The Call of Nature

VII

Fumikage was thankful he had learned about plants yesterday. After last night's beating, he definitely needed them. He shivered at the memory and started getting ready for school. He slid on his uniform and stared at the leaf still tied around his wrist. He pulled his sleeve over his wrist so that it was covered. The last thing he wanted was anyone questioning it.

He gathered up any school supplies he was going to need and put them in his bag. Then Fumikage remembered what Flumen had told him about wearing something he could move in. His gym uniform was at school. Odds were, they weren't going to allow him to borrow it. He looked through his closet to see what he could find. Eventually, he settled on a dark purple tank top and black shorts. He carefully folded them and set them in the bottom of his bag. Then he slung it over his shoulder and started to head out when something caught his eye.

Fumikage walked up to the mirror and looked into it. Sure enough, he saw exactly what he thought he saw.

His roots were in need of a touch up. While the rest of his hair was jet black, the roots were his natural white color. He looked at the time and realized he didn't have time. He was just going to have to do it when he got home.

The school day itself was normal. As usual, Okami's presence made his face heat up and he would feel nervous, which he would cover up. However, the blush on his cheeks were not easy to hide.

He could have sworn he even heard Kat mumble "cute" under her breath followed by Okami shooting her a look.

When he and Shoji were alone, the taller male suggested that Fumikage should talk to Okami because it was obvious they liked each other.

"Preposterous. There is no way she likes me," Fumikage said.

"You should still tell her. Maybe she'll surprise you," Shoji suggested.

Fumikage could only grunt in response.

It wasn't until after school that things went to hell.

Okami and Fumikage were heading towards the UA gate when they heard a voice shout from behind.

"OI! HORROR NUT!"

Okami rolled her eyes. She had made it quite clear that she is a fan of American slasher movies and that was Bakugou's nickname for her now. At first, Fumikage was confused as to what Bakugou could possibly want from Okami, but then he remembered.

They were currently having a wrestling unit in gym. Normally, everyone would be partnered with someone of the same gender, but there was an odd number of girls and boys. Luckily, Okami didn't mind being partnered up with a boy and Bakugou was up for the challenge, thinking he would "kick her ass."

That did not happen.

Okami is stronger than she looks. She housed him. Of course, it pissed him off and absolutely humiliated him. Kirishima's friends - Sero and Kaminari - were dying of laughter.

Fumikage, meanwhile, was quite impressed and a little flustered. Shoji noticed this and once again suggested talking to her.

Now, Bakugou was probably looking for a rematch.

"What is it, Bakuhoe?" Okami asked.

Bakugou smirked and slammed his fist into his open palm. "Rematch."

"Right here in the courtyard?"

"No. Come," Bakugou instructed as he headed out of the gates.

"How about no?" Okami said.

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me. We already had our fight. I won fair and square. Simple as that."

"COWARD!" Bakugou shouted lunging forward.

"BAKUBRO!" Kirishima shouted.

"KACCHAN!" Kat shouted, showing up at that moment.

Fumikage instinctively threw an arm out to protect Okami, but she shoved it out of the way and got into a ready stance, ready to dodge his attack.

Then everything seemed to go into slow-motion.

Bakugou reeled back a fist and swung it. Okami ducked and shot forward towards the same side. The force of her ducking cause her hair to catch the breeze and hover. Then, out of nowhere, it hardened, freezing into position. She bolted under Bakugou's out stretched arm, unaware her hair was nearing Bakugou's shoulder in such a state.

There was a splatter followed by a shout of pain.

Okami whipped around and stared in shock. When she did, her hair unstiffened and dropped back to it's normal state.

Fumikage, Kat, Deku, and Kirishima also stared, their mouths hanging open and their eyes bulging.

Bakugou's entire arm was on the ground. The stub on his shoulder was bleeding a ton. His eyes were wide and he was trembling. "W-WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" Bakugou shouted.

"I-I don't know how I did that! I-" Okami choked on a do sob of guilt and shock. "I'm sorry!"

"SORRY DOESN'T FIX MY ARM!"

"TSUKI, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST DO?!" Kat yelled.

"I DON'T KNOW! H-HE JUST TRIED TO THROW A PUNCH AND I DUCKED AND THAT HAPPENED!" Okami shouted, clearly panicking.

"Don't worry, I got this," Fumikage said, calmly.

"WHAT THE FUCK CAN YOU DO, NATURE BOY?!" Bakugou shouted.

"Bakugou, calm down," Fumikage said, picking up Bakugou's arm. He shifted it into the crook of his elbow as he reached into the leaf-bracelet. It's a good thing I learned about these seeds. I just need to hope I don't screw this up. Fumikage thought as he pulled out six seeds. He set three on the bloody end of the arm an the other three on Bakugou.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" Bakugou shouted, clearly confused.

"Let him do this, Bakugou! He knows what he's doing!" Okami snapped.

"How can I trust you?! How do you even KNOW?!"

"Because I've seen it before!"

Fumikage held Bakugou's arm up to the shoulder. The seeds immediately sprouted vines that latched themselves to the flesh. Bakugou flinched in pain, but watched in shock as the vines intertwined with each other. Then he got caught off guard when the vines turned into healthy muscle and cartilage. The flesh pulled Bakugou's arm into place and properly relocated it. Bakugou flinched again at the weird feeling, but watched in shock as fresh skin grew over the wound. Bakugou flexed his arm. It was good as new. Like nothing had even happened.

Bakugou took his gaze away from his arm and looked at Fumikage and Okami. "What the hell are you two?" he muttered, mostly to himself.

"Better?" Fumikage asked.

"Yeah ... thanks, or whatever. Shitty Hair, let's go," Bakugou said, clearly still a little shaken.

Kirishima, who's jaw fell open, closed his mouth and nodded in agreement.

Deku and Kat's mouths were also hanging open.

"H-How did you do that?" Kat asked.

Fumikage debated telling them about the training he went through with Flumen, but something stopped him. Then he remembered what Flumen said at the very beginning of the training. "Instinct," he replied, simply. "Come on. We should get going."

The walk home ended up being awkward.

Kat refused to talk to Okami. Okami couldn't say she blamed Kat.

After Kat and Deku left for home, it was just Okami and Fumikage, as usual.

"Fumikage ... I swear I have no idea how I did that," Okami said, eyes welling with tears. "I think something is wrong with me."

"Okami, nothing is wrong with you. You just have a special gift," Fumikage said.

"Really?"

"Really."

Okami smiled slightly. "Thank you."

Fumikage's face heated up. "Y-You're welcome."