Chapter Thirty-Nine

The next time I feel myself waking up, I hear the calamity around me first. Shouting, crashing, and breaking... the faint sound of explosions in the distance... I don't open my eyes yet, chest aching at the thought. It can't be... it can't be real. The amount of times I've dreamt about it... hoped for it even though I know I shouldn't... a sudden bang crashes into the door of the room I'm in, rattling the floor and I open my eyes, forcing my head up to see and trying to stop it from falling again. Reverti gets up quickly, running to face them as my limbs shiver with weakness. No... I can see her activating her quirk as the door bursts open, a thick and mostly invisible wall expanding out of her rapidly. My heart thunders in my chest, the faintest amount of stored up energy rearing its head finally. Not today.

I shout as my pulse tears out of my chest, the pain of it making my entire body shudder with agony as thick ropes of energy envelope Reverti's body. She gasps, whipping around to stare at me in shock before I slam her as hard as I can into the floor. The ground cracks, a fissure opening up in the marble that stretches all the way to my knees, and Reverti falls limply against it, eyes finally closed. I gasp, my energy dissipating almost instantly and my body twitching with the effort. It's hard to look up again, but I can't help it. I need to see them. Endeavor's face is the first one that comes into view and I never thought I'd be so happy about that. His eyes widen when he enters the room, the look on his face almost offensive and I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. Damn it... this must look bad.

"In here!" he shouts, prompting a small group of heroes to enter the room. I see so many people I recognize, Deku, Shoto, Midnight... Iida and Suneater... Fatgum... and... my eyes widen as much as they can with the way they are, the wounds on my face stretching and stinging as they reopen. Katsuki... his face when he looks at me rips through my chest. I don't even see anyone else, I just see him. The horror in his eyes... the anger and the pain... I try to reach out to him, but my restrained arms are shot and the attempt makes pain lance through my entire body. I slump again, unable to move. Shit...

"Get her free! Watch the door! We don't have much time!" Endeavor orders, but I can't watch anymore as my restraints are undone and my arms fall limply to my sides. I cry out, my shoulders burning with the release. I can't even feel my arms from the elbows down, but everything else feels like it's exploding with sharp and stabbing pains as I slump forward, groaning when someone catches me and lifts me from the ground. I lie against them limply, body broken and useless. I try to open my eyes, but I can't see anything... still I smile a little, a hysterical feeling making my chest ache.

"You came..." I whisper, throat aching. I feel the tears falling over my cheeks, but I can't stop them. I just smile, feeling finally safe. They came... my body finally gives up and I can feel the days of pain I've tried to ignore washing over me all at once. I try to move or even grit my teeth against it, but I feel completely paralyzed. My head falls limply back and my heart stutters... all of the pain... all of the exhaustion... I don't think I can take it anymore. I can feel my breathing growing shallower and my skin growing colder by the second... wait... everything starts to sound so far away and even the pain is starting to subside. I feel my lips twitch, another small involuntary smile.

Kaida...? Kaida! Hey! Come on! I can hear Katsuki's voice distantly and there's a small bit of warmth at my fingertips. I try to hold onto it, try to keep it close, but everything is swallowed by darkness again and the warmth disappears, leaving me all alone.

_______________

She's been out a long time...

...doctors weren't sure if she'd pull through...

All we can do is hope for the best.

Kaida? Kaida... can you hear me?

...so brave... where's my brave girl?

I open my eyes to a field of wildflowers, swaying in a gentle breeze. The sight is so beautiful and peaceful, that it's hard to turn my back on it, but... I can hear someone... calling me...

"Kaida?" a voice much closer to me interrupts my listening and I turn around slowly, unable to believe my eyes.

"M-mom?" I whimper, voice wavering. She looks so young and happy, her face as beautiful and warm as I remember it being. She smiles at me, reaching forward to wipe tears from my cheek.

"What's wrong?" she asks gently, concern written all over her face. I shake my head, overcome with the shock of seeing her again.

"How? How are you here?" I cry. My mom makes a face, pulling me into a hug and holding me tightly. I cry into her shoulder, clinging to her with all my strength. It's been so long since I've hugged my mother and I often forget how badly I miss it... how intensely I miss her.

"It's alright, honey... everything's okay now" she murmurs, letting me cry. I shake my head, pulling away, so desperate to burn this image of her into my head that I can't tear my eyes away.

"I'm sorry, mom... I'm so sorry..." I hiccup. She grabs my hands, locking eyes with mine in the way she always used to in order to get my attention.

"It's not your fault, Kaida. It's okay. You fought so bravely, sweetheart... I'm so proud" she breathes, a look in her eyes I don't remember seeing before. But I don't understand... I don't get how I'm able to see her now.

"Mom... what happened? Where am I?" I ask, looking around at the field again and she sighs, another new look on her face. It makes my heart stutter.

"M-mom?" I stammer and she presses her lips together, sadness in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie" she whispers, shaking her head. My heart freezes, disbelief coursing through me. I back away, panic setting in.

"No... no, I can't be... I..." I swallow hard, thoughts flashing back to my sister screaming for me, voice ragged and raw... to Katsuki coming to save my life and my friends... Deku, Shoto, Ochaco, Yaoyorozu, and Jiro... everyone in my class... Mr. Aizawa and Endeavor... even those bastards Hawks and Shinsou. I can't be dead. I can't leave them.

"Kaida... I know it's scary..." my mother begins, but I flinch away from her. No.

"I can't be, Mom, you don't understand. They need me. I can't leave them... I..." I feel like I'm going to pass out as the fear consumes me. How did this happen? How could I be dead? My mother smiles gently, her eyes so like my own...

"Are you sure... that it's not you who needs them?" she asks me. Her question hits me like a ton of bricks, echoing through my head like Shiori's melodies. I swallow, heart beating hard. Of course I... I need them... Shiori's laugh echoes in my memory and her red face whenever I asked about Shinsou, Deku's apologies after breaking my arm, Shoto's ice rink and kind eyes, Mr. Aizawa's lectures and Endeavor's training... my chest suddenly feels like lightning strikes through it and I gasp. What the hell? My memories seem to swirl around me, flashing through my mind in quick succession. The shopping trip for dresses, eating lunch and laughing at Iida's antics while Yaoyorozu fed her girlfriend, Kirishima launching himself off of my energy like it was second nature to him and Kaminari teasing me about my stockings, Recovery Girl reprimanding me time and time again, and Katsuki... every memory with him hits extra hard. Shouting at him in the middle of the hall, ready to kill him, watching him doze off on my bed, training my ass off with him every day and walking home with him that night, hand in hand... my chest throbs again, a spasm forcing me to hunch over. I look up at my mom wildly, feeling like I'm being shocked over and over again.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It's not your time yet..." she tells me and as the feeling burns through my chest once more, she fades away completely.

We have a pulse!

Get the crash cart, someone get me the epi!

She's waking up... doctor!

I choke instantly on something blocking my airway, gagging and gasping as a pair of gloved hands pry my eyes open, shining a burning bright light into them. I try to snap my eyes back shut, but I retch around the intrusion as it's pulled from my mouth in one fluid motion. I cough violently, confused and in pain. I try to speak, demanding to know where I am, but dozens of arms hold me down as people start shouting over me. My ears ache, head throbbing. Shut up... please, just shut up! I feel a pulse sneak out of me, blasting the hands away and there's more shouting. I need to get up... need to do something.

"Take it easy, Pulse!" a familiar voice snaps and a calming sweet scent fills my nose. My eyelids droop, body suddenly feeling very warm and very heavy... I wonder... what that smell is... my eyes slip shut once more and I'm met with a deeper sleep than I've ever experienced before.

_____________

After a few days in the ICU, I finally woke up enough to be moved to another room. According to my doctor, almost all of my injuries were near fatal and the surgical team was pretty surprised that I survived, but until he was confident enough in my recovery, I was denied any visitors. As weak as I've been, it was still enough to drive me crazy being confined to a hospital bed without seeing the ones I was most worried about. I've been reassured plenty of times, but... it's not the same as seeing it. Now, I sit up in bed, in just enough pain to make every movement a chore, but I don't care. Today's the day I finally get to see my sister.

"Alright, miss Ito. Remember, no sudden movements or big hugs. You'll get your first visit from Recovery Girl later today, but you're going to be weak for a while. You won't be able to continue your training until your treatment is over" my doctor reminds me, going over my chart for the millionth time. I roll my eyes, irritated with him yet again.

"I know. Can you just let her in already?" I demand, earning a sharp look.

"Don't throw my advice out so quickly. If you're not careful with your quirk before you've healed, you may do permanent damage" he replies and it stops me cold. I nod solemnly, remembering my first conversation with him. Whatever Juro did to me... be it the serum or the beatings or the starvation... he sapped out almost all of my energy. My entire body was a useless heap of bones and blood when I arrived here... I'm lucky enough to be alive let alone still have a quirk left to use.

"I know..." I murmur softly. At that, the doctor nods, finally at ease knowing that I'm not going to risk any more damage to myself.

"I'll let her in" he says, walking to the door and stepping outside briefly. I sigh, a bit excited and a bit nervous. It feels like years since I've seen my sister and when the door reopens, my heart thunders in my chest. Shiori enters the room, a million emotions on her face and a thin white band of gauze wrapped around her neck.

"Shiori..." I whisper, eyes watering. Hers do the same, her brave face cracking as she rushes to my side to give me a hug. I slow her down, grabbing her shoulder.

"Gentle..." I remind her and she nods, hugging me softly. I hug her back, emotion making my eyes and throat hurt.

"I'm so sorry" I whisper, heart hurting with everything left unsaid and everything I must've put her through. She pulls away though, shaking her head furiously as the tears flow down her cheeks.

"No... don't apologize to me" she pleads, voice quiet though the emotions on her face are anything but. I stare at her bandage, guilt ripping through me.

"It's all my fault" I breathe, but she shakes her head again, hand absently coming up to touch her throat.

"This was all me, Kaida... I had to defend myself... you have nothing to be sorry for" she insists. I bite the inside of my cheek, doubting her words.

"What happened?" I ask and she smiles warily, a weathered look in her eyes.

"I overused my quirk and had to get surgery to repair the vocal chords... I'm okay now, but no hero work or karaoke for me anytime soon" she laughs sheepishly, but I can see the upset behind her gaze. I grab her hand instantly, squeezing gently.

"It'll heal... we both will" I assure her, even though I'm not really sure myself. She smiles at me though, as happy to see me as I am to see her.

"How is... everyone?" I ask, but she raises an eyebrow, knowing what I really mean.

"You mean, how is Bakugo?" she replies. My face heats, cheeks growing red. Shiori laughs a little again, shaking her head before her gaze falls into a darker place. I swallow the lump in my throat at her expression.

"Losing you... was hard on all of us. I don't think you even realize how many people love you here... but from what I saw of Bakugo, he was a wreck" she says honestly. My heart sinks, guilt swallowing me whole.

"He came to save me..." I say and she nods, a strange look in her eyes.

"That was maybe the only thing he did in the two weeks you were gone. After Juro took you... Bakugo didn't speak to anyone for days. Deku told me when he came by to visit before my surgery... Aizawa found him passed out against the wall next to your dorm room door" she says. It hurts me to imagine it, to even think about him in that kind of state. Katsuki... my brave, angry, always ready for anything Katsuki. How could he ever hurt so much?

"Where is he now?" I ask quietly. This time, Shiori's smile is a bit warmer, a little humor in her eyes.

"Screaming at Mr. Aizawa as we speak. He's pretty pissed off that he hasn't been allowed to see you. I'm sure I'm gonna get yelled at later too" she laughs a little, voice still so quiet I have to strain to hear it half the time. I roll my eyes.

"You're my sister" I say and she shrugs, giving me a look.

"Try telling him that. If he gets his way, you'll see him before the day ends" she jokes and I can't help but smile a little. I don't know exactly what the future holds now or what these injuries mean for us. I'm not even sure what kind of an impact the situation had on hero society. What I do know, is that right now, I don't want to concern myself with the hero world or the evil doings of Juro, the immortal. All I want now is to spend every second I can with the people I love and thank my lucky stars that I get even one more day with them. After all, it's a day longer than I ever dreamed I'd get.