Finding Love Again

Chapter 9

Izuku couldn't barely breath. Please! Anyone, just wake him up from this nightmare. He could almost feel Shoto slipping away from his grasp. His thoughts haunting him becoming more toxic. It has been 6 hours. Shoto needs a new heart. Izuku was in the room with him holding his hand. Machines were keeping him alive as nurses came in checking on him.

Shoto groaned softly, everything hurt as he slowly looked around the room. Izuku held his hand tightly "Shhh baby, just rest it's ok." He wanted to respond but exhaustion overcame as he fell back unconscious. His face was pale and worn. The makeup was washed off showing all his bruises and scars.

Tears rolled down the green haired male's cheeks. He really was selfish, he never once noticed Shoto was suffering even though all the signs were there. "I'm so sorry"He whispered as he caressed his lover's cheek. "I should have listened baby, I should have seen the signs. Please forgive me." He whispered.

Izuku couldn't handle seeing Shoto like this. He was angry with himself. He felt awful knowing he wasn't there for Shoto, as well as Shoto was for him. Inko had been talking to the nurses when she finally came out. She was a little paler as a nurse helped her sit down. Izuku looked at her "Mama? What's wrong?"

Inko looked down, a gentle smile moving across her face. She would do anything for her boys. Kota knew and ran to her side "Mama no! " Izuku looked confused before moving closer in his wheelchair to Inko. "Mom? What's going on?" He grew scared. Soon Shoto's sister and brother came into the room with grave but joyful faces.

The nurse smiles "Your mother is very brave. She's donating her heart to Shoto. It's a confirmed match." Izuku's eyes widened with terror. "Why!? Why the hell would you do that!? "Kota cried out. Izuku took his mother's frail hands. "Mama. Please. Don't do this. Y..you'll die."Izuku cried softly laying his head against her shoulder. He gently breathed in the smell of her perfume.

Fuyumi held the sleeping Kai as she looked at Inko "I am very grateful you are offering this, but, we are just strangers. Yeah your son and my brother are together and really close, but you have a family. Why would you even want to help us?" Natsuo nodded "As much as I want to save Sho, you have to raise the younger ones. You can't do this."

"Shoto is like a son to me too! He saved Izuku's life! I am willing to give him my heart if it means he will keep living!" She stated firmly while caressing Izuku's cheek softly. Izuku couldn't believe it. "No mama, just listen to me ok?" Izuku whimpered. She looked at her son as the room fell silent "I'm sure they can find another suitable donor right? I mean please! There has to be another way."He hugged her tightly as the room fell silent.

"We can at least push a couple more days, and if we can't find a suitable donor we have to give him the heart or he'll die"The nurse sighed feeling horrible about the situation. "Ok.. that's more than enough time"Izuku smiled. "You don't understand do you? We've been waiting for a donor for 6 months. It won't be-" Izuku cut Fuyumi off "I don't want to hear it, he'll make it."

Almost a full day had gone by and Shoto was barely holding up. He would wake on occasion but he was weak and suffering. Izuku could see he was pushing it and the thought of losing his lover was killing him. Shoto's family anxiously waited not pushing Inko in a decision. Izuku had fallen asleep but was awoken by shoto's vitals dropping. He watched him go into shock as he foamed at the mouth. Fuyumi covered Eri's and Kota's eyes as doctors rushed in to stabilize him.

He broke down crying, terrified he was going to lose him. His smile, his gaze, his hold, his voice, everything about him he watched slowly fade into nothing. He couldn't breathe so he left the room just sobbing in the waiting room. The rest of the two families met with him just waiting as the time narrowed almost taunting them. "Hey izu talk to me baby"Inko whispered.

"You don't get it.. he's been there for me since day one.. I've never been there to comfort him! I didn't even see he was sick! What kind of a boyfriend overlooks their partner who's dying?! Hm?! Riddle me that why don't you! What else has been going that I don't know about? Who gave him those bruises?! Who gave him those nightmares huh?! Who gave him a reason to cry himself to sleep at night, or apologize when he did nothing wrong? I did notice that much. He wore hoodies in the summer, and always avoided eye contact. He broke down in the bathroom because he thought my mom would be angry for him breaking a plate! Yet somehow I didn't see it!"Izuku screamed as his frustration and pain poured out. Inko cupped her son's cheeks and kissed his head. No one knew what to say, or how to comfort him. How could they? He was losing his first and only love.

"This is why I'm giving him my heart... because it's time for him to have a good long life with you. You understand?"She smiled. He hugged Inko tightly as tears kept falling "Thank you mama...for everything." The last two hours went by but it was so slow it felt like years. Inko embraced the last moments with her children in the waiting room. A nurse approached them saying he was stable but for how long. Izuku held his mom one last time before Inko told her she was ready. Preparation was agony for Izuku.. Kota was so young and couldn't understand why. They all embraced eachother as they waved goodbye to Inko. Bitter sweet tears seemed to fall knowing no one would hear her voice, or her laughter anymore.

Love is like an everlasting flame that fades to embers then roars to a brush fire. It's painfully beautiful because giving your heart to someone is a game of roulette. For izuku, Kota, and Eri it was only the very edge of life for them. Inko made a sacrifice that not many mothers would make for their son's lovers. It impacts countless lives beyond just the people we meet everyday.

"Say hi to dad for me mama.."

"I will Izuku.."