The Shadow Kingdom

Bakugo Lament

Good news for those interested in my lemon chapters. I’ve uploaded the ones I’ve completed onto Archive of Our Own. My Username is Briry18. The Lemon chapters are listed under a fic titled “Various Lemon Chapters”  So original, right? 

Main reason I put them up on Archive is to make it easier for my readers to find, and so that I can receive feedback. If you guys still have trouble finding it, let me know and I can properly direct you. 

Thanks for your continued support!

The lake stretched out across the horizon, its reflective surface glittering blue like the sky. Fluffy clouds formed in patches creating interesting shapes. Ducks, geese, and swans flew and congregated across the water occasionally diving down for a feast. 

Izumi thought that this small piece of paradise was the perfect place to relax and do some work. She brought Ochaco with her, mainly because she felt bad leaving her alone at the house, and decided to teach her to fish. 

“Is this really necessary, Midori?” Ochaco squirmed and watched Izumi strip to her long undergarments. Izumi had tied up her hair into a bun to keep it out of her face and had instructed Ochaco to do the same. “Can’t we just toss a line out like I’ve seen other fisherman do?” 

“We could… if you wanna do it the boring way.” Izumi grinned at her and waded into the cool water. She waited for Ochaco to join her and then took a deep breath lifting her arms up over her head and then down.  “First thing to do is breathe… find some calm, and just take everything in around you… the rippling waves, the sound of nature, the scent of the damp air…” 

“You’re really into this…” Ochaco whispered, but followed Izumi’s example and mirrored her movements. She hadn’t known how tense she was until she took a moment to breathe. Almost instantly she felt herself relax… did as she was instructed and just listened to the pulse of nature. 

She let out a small gasp when out of nowhere Izumi whipped her hand down into the water and slapped a fish up and out, it’s body wriggling on dry land where it had flopped. 

“How did you…” Ochaco looked at the fish and then at Izumi who stayed poised, eyes closed and lips slightly curved. 

“My magic abilities… I found I can use the aura I emmit in various different ways. It can be used both as an offense weapon, and a strong defense. Also by using it as an extension of my body I can see all forms of energy around me without the use of my eyes.” 

“Really?” Ochaco’s eyes went bright and curious. “That’s so cool… how did you figure that out?”  

“I got a glimpse of it during my fight with Shoto. I was curious so I started reading all the journals of the previous holders.” She slowly opened her eyes and dropped into casual stance. “ I’m trying to better understand my magic, get a sense of what I can do. I’ve learned more about myself in these last few months than the whole of my life.” She looked down at her hands. “Before now I’d only known what people told me, or what they expected me to be…” Her eyes went hard and she clenched her fists. “...but now I’ve found my gumption, and grit. I won’t be that timid woman everyone saw me as before.” 

“By everyone you mean Prince Bakugo?” Ochaco asked her eyes sad and sympathetic. At the quick jerk of Izumi’s head, and the surprising glare in her eyes Ochaco felt herself cower back. 

“It wasn’t just Kacchan, even though it may seem that way to everyone else. No, almost everyone around me held me in the same light. I was a woman… I’d only ever amount to so much. I could see when people looked at me they only saw a young unmarried woman who had delusions of grandeur. Even a majority of the knights I trained with thought I was crazy.”