The Green Valley Twins

Past and Present

. It was the twin's second month when Inko found a surprising visit on her door. All four of her closest neighbors, were standing there with solemn faces. She was confused at first but wasn't overly worried, they were civilians and Miho was retired for the sake of her children.

They couldn't possibly be thinking to cause her any trouble.

"Here's the hot water," Inko said as she set the kettle down beside the three boxes of tea she pulled out for them. "Pick your flavors! I even managed to get honeysuckle-honey! It tastes great!"

"Enough Inko," Miho ordered forest but she sounded genuinely depressed. "We're here to talk about your scars and tattoos..."

"Oh," Inko took her seat slowly, staring at the tabletop. She should've known better, Miho would've been the one to catch on the quickest as she was former pro-hero.

"The day you first came here..." Tanaka started next, looking even more exhausted than usual. "I had noticed something different about you. At first I wasn't sure what. You looked like any other expecting mother that wanders in through our gates but...something else told me you needed help."

"Really?" Inko asked, smiling bitterly to herself. "And here I thought you were the sweetest one. Outside from Hisakawa-San."

"I noticed it too child," Hisakawa gave Inko a firm look. "I survived the dark days if quirks for a reason young lady. Don't think I hadn't noticed your aura when we first met."

"I had only noticed at the hospital," Shimizu murmured. "I saw your scars... And recognized a couple of your tattoos."

"I think I realized what 'it' was first," Miho continued when no one else spoke up. "I know battle scars when I see them. And out of everyone in this building, you're the only one who caught on to my safe-code."

"...of course I did," Inko sighed as she pinched her brow. "So...what now?"

"I think," Tanaka hesitated a moment, "I think you should go back to hero work!"

"Huh?" Inko stared at the young mother, or well, seemingly young mother.

"I mean, not right now, clearly, but like in a few years!" Tanaka struggled to cover up her mistake, waving her hands about and frantically to explain herself. "I think-think you could become really popular! There aren't too many female hero's so I think you could be an inspiration! Guh, I mean! I'm sure someone was inspired because of you too, Yamaguchi-San!"

"Just be quiet," Miho groaned as she closed her eyes and sighed heavily.

"You misunderstand child/Tanaka-San," Inko and Hisakawa started at the same time, only to stop and look at each other.

"Thank you Hisakawa-San," Inko patted the woman's hand gently and turned back to a very confused looking Tanaka.

"You misunderstand Tanaka-San. I'm not and never was a hero."

"Huh? But then...your...scars..."

"Hm, right," Inko saw the moment Tanaka realized what they all meant. "I'm a former Villain."

"Wha-wha...what do you mean... Former?"

"I lived in the U.S. for most of my teenage years, and lived in foster care before that. In high school I let my hormones do all the talking and before I knew it, I was tangled into some deep piles of dung."

"That's putting it mildly," Miho gave her a disbelieving look.

"One thing led to another," Inko ignored Miho's subtitle disbelief. "And then I realized I was pregnant and... The dad was less than happy about it."

"That's why your here in Japan?" Shimizu asked, "the father doesn't approve?"

"Yes," Inko nodded at her blue haired friend. "I wanted to keep them. He didn't want children period. I left that world in order to raise them...and came back home. The only place that I knew as stability."

"Japan is your home," Hisakawa murmured finally.

"Yes," Inko smiled to herself. "You may not believe it but I haven't really used my quirk since I came back. There really hasn't been any need for it."

"Your right I don't believe it." Miho grumbled. "Everyone's quirks are an extension if our physical bodies. Practice makes perfect. You got yourself to a certain rank and now you expect to just peddle backwards and go back in skill? It doesn't work like that!"

"I'm aware," Inko said solemnly. "But I have no need to use it now. Back then, it was my primary tool of survival. Now I have a new life and don't need it as often as I used too."

"So what are you going to do now?" Shimizu asked. "I need a wing woman this Friday if you're up to it."

"Shimizu!" Hisakawa barks, offended at the question or at the word usage no one could tell.

"What? We've known her for a year now and no one's invited her out!"

"She was pregnant," Tanaka stressed.

"I didn't say we were going to go clubbing! I said go out!" Shimizu turned to Inko with a conspiring grin, like a devil trading valuable secrets. "There's this cutesy new cafe and the staff are sinfully delicious—"

"Are you serious right now?" Miho asked

"Your totally free to come too red," Shimizu grinned. "With your figure it wouldn't be long before the whole staff was waiting on hand and foot!"

"I beg your pardon?!"

"How in the seven hells did you get married before me?" Inko asked Miho with a grin. She might have children but she was never formally married.

"Don't agree to this!" Miho ordered. "This counts as sexual harassment!"

"No it doesn't, but this dose!" Inko sighed as Shimizu tackled Miho, using her slender arms to wrap around Miho's torso and lift the redhead's ample assets up for everyone else to see.

"YOKO SHIMIZU!!"

Cue the crying babies.