Chapter Text
Izuku had always loved All Might. He was a hero, the number one hero. Izuku’s hero. Now literally. The sludge villain was ripped off of him and suddenly he could breathe again. But something changed the moment Izuku opened his eyes to stare, for the first time, into All Might’s hooded blue eyes. Something in him stirred.
That change, whatever it was, was part of what spurred him to grab hold of the man’s leg and demand All Might listen to his questions. When All Might had left that rooftop Izuku had felt his heart breaking. Izuku thought maybe it was just the death of his dream, but it was something else.
Then, when All Might told him he could be a hero, that he was worthy to inherit his quirk, Izuku’s heart burst with joy. It was more than the joy and excitement that he too could be a hero though. There was something else inside his heart, a ghost of something that seemed to weep with joy at just being able to be so close to All Might.
Training on the beach after school and on the weekend alongside All Might became Izuku’s favorite thing in the world. There was an odd sense of peace and comfort everytime he was near him. It was perfect in a way but it also chaffed and grated. It was like Izuku had forgotten something important and needed to remember it. There were times that Izuku thought maybe All Might felt it too.
“Toshinori.”
Izuku blinked. He’d just finished for the day and All Might was handing him a bottle of water. Izuku had said thanks, well ‘thank you, All Might.’ “Huh?” That half-intelligible noise was all that came out.
“My name,” All Might, no, Toshinori, said. He shifted uncomfortably. He was still holding out the water. Izuku hurriedly accepted the bottle. His eyes were still wide and fixed on Toshinori though. Izuku had completely forgotten his thirst. “It’s just...I feel you should know.” He shrugged and the expression he made convinced Izuku that Toshinori was feeling something similar to what Izuku felt sometimes.
“Toshi...nori…” Izuku tested the name on his lips. It had to be his imagination that Toshinori shuddered when he said it. Maybe he was just cold or something.
“Just Toshi is fine.” He said, his voice oddly rough, like he was fighting with his emotions. Izuku nodded and finally uncapped the bottle and drank from it. The cool water chased the taste of sand out of his mouth replacing it with the soft delicate feel of Toshinori’s name.
“Izuku, then,” Izuku suggested after he felt that prodding within him. He had to make a conscious effort to keep himself from taking a step forward and putting himself too close to Toshi. That wouldn’t be appropriate, being that close.
“Okay.” Toshi said and a small, gentle smile spread across his gaunt face.
Izuku’s heart was set on fire at that look.
The pulling sensation Izuku felt remained stagnant, there inside him but easily ignorable for a long time. Then it came time for the entrance exams and Toshi passed on One For All to him. Toshi had looked almost relieved afterwards, but then his brow was creased and he looked worried. He didn’t share his feelings with Izuku, which hurt more than it should have. Izuku wondered whether Toshi felt that same strange sensation that he did, something almost like gravity, that tied them together. Maybe Toshi had thought once he gave up his quirk to Izuku it would go away. Izuku bet that it hadn’t.
After the entrance exam the dreams started.
Izuku trekked up the mountain side, his heart burning with sadness and revenge. He found the temple at the top of Mount Kurama. From the clothes Izuku wore and the architecture of the temple, Izuku, asleep though he was, could tell it was hundreds of years before his time. Looking about he saw that the temple was empty. Izuku looked around wildly for anyone. He’d been told this was the place to go to ask for training yet there appeared to be no one there.
“Are you in need of assistance?” A voice asked. Izuku spun and saw an older man behind him. Not terribly old, but older than Izuku. The simple clothes he wore made Izuku think he was a hermit of some kind. But Izuku didn’t care what the man’s status was as long as he could give Izuku some direction. The part of Izuku’s mind that was aware this was some kind of dream took note that the hermit looked a lot like All Might, like Toshi.
“My name is Minamoto no Yoshitsune, I’ve come here seeking training so that I may avenge my father’s death.” Izuku said, or Yoshitsune, Izuku supposed, though the man looked exactly like Izuku and Izuku was watching everything unfold from Yoshitsune’s eyes.
The hermit cocked his considering Izuku. “And who is the man you wish to kill?”
Izuku hesitated, not because he didn’t know or his conviction waived but because what his longing for vengeance meant for the world. “The leader of the Taira Clan.”
A smile stretched across Toshi’s face and his eyes flashed. “I see.” He said, quite calmly. “As you are the heir to your clan you aim to start a war.”
“My goal is not to start a war but to avenge my father! The Taira brought this war on themselves, it is not something I am instigating!” Izuku argued. Toshi waved a hand dismissively though, seemingly uncaring as to his explanation.
“I will gladly teach you the art of war, heir.” Toshi told him plainly. Izuku blinked in confusion. He meant no offense to the hermit but he wasn’t sure the older man would be able to teach him much of anything.
Toshi chuckled, dark and low. Then he changed. Large black wings emerged from Toshi’s back, stretching out wide and long. His clothing shimmered and became beautiful almost royal-like robes. His eyes were still hooded but they glowed brightly in the shadows of his face. It should have been terrifying, but both Izuku and Yoshitsune found it beautiful. Mesmerizing. Izuku could feel Yoshitsune’s emotions as though they were his own. In a sudden burst of understanding, Izuku realized Yoshitsune’s emotions were his own. They were the same.
“A tengu…” Izuku breathed, his eyes widening as he realized the old hermit was not human at all but a demon. Still, if this demon could help him, could train him, he would do it. Afterall…
“As a harbinger of war I am inclined to teach you so that you may incite war with those who killed your father.” Toshi said with a soft smile. “I am Sojobo. King of the Tengu and I will train you.” He offered his hand to Izuku. “I offer you my power.” Izuku didn’t think twice before taking Toshi’s hand.
Izuku woke with a start, eyes wide and covered in a cold sweat. The dream was a hazy mess, already slipping through his mind like sand through a sift. Desperate to remember, Izuku grabbed the pen and notebook on his desk and jotted down everything he could.
Sojobo.
Mount Kurama.
Izuku’s hand trembled making his writing clumsy. Those two things were all he’d managed to grasp before the memory fell away. Yet even without the memory of why, Izuku still felt his chest pull and ache.
Izuku felt that pull intensify when he got to class. It throbbed like a constant ache in his chest. He didn’t get to see Toshi his first day of school and the sadness he felt about that was more than it should have been.
It had been hard to concentrate in Toshi’s battle training, especially against Kacchan. But that ache in his chest flickered into a flame of desire. Desire to win, to show Toshi what he’d learned, to use what Toshi had given him.
Izuku had broken his body during the entrance exams but now there was a thrum throughout his body that pulsed with that power that had previously cripled him. Now it promised aid and a voice, indistinct and indiscernible, whispered: “I offer you my power.”
One For All swept through him like a current but it didn’t drown him like the first time. Instead his mind seemed to temper the power, sooth it and draw only a little of it forth. Then Izuku’s body seemed to move all on its own.
Kacchan was shocked by some of the skill Izuku showed and Izuku himself was also shocked, because he hadn’t remembered ever being taught martial arts. Yet his body moved with the fluid grace of perfect muscle memory. It didn’t make sense and that scared Izuku. From the look in Toshi’s eyes afterwards when he visited Izuku in the infirmary, Izuku could tell Toshi was concerned too.
“You managed to use One For All without any problems today,” Toshi said softly and he sounded proud though also worried. Izuku had won after all, him and Uraraka.
“Yeah,” He supposed it was true after all.
“What was different?”
Izuku hesitated, unsure whether he could really describe what he’d felt. “It was like...the power was familiar somehow? And then my body, it just, I’ve never moved like that before and I didn’t choose to do it but it...I dunno…” Izuku shook his head and averted his gaze.
Toshi’s hand tentatively touched his shoulder and Izuku leaned into the touch. It was grounding and it made the ache in his chest lessen. From the way Toshi’s grip tightened Izuku thought maybe Toshi felt it too.
Rescue training turned into villain apprehension the moment they arrived.
Mr. Aizawa told the students to stay safe, to stay back. All around him Izuku could feel the tension in his classmates. It was a tension he shared. Except, not all of him felt that way. There was a calm that came over him at the prospect of battle. And that was how he thought of it: a battle. This was a battle in a war. It didn’t make sense that he thought of it that way but Izuku found that he did regardless of how crazy he himself found it.
Every fiber of Izuku’s being refused to stay on the sidelines. He’d been given power, power to save and protect, he had to use it.
When the warp villain tried to envelope his classmates, Izuku snagged his nearest classmates in a tight grip and then with a flash of green lightning he yanked them clear. Izuku was terrified but he was also alert and focused. It was a bizarre sensation, almost like he wasn’t in full control of his body.
Izuku’s gaze went down the long set of stairs to Mr. Aizawa. The villain, whom the warp villain had called Shigaraki, grabbed Mr. Aizawa’s elbow. Izuku felt a cold chill as he watched Mr. Aizawa’ elbow disintegrate to the muscle. Mr. Aizawa jerked back and away, but it wasn’t looking good.
Then the noumu was on Mr. Aizawa so fast Izuku hardly saw the huge creature even move. Mr. Aizawa’s arm was wrenched behind his back and the noumu shoved Mr. Aizawa’s face into the ground with its other large beastial hand.
Izuku didn’t think about it, he just did it. A spray of green static was left in his wake as Izuku launched himself down into the fray. Izuku whirled in mid air, angling so that when he landed his feet slammed into the side of the noumu. For a second, Izuku thought he hadn’t used enough power, but his muscles were already burning, his bones splintering. Then the noumu was thrown off of Mr. Aizawa and Izuku nearly face planted. Izuku managed to land on all fours though and shove himself to his feet.
“What the hell are you doing?” Mr. Aizawa barked. Izuku could see that his teacher’s eyes weren’t focused and there was a trail of blood coming out of his hair down into his face.
Before Izuku could say anything, Shigaraki spoke: “Trying to play at being a hero?” Izuku could hear the grin in his voice. “I wonder if I kill you, would it hurt all Might?”
Izuku’s heart throbbed and that small flicker of desire inside him burst into a raging fire of defiance. He’d heard Shigaraki say that thing, that noumu, was specifically made to kill All Might. There was no way Izuku was going to let that happen.
Planting his feet and moving into a defensive position, Izuku placed himself between Mr. Aizawa and Shigaraki. The villain wasn’t all he had to worry about though. Faster than Izuku thought possible, the noumu was back.
The noumu tried to grab Izuku’s face, but Izuku jerked back. Just from the force of the grab though Izuku was thrown back and the noumu’s fingers grazed his cheek. Pain erupted across the area the noumu had touched and Izuku grit his teeth to keep from crying out. Izuku almost fell but managed to keep his footing even. His jaw smarted and he could feel a bruise already starting to form.
Izuku didn’t have any time to recover though. The noumu lunged and Izuku managed to trade a few punches, dodging and weaving between the things powerful arms, but despite the muscle memory he possessed, Izuku simply wasn’t prepared to fight such a creature.
The air was knocked from Izuku’s lungs when his feet were swept out from under him and his back slammed hard onto the ground. Then the noumu was on him, gripping Izuku’s lower arms in a bruising grip. Izuku wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination but he thought he could hear the bones in his arm fracturing from the sheer pressure and force.
Izuku’s heart pounded against his ribcage and all he could hear were his own labored breaths as the noumu bared down on him, staring blankly with dead soulless eyes. One For All pulsed faster and faster, a call, a suggestion to use more. Even if it broke his body at least maybe he could get away, maybe he could live. Before Izuku had to make that decision though something else happened.
All Might arrived.
Izuku heard the door to the USJ slam open and then he could hear All Might’s, Toshi’s, voice even through the cotton in his ears. Tilting his head back, he could see Toshi too. He wasn’t smiling. Not at all.
In a flash, Izuku found himself no longer under the noumu’s body. Izuku blinked and pushed himself up onto his elbows. All Might, Toshi, was in front of him now, and the noumu had been thrown clear across the venue. Izuku gasped. Not because of the sheer power All Might had just displayed, but because from his position, with All Might’s shadow over him and his two long bangs flaring upward, for just a moment, Izuku thought Toshi had wings.
All Might glanced back at him, expression murderous. Izuku felt his heart speed up. He’d never seen All Might, Toshi, angry. Ever. But as Toshi’s hooded eyes focused on the bruising on Izuku’s face and arms, that anger intensified. Toshi grit his teeth, almost animal-like in his intensity. Izuku thought he heard a snarl too when Toshi fixed his sights on the noumu and Shigaraki.
Izuku felt a surge of joy and hope but it froze inside him as he realized Toshi didn’t have much time left as All Might. From what Thirteen said earlier to Mr. Aizawa and from the news articles Izuku had seen that morning, he knew Toshi was on his last legs, power wise. And still he aimed to protect.
“The noumu, it–it took my punches like it was nothing!” Izuku told Toshi quickly, trying to impress on him that this noumu wasn’t an ordinary villain that would be easily defeated.
“It won’t touch you again.” Toshi growled, so low Izuku almost hadn’t heard. There was a possessiveness in the way he said it too. Izuku’s heart pounded faster but this time not because of fear.
Toshi shot forward towards Shigaraki. The moment he did the noumu intervene and Izuku watched with a growing sense of dread as Toshi took on that creature. It was horrible watching that fight.
Even though the noumu was defeated Izuku couldn’t leave Toshi like he’d been told to. Because he knew his time was dwindling. Izuku could see steam coming off his body. It was hidden by the smoke and dust but Izuku saw it clearly.
“You’re the worst kind of hero!” Shigaraki seethed. All Might’s expression didn’t change. “All that power, all that strength, it’s only purpose is to destroy! To destroy those you label as villains!”
It felt like a slap. Shigaraki’s words. It shouldn’t have but there was some kind of echo in his mind. Something about war and destruction.
In the end both Izuku and Toshi ended up in the infirmary at UA.
Izuku stared at the off-white ceiling feeling relieved no one had been badly hurt or killed. It was dark outside and Izuku was supposed to be sleeping but he couldn’t. Instead Shigaraki’s words came back to his mind.
“What’s wrong?”
Izuku startled at Toshi’s question, he’d thought he was asleep. Turning, Izuku saw Toshi watching him. A pang went through Izuku’s chest. There was a bandage on Toshi’s face and all around his torso.
“Nothing,” Izuku answered quietly. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
Izuku hesitated, unsure he wanted to actually admit it. But the expression of openness, of compassion and caring on Toshi’s face was something that Izuku couldn’t ignore. It affected him in a way he couldn’t describe. That pull in his chest intensified and he needed to confide, to be close.
“I was thinking about what that Shigaraki guy said, about your power, our power being destructive.” Izuku mumbled, embarrassed he was giving something a villain said thought at all but Toshi didn’t look like he was judging Izuku for it. Instead Toshi offered an encouraging smile and waited for Izuku to continue. “One For All, it, well, it destroys my body if I use too much of it and the kind of power can destroy a lot. I guess that strength could be used to help build things, but it just wouldn’t be as effective to use it like that…” He trailed off and his face felt hot. Maybe he was just being stupid.
“You’re not wrong.” Toshi told him gently. “Not entirely.” Izuku blinked at him. “One For All, any power really, can be used to destroy or to build depending on how it’s used. But I think there’s a facite to what we perceive as destruction that we forget about.” Izuku straightened a little, taking note of every word Toshi spoke. “I used my power to become a symbol of peace, but look at my actions.”
Izuku thought carefully before he thought maybe he understood. “You’re so powerful, such a force of destruction that you basically arrest any villain’s hope of doing anything.” Izuku knew quite well that after All Might entered the world of heroes the crime rate had dropped significantly and stayed impossibly low.
Toshi nodded. “I use my power, my physical power anyway, to apprehend villains, to destroy things I suppose. But in the end…”
“That strength brings peace.” Izuku finished. Shigaraki was wrong then. Toshi gave Izuku a thumbs up and smiled. Izuku grinned back and felt that pull in his chest again. Part of him really wanted to get up and get into Toshi’s bed just to be near him. Izuku rejected the idea immediately as silly and childish.
That night in the infirmary Izuku slept peacefully. He thought maybe those odd dreams were finally behind him. He was wrong. The dreams didn’t stop. If anything they increased.
Izuku couldn’t remember details of the dreams, all he had was that name and that place that he’d managed to write down before. Mostly the dreams just made him tired in the morning but otherwise didn’t affect him.
Then, shortly after the USJ incident, it did start to affect him.
Izuku saw atop the wall of the temple, looking out down at the city below. He’d been training for a long time on Mount Kurama and he knew he would be ready soon. A huge crow, monstrous in size and vicious looking dove down out of the sky towards Izuku. But Izuku didn’t worry, not at all.
As the crow got closer its speed slowed and with a great flap of its wings it landed on the wall alongside Izuku. Then the crow’s form shimmered and Toshi sat beside him. Their shoulders were almost touching.
For a while they sat in silence together, enjoying one another’s company and watching the sun set. Izuku hesitated as he thought about something he’d been thinking about for a while now. He glanced at Toshi and once again felt that there was no way he was as evil as the stories said.
True, Toshi was a demon, a Tengu, the King of the Tengu. But Toshi was also so kind and patient. The more Izuku considered his actions the more he realized it didn’t match up with the things Toshi said. Izuku decided it was time he got some answers.
“It’s not really war you want at all, is it?” Izuku asked softly. Toshi stiffened then shrugged.
“Of course it is.” He replied, believing the matter to be at rest now. But Izuku frowned and turned to Toshi, lightly grasping his arm and forcing him to turn towards him.
“You want peace in Japan, more than anything, don’t you?” Izuku pressed. Toshi swallowed and the look in his eyes told Izuku he was right. But Toshi wasn’t about to admit it.
“I’m a Tengu.” Toshi told him, voice rough. “I’m a harbinger of war. I taught you the art of war so that you may wage battle upon battle.” But Izuku shook his head, fixing Toshi with a firm gaze.
“You trained me to be the ultimate warrior.” Izuku began, “My strength and speed goes beyond the bounds of most mortals. You didn’t have to teach me to be the best, you needed only to teach me a fraction of what you have if war was all you wanted.” Toshi frowned and looked away but Izuku continued on anyway. “You gave me power so that I might unite the clans and end our warring state once and for all.”
Toshi was silent for a long time. “That’s a bold claim.”
“It’s a bold plan.” Izuku returned and he felt sure in his deduction. Toshi said nothing and Izuku couldn’t discern much from his expression. “Sojobo?”
“It won’t work.” Toshi said at last. “Even with the power I gave you war will be prevented for only a short time.” Izuku’s heart leapt. As sure as he was that he’d been right about Toshi’s true motives, some small part of Izuku had doubted.
“Then help me.” Izuku said and Toshi turned back to him, blinking. He wasn’t sure what possessed him to do it, but he reached out and cupped Toshi’s cheek. Toshi’s blue eyes widened and it seemed like he stopped breathing. “Be my partner.”
“What?” Toshi asked, voice breathless and shaky.
“Stand by my side.” Izuku whispered as he leaned forward to rest his forehead against Toshi’s. “Please.”
“You will always have me,” Toshi said quietly. “I—”
The dream changed and Izuku saw blood. He saw war. He saw Toshi—
Izuku lurched out of bed. His body was covered in a cold sweat and his body trembled with the phantom memory of blood and gore and war. Izuku choked and rushed to the restroom, barely making it in time to empty his stomach into the toilet. He coughed and choked again.
The dream was fuzzy now, falling away from him despite his attempts to cling to at least some of the details. Toshi, no Sojobo...Toshi. Izuku felt his heart clench painfully and every fiber of his being ached to see Toshi.
Izuku stumbled back to his room. It was still dark outside, still an hour before his alarm would wake him. He had to use both hands to grab his phone because he was still shaking so hard. It didn’t occur to him that the hour was too early for a call. All Izuku knew was that he needed to hear Toshi’s voice.
It took Izuku two tries to make the call because his hands were trembling so badly. He didn’t feel any sense of relief until the ringing stopped and Toshi answered.
“Izuku?”
Hearing his voice flooded Izuku with a sense of calm. “Are you...okay?” Izuku whispered and his voice sounded rough to his own ears. His throat still burned from the stomach acid.
“I…” Toshi began but stopped, his voice sounded a little hoarse too, Izuku noted. “I think I had a nightmare…” He said it softly, almost to himself, a secret admission not meant to be placed on Izuku’s shoulders though he desperately wanted it.
“Me too,” Izuku told him gently. He bit his lips and waited but all he heard was Toshi’s quiet breathing. “Do you think it has to do with your quirk? One For All?” He asked. It was the only thing Izuku could think of that connected them. Izuku ignored the part of him that pointed out he’d felt some kind of small pull even before the transfer.
Toshi let out a heavy breath. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Izuku worried his bottom lip, wondering if it was worth asking, in the end his curiosity got the better of him. “What did you see? In your nightmare, I mean.”
Toshi took in a sharp breath and was quiet for a long time. “I don’t remember.” He finally said and Izuku got the feeling that it was only a partial truth. It hurt to think Toshi didn’t trust him or maybe he was just trying to protect Izuku, either way it grated on Izuku in a way that made his heart feel raw.
“I saw you die.” Izuku blurted. Just saying the words made his chest feel tight and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. “I don’t remember a lot of the details, but I–I remember your face when—!” The words tumbled out without his permission and he broke off just as he felt like he was choking again.
“Breathe, Izuku!” Toshi told him firmly, though there was a thread of worry and anxiety in his voice. “Breathe!”
Izuku forced himself to obey and he focused on Toshi’s voice, letting it calm and soothe him until he could finally speak again. “Can I see you?” Izuku asked and he hated how fragile he sounded. “Please.”
Toshi was quiet for a moment before he said, “Okay.”
As soon as Izuku got off the phone his face flushed as he realized how childish he’d sounded. He thought about calling back or texting and calling the whole thing off. But he needed to see Toshi, to see he was alive and okay. So as embarrassed as he felt, Izuku went anyway.
They met at their beach.
Izuku had told himself the entire walk there that he was just going to make sure Toshi was okay and then go home. He wasn’t going to make this into a big deal or anything. But then Izuku saw Toshi standing there on the beach waiting for him.
Flashes from his dream rushed into the forefront of his mind and his heart clenched. He needed to do more than just see him. Izuku couldn’t even just walk anymore, he jogged towards Toshi and he swore to himself that he would stop, really he did. But then he couldn’t.
Izuku bounded forward and threw his arms around Toshi’s neck, melting into his arms. Toshi’s own long thin arms came around Izuku like it was the most natural thing in the world and he held Izuku there against him. Izuku closed his eyes and breathed deeply against Toshi’s neck.
“Sorry,” Izuku mumbled against Toshi’s neck.
“It’s okay,” Toshi said and gave a small chuckle. His large hand stroked Izuku’s back in a comforting, familiar way. That pull inside him, that ache felt sated for the moment.
Slowly and after a few minutes, Izuku pulled away and Toshi set Izuku back onto the sand of the beach. Toshi was still bent, his hands still on Izuku’s waist. He smiled softly and Izuku’s stomach did a flip. That quiet whisper in his mind pushed him forward.
Izuku didn’t do it quickly or fast, his face just drew closer to Toshi’s and Toshi must have drawn closer to him as well. Then their lips were touching, sliding against one another, pressing together. Izuku’s heart leapt into his chest. He was kissing Toshi and Toshi, well, he was kissing back. That ache of phantom pain and the pull inside him sung with joy and it felt right to be connected to Toshi in this way.
It was over too soon.
“What are you doing?!” Toshi exclaimed, pulling back a look of abject dismay painted across his features. Izuku opened his mouth to answer, his face flushing as he realized what he’d just done. He clenched his teeth and then what he felt began pouring out of him.
“It’s–I feel this pull ,” Izuku told him desperately. “Like we’re meant to be beside one another, like were meant to be—!”
“No!” Toshi snapped, but his voice was almost shrill and he sounded so pained. “It’s not...don’t.” He pleaded and looked away from Izuku, his expression hidden from Izuku’s sight by his long bangs.
“So...it’s just me that feels this way…?” Izuku asked brokenly.
Toshi hesitated then nodded. Izuku still couldn’t see his face but something inside him snapped and he knew Toshi was lying to him. A word came to him then, a name, unbidden into his mind.
“Sojobo.” Izuku said aloud, testing it. His heart clenched painfully in his chest when he said the name.
“What?” Toshi answered, turning to face Izuku at last, then he froze. Izuku’s breath caught because the way Toshi had answered it was as if Izuku had simply said ‘Toshi.’He’d responded to the name as if it were his own. Some small corner of Izuku’s heart whispered that it was.
Toshi must have felt it too since his brow furrowed and his hand went to his chest touching just over his heart. Toshi looked at Izuku with a look of fearful confusion on his face. He didn’t know why he’d responded to the name. Izuku didn’t either, not really.
“Will you come with me to Mount Kurama?” Izuku asked.
“Why there?” Toshi raised a brow, but Izuku could tell that Toshi felt something when he’d said the mountain’s name. Izuku waited, let Toshi think and watched him touch his chest, right over his heart again. It was all the confirmation Izuku needed to tell that Toshi was feeling the same things Izuku was. Finally Toshi nodded. “Alright.”
They waited until the following weekend.
Toshi picked up Izuku in his vehicle and they drove in silence. It took only a few hours to get there, to the base of the mountain. They got out of the vehicle and Izuku shaded his eyes with his hand against the sun, looking up at the mountain. Toshi moved to stand beside him, his gaze fixed on the mountain as well.
Izuku hesitated for only a moment before he started towards a small dirt path that led up into the mountain. He wasn’t sure how he knew it was the way they needed to go, but he did. Toshi didn’t question him at all, just followed along behind.
They diverted from the path, going through the brush, carving out a new path that Izuku knew in his heart led to the temple from his dreams. Izuku was tired and sweaty by the time they arrived, but he’d been right to trust his instincts. There, before them, was the temple of Mount Kurama.
The stone and woodwork looked identical to the vague hazy memories he’d seen in his dreams. Toshi let out a small gasp and Izuku knew he recognized the place as well. Together they walked forward and into the temple.
The moment they crossed the threshold something happened, freezing them both in place.
It felt like being hit with a ton of bricks. One moment Izuku had only a vague feeling inside him and a handful of half-remembered dreams and then, suddenly, Izuku remembered everything. He was Yoshitsune, or he had once been. But it wasn’t just Yoshitsune’s memories that flooded Izuku’s mind. Every other life he’d led up until that point slammed into him as well.
Izuku knew without a doubt that it was because of One For All, because of that second connection of their souls that allowed him and probably Toshi to have dreams of their past life. Their first life. In no other lifetime had they managed to figure out where they needed to go or how to return their memories. Until now.
“I remember.” Toshi whispered, eyes wide as he turned from the temple to face Izuku. A stricken look crossed his expression though. “You died…”
“You tried to save me,” Izuku replied softly. “Why did you do that? Why did you give up your life?” It was a question he’d had since it happened, one he’d never been able to ask until now, until their memories were returned.
Toshi smiled gently and reached out to cup the side of Izuku’s face. Izuku leaned into the touch without question. “I promised to protect you in all your battles.” He reminded Izuku. “Even future battles.”
“We’re soul bound.” Izuku breathed, remembering what he’d read and it rang true within him. He placed a hand over Toshi’s, keeping his larger hand where it was. Toshi’s smile turned grim.
“Maybe,” He said, sounding like he didn’t believe it. “And yet, no matter how many times we’re reborn it seems there’s always something keeping us apart,” Toshi whispered. Izuku reached out and grasped his free hand tightly, forcing him to look at him. He brought Toshi’s other hand to his other cheek.
“No.” Izuku shook his head. “I’ll admit that some of our previous lives prevented our relationship. Being brothers wasn’t exactly conducive to a relationship.” He let out a small laugh in an effort to lighten the mood. “But in our first life it was only you who worried about me being a human and you a demon. I never cared about that.” Izuku said quietly, pleading with his eyes for Toshi to believe him. “Here and now though, it’s not a matter of some force keeping us apart, it’s solely a sense of proprietary. It’s our choice Toshi. I’ve waited centuries for you.” Izuku lifted Toshi’s hand to his face, leaning into the large warm hand. Toshi shivered. “How long are you going to make me wait?”
Toshi let out a shuddered breath.
“We’re meant to be together, Toshi.” Izuku pressed and knowing he was right made all the difference. It wasn’t a plea, it was a fact.
“It’s Sojobo...isn’t it?” Toshi murmured quietly. “Yoshitsune?”
But Izuku shook his head. “That’s who we were, Toshi. Now we’re just us, no matter what name we choose to go by.” Toshi gave a low hum of agreement, thoughtful. “I love you Toshi.”
Toshi blinked and his lips parted in surprise. Izuku supposed he hadn’t been expecting that. “You will always have me.” Toshi said, voice rough.
Izuku smiled. “I let you get away with that when you were a tengu, Toshi.” He arched a brow and watched joyfully as Toshi’s face flushed and he coughed self consciously into his fist.
“I love you too, Izuku.” He whispered.
Then Izuku pulled Toshi down towards him and kissed him. He poured all his feelings, all his love and all his promises into that kiss. Izuku knew they wouldn’t do anything while Izuku was still underage, he knew their relationship would remain chaste. He was fine with that if it meant Toshi was comfortable. But the minute Izuku turned eighteen he was going to make sure they were together properly.
Izuku pulled away and smiled brightly.
Together they stood, looking out down the mountain from the temple. Toshi’s hand was warm in Izuku’s, large and comforting. Izuku breathed easily for the first time in a long time and he knew without a doubt that this time, in this lifetime, they would be together.