Shirakumo: Starting Over

Chapter 2

Aizawa P.O.V.

Blip, blop, blip...

"Sh-Sh-ah"

Blip, blop, blip...

"Hos-pital"

Blip, blop, blip...

"Shota?" A gentle, yet comforting, arm wraps around my shoulder, I turn to see Hizashi, eyes red and puffy from crying. "That was..... intense" he says a small, sad smile flashes on his face. I don't answer, instead I focus on the rain.

Blip, blop...

I turn my head to the cloudy sky, letting the rain run down my face and back. "Are you ok?" Hizashi says, taking his arm back and running them through his, now soaked, hair.

"Are you?" I say to him, with a hint of mockery. Hizashi reaches for my hand, a shiver runs up my spine as our cold, wet hands interlock.

"We'll get him back." Hizashi says with a hint of false confidence. Just as I'm about to respond he pulls me into his chest and embraces me in his arms. I can feel him trembling, I can't tell if it's because of the rain or seeing Shirakumo again. I can't believe I'm saying that. We saw Shirakumo again. It's taken so long for me to get over his death and move past it. Now what? Am I supposed to believe we can get him back, I want to, but it's hard. I buried those emotions so far down, to let them out now would be unimaginable. I shuffle out of Hizashi's arms and reach into my back pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and my lighter.

"Shota." Hizashi says in a disappointed tone.

"I'll quit; I promise. I- I just need one today. I say struggling to light one as rain trickles down my lighter. Then Hizashi takes his hand and shields my lighter from the rain. "Thank you" I say taking my newly lit cigarette and placing it on my cold lips. The heat from the ash slightly warms my quivering lips and fingers. As I inhale the calming smoke enters my lungs, lowering my anxiety and stress. Hizashi wants me to quit, and I know I should, but it's the only thing fighting off a total breakdown right now.

"Aizawa?" I turn and see All Might standing behind us with a plus ultra-umbrella and a worried look plastered on his face.

"I'll wait in the car." Hizashi says sensing that All Might and I are about to talk about something serious. Hizashi kisses my cheek and I take another huff of smoke as I watch him walk to where our car was parked.

"Those'll kill you ya' know." All Might says walking over, taking his umbrella, currently shielding him from the rain, and putting it over my head.

"You'll get wet." I say with an uninterested tone.

"It's ok." All Might says, smiling as the rain pelts his head, drenching it and his clothes. I take the small umbrella from him and hold it so it covers our faces letting our backs get drenched in rain. "Aizawa, we need to talk." He says in a serious tone. I look away, taking one more puff of smoke before flicking it into a nearby puddle. I could see a flash of concern surface on All Might's face before quickly turning back into his serious tone. "How is Eri's quirk training coming?"

"I'm going to start training her sometime this month."

"Good, I'm confident in the battle to come she will be necessary."

"Wait, you want to use Eri? She's just a kid." I say in a concerned and slightly aggravated tone.

"Of course, she won't be on the front lines, but with a battle on the horizon, and only one hero with a healing quirk, young Eri's quirk will be essential in healing fallen heroes." I know he's right, but the idea of using Eri just doesn't sit right with me.

I nod with a look of defeat on my face. I motion for him to take his umbrella, and he says "keep it." Wanting to get out of there I agree and walk away. As I'm about to turn the corner and get to my car I see All Might picking up my used cigarette and throwing it away in a nearby trashcan, and a wave of shame flushes over me. I get to my car, and open the passenger door quickly getting in. I look at my hands in my lap and start hyperventilating.

"Shota!" Hizashi says in a concerned tone, realizing I'm having a panic attack. He quickly pulls me into him, holding my hands. "Shota remember your technique, name five things you can taste. I stutter through my words, trying to think of five things as a tear trickles down my cheek. Hizashi wipes my tear and says "I'm right here, forever and always. Five things, you can do it."

"F-food, tobacco, salt, donuts, cookies." I mutter between taking erratic breathes.

"Good, now four things you can smell."

"Dust, c-cologne, smoke, car freshener" I mumble as I start to gain control of my breathing.

"Your doing great! Now, three things you can hear."

"Traffic, music, voices." I say getting calmer and calmer.

"Almost there, two things you can see."

"Rain, clouds."

"Now, one thing you can touch."

"Hizashi." I whisper as I open my eyes. "Thank you" I say under my breath.

"Forever and always." He whispers back. I sit back in my chair and fall asleep as Hizashi stats driving back home. I wake up later to find myself in my bed with Eri sleeping between Hizashi and I, cuddling with the green teddy bear Problem child gave her. I couldn't protect Shirakumo, but I can protect them. Eri is my daughter and I won't let anything happen to her, even if it means I must go against All Might, I won't let anyone use her as their pawn. I fall back into sleep as I contemplate how I'm going to protect her.