The Emperor's Dragon

A Day Out

"Daddy, am I sick?" Izuku asked, looking up at his father.

All For One looked down at his son as they strolled along the street. He liked to take Izuku out every now and then. It was good for the boy to see people rather than being cooped up with Kurogiri and Tomura all day, every day. Today they were in Toyama. It was a nice enough city. The streets, the one they were walking down anyway, was wide and the people went about their business with the normal complacency of sheep. It was much like any Japanese town. "What makes you ask?"

"Kurogiri took me to the Doctor today," Izuku replied in his most serious voice.

Hisashi shook his head, letting a soft smile grace his features. "You are not sick," he told his son.

"Then why did I go to the doctor?" It was perfect logic from a near five year old.

"It was just a check up," he explained. "Every now and then, you sometimes have to go to the Doctor just to make sure things are fine."

"Even if I'm not sick?"

"Even if you aren't sick," he confirmed.

They continued to stroll down the street as Izuku digested that. Or maybe he didn't. It was perhaps a bit much to expect him to fully understand but All For One knew the fact that he was calm, and wasn't panicking would go a long way to reassuring Izuku that everything was okay. "Even I go to the Doctor sometimes," he added further reassurance.

"You do?" Green eyes were wide.

"I do."

"Oh." That was very eloquent.

He steered them into the park surrounding Toyama Castle. It wasn't an impressive castle, like Himiji or Matsumoto but it spoke to heritage, and the park was quiet. "Were you afraid of the Doctor, Izuku?" Hisashi asked.

Izuku was looking around at the green. Living with Kurogiri and Tomura, he didn't get to see much green and Hisashi made a note that the next time he took Izuku out, he should take him to a playground. The park was nice, but it wasn't designed for children. He would make do.

His son looked back up at him as they walked along the pathway. "Of course not Daddy," he scoffed, in that way only a child could.

That was good. Kyudai would have to work with Izuku in future and fear was not something that was needed in that relationship.

"I went to him with Mummy," Izuku continued.

Inwardly, All For One hid a wince, already knowing what was going to come next. Once again, he reminded himself that weaning Izuku away from Inko would take time.

"Can I see Mummy again?" There was a wistful note in his question.

Hisashi steered them on to the grass, under some of the trees that were near the pond. He could still hear traffic from the street but the trees gave an illusion of privacy and his enhanced senses told him there was no one nearby. All For One knelt, placing his hands on Izuku's shoulders as he looked into his son's eyes. "I'm sorry Izuku, you can't see Mummy again." To anyone watching - not that they were - it would seem as if he was trying to explain something very difficult to his son.

And he was, but probably not what any watcher would think he was trying to explain.

"But why not?" There were tears forming in Izuku's eyes.

"Because Mummy couldn't support you," he replied. "Her sorrow would undermine your ability," Hisashi continued. The words might be a little difficult for Izuku to understand but he would know by the tone what he meant.