Part 4

I felt my knuckles on my skin break as I braided the large oak tree with jabs and punches. The blood ran down the tree, crimson liquid glistening in the early morning sun. I pulled back my hand for one last punch, pain shot through my right hand as it connected with the bloodied oak.

I checked my watch to see it was only 6 in the morning. I had only a week left until the first day of school. I imagine that Katsuki would have made it into the hero course, he had the determination, but he needed to learn patience and maybe some anger management.

I stretched my arms back behind my head as I walked towards the nearest pharmacy. I forgot to bring the first aid kit again, so I couldn't bandage my fists.

The blood dripped on the floor of the pharmacy as I scaled the aisles and shelves for some bandages and hydrogen peroxide. "Finally," I whispered to myself as I scooped the last item I needed into my hand.

I laid the medical items onto the cashier, the woman stared at me, shock and fear covering her face. She scanned the items and I handed her the money she needed and she handed me the change.

I sat on the sidewalk as I cleaned the wounds on my knuckles. I wrapped the bandage around my wrist and knuckles, tight but not too tight that it would restrict the movements in my hand. I clenched and unclenched my knuckles, making sure they wouldn't slide off.

I checked my watch again to see it was a quarter to 7, meaning I had fifteen minutes until my aunt and uncle would be back from their trip. I started to jog in the direction of the apartment, my muscles had grown slightly over the past months with the constant training I've been doing.

My foot still slips but not as much as it used to three years ago, I like to think my dad would be proud. I hope he's having a good afterlife with mom, or wherever he is.

I hadn't realized I was sprinting until I almost passed the entrance to the apartment building. I noticed my aunt's car in the parking lot. "Shit" I mumbled as I raced to the elevator. The elevator made a swift ring as it stopped at my floor. I rushed through the hallways and burst through the apartment door.

My aunt was sitting on the couch, a glass of wine in hand,, and my uncle was standing in the kitchen, his arms across his chest. "You're late." he snapped, stepping towards me. I felt my anger rise, I wasn't going to take this abuse anymore. My uncle pulled his arm back to punch me, but I quickly kicked his leg from under him, a loud bang rang through the room as he slammed to the ground.

"Don't touch me again, I have had to put up with your shit for three years and I'm done," I demanded, anger filling my veins, flushing my face. "You rotten child, you are just like your father!" my aunt shouted as she helped my uncle from the floor as I said; "And I'm proud of it." I looked at my aunt in her glossy silver eyes, fear, and anger all over them.

"I'm going to bed, and I'll be out from dawn until noon," I inform the two fear-filled adults in front of me. I waltzed past them but was stopped when my aunt grabbed my arm and asked; "are you going to hurt us?" I gave her a sad smile, "only if you hurt me, deal?" she quickly nodded her head and let go of her grip on my arm.

I walked up towards my room and set my alarm for 5:30 in the morning so I could train and also get a quick bite to eat before I head to the park. I laid down on my bed and fell asleep in my sweaty clothes, I was too tired to change.

~~~~

My knuckles burned as I bandaged them after my workout, I heard a quiet laugh come from behind me as I started to walk away from the park, I spun around and I saw someone I wished I hadn't seen.

"What the hell do you want Dabi?!" I screamed, his purple scared lip curling into a sly grin, he began to laugh, as the world around me went dark, blue flames erupting around me and the man who killed my father.

The flames grew larger, a blue flame igniting right under me.

~~~~

I shot up from my bed, my body in a cold sweat. I quickly checked the clock; 5:25 in the morning. I groaned as I slumped from my bed to the bathroom.

When I had grabbed a quick breakfast from the kitchen, I adjusted my turtleneck as I ran out the door for my morning jog, still trying to shake the image of that purple scared man out of my head.

~~~~

I walked to the entrance of the school, it was finally here, my first day of UA. I found my way to my homeroom 1-A. I walked through the door and I saw a few familiar faces from the entrance exam; half haired boy, a green-haired kid, and Katsuki Bakugou, how lovely.

I walked to the empty seat at the back of the classroom and plopped down. I could hear Bakugou growling at me, I tore my gaze from the window to his crimson eyes, "how did you get here Mute." he snapped, I just stared at his irritated eyes and shrugged. He just growled and started yelling at some other kid.

A few minutes past and the homeroom teacher walked into the room, I didn't look to see who they were until my name was called for attendance. I raised my hand and turned to face the teacher. My face was filled with shock as I saw my dad's closest friend; Shouta Aizawa. He gave me a wink and continued with attendance.

I never knew Aizawa was teaching here. I was called back to reality by the mention of a test, specifically the 'Quirk Apprehension Test'. All the students headed towards the locker rooms to change, but I was stopped by someone grabbing my arm. I quickly grabbed the dagger I kept hidden in my boot and held it towards the culprit's cheek.

"You know you're not supposed to have weapons in school." Aizawa teasingly said, letting go of his grasp on my arm, "You scared the crap outta me." I laughed, shoving the dagger back into my boot.

"How are you, living with your aunt and uncle I mean," Aizawa asked, I stiffened at the mention of them, not wanting to tell the truth but I couldn't lie to him. "Um, I don't feel safe, I was being abused for the time I was there until last week when I finally stood up for myself." I stared at the floor as Aizawa sighed.

"I was hoping that wasn't what you were going to say, but I suspected it so that's why I am going to become your guardian." I was speechless at what Aizawa had just said, he's going to be my guardian?!?

"I know what you're going to say." he sighed, running his fingers through his long black hair. I could hear my classmates outside, doing who knows what. "I talked to your aunt and uncle, they don't want you living in their home anymore, they feel threatened." Aizawa finished, as he leaned against the wall beside me.

Good, they should feel threatened because of how they treated me. "When do I move in?" I blurted, Aizawa chuckled as he pulled me into a warm embrace, one that a child would get from a parent after they were hurt or sad. It was a hug a father would give to a daughter.

I felt tears run down my freckled cheeks as Aizawa pulled away, smiling at me as he said; "today." I felt my emotions catch up to me, all that bottled up anger and sadness all spilling out in front of my teacher. I could feel the scars on my back sting, the burns on my legs and neck began to pulse. Why was this happening, why am I in pain again?

Aizawa gripped my shoulders and shook me out of my thoughts, what just happened? I felt pain, but not a bad pain? "Ito, wake up! Did you hear me, your stuff has already been moved to my house." Aizawa said as he walked me to the girl's locker room.

I whispered a small 'thank you' as he pushed me into the locker room, it was empty, good. I quickly peeled off my school uniform, my turtleneck sticking to my skin like glue from sweat. I slipped on the gym uniform, the long pants clinging to the scars on my legs.

I wrapped the sweater around my waist as I came to a stop in front of my classmates, they all stared at me with shock in their eyes. Did they not know I was in their class? Is there something on my face?

"Alright class, let's begin the test, Bakugou your first."

~~~~

The test was tiring, I did pretty well, I was somewhere in the middle, but I still don't know why everyone was staring at me at the beginning of the test. Could they see my scars? I hope not, no one can know about those.

I walked towards the entrance of my new home, it was small, but that didn't matter. Anything was better than going back to live with those bastards. Aizawa opened the door to the house and gestured for me to come inside. The house looked cozy, unlike Aizawa the house was warm and welcoming.

I climbed the stairs to where my room would be, I found a sign on a white door that said; Akari's room. I opened the door to the room to find my stuff all laid out on the floor, most of it was unpacked but there were still some of my clothes packed up.

I started to unpack the hundreds of turtlenecks I owned, some ranging from thick sweaters to thin workout ones, I always wore them except for at night, they get too sticky from the sweat and tears.

I placed the last of my things on the desk across from my bed, the picture of my mother and father hugging each other made me smile. They were so happy, unlike me. I pulled the dagger from my boot and stared at it, the shining steel still cold even though it's been in my boot for hours. I placed the blade on the desk before I walked back down the stairs.

Aizawa was sitting on the couch watching something on the television when I walked into the living room, the breeze was nice on my face as I opened the window for some fresh air, bracing my hands on the window frame I sighed and said; "The anniversary for dads death is tomorrow so I'm sorry in advance if I act up in class."

"I know that's a hard day for you, you can skip if you want," Aizawa said, walking towards me. The tears on my face stung as they fell from my jaw and hit the floor, "No, I'm not going to slack off just because I miss my dad, and I miss him a lot. His laugh, his eyes, how he always ruffled my hair every time I had an attitude instead of yelling. I miss him so much, and I just hope he's watching over me, or something like that." I wiped the tears from my eyes and turned to face Aizawa.

"Your dad would be so proud of you," he whispered, pulling me into a warm embrace. "I hope so," I said, my voice cracking as my tears fell down my face. My eyes ached as I struggled to keep them open, but I soon felt my eyelids give in and I fell asleep.