Come Back to Me (Izuocha)

Chapter 29: Oblivion

The first thing I heard was the sound of waves crashing in slow rhythmic crashes against the shore.

The first thing I felt was the soft sand beneath me.

And the first thing I saw as I slowly opened my eyes was the night sky full of stars.

Where... was I?....

I tried to remember how I had gotten here but I simply couldn't.

I leaned my head backward and saw an upside-down sign reading Dagobah Municipal Beach.

This was... the beach I trained at for so long. I was confused.

I slowly sat up to better examine my surroundings.

As I did and look towards the ocean I finally saw that I wasn't alone.

Standing a little ways ahead of me facing the water was what appeared to be a woman with black hair wearing a white cape.

I didn't sense any hostility or foul intention from her. In fact, she felt somewhat familiar.

"Beautiful isn't it?" She said.

"You should be proud."

"Who are you?" I asked.

The woman looked in my direction and I saw that she had eyes just as dark as her hair.

The woman smiled.

"Noone important kid." She said before facing the water again.

"Okay then," I replied.

I looked left and right but couldn't see anyone else around for as far as I could see.

"How did I get here?"

I could see her smile again before she replied.

"You're finally asking the right question Midoriya."

"How do you know my name?" I asked

"Let's just say I've been watching you for a long time."

"I've watched you fight, train, learn, grow." She then turned to face me fully.

"I've also seen the way you protect others. The way you'll do anything to save the lives of others, even if it means giving your own life."

I was speechless, who was this woman?

"You asked how you got here. To find the answer, first, tell me what's the last thing you remember?"

I hesitated a moment before trying to think back. I could remember being tied up at one point desperately trying to escape.

What happened there, why had I been so desperate to get out?

Ochako

I gasped as a flood of memories came back in an instant.

Her capture,

My desperation,

The bomb,

What I did...

I looked up at the woman again with widened eyes.

"I'm... I'm not actually at Dagobah Beach, am I?

She gave me a sad expression as she slowly shook her head.

I collapsed to the sand on my knees as a feeling of numbness took over my body. No, it couldn't be true. I... I wouldn't be able to see my mom again, or All Might or Ochako. Never again would I hold her and keep her safe.

I felt tears begin to flow down my cheeks as I looked up at the moon.

"I'm sorry Mom."

I'm sorry... Ochako." I whispered.

The woman next to me didn't say anything for a long while. She eventually got on her knees as well before speaking again.

"Do you regret your choice?"

I closed my eyes and wiped my tears.

Once my breathing calmed down I took a long deep breath and let a small sad smile onto my face.

"No... I would do anything for her. I would have done it again in a heartbeat."

"I'm glad... That I was able to do one thing right in my life... She's going to be an amazing hero."

The woman smiled a little bit and nodded.

"I see why Toshinori chose you."

"Who?" I asked.

"A friend of mine."

I nodded and smiled up at the moon. It had been a good life.

"So. What happens next?" I asked.

The woman looked back at the ocean again.

"This is where your journey ends. What lies beyond, I cannot say. You must see it for yourself."

"I see," I whispered.

"However..."

I looked over at her, "What?"

She gave a sideways glance as she said, "You have a second option..."

I looked at her with a questioning look on my face.

"You see," she continued. "Your not entirely dead yet."

I scrambled to my feet.

"You mean I can still come back!?"

"Yes. I can bring you back. Only if you want me to though."

I closed my eyes and grinned.

...I could still come back.

"You must keep in mind though."

I looked up to see her looking at me with a serious expression on her face.

"Certain things may have changed when you come back. I also cannot say what those changes might be. I will leave the decision up to you."

For a bit, I simply stared blankly ahead as I thought over. There would be changes? What did that mean?

Whatever it meant though, I couldn't not try.

I closed my eyes to inhale deeply.

I opened them again and said while looking into the woman's eyes.

"I want to return"

The woman gave a warm smile. "As you wish"

She stood instructed me to kneel and as I did she took several steps away from me.

I looked up to see her in front of me and as I watched, the air seemed to shimmer on both sides of her.

And in a blink, suddenly I was surrounded by people. Surrounding me were glowing shadows in the shape of people with glowing yellow eyes.

I turned around to see them better, I counted 7 in total but as I looked back at the woman I say that she was gone and in her place was another shadow with yellow eyes in her likeness.

Then they all began to speak as one unified voice.

"Izuku Midoriya, the 9th user of One for All. You have chosen to let us bring you back to the mortal world. Do you confirm this to be your request?"

"Yes!" I shouted.

"So be it." They said.

Suddenly my vision began to swim with colors. I felt a rush of energy flow over me as the colors swirled like a hurricane around me.

As I gazed through the vortex and gazed at the shadows around me my vision began to darken.

Right before I blacked out, I heard the voices of the 8 shadows speak once more.

"May you bring peace to the world Izuku."

"Now..."

"...awaken"