Ch.29: Life is ephemeral

It was heartbreaking and painful to watch Katsuki coming back to consciousness only to see the love of his life dying by his side.

And Sisipho indeed died.

On the way to the hospital, she had a few cardiopulmonary arrests and her heart gave up the fight. The doctors had to put the black woman in an induced coma and her body only kept barely working due to the machines attached to her body.

It was necessary a bunch of heroes, and some sedatives, to keep Bakugou calm in this situation. He was very agitated, crying and screaming for Sisipho, wanting nothing more than hold her in his embrace again. However his wound isn't completely healed, so the doctors needed to put him to sleep immediately, otherwise, the injury would reopen.

In Katsuki's mind, there's only one thing: how unbelievable and imprudent what Sisi did for him is. He can't forgive himself for letting this happen, and neither can do it for the woman that did such a sacrifice.

But wouldn't he do the same in her place though?

After some hours of being sedated, Katsuki started to come back to himself and to think more clearly. He's alone in a hospital room. Since all streets around the city are interdicted, this is preventing his parents from visiting, and his hero friends are also hospitalized.

Looking at the pale wall before him, Katsuki can only repeat in his mind the awful scene of Sisipho bleeding until death before his eyes and the number of paramedics surrounding her small body, trying to make her heart beat again.

Everyone was desperately trying to save Darklight, the hero that stopped the most insane and devastating villain they ever saw. Society has a huge debt to their Black Heroine.

The world is a testimony of the sacrifice Sisipho did for the man she loves. In all news around the world is being broadcasted, her family and friends are praying that she'll be okay. It's too soon to lose such an incredible woman.

Beyond defeated, Katsuki is feeling scared, as never before. The doctors said that's impossible to reverse her situation with the resources they have because she used all of her essence to heal him. Darklight went beyond any limits existing, ignoring all laws of nature and now there's nothing left inside her.

Because she gave up her own life to him.

A knock on the door brought Katsuki out of his miserable state. He didn't even care about answering, but the person just walked in anyways.

"Get out of here, half-half..." the blonde groaned, wiping away the tears that only now he noticed that are running down his face since he woke up.

"I just want to tell you something." he said, walking closer to his bed.

"I don't need your pit, get the fuck out."

"I don't pit you, I understand."

"No, you don't! No one can understand how I'm feeling right now!"

"I wasn't talking about you..." Katsuki eyed him confused. "Midoriya and I were in there when Sisipho was healing you."

"What... WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER?! YOU DAMN-"

"Because I understand... I understand what she did." both men shared a painful look, with teary eyes. "I'm sorry but... If it was you in her place, would you stop?"

Silence. That's why he's feeling so bad. He would be a hypocrite if the answer to this question was a 'yes'. Katsuki definitely would sacrifice himself one thousand times if necessary just to keep his Chocogirl alive.

"I would stop Sisipho that time but... When I looked to Izuku and thought of the possibility of the roles being switched... I wouldn't stop if it was to save the man I love. I'm sorry, but... It was Sisipho's decision, I couldn't interfere. While saving you, she kept saying that she had no regrets. Sisipho said that her life was good and that she was loved. She truly loves you, Bakugou."

Katsuki only lowered his head, hiding his face between his hands, and sobbed hard. Pouring out his heart he felt even worst remembering the silly thought he had earlier this month...

'We have time to start a family later, huh? Stupid piece of shit!' he kept cursing and blaming himself nonstop, full of regret and fear of not having more time to realize his dreams with his woman.

Another knock on his door brought both men out of the miserable atmosphere and a panting Midoriya came in frenetically. Even hurting a lot, he ran immediately to his childhood friend; they aren't this close, but the greenish will always think of him like that.

"There's a chance to Bonbon!" the quote made left their mouth gaped, but the amount of hope in his green eyes made Katsuki's heart beat fast.

"W-What do you mean?" he asked with difficulty due to his sore throat.

"Eri!! Do you remember the girl we saved back in Class 1-A? Mr. Aizawa's adoptive daughter?" they nodded. "He called the hospital now and said that there's a possibility that Eri can reverse Sisipho's situation!"

Katsuki didn't even have the strength to respond, feeling his pounding heart getting overcome by hope. Quietly crying, he nodded in understatement and hid his face with his arms again, now with happy tears. If there's a chance, even if minimal, he'll hold on tightly to it.

Izuku felt sad for his friend, cautiously approaching and patting his back to give some comfort to the blonde.

"Don't worry, Kacchan... Your Sisi will get away from that." he only nodded, hating to be seen in a such fragile state.

It took some hours for to Aizawa arrive due to the chaos that was taking over Musutafu. Meanwhile, he and his daughter were on the way, the healed heroes waited outside Sisipho's hospital room, watching her from a glass window.

Recovery Girl did her best to heal the black heroine, but her quirk only reached physical injuries and those were little. It's almost unbearable to see her so lifeless and pale, with a lot of tubes and wires going into her body.

The heartbeats on the monitor are very slow even though.

When Mr. Aizawa appeared in the cold hallway pulling his daughter by the hand, it felt like they can finally breathe again. Soon all doctors and Recovery Girl approached the room's entrance too.

"Are you sure that she can do that?" asked Katsuki seriously.

"Yes, Recovery and I are training Eri for years and even though she never reverted a person from death, I believe that she can do it."

"Trust Eri, Kacchan. Her quirk saved many lives already." Izuku tried, but the blonde ignored him, crouching down to the young girl's level.

"Can you save my Sisi?" he asked with sore eyes, a small hint of hope in it, his ruby eyes looking straight at her red ones.

"I can!" Eri nodded with conviction, something she build up over the years with the help of her supportive new family. "I'll bring your love back, mister Dynamight!"

That's what he is praying for.

With the doctors' authorization, Aizawa, Eri, and Recovery Girl entered the room, letting the rest wait outside. The males from the squad are glued against the window, watching every move agonizingly.

The small girl was put sat on the mattress, beside the unconscious body. Gently putting her hands over the woman, Eri's little horn started to glow with a golden light.

It was almost imperceptible, but Sisipho's appearance started to change, color coming back to her cheeks and then the whole body. Soon the machine beside her bed started to bip loud, showing that her heart is back alive as strong as ever.

When Eri pulled her hands away from the other, Sisipho started to stir in her sleeping state.

"She did it..." Hanta was the first to talk, everyone in shock by seeing their friend opening her eyes again.

Immediately the doctors went to her aid, to reassure Sisipho that she is fine and examine her body to make sure that everything is back to normal.

After anguishing minutes, Recovery Girl confirmed that Sisipho is totally out of risk. Right away her friends entered the room, going straight to Sisipho, and engulfing her in a group hug.

Obviously, Katsuki was the first to reach Sisi, hugging her tightly and crying hard. He can't believe that it worked and she's back in his arms again. However, Sisipho is still genuinely confused about the situation.

"I... Did I make it? Oh gods, did I save you?!" Sisipho cried, accepting their warm embrace. "What... What happened?"

Giving her some space, the group looked at Sisipho with sore eyes, Recovery Girl was the one to answer her.

"After killing Tomura and reviving Bakugou, you... You died, Ashido." the black woman felt her blood run cold, shivers all over her body, and Katsuki only hugged her tighter, hating to hear this again. "We managed to force your heart to keep beating, but barely."

"How..." Aizawa and Eri gave one step closer, catching her attention.

"Eri used her quirk to reverse the condition of your body back to how it was before the battle. That's how."

"Thank you... Thank you all for not giving up on me." Sisipho managed to smile at them between her cries, relaxing in Katsuki's arms.

The doctors and the others talked for a bit more but soon left the room, giving the couple a moment alone.

For a good hour, Katsuki and Sisipho just stayed in silence cuddling closely, both quietly crying. Head empty, just glad that they're fine and alive. Both lost each other today, so quickly, in a blink, and none of them could do anything to stop it.

Life is so ephemeral.

Only now, for the first time, they're realizing how dangerous the path they choose is for real. There's so much yet that both want to do together and in an instant, this almost turned into a mere dream.

"Don't leave me like this ever again, Choco..." Katsuki pleaded, looking into her golden eyes. "Please don't leave me..."

"I'm sorry, love... I... I was desperate when I saw you in that critical state... I..."

"Shh... I know, I don't blame you... I love you, Sisipho, with all my heart, and I'll be eternally grateful for what you did today. That was the biggest demonstration of your love for me. I didn't deserve it, but you did..."

"Kat... Don't say that..."

"Your life is way more precious than mine... Damnit, Sisi, you have a baby brother that barely knows you! But I'll not blame you for your choice, ever. I only have the right to be grateful. Thank you, my Choco."

"I have no regrets. I love you, Katsuki."

The couple of heroes stayed in that room together for hours, just enjoying each other's presence and life. A little moment of peace after a living hell on earth.

--✨--

Later in that same eventful day, both families of the heroes managed to come to see them. Again everyone was taken over by emotions. Katsuki and Sisipho had time alone with their respective families and it was a harsh time.

But soon everyone was sitting down together in peace again, after pouring everything out of their hearts.

Days have passed since the attack and the whole city of Musutafu still is recovering from the strong hit caused by one single villain. The population only can feel relieved that such evil is gone for good, not even caring about human rights at this point, since hundreds of innocent lives were taken on that day.

Also, they feel like that because the heroine who did this and saved the city is fine. Sisipho received a lot of tributes and gifts from the grateful civilians. When she returned to a normal routine, wherever Darklight passed, she was acclaimed by the public.

Not only her but all rookies pro heroes from Yuei, that also gave their everything in the fight against Tomura, managing to prevent more civilians from dying by keeping the villain stuck in the same place.

Thanks to all those sacrifices they did, all their years and efforts are being rewarded now.

"It's with immeasurable pleasure that I want to announce that we have new faces in the charts this year. Please, a huge round of applause to the heroes: Darklight, Dynamight, Shoto, Deku, Cellophane, Uravity, Chargebolt and Persona."

Respectively, these are the positions they're now on the charts, the last ones of it.

Said heroes walked to the stage triumphantly, head up and chest full, using their costumes proudly. The eight bowed to the ballroom full of pro heroes and reporters.

"Thank you, all of you, for recognizing our efforts. I think that I can talk for my friends here that we only did our duty as heroes." Darklight was the first to speak, removing her blindfold to look at every one. "A wise man once said to us that 'we should never focus only on the chart, that the numbers are only consequences of how hard we work.' Now we truly can see that. So I want to thank him, Eraserhead, and all the other mentors of Yuei for helping a bunch of kids to reach their dreams. Thank you!"

The audience applauded Darklight and all others that also shared some words with them. After that, the heroes were free to walk around, chat with the others or just talk with the press.

DYNMT and Darklight didn't leave each other's embrace all night, walking together and interacting with the people.

Since the battle against Tomura, the couple is inseparable. To refrain his woman from staying away from her family, Katsuki is staying in their house too, glued to her by the hip. This surely is very helpful for the mental recovery from the trauma for both.

As the days passed by, their hearts got more at ease.

"You did a good speech, doll." he said when they did a break from social interaction to sit at the bar.

"Why thank you, love. I can tell the same about you. As Kiri says, very manly." she giggled, taking a sip of her sparkling drink.

"Talking about it, where is he?" his red eyes ran around the ball, not seeing the characteristic hair from Red Riot.

"Probably hiding somewhere with Mina. Those two still acting like two horny teenagers."

"Look who's talking~" he whispered low in her ear, teasing the woman.

"You're the one to talk, huh?!" she narrowed her eyes at him and both laughed. "You finally did it into the charts, baby. I'm so proud of you!"

"I told you that it would be hard, but not impossible. Now that I'm in, no one will take me from here. I'll be the #1!"

"You already are, my love." she said caressing his cheek tenderly. "And I'm being deadly serious, you're way better than Endeavor!"

"Damn sure I am! I can beat him easily, that old man. The pain in the ass is that chicken in second place."

"Hm, but you can beat him too... You're hotter than Hawks." she winked sillily at him, who hugged her small waist, letting small kisses over her neck.

"I love when you do that..." he told only her.

"What? Do you perhaps have a praise kinky, mister Bakugou?!" she joked. Chuckling, Katsuki moved away a bit, just to gaze her down with his ruby eyes, that are shining now.

"Wanna find out?" he smirked at her widened eyes.

Holding her hand firmly, Katsuki dragged both to his car, and back to his apartment, where the couple had a night full of love moments.

Finally some happiness after the storm.

can you feel it? this fanfic is closing to the end, i really do love to write about this universe, but i need to free my mind to new projects. did u know that my next fanfic of mha will be with todoroki? just saying 💅✨see ya~!