side with my hands still on my face. Thankfully, Yang seemed oblivious to my internal turmoil.

"Perfect! I'll get the driver, let's go!"

The house Yang showed me looked huge, albeit, we couldn't go inside. I offered to break in the front door but Yang awkwardly explained there was no need for that and we could go in the morning.

He brought me to his own house, which was really close to the one I'd be getting- with it being this close, we could probably see each other every. day.

After sneaking past his parents, I saw his room, which was quite cutesy to be honest, and very much sun themed.

Following an hour of conversation, I had to ask

"So, uhm.. how many scars do you count?"

Yang gave a radiant smile, "Thirty four."

I shuffled on the bed I was sitting in, giving a soft little 'oh'

It.. felt weird to talk about the thing I was subconscious about for so long, to know the thing I was scared to know.

I didn't feel scared now though.. I felt.. content.

"I.. couldn't help but notice the ones on your wrist when I was holding your hand.." Yang said softly and wearily, he seemed.. pained.. I couldn't help but stiffen and get defensive, but... was left unknowing of what to say.

"Did you do that to yourself..?" Yang asked, ripping the bandaid off

"..it- it's none of your business."

"You're right, it isn't. Just.. I'll always be here now, 'kay?"

I looked over at him and he gave me a sad smile, "I don't judge you, Nitaro. If anything, I think you are even stronger because of it. You decided for yourself you weren't going to do that and you stopped.. at least.. none of them seemed new.."

"They're not..." I clarified, " I haven't done it in three months."

Yang beamed more at that, "That's amazing, you should be proud of that- being clean for three months isn't an easy task. I'm proud."

And.. the world sort of stopped for a moment after that.

He's proud.

Of me.

For my courage.

....

Has anyone ever told me that before?

...

Maybe Yang was right.. maybe... maybe scars weren't reminders of your failures, but.. reminders of your strength and bravery.

I ended up falling asleep on the floor while Yang slept on my legs, waking up, however, we were in a twisted mess and pile of limbs every where.

"Good morning, Nitaro" Yang said softly, still drowsy

"Good morning, firefly."

"Firefly?"

"Mhm."

Yang just laughed, amused.

I'd do anything to hear him laugh again.

And so.. the nickname sort of stuck.

'Firefly'

It simply rolled off the tongue.

So did the 'my' that followed prior to the nickname.

We explored the house after that- apparently some guy had to be there, a realtor of sorts or something..

The house was AMAZING though- I had never lived in a house before, how fascinating- did all humans have closets the size of the vault back at home-

er.. I guess I shouldn't call it home anymore. Now this was my home.

With Yang.

-stop it, stop it, stop it. He's not living with you, Nitaro!... Simply nearby.

"Look, Yoichi can have this room! It has a nice view of the backyard and a HUGE bathroom, I think he'll like it, it's a very nice bathroom!" Yang rambled, he had a lot of ideas for what each room could be- he was also under the impression that Yoichi's hair was very important.

"It's great, Yang. The only conventional issue is food. How are we suppose to find food when the nearest restaurant and dumpster is miles away?"

"You.. buy food from the stores..?"

"Yeah, but robbing doesn't always work, sometimes I get caught, or things go astray- I never get that much many nowadays anymore anyways, people play it a lot safer now."

Yang sort of hesitated, "You won't need to do that anymore.. You have millions now, remember?"

"Oh! That's right! Of course, how could I forget?! Thank you, my firefly"

Yang simply gave a strained smile, "No problem.."

"Yoichi, I'm back, I forget the leftovers, but I have even better news!" I yelled out across the dumpster, but saw no Yoichi.

"LITTLE BROTHER!" Someone shrieked behind me-

I immediately got shoved forwards as a body and two arms clasped around me, I snarled and tried to shove them off but was unsuccessful-

"Get off!" I yelled as they barely retreated off of me- I couldn't help but grit my teeth and glare at Yoichi

"Nitaro, where have you been!? I was worried sick!"

"I was at Yang's! Where else!?"

"Who..!?"

"Yang Tokitou" I clarified with a growl.

"You're on first name basis now..??"

"Yeah? So what?"

"I- nothing, I just.. What happened..!? You said you'd be back at 9:30!" He cried out, "At 11:00, I got so worried, I went over to the restaurant and no one would even talk to me! I got kicked out for 'harassing the customers'!"

I couldn't help but scoff, "Typical."

"What?" Yoichi questioned,

"You got into trouble in the twelve hours I was gone."

"I was worried about you!!"

"Alright, well, I'm fine, Yoichi!"

A sort of.. quiet settled over us... and I went to pack up my bags, Yang said the place would be ready by lunch. Yoichi's shadow fell on me, as he stood over me, peering at me silently- well.. until he wasn't;

"What are you doing?"

"Packing."

"Packing? For what? Where are you going?"

"Not where am I going, but where are we going."

"What?"

"We're moving, Yang negotiated on a house and three million last night as long as I met his demands." I said, quite proudly,

"...What...?" However.. Yoichi didn't sound... pleased, "What do you mean- we're moving? We can't move, this is our house- This is our HOME!"

"Not anymore."

"WE CAN'T JUST MOVE! THIS IS HOME- THIS IS-"

"GOD DAMN IT, YOICHI!" I threw the bag down and stood up to face Yoichi as I screamed, "THIS IS A DUMPSTER, WE LIVE IN A DUMPSTER!"

Yoichi's eyes got all wet and he started to sniffle while glaring back at me, but he said nothing more.

"Pack your bags, we leave in two hours."

Yoichi didn't speak to me until we arrived at the house, to which his first words were:

"Whoa.. It's.. huge.."

I swiftly moved past him to grab the key under the flower pot.

Yoichi and I didn't have much salvageable and only took a half hour to unpack, I had noticed Yang kept the furniture in the house- which meant he probably paid for it as well. I noted to thank him for it as well- seeing as how it wasn't apart of the negotiated deal.

Yang came over shortly and I couldn't help but smile like a fumbling idiot- Yang offered to let us pick out some decor ourselves sometime, since we had to go grocery shopping as well (but apparently you had to go to different places for that?)

I would agree to do pretty much anything as long as it was with Yang.

Yang, Yang, Yang, Yang

He soon became my whole life, coming over every day and spending nearly every night. He never bothered to get another bed either…

since mine was big enough..

Yoichi seemed slightly indifferent to Yang, or maybe it was the fact that I was always around him. Other than that however, he acclimated well to the new house.

Yang hung upside down on my bed laughing at me on the floor in front of me,

"You're upside down!"

"Yeah? Tell me, do I look any prettier upside down, Yang?"

He gave a small giggle, "You look pretty from any angle, Nitaro."

I gave a smirk back.

I had gotten a lot more confident with Yang, he.. he taught me what love was.

He taught me how to love myself.

He also taught me how to love....

"I love you, Nitaro..." He said softly,

I went a little quiet for a moment, It.. was the first time he had... said it. But.. I had no doubt, I loved him too.

"I love you more."

I had never really gotten into music before- I had no reason to, it was sort of.. always in the background for me.

Now... As I watched Yang laugh and giggle as he danced, grabbing my hands to sway with him, it suddenly became my favorite thing..

"Aww, Nitaro look! This flower looks like you!" Yang pointed at some sort of white flower, Yang read off of the sign of the botanic garden we were at, "It's a white ranunculus! I think it's my new favorite flower.." He gushed, "What flower has been your favorite so far?"

I smiled, lifting up a blazing orange flower called a chrysanthemums, "This one."

Yang looked out the window, lost in thought,

"What's on your mind, firefly?" I asked, adding in the nickname to lighten up the mood,


"My brother has gone missing."

I slightly paused, his voice sounded strained, struggling to not cry.


I sat down next to him, "I'm so sorry.." I whispered, holding him close, "You can cry, it's okay.."

"How can I cry?" He choked out, his voice cracking, "I'm a coward."

"No... crying shows you've been strong for too long.."

Yang wept long and hard into my shoulder.

Yang hummed some song under his breath as we walked in some jewelry shop. He gave a sudden gasp, and pressed his hands to the glass of some display.

"Nitaro, look! It's promise rings!"

"Promise rings, what are those?"

He gave a small smile to me, a sort of cheeky smile, "It's ring you wear as a promise of commitment, a promise to marry the one you gift it to. A promise to wait. Will you wait for me, Nitaro?"

I gave him a warm, tender smile.

We both walked out with a ring of our own choosing, his decorated with rubies, and mine with white gems.

Yes, I love every part of Yang. The constellations across his cheeks, the way his hair curled, similar to a cloud, the way he smiles, his skin ever glowing, his voice, like a nightingale, the prettiest sound I'd ever heard. I love his generosity, his confidence, the way he rallies those together. I love all the little inside jokes, the long night talks, the way we wrapped around one another. His warmth spread to every part of my life, everything he touched now a gift.

Yes, I loved Yang more than anything else.

And I would have given anything for him.

Just shortly after two months of knowing each other, Yang and I curled up against one another in my bedroom.

Although... I noticed he seemed slightly.. fidgety..

"Is there an issue, darling?"

"Huh? Oh- no, I was just kind of hungry but-"

"I'll get it." I hopped out of bed and put on my shoes in one swift moment,

"Nitaro, no, you don't need to do that for me-"

"It's fine, I needed to head to the store anyways, food has been getting kind of low."

"Then I'll come with you!" Yang hopped out of bed,

I snorted, "I think I've got it covered, plus, you can't pause live TV, just stay here and watch your show, 'kay? You want soup, right? I've got it covered." I winked at him,

And he laughed, "Ah, showing off your skills hm?"

"ohh yeah, gonna show you how well I can provide for you." I joked, puffing out my chest

He giggled but didn't push on it any further, working like I imagined it would.

I gave a small wave to Yoichi on my way out and left.

I... unfortunately got a little lost on the way to the store, and found myself in the alleyways-

But it was fine!.. Nothing I couldn't handle.

I had to bring myself to the dumpster that was previously my old home before I could get to the store. The dumpster had always been a sort of landmark for me.

After arriving at the store, I make sure to grab Yang's favorite soup and dinner for the night, before getting side tracked at fireworks- (they let you buy these!?-)

No, no they didn't. Not if you were under eighteen at least.

I embarrassingly put them back and checked out the rest of the stuff after getting yelled at by an employee.

Thankfully, I didn't get lost on the way back and now stood outside of my home.

My home.

How lucky was I to be able to have this- all of this, to have Yang.

.. I couldn't help but pause outside the door, something felt... wrong..

I lightly pushed on the door and it just swung open.

I heard something loud.

I heard gunshots.

I dropped my bags right there, running in,
Please, please, please- FUCK, it sounded like it was in the living room.

I activated my meta ability sprinting to the living room, I found Yoichi frozen as a male with a gun pointed it right at his head.

"YOICHI!" I screamed, diving in yanking the armed assailant by his arm, the bullet went right into the roof with a loud BANG

The armed assailant turned around and I kicked him right in his chest, sending him tumbling backwards, sprawled on the floor, right in front of Yoichi.

But the assailant wasn't knocked out and pushed himself into a sitting position, aiming his gun at me. I stiffened and tried to dodge to the best of my ability but got clipped in the side of my left shoulder.

Letting out a cry, I forced myself to jump at him and hold him down with my injured arm while punching with my right. I didn't stop until he was a bloody unmoving mess underneath me.

"..Nitaro..." Yoichi said, his voice warbling,

"What the hell, Yoichi! You couldn't grab the gun!?" I yelled, nursing my hurt shoulder, I let out a groan of pain as I tore and tied a piece of cloth around it.

"I.. I just-"

"Just forget it, Yoichi!.. I'm the one who forgot to never get your pretty little hands involved!..."

"I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MONSTER!.."

I gritted my teeth, "YOU ARE A MONSTER!"

Yoichi's face twisted into hurt and anger, "I w-"

But before he could say anything, a loud thud and scream came from upstairs and my heart sunk.

I looked back at Yoichi, "There's another attacker?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"GOD DAMN IT, YOICHI!" I screamed, taking off upstairs,

Why was I arguing with Yoichi, Oh god, I should have just immediately cleared the area- I should have known Yang would have taken action himself unless he was in trouble.  

I yanked the door to the bedroom open and saw the assailant: Yang’s brother. 

He had one arm around Yang's neck and swung his other arm forward towards Yang who then suddenly let out a piercing scream (one that would haunt me in my nightmares) and it hit me, stabbed him- he stabbed Yang.

I cried out running forward, all pain in my shoulder gone as I tackled him, turning his own knife around and into his own body. Yang went down with a wail of pain and it took everything in me to not turn around and help Yang and check on him- but I had to deal with the enemy, first, don't be irrational, Nitaro. I made a quick job out of him as I repeatedly stabbed him in the chest before going for his neck. I gasped and wheezed as his hands around my wrists dropped to the ground.

I quickly got myself up and turned to Yang, dropping to my knees,

"YANG!" I screamed, huffing and spitting out blood

"Nitaro- Nitaro.." Yang whimpered, clutching onto my wrists, but his grip was much softer than his brother's.

He was bleeding so much- he wasn't only stabbed once- and- and his right arm seemed sort of wrong- broken maybe?? Oh god, Oh god, doctor- need.. need medical help.

I shoved myself off the floor but Yang cried out, "No, no, Nitaro-"

I stiffened pausing to look back, "I-It's okay, I'm just getting help- you-you need a lot of help, It's okay, it's going to be okay."

"Nitaro.." Yang sobbed, "Please, don't leave me, don't leave me alone, I don't- I don't wanna die alone..."

"What?! No- no, no, no, don't say that, Yang! Don't say that!!..." I turned back, kneeling down, grabbing Yang's hands

similar to when we had first met.. and he had grabbed my hands..

But they weren't warm anymore, they were cold and covered in blood; they didn't glow like they did that day, now they got dimmer and dimmer.

"I'm not.. Nitaro, I'm not.. o-okay..." He whispered, before a fit of coughing took over and he vomited blood.

"Yang.. my firefly..." I whimpered, pulling his body close to mine, like we had done so many times before.

"You're hurt..." He mumbled, lightly tracing the blood filled cloth tied around my shoulder,

"I was- I was shot, but I'll be fine. Just like you will be."

"I guess that makes for scar thirty-five, hm?" he joked, joked. While he was bleeding out.

I didn't respond.

"Nitaro, I love you so, so much, you know that, do-don't-" he had to stop and wheeze a few times, tears bubbling down his face yet he smiled at me

"Of course I know you love me!.. Just- Just stop-stop, don't say it like this is the end- this isn't the end, this isn't!"

"Nitaro.." He laughed through wet sobs, "Sorry- sorry, I never told- told you, I-"

"What? Told me what?" I questioned while my hands violently jerked while trying to cover his wound,

Yang slowly leaned forward kissing me on the lips, his whole body shook while doing so, yet his kiss was firm.

I stayed completely still until he pulled back, and he gave me one.. last... bright smile.. before his eyes closed, and his skin dulled.

So. Dull.

So... Wrong.

"Yang?" I whispered, "Yang?.. Yang. Yang, wake up- wake up, wake up" I shook him violently, "Wake up, wake up! Wake up!! Yang, YANG!"

You were gone and I screamed. I wailed, I cried and I screamed. As loud as I could. I halfway hoped that if you could hear me screaming on your way to heaven, you would turn around and come back to me.

"Nitaro..?"  Yoichi whispered from the doorway,

I violently turned my head towards him, mumbling "your...."

"W-what?" Yoichi looked deathly scared, "Yang- is Y-Yang?"

"your fault.. it's your fault. Get out."

"What..?"

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! GET OUT! GET OUT- I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!" I shrieked at him, tears pooling down my face.

It was the first time Yoichi ever saw me cry. It was the last time he would ever see me cry.

Yoichi eyes widened, throat tight, he probably didn't know what 'hate' meant entirely, but my tone said everything.

He tucked tail and ran out, to god knows where.

I understood now, brotherly relations did not ensure love.

I stayed there with Yang, cradling him and whispering how much I loved him and how sorry I was.

After long enough, I heard sirens, and soon enough, armed police- or government dogs of some sort.. ran in, pointing their guns at me...

"Drop the boy!"

They ordered and screamed, I did nothing and simply stared at them.

It didn't take them long to shoot.

It also didn't take me long to kill them.

You walked such a blazing pathway, when your feet were on this earth, that imprint lingers on and I place my own feet in your steps, one by one.

How do I live without you?

It's really very simple.

I don't.

The world stopped turning the day you died.

I felt it.

In my bones.

In my heart.

In every fiber of my being.

I felt it.

The sun stopped being warm (the sun which reminded me so much of you).

The night stopped being cold (nothing could be colder than your hands when you died).

The birds no longer sang (no voice could compare to yours).

When you died,

the world as I knew it did too.

I did too.

The day your soul left this earth, was the day Nitaro Shigaraki did as well.

My body may have physically healed, left with scars to remind me of all the ways I failed. 

But my heart no longer beats the same.

My mind no longer thinks the same.

While I am physically here, my soul is with yours.

Bound together in the stars.

I had no clue you could miss someone as much as I did... and that every part of your heart could ache.

Who knew that your mind could simply stop functioning, with only one single thought remaining... just one agonizing statement whirling around, which you want to scream to the heavens... 'come back, I need you'

Every time I replay the days in my head, I replay every first I've had.

The first kiss, the first breath you have to take when they have just taken their last, the first time you wake up following the loss and you realize it wasn't a nightmare, the first time you have to leave the house and you feel like someone secretly moved your home to another planet, as everything feels different. The first time you have to tell someone about your loss and the words feel like glass in your throat. The first anniversary of your loss and it feels like they died yesterday, but at the same time like ten years ago, as how could this much pain be fitted into twelve months?

So here I sit at your grave, and ponder how I have spent most of my life resisting the desire to end it.

"I had to leave our home and became what they call 'a monster'.

The government and rebel groups alike are after me. I haven't seen Yoichi since the night you die, people like him were the true cowards all along, Yang."

I hear a loud BANG and a sharp pain in my chest, it's.. becoming increasingly hard to breathe.

Oh. I've been shot.

I get slammed on floor, on Yang's grave.

A leader from one of the rebellion groups on top of me, by the name of Kudou.

I snarl and roll us around, pinning him under me instead. I feel my heart slowing down and I spat and coughed blood into the face of my enemy. Strength can't help me now, not if I can't breathe. We struggled and tossed before he finally pulls a knife out from his boot, stabbing me once in the gut.

In a similar fashion I did a year ago today.

"This is where you die." He said.. so confidently, with such a fire in his eyes.

"Who do you protect?"

The question slipped out of my mouth before I even realized what I was asking

"..What..?"

He was confused, no doubt, but all it did was fuel my anger.

"You do this for no one?" I snarled, "No one but out of the hatred in your own heart? I guess that makes two of us, Niko Kudou."

..and in that moment.. something changed, something changed that would never be the same again.

I wholeheartedly hated everything from that moment on.

Even as I took my last breathe.

... even as I awoke as someone else..

I stared at my hands, a gauntlet similar to the man who killed me wore-

My body laid crumpled in front of me.

What...?

I would learn my original power wasn't exactly what I thought it was... I had the power to genetically pass on my ability- an ability useless on it's own. An ability that fit Yoichi better than it ever would with me. But because Yoichi gave me the stockpiling ability, I now had three Meta Abilities.

Yoichi...

I had learned that the ability also stockpiled a sort of... version of the Meta Ability's user.

I had learned that I could have spent my entire existence with Yang if not for my ignorance.

I knew that meant Yoichi did too, he had always complained of nightmares growing up...

I knew I deserved his power, and that if I gained his power... there was the possibility I could take Yang's ability from his corpse..

History played out, just like every other universe, slightly to the left.

Nitaro Shigaraki, gained traction in the underworld under the guise of "All In One".

Despite all his power, it still wasn't enough. He wished for more. He wished for Yoichi's power.

There was no limit to what All In One would do for his ability, but when push came to shove, he locked Yoichi in a vault.

He would have killed him if not for his ability... but, no.. he has to make Yoichi give it to him.

And All In One will hurt Yoichi in every way to get it.

All In One body hopped many many times, realizing the power and ability he gained with each new form. He did this eight times throughout the course of two hundred years.

The first time Yoichi met Kudou, he held him tight, a corpse.

A lover, forever now unknown.

And what could be crueler than that?

He now lives his life inside a bank vault designed to keep him in, and unwilling to take Meta Abilities, he never gained the power needed to take down his brother.

And Nitaro Shigaraki... became forgotten to the world, dying alongside a boy that was too young.

All this would change when All In One tried to take his ninth body, the body that belonged to a boy named Izuku Midoriya.

(..To be continued with the perspective of Izuku Midoriya..)