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Izuku and Tenko were the newest additions to the orphanage, just another couple of children in a long line who had lost their families to the attacks of the fae. It was the sad fate of many families ever since the war against the fae began. Though, no one could really even remember the time before the fae war, everyone old enough to handle it knew why the fae took children. The fae couldn’t have children normally, they had to take human children.
Children, toddlers, infants, no one was even sure when you were considered ‘too old’ to be taken by the fae. It led to the wholesale slaughter of families so the fae could repopulate the numbers they lost against humans. Kidnapping children in the middle of the night, luring them into the woods. The families that had children escape during their slaughter were considered the lucky ones-
Though, Izuku didn’t really feel lucky. Even if he had escaped from the clutches of the fae, he had lost… everything . Everything except Tenko and the few items they still had to remember their old lives by. It wasn’t much, really. The clothes on their back and the items they had in their pockets. He did feel lucky that Mr. Yagi had let them keep their stuff, it was a bitter sweet reminder of better times. Though, a stark reminder of what happened was the iron fence around the orphanage. It wasn’t meant to keep children in, but meant to keep the fae out. Every day they’d go out for time in the yard with the warning hanging over their heads to not open the gate for anyone Mr. Yagi didn’t approve of, and to never step foot outside the iron fence.
Even with all the bad, there was the good. The best part about the orphanage was Mr. Yagi’s stories. If anyone asked Mr. Yagi would tell them about the days back when he was a warrior, a hero of the people who saved many families before a Fae curse had caused his health to deteriorate. Izuku and Tenko had agreed that they wanted to be heroes like Mr. Yagi, and save kids and families like theirs. They were going to grow up to become strong and save families, so that other kids didn’t have to lose everything like they did.
There were plenty of visitors to the orphanage, some were families looking to adopt after their child had been taken away from the fae, others were families that used the orphanage as a safe haven for their children. Families that couldn’t afford to have enough iron to keep their children safe. It was always really hard to watch kids that were left by their families for their safety. Izuku had only seen it once and always avoided the orphanage when he noticed a family come in with a kid. However, there were also visitors that were… odd. People that watched from outside the fence. On occasion, it would turn out they were a prospective adopter, the others would just hover outside the fence. They weren’t scary- in fact, they were often friendly.
Such as the man Tenko kept talking to. Izuku’s older brother was normally very cautious about strangers, so it was odd how quickly he warmed up to the man who stood outside the orphanage fence. Izuku kicked at the ground, unable to help but remember the time Tenko had dragged him along on one of the visits to “prove it was nothing to worry about.” The man was tall, really tall. He had short while white hair and brown eyes, and a build similar to the few pictures that Yagi had of him back in his prime.
The man hadn’t approached the fence as Tenko brought Izuku right up to it, watching the brothers in silence. “This is Izuku, my little brother!” Tenko announced proudly, holding Izuku’s wrist and beaming up at the man. The man’s red brown eyes had focused on Izuku, letting out a soft hum as he raised an eyebrow.
“It’s always nice to see brothers who are so close. My little brother and I are quite similar.” The man had smiled, a glint in his eyes as they narrowed slightly. Izuku couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably under the gaze of the man.
“Uhm- what’s your name?” Izuku’s voice had felt small and quiet, like when he knew he was in trouble for something. There was just something… unsettling about the man. It was nothing to do with his appearance, but something about his reactions. The man’s eyes had narrowed at Izuku’s question,
“You can call me Hisashi.” The man had introduced himself after a long, painful silence. The man’s attention shifted to Tenko, and they began discussing their family, back when they had been alive. Izuku stood around and listened for a bit, but after he realized Tenko was getting absorbed into the conversation Izuku had decided to go find someone else to play with.
However, the strange man never left Izuku’s mind for the next week. There was something off about the whole encounter, but he couldn't quite pin what it was.
Izuku decided that if Tenko kept wanting to talk to the man, he wouldn’t stop him, but Izuku was going to stay inside, safe.
“I don't get it,” he pouted, a few days after Tenko brought him to meet Mr. Hisashi. “What do you even talk about?”
The two were in the common room, entertaining themselves with the limited selection of toys the orphanage had. They were all worn and dirty. Every toy had a different story. Some were donated, some were bought, some were found, some were taken from the sites of ravaged villages and given a new life there. The doll he was playing with was stained and threadbare, but it was his favorite. He hid it away behind a specific drawer that no one ever checked so only he could play with it.
The doll had blond hair and bright blue eyes that reminded him of Mr. Yagi.
He called the doll All Might.
“Everything, really.” Tenko said, as if he hadn't thought of it till now. “He asks me about my old family, my hobbies, what we want to be in the future… He talks about his family too. Says he has a brother that I should meet one day.”
Izuku still thought it was suspicious, but he couldn’t prove anything. What if he was wrong? What if Mr. Hisashi was a good man and by being irrational he would ruin his and Tenko’s relationship? Then Tenko would get mad at him and he would be truly alone.
Izuku stayed silent.
Later that week…
“Children, it’s time to head to sleep! Start cleaning up, please,” Yagi’s voice rang throughout the building. The children followed suit and slowly trickled into their rooms.
Izuku and Tenko headed for their shared bunk. Climbing inside, Izuku thought about how little sleep he had gotten ever since he came to the orphanage. The last time he had gotten a full night without interruptions must’ve been…
The night before his family was attacked. The next night, three fae had descended onto their house and tore the walls to shreds, in search of him and Tenko. Their family was not well off by any means, but had enough money to just barely afford an iron rod. That little iron rod was the only reason they were still human, and not fae’s. His parents fought valiantly, holding off the fae long enough for them to escape.
Neither them nor the fae made it out alive.
He tilted his head up to look at the bunk on top of his where Tomura slept. His brother tried to hide it, but he was just as affected by that day as Izuku was too. Izuku cried often and the other kids called him a crybaby, but Tenko expressed his grief by brooding and beating the other children for teasing Izuku.
Izuku forced his eyes shut, trying to get to sleep faster, just so he could stop reliving that day. He shouldn’t be scared. That was in the past. He was in a safe place now, surrounded by a cold iron gate. Mr. Yagi would protect them. They could rest without having to worry.
Izuku drifted off to sleep, knowing that he would be safe.
Izuku woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of music floating through the air. Izuku whined as he rubbed his eyes, looking up and towards the windows. Iron bars criss-crossed across the glass, a final desperate line of defense for them if any fae ever made it past the iron fence. Izuku rubbed his cheek and slid off his bed, hesitantly walking towards the window. He stood on his tip-toes, peeking out over the sill.
There was nothing out there, the night deathly still save for the song drifting through the orphanage. Izuku swallowed, turning away and walking over to the bed. “Tenko-” Izuku called softly up towards the top bunk. He waited.
Tenko didn’t wake up, which Izuku had kind of expected. “Tenko-” Izuku tried again, a little louder as he grabbed onto the ladder. “Tenko, do you hear that noise?” Izuku tried to question, wanting to know it wasn’t his illusion. There was no answer. Izuku got a sick feeling in his stomach as he stared up at the top bunk. No. Tenko was fine- He had to be! Izuku had just seen him when they went to bed. Izuku climbed the ladder, every rung sent his stomach churning as he got closer and closer. His breathing picked up, Tenko was fine, surely. Tenko was just sleeping a little deep. He just hadn’t heard Izuku.
Izuku poked his head over the top.
Tenko was missing.
His heart dropped.
This couldn’t be. Tenko had just been there when they went to sleep. It wasn’t possible! Tenko wouldn’t run away, especially not when Izuku was still here. Izuku rushed down the ladder, foot almost slipping from the rungs. Izuku recovered and rushed towards the front door of the orphanage. Izuku was stopped short by the sight of Mr. Yagi standing at the front door, the door wide open as the man looked out into the woods. Izuku took a few quiet steps closer, peeking through the door to look into the night.
“Mr. Yagi?”
The man’s head whipped around, blue eyes flashing for a second. He scanned over the room, gaze finally falling upon Izuku. Mr. Yagi’s furrowed brow relaxed and he sighed. “Young Izuku. You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.” He walked over to Izuku and crouched in front of him. “What is it?” Izuku swallowed, trying to drive away the dry feeling in his throat and the burning in his eyes.
“T-Tenko is missing.” Izuku’s voice trembled as tears welled in his eyes, and he sniffled. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the feeling of his throat closing up. Mr. Yagi’s brow furrowed again, shadowed blue eyes narrowing as he frowned.
“What?”
“Tenko!” Izuku reached forward, stopping half way and grabbing at the air. Izuku gripped his own clothes instead, his eyes wide as he looked up at Mr. Yagi. “He’s not in his bed! I woke up because of the weird music and he’s gone!” Izuku looked up at the man, silently pleading for the caretaker to help him find his brother.
“Music? There’s no music.” Mr. Yagi pursed his lips, brows still furrowed together as he glanced down. Izuku looked at him expectantly, worry gnawing at his heart as he watched Mr. Yagi’s eyes widen and eyebrows raise. “It’s a fae trick-” Mr. Yagi’s wide blue eyes turned to Izuku. He took a deep breath, his jaw setting as his eyes narrowed. “Izuku, you need to go back to your room.” Mr. Yagi stood, straightening out his clothes. “Close and lock the door. Don’t let anyone that isn’t me in. Do not leave this building, no matter how the music changes. I’ll go look for Tenko, but you need to stay safe.”
Izuku looked up at the man- still rather tall even after his hero days were over. He swallowed and took a shaky breath, rubbing at his eyes as he nodded. Izuku turned and ran back to his and Tenko’s room, slamming the door shut and locking it behind him. The music, once calm and unassuming, seemed to morph and distort. Even if it was the same tune, played the same way, it suddenly sounded like a death knell to Izuku. The boy whimpered as he sat down in the corner of the room, covering his ears as he tried to drive the thought of the music from his head.
There was no music.
There was no music.
There was no music. There was no music, there was no music. therewasnomusic .
Izuku repeated it over and over, trying to drown out the sounds that echoed from the woods. His thoughts wandered even as he repeated the mantra. Where was Tenko? What happened to him? Was he still alive? Did- did he run away? Tenko running away was the best scenario, even if it was bad. It meant he wasn’t taken by the fae or attacked. At least Tenko might be safe if he ran away. Izuku’s eyes burned as they welled up with tears, but he tried to hold them back. He had to stay strong, until Tenko came back.
He couldn’t cry, because Tenko would come back soon. He had to. Izuku’s throat felt like sandpaper as he swallowed. He tried to ignore the fact that no matter how hard he tried to hold it back, his tears fell onto the floor boards below. He sniffed, trying his best to ignore the music as he imagined that this had never happened.
Izuku wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but he must have. One moment he was curled up in a corner of their room, trying his best not to cry while imagining that Tomura was going to appear at the front door any moment now. The next he was laying on his bed, blankets tucked around him with his eyes burning and tear tracks dried on his cheeks. Izuku sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking out the window. Mr. Yagi would be back with Tenko soon, surely. The sun rose, sounds of the town waking up drifting in through his window, but Tenko didn’t return.
–
Izuku sat at the bench against the back wall, not paying attention to the sounds of the children playing around him. He’d burst into tears when Yagi had come back to the door, empty handed, and the whole orphanage had to be gathered and warned. Everyone knew a fae had snatched his brother, and most were giving him space to grieve.
He could hear the meaner ones, though, whispering nasty words when Yagi was busy.
“Who would be dumb enough to get tricked by fae? Tenko should have known better.”
“Izuku heard the music too, but I didn’t. Doesn’t that mean he’s gonna get snatched too?”
“I heard when fae take you, they eat pieces of you until the fae parts grow in. That’s probably what’s happening to Tenko now.”
“My ma says if you have no family left, then you might as well just give yourself to them. Do you think that’s why Tenko went with them?”
Izuku had to grit his teeth, fighting against the tears that just couldn’t seem to stop. They were dummies- mean fools who didn’t understand anything! Tenko would never leave him behind on purpose, he was tricked! If you could fight fae magic, than humans would have beat them by now!
As to what happened if you were taken by the fae…
Izuku sniffled, curling into himself. He could still run away. He could wake up, and get away from them. Surely…
But it had been days, now. And he knows… he knows hoping is not the same as believing.
“Excuse me, young one?”
Sniffling, Izuku doesn’t realize at first that someone is calling to him. When the voice repeats itself, he looks up tearfully. The children had moved further down the yard, playing a game of keep away with the ball- but someone had approached the fence.
It was a man, thin and a touch frail looking, with white hair and soft green eyes. He was looking to Izuku in concern, crouching down to be on his level. “Are you alright? What has you so upset?”
The voice, so gentle and kind, feels like a balm over Izuku’s mood. Without really thinking about it, he stands up and shuffles over, the man’s expression softening more as he does so.
“M-my brother…” Biting his lip, Izuku looks down. “My brother is missing. A-and everyone’s saying how the fae tricked him and are going to- to eat him and-” Izuku’s voice started cracking, tears falling more.
“Oh.” The stranger tilted his head, eyes widening in sympathy. “You poor thing- what awful words for them to say. Don’t cry- there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the fae, but I’m sure they’re wrong.”
Izuku sniffled, rubbing frustratedly at his eyes. “How can they be wrong? Tenko’s gone- and, I didn’t even hear him leave! He just disappeared…” He just left me behind.
The stranger sighed, bringing his hands together before looking back at Izuku. “I’m so sorry. Brothers… they shouldn’t be separated.” Catching Izuku’s eye, he leaned forward, just slightly. “If there’s one thing I understand, it’s that fae take children to be family, not food. Your Tenko isn’t being killed, he isn’t being hurt.”
Izuku blinked back the tears that wanted to rise from hearing that. He couldn’t know that, not really, but… “I h-hope so.” This stranger… he couldn’t explain it, but his presence was comforting. Yagi had been doing his best to support Izuku, but something about this man made him feel- not better, exactly. But like he didn’t have to think about what hurt him so much. “Are you- do your kids come here? What’s your name?” He knows this face is familiar- but he can’t place why.
The stranger grinned, something about the expression mischievous. “There is a child here under my protection- you can call me Yoichi; little one.”
“Izuku!”
Startling, Izuku turned, seeing Yagi glancing around the far yard. The other children were nowhere to be seen- the dinner bell must have tolled and he hadn’t even noticed. He hurried over impulsively, Yagi turning to meet him and kneeling down. “My boy!” He watched tension leave the older body, knobby hands resting on his shoulders. “Why didn’t you come in? Where were you?”
“Sorry, Mr. Yagi!” Izuku pointed towards the gate. “I was talking with that nice man…”
Except the iron gates were empty, now. Had he left so quickly? Without coming in to grab his child?
Yagi’s grip tightened just slightly, pulling him into the doorway. “Nevermind. Let’s get something to eat, shall we?” As Izuku was led into the orphanage, he couldn’t help glancing back towards the iron fence. Where had Mr. Yoichi gone? Izuku didn’t get the chance to contemplate it too long until the front doors of the orphanage closed behind them.
Dinner time was chaotic, this was rather normal. The orphanage wasn’t poor, indicated by the iron fence surrounding it. Izuku could only guess it was because of Mr. Yagi’s money from being a hero. However, more and more children were piled into the orphanage every day, even with the ones being adopted out. Izuku had come in late, but there was still some set aside from him- likely by Mr. Yagi. It was one of the things that the kids from other orphanages said set Mr. Yagi apart.
Izuku ate quietly, sitting by himself. No one really wanted to bother him when Mr. Yagi was there and watching. It wasn’t long before it was time for bed, various children running in various directions to do last-minute bedtime preparation. Izuku hesitated, before going to get his All Might doll. It had become something he used for comfort- to help him sleep ever since Tenko had disappeared.
He took the doll and climbed into bed, hugging it to his chest as he closed his eyes. He knew when the sun went down and everyone fell asleep, because the familiar melody started once again. It had changed after Tenko had been taken. This new melody had quickly become familiar, but no less haunting. Izuku closed his eyes tight, hiding his head under his blankets. There is no music. He repeated silently to himself. There is no music. It sounded free, jumping and lilting playfully. However, as he listened further he realized the music had changed again. There is no music. He hadn’t told Mr. Yagi about the music changing yet. There is no music. It didn’t really matter, it all meant the same thing. The fae were hunting… Hunting for him .
Izuku whined and forced his eyes closed, trying to imagine something else. Trying to imagine he was somewhere else. The comforting weight of All Might hugged against his chest slowly brought him to the land of sleep.
Mr. Yoichi was there again. Or, he was when the rest of the kids were on the other side of the yard. Izuku had been sitting on the bench again, daydreaming mostly. He was broken out of his reverie when Mr. Yoichi called him. “Oh, Mr. Yoichi!” Izuku calls with a small grin when he sees the man. There was just something about the man that made it easier for Izuku to breathe.
“Hello, Izuku.” Mr. Yoichi greets Izuku with a small smile. “It’s good to see you again.” Izuku gets up from the bench, looking at Mr. Yoichi through the fence.
“Why’d you leave yesterday?”
“I had something to attend to. And, anyways, everyone knows that any human should be home by the time the sun goes down. With the fae and everything.” Mr. Yoichi smiled, eyes narrowed in amusement. Izuku tilted his head, wondering what Mr. Yoichi thought was so funny.
“What about your kid?” Izuku had seen one or two kids that looked like they might be Mr. Yoichi’s- the man had a rather unique look- but he couldn’t eliminate the possibility that it was an adopted kid. Adoption was more and more common these days.
“They’ll come when they’re ready.” Izuku frowned as he looked at Mr. Yoichi, his brow furrowed slightly. The finality of his tone left no room for further conversation on the subject. Maybe Mr. Yoichi was sad he could rarely see his kid?
“Children, time to come back inside!” Mr Yagi shouted from the other side of the yard. Time was up already? But Izuku wanted to keep talking with Mr. Yoichi! It was so much more fun than sitting alone during playtime.
Mr. Yoichi looked a little sad too. “Looks like I should be going,” he said.
Wait- wasn’t he- “Aren’t you going to meet your kid today, since you didn’t yesterday?” he blurted out.
Mr. Yoichi smiled, his bright green (too bright to be natural) eyes with black pupils (they had to be black, they couldn’t be white, that wasn't possible- wait, why did he feel the need to make sure his pupils were black?) crinkled. “I just talked to him. Don’t worry, because tonight, I'll try to convince him to come home.”
Izuku thought that statement was odd. “Does your kid not want to go home?” If Izuku still had parents, he would jump at the chance to go back to a loving household, no matter how much he loved Mr. Yagi.
“Oh, I’m sure he will love it.” Yoichi said, cryptically.
Before Izuku could ask what that meant, a voice shouted “Izuku! It’s been three minutes! Time to go inside!”
Mr. Yagi.
Izuku swiftly stuttered his goodbyes to Mr. Yoichi before sprinting inside.
—
Izuku held All Might in his arms, quietly sitting on his bed as he looked at the setting sun. Slowly the darkness overtook everything, the moon rising to overlook their sleep. However… There was no melody.
The hair on the back of Izuku’s neck stood on end, and he hugged All Might close to his chest. Maybe before he’d have been relieved, but after so long with the music it was almost more scary to hear the silence. The fae couldn’t have just given up like this. They wouldn’t have tried so much if they were. What if they’re after someone else now? Izuku’s throat closed up at the thought of it. That it might be like Tenko- Izuku swallowed, looking down at All Might. He could help. He could stop it this time.
Izuku stood, glancing at what was once Tenko’s bed. It wasn’t anymore. All of Tenko’s things had been taken away in preparation for a new orphan. Izuku quietly made his way to the door, unlocking it as he gripped the doll. He opened the door and padded through the halls, searching for if any other kid had exited their room. Soon he was standing before the doors of the orphanage. He looked around, slightly dazed. Where was Mr. Yagi? Was he not normally up and walking through the halls?
A noise from outside drew Izuku’s attention away. Had someone else gone out there? Izuku quickly opened the door, hesitating as he saw the darkness outside. It should be fine as long as I don’t leave the fence- Izuku took a small step out, looking up at the dark sky. He walked out further, looking around. “H-hello?” He called quietly, keeping in mind the orphanage and people sleeping. Izuku was hoping to hear the answer of the kid who may have been caught by the fae’s song. Instead-
“Hello?!” Instead a familiar voice called back. Not another kid from the orphanage, but a much more familiar voice.
“Tenko?” It was like lightning, causing Izuku’s steps to falter. Izuku had almost given up on ever seeing Tenko again. His voice was faint, far away. “Tenko, where are you?!” Izuku called, no longer minding the sleep of the other children and people in the orphanage.
“Here! Here!” The voice called back, Izuku turned towards it, and froze. The gate … the woods. He swallowed as he walked over to the gate.
“T-tenko?” Izuku carefully grabbed onto the bars. He peered out into the darkness of the woods, breathing picking up as he stared out from the bars and gazed into the woods.
“Izuku!” Izuku didn’t wait any longer. He pushed open the gate, closing it on the backhand as he left- even if he was going to look for Tenko, he can’t risk the other children. Izuku reached for All Might, only to pause as he realized he didn’t have the doll in his hands anymore. He glanced back. He had dropped it on his way to the gate. He furrowed his eyebrows, debating going back for it. “Izuku! I’m here!”
Izuku’s head whipped back around, expecting Tenko to be right there. Izuku ran in the direction he thought he heard Tenko’s voice coming from, disappearing into the woods.
Izuku wasn’t sure how long he had been running, but Tenko’s voice never seemed to be getting closer, even though it always sounded like it was right there, next to him. At first he was running on a path- it was one of the many paths through the woods. It was a path of trampled grass and overturned dirt, bushes compacted against the ground and broken by horses and people alike moving through them.
But the bushes around Izuku weren’t compacted or broken anymore, instead they snagged on his clothes, tugging at his limbs and draining his strength. The grass brushed against his ankles as he pressed on through it. “Tenko?!” Izuku called, cupping his mouth to make his voice louder. His call was met with silence. Izuku took a few steps forward. “Tenko?! Where are you?” Izuku looked around in the darkness of the woods.
Where had Tenko gone? Where was the path? And the orphanage? He couldn’t recognize anything around him, not in the dark. There was no indication of what way to go. Izuku stood in the middle of the woods, looking around as panic welled up in his chest. Where was he? Where was Tenko? How were they supposed to get back to the orphanage-
“Izuku?”
The frightened boy felt relief at the sudden appearance of a familiar face. “Mr. Yoichi!” Hurrying, he impulsively threw himself against the friendly adult, feeling safer already.
“Woah!” Yoichi knelt down, pulling off his cloak and wrapping it around the torn and muddied figure. He shushed Izuku’s cries, bundling him up in his arms. “What’s all this? I heard you calling out just now- you’re quite a distance from the town!”
Izuku bit his lip, burrowing against the other’s shoulder, uncaring if he was acting like a small child. “I had- I heard Tenko, my brother.” A hand stroked over the cloaked back, feeling the smaller body relax in his hold. “I’m so sorry- I know it was silly, but I had to try and find him! B-but then his voice disappeared, and everything had gotten d-dark and I couldn’t find the path…”
The soft head of hair nuzzled against his, holding him close. “There, there. I found you, everything’s going to be alright.”
“I know better, now. I shouldn’t have believed that Tenko was out here.” Izuku felt shame curl in his chest, knowing Yagi was likely beside himself with worry.
“It’s not your fault, Izuku. Your family means a lot to you; of course you were willing to risk leaving for him.” Yoichi adjusted the cloak around the boy, making him aware that he’d been bundled like a small child- how embarrassing! “I feel the same way about my brother, really.”
Izuku glanced up towards the moon, now high in the sky. “C-can you help me get back to the orphanage?” He was going to have a lot of explaining to do.
“But don’t you want to see him?”
“See who?”
“Your brother, of course.”
The tone, more than the strange question, made Izuku feel a thread of unease. “S-See Tenko?”
“Yes.” The soft green eyes fell under moonlight, seeming to have a glow of their own. “I could take you to him.”
Take him to-? The relief he had felt earlier was seeping away- fast. “P-Please put me down. I need to get back to Yagi.”
“Hmm, I admire Yagi.” Instead of putting Izuku down, Yoichi started to walk, looking forward to a destination Izuku couldn’t see. “He works very hard to protect you little ones- he knows how important you are.”
Izuku felt alarm bells start to ring, beginning to struggle futilely against the cloak wrapped around him. “Mr. Yoichi, put me down!”
“Easy, now.” The thin figure, rather than finding his struggles burdensome, seemed to now be firm like iron, his hold unmovable. “Ssshh, calm down, little one.”
“Help!” He blurted, realizing fast the danger he was in. “HELP!”
But no answer came- Yoichi kept steadily moving through the woods, growing neither angry nor anxious about Izuku’s frantic attempts to escape his hold.
“Let me go!” It all was becoming startlingly clear- the stranger that no one but Izuku ever seemed to see. The music that had begun to play after Yoichi’s visits. Even being in the woods this very night- when a human should be safe at home by now. “You tricked me! You lied !” Izuku realized the betrayal with startling clarity, his heart thumping in his chest. His breathing was beginning to pick up as he slowly wrapped his head around just how thoroughly he had been tricked.
“I never lied.” Yoichi rebuffed, still gentle as he held the crying boy close. “But yes, a little trick to help my child find his way to me. Nothing I played could soothe you- not until I asked Hisashi to bring his little one to help call for you.”
Hisashi- wasn’t that the name of the stranger Tenko had spoken with? “No.” Izuku responded before he had even fully processed it. His heart fell into his stomach as he realized what that meant. Had Tenko helped them? Helped them trick him here, into the woods and Yoichi’s arms? At the very thought Izuku began to break down in tears again, losing the will to fight. “No, Tenko wouldn’t do that, he wouldn’t let you hurt me!”
“Ssshh.” Yoichi repeated, bundling him close. “He knows we’re not going to hurt you. He’s missed you too.”
—
Mr. Yagi was walking the grounds of the orphanage. He needed to be extra vigilant. He had lost Tenko. He lost one of his children to the fae. He looked at the gate. He needed more iron. He needed to build a citadel, a moat—anything before he lost another child.
And now Izuku was at risk. His heart sank as he thought of the child sitting alone. The tremendous pain he must be in. It never got easier or better… He tries to tell himself that it’s not his fault. There is a reason they went to war long ago, a reason he worked tirelessly to fend them off. He still sees himself as a warrior. He still sees himself fighting the fae, but his devotion is to the children this time.
Walking at night is dangerous, even for him. The creatures of the night chirp and buzz. He can hear an owl in the distance. Crickets and fireflies. The night hums, making him feel at ease, a sign that they aren’t hunting.
He continues to survey the grounds. No children are wandering outside. He is startled by a shadow moving, but it is only a fox. It scurried away at the sight of him running into the brush and disappeared.
Maybe it’s time to head back…
He stops for a moment. There’s silence. His stomach drops.
Izuku!
He rushes inside and makes his way to Izuku’s room—the door is open! He runs into the room.
He’s gone! No! I did everything right I—
He runs outside, hoping to still make it. He can still catch him before—
There was nothing. Izuku wasn’t there. He ran to the gate.
“Izuku?” He shouted. “Izuku!”
No answer.
A rustle in the bush. The fox comes out with a bunny in his jaws. The forest hums again—creatures buzzing and chirping. Owls hooting. Distant wolves howling and coyotes yipping.
Mr. Yagi stands frozen. Eyes fixed on the dark trees. He knows he failed. Again.
Izuku was taken.
—
Yoichi seemed to be gliding through the forest. The thorns and rocks and mud didn't disrupt his graceful stride. He was practically floating through the woods. The only blemish in this ethereal image was the crying and screaming child in his arms.
"Hush now, we are almost to your brother. Don't you want to see him? Hasn't it been so long?"
Izuku could feel himself changing. Something was happening to him. He was trying to fight it, but Izuku could feel himself changing. He screamed again to fend off the eerie feeling.
"Little brother?"
Izuku looked up; Tenko was standing in front of him. He cried again and slipped out of Yoichi's arms to hug his brother.
"Tenko!" Izuku buried his face into his chest. "What happened? Why did you let them take me!"
Tenko frowned. Izuku was crying, and it disturbed him.
"You look different; what happened, Tenko?"
Tenko did look different. He seemed to glow, and his body felt cold.
"I'm sorry, I... I missed you, so I called you to us."
"Tenko, we have to go back. Mr. Yagi is worried." Izuku began to tug at his sleeve to pull him out of the forest, but Tenko didn't move.
"Izuku, little brother, it's too late," Tenko said.
"Why not! Mr. Yagi, he'll be happy to see you! Please, let's go back! Let's go back now!" Izuku said.
"Izuku, I've tried, but the iron gates hurt me. I can't cross them..."
"What are you saying? Tenko, what? That only happens to the fae!" Izuku realized what this meant but didn't want to reach that conclusion.
He was breaking down, crying, and hyperventilating. Yoichi approached him and gently put his hands on Izuku's shoulders.
"It will be alright, little one. You have your brother. You have a new family. We are with you now."
Yoichi's touch soothed him, but it felt unnatural. That same feeling he was fighting earlier was overtaking him.
"Everything will be fine, little brother."