Until Death Do You Part

Trial

Bakugo Katsuki awoke. He was alone, laying on the ground. Glancing around, the place was calm, and without any present danger. Condisdering who killed him and why, he really didn't expect to wake up in a field of white flowers. Slowly getting up, he noticed that there were only three major landmarks that he could see. The most obvious, was a single, red-colored river running straight through the middle, snaking both directions until it met the horizon. It was wide, but not enough that swimming across was impossible. There was a black gate, made of a glassy-like substance, and a golden gate in front of him. Checking to see if his quirk could be used, he was both distressed and dissapointed to see that it didn't activate. As far as this place was concerned, he was quirkless.

"You got lucky." He turned to see Izumi behind him, watching him impassively. She leaned against her scythe lazily, ready for him to attack. But he didn't, and wouldn't think to. Not now.

The first question he had was the most obvious. "Aren't I fucking dead? Where am I?"
She nodded, her gaze still steeled against him. With good reason. "This isn't where the dead dwell. Don't get me wrong, I did take thine soul, but you... have so much inner conflict even milady took notice. She, in her infinite wisdom... decided to give you a test. If you have a desire to survive our encounter..." She cursed under her breath, "...fucking somehow..." The greenette then continued with her usual tone of voice, "...then all you must do is cross the river, and go through the gate. You can alternatively go through the door behind me..." She gestured to the gate of obsidian. Inside looked like hell, or what he percieved it to be. Slyly smiling to him, she offered it... "If you want to wish to truly apologize to me."

He narrowed his eyes, not believing this for a second. "You're not going to torment me?"
However, she stayed where she was, resigned to this... test, as she called it. "Katsuki Bakugo, you have no idea how much I want you to go through the obsidian gate behind me. Thinie class awaits."

He considered his options, but there was only one choice he could take, in his conscience. "I know I deserve that... hell... but I still want to be a hero."
Izumi scoffed, still leaning into her scythe. The blond could clearly see her neck wound under her scarf. What he did to her. "A hero? Were you ever that to anyone?"

He looked down, ashamed to admit that yes, he hadn't ever shown himself to be what he knew a hero was. It was his metaphorical cross to bear. But he would.

Sighing, Izumi relented on her words, letting go, and leaving it to him. This was his first proper choice in months. Ever since her death, in fact. "I cannot interfere with milady's test, but you still have to make a choice."

It seemed too easy. But, he figured there was a trick of some kind. Regardless, his goal of becoming a hero was on the other side of the golden gate. Besides, he wanted to change. Wanted to be better... so started towards the river.

The greenette smirked, and called to him. "A word of warning if thou shalt make it into those golden gates. I will still come after you, but only when your time is done."

He paused, and thought a moment, but realized all of the fear was in response to the guilt he'd felt. Something about life having a constant again made him more confident. Glancing back and grinning, he called back to her, "Then I'll be seeing you around, Deku."

Irritated by this, she retorted, scowling. "Don't call me that. Don't add years to your future punishment."

Katsuki laughed, for the first time in a while, before turning back to the task at hand. With no way to access his quirk, he'd have to cross the river the old fashioned way. The way that Izumi would've, if she were in his place. True heroes show empathy. I have to do the same. So, he started wading through. The water, unlike anything he expected, burned at the touch.