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how long do you plan to sulk? asks the flowering bush on the edge of the yard. Izuku pointedly does not look up at it, instead reaching down to rip some grass from the ground. Katsuki does that sometimes. Izuku thinks he just likes being destructive. The bush huffs. Sunlit One, don't ignore me!
i'm not sulking. Izuku replies. He rips another handful of grass from the ground. Perhaps he can see the appeal of taking one's anger out on grass. There's not a lack of it in the world, so he doesn't feel guilty for destroying it for some catharsis.
you totally are . the bush argues back. i don't understand! i thought you liked humans!
liking humans doesn't mean i've ever wanted to be one! Izuku snaps, finally looking up. The Moonlit One, his counterpart, is crouched in the foliage, disguised as a plain fox. His black fur blends in with the shadows and his midnight eyes are only possible to see because of the light glinting off them. The moment Izuku makes eye contact, he knows he's lost. He hangs his small head, defeated. i want to go home, Tsuki.
silly Taiyo . his friend's mouth opens to laugh at him, an animalistic sound. you are human right now. this is your home. i picked it just for you! you're lucky that shrine maiden was so close.
i want to go home . Izuku repeats stubbornly. i want to see the forest .
There is silence from Izuku's old friend.
The two of them have existed in tandem for as long as they have been alive. In the past, they were mortal enemies, fighting a nonstop battle over their forest and its inhabitants. Then the quirks had come. Sunlit One and Moonlit One had no choice but to join forces to keep their forest safe from outsiders. They worked together for over two hundred years—before Gem-Stealer came. Before Izuku became Izuku.
the forest is gone . the Moonlit One says. The humor is gone from him, leaving behind the resolve that comes with thousands of years. there is no home to return to. you have a house here and i am able to visit you. you should not be so selfish, guardian. accept your failure so we may move on.
Izuku rips two handfuls of grass from the ground, milk teeth ground together in frustration. Moonlit One is correct, Izuku knows he is. He just... doesn't want to give up. The forest and its people were his to protect for thousands of years, and now they are gone. Just like that. All because of the Stealer-of-Gems.
....how are our people? he eventually asks. Moonlit One abandons his bush, three tails waving behind him as he approaches.
the ones who escaped are safe and well. Moonlit One informs his other half as he crosses the yard. the neighboring territories have accepted them gracefully. they will find no hardships as long as i live, Taiyo.
i know. Tsuki is loyal and fierce .
Moonlit One stops before him and reaches out, nudging Izuku with his nose. Izuku raises his head to meet his friend's gaze.
if you are to continue to sulk, you should not take it out on the shrine maiden . Tsuki says, nudging Izuku again. she is the last of her line now. her family has served us well for generations.
There is a clatter from the doorway of the house. Tsuki looks up and meets Inko's eyes, but Izuku does not turn his head. Inko doesn't make any move to pick up her laundry basket, but Izuku does feel the slight tug of her quirk on his back. Tsuki transfers his gaze to Izuku and nods his head once.
remember my words, Sunlit One. i will return soon.
Inko rushes over to scoop him up the moment Tsuki scampers off. Izuku can't help but pout after his partner. Inko is fussing over him as she walks back towards the house, clear concern written all over her face.
"It's okay Izuku, the fox won't hurt you." Inko croons to him as they step back into the house. She has a tight grip on him as if to comfort herself more than him. He supposes that makes sense, seeing as he is three years old and normal three year olds wouldn't know that normal foxes are dangerous.
The motherliness reminds him of his first night in her home. She had clearly been unsettled by him, rightfully so, and yet she went out of her way to be kind.
Tsuki is right. He is being unfair to her.
Izuku reaches up and places his tiny hand on Inko's cheek. She stops dead in her tracks and looks down at him, brows furrowing. Izuku takes a deep breath—
and beams, mouth stretching wide. His teeth are a bit too sharp and his eyes shine a bit too brightly, but Inko never shies away.
"Momma!" Izuku chirps cheerfully. Inko's eyes go wide in shock and for a few precious moments they are still.
Then she wraps him up in her arms and squeals in joy. She's tearing up and squeezing a bit too tightly, but Izuku allows it, patting her cheek as she babbles about his first word and how proud of him she is. It's a rather silly thing to be proud of, but humans tend to be that way.
Inko smiles at Izuku and her face is full of love, of joy. Izuku truly makes up his mind then.
For the last of his shrine maidens, he can be a good child.