Traumatic

 "Oh my god oh my god <i>ohmigod</i>," Hizashi chanted in horror as he saw the villain their team had been called to subdue. "Oh, <i>hell</i> no!"

"Shut up." Aizawa snapped, muting his colleague while he surveyed the damage.

"Deep breaths, Mic," Elly murmured.

There was a huge anthropomorphic bug standing in the center of the shopping mall. Everywhere within five feet or perhaps a little farther around them was splattered in blood, and they had no way of knowing if it was from any casualties or not yet.

Elly's eyes widened in concern even as she circled around to the side, invisible. She was worried for Hizashi as this would be a bad match up. The Voice Hero was absolutely terrified of bugs, and, sure enough as they spun about he shrieked and jerked away. Coming from him, the shriek was enough to stun the villain, though only for a moment. Aizawa tried to secure them in that time but a set of sharp mandibles snapped through the capture weapon like scissors through paper.

Before the team could regroup the bug person was spraying blood at them. They were all hit by some of it, though Elly got the worst as she was the closest.

The villain then turned to him, who was struggling to wipe off his dropping eye gear. "I don't think any of you have heard of me," he said in a deceptively deep voice. "My name is Trauma Tick. And, if you don't mind..." He paused to siphon off all the blood, suctioning it up like the world's most disgusting vacuum. He grew bloated and round as he did, his eyes bulging as his stomach swelled.

Hizashi threw up, shaking and foaming at the mouth with disgust and fear. He struggled to force himself to face the bad guy, but he was paralyzed.

Aizawa swore harshly as the blood touched his fingers. He realized too late the power was in the bodily fluid, and he was struck full force by the effects as the villain recalled it. He fought for a few seconds, then slumped to the ground on his knees, tears running out of his one good eye.

"Interesting. You feel responsible for what happened to your friend. Not just his death but his un-death as well..."

Hizashi finally got a hold of himself. He inhaled, getting ready to shout, but he'd been touched by the blood as well.

"And Present Mic... tsk, survivor's guilt is such a common issue with heroes. You lived, but <i>two</i> of your inner circle of friends died. And the other is maimed while you - you! Remain perfectly healthy."

The Voice Hero choked on his shout and stumbled backwards.

"By the way..." Trauma Tick laughed, a soulless, hollow sound. "I can't see you, cat, but I know you're here. Cheshire -" He scanned the room and then burst out in an absolute fit of delighted giggles. "Oh, <i>my</i>! That's delicious! Your defenses crumble, you finally fall in love and yet he will <i>never</i> love you back. You're not worthy of Present Mic, are you?"

Hizashi drew in a quick rush of air. He heard that, however faintly, from inside his personal bubble of mental agony.

<i>Ches</i>?!

Elly appeared between the two other heroes in a flash of sudden color. Her tail slashed madly through the air and her eyes were pale with grief.

The villain gloated over the fallen forms of the three of them, pacing back and forth. "The guilt, the sorrow ...and the unworthy, unrequited love."

As he spoke the last words Elly struck. She launched herself like a furry bullet, not even bothering to use her quirk. No, someone like this deserved a special, physical response to quell her profound sadness and rage. She drew her arm back and decked him as hard as she possibly could.

He fell back, spitting weaponous blood and bits of his own carapace. "H - how is this possible?! You should be immobilized by grief! <i>You can never have the only thing you've ever truly desired</i>!"

"I realized that <i>when I was a child</i>," she growled, kicking him roughly to turn him over so she could zip tie his many wrists. "These two suppress their trauma. I accept mine."

"Ugh. No more bug baddies. No more!" Hizashi stumbled over chewing noisily on several sticks of gum in an attempt to freshen his breath. "I can't <i>take</i> that shit, yo."

"I don't blame you this time," Aizawa grunted. He accepted his goggles back from Elly with a nod.

"Yeah, that was really gross." She shuddered. "I almost lost my lunch myself."

Feeling better about his inaction, he sidled closer to the Insanity Hero. "So, uh." He tilted to the side, rolling on his heels and giving her a sly, side-eyed look. "The one thing you've ever desired?" His voice ended on a high note, leaving the question open if she wanted to answer it or not.

Elly shrugged gruffly and turned away so he couldn't see her face. "Unconditional love. But it's okay. I know what it's like to live without." He opened his mouth but she shook her head, her voice rising. "No! Don't you <i>dare</i> tell me you love me like a friend, Mic. Don't you fucking dare." She stumbled and he realized with horror that she was weeping so hard she was hyperventilating and about to pass out. He lunged as she toppled over and caught her gently in his arms.

Aizawa and Hizashi shared a long, uncomfortable look. Not surprisingly the blond-haired man was the first to break the silence. "I didn't know. Did you?"

"We all pretty much guessed." His friend shrugged and sat on the villain's back, pulling out his phone to contact the cops.

"Wai - you <i>all</i> knew?!"

"She doesn't hide it very well, Mic. Good thing for her you're an idiot."

He stood there with his mouth gaping open while the paramedics rushed over, having gotten there first. "Excuse me, Mic!" The responder broke through his stunned haze. "Is Cheshire okay?"

"Oh! Oh, uh, she fainted." He jabbed a thumb over at the villain. "Bug boy, though, he's gonna have one helluva headache when he wakes up."

"Your work?" The medic tested his pulse and peeled back one of his eyelids professionally.

"Uh, no actually. Ches here cold-cocked the poor bastard." He laughed viciously, his gaze narrowing as he watched the villain getting loaded onto a stretcher. "He'd been better off getting hit with my voice. At least then he wouldn't be hearing about how much he screwed up."

Since she remained unresponsive Hizashi was forced to hand her over to the medical staff in the end. Elly made a whirlwind recovery once she was out of sight of him, and the next day was back in school like the rest of them.

At least, that's what he thought.

"I can't find Ches," he whined sadly in the teachers' office. "Every time I try to approach her she <i>literally</i> vanishes. 'Cause she can do that."

"Then leave her alone," Aizawa snorted.

"But - but I don't wanna! So what if she was kinda outed that she likes me. I like her, too!" He slammed his leather-clad fist on his leg.

All Might had been listening to the conversation and at the last sentence he perked up. Unbeknownst to many, he was a romantic at heart and he thrived on scenarios like this. He also the one that had first guessed at the building feelings between the two and brought it up to the others.

He leaned over in a conspiratorial fashion. "Send her flowers," he whispered hoarsely.

"You said what?" Hizashi blinked across the desk over at the tall man.

Yagi held up his phone and pointed at the screen. "Several of the stores around here carry small, fresh bouquets that are in season. Or you could spring for the local florist." He paused, then smiled sweetly at the Voice Hero. "If you're trying to show her how you feel, might I suggest the <i>plus ultra</i> approach..?"

Hizashi glared at him flatly for a second and dug his wallet out of his back pocket, popping his credit card out and laying it in front of him. He dialed, then propped his cell phone between his headphones and ear.

"Hello? Yeah, how many red roses ya got in hand right now?"

When she came back from lunch the counselor almost wasn't able to fit in her office. She opened the door to a sweet smelling paradise filled with roses everywhere - on her desk, on the floor, and even sitting on her chairs!

<i>Red roses... they don't mean something different in Japan, do they? Does he not</i> know <i>what these symbolize?</i>

She numbly moved a spray on her chair and sat.

<i>Hizashi</i>...

As if her thought of him summoned the perky blond-haired man, he spun around the corner and pointed at the extravagant display.

"Hey there, Ches!

Elly frowned with confusion, batting lightly at the huge vases of red roses on her desk. "<i>Please, Mic</i>," she begged him sadly, "Don't try to soften the blow. Just ...okay, just tell me." She lifted her trembling chin, rolling her shoulders back with a determined gaze. "Get it over with."

"I love you," he told her in accented English.

"I promise to keep things professional, but I need time to heal..."

He chuckled in wonder and got up to walk around to her chair. Setting his hands on the armrests he spun her about to face him. "You didn't hear what I said at all, did ya? Who hurt you so bad that you can't accept my confession?"

"Your what?" She blinked, puzzled. "But I thought you said - that you meant --"

Hizashi removed his sunglasses with one hand. "I said, I love you." He cupped her chin in his other palm and stared deeply into her eyes. "And <i>not</i> just like a friend. I've got friend benefits already. I want the whole you."

"You <i>can't</i>," she gasped in absolute panic.

"Love you? Who says?"

Elly shook her head in confusion. "Everything in my head," she admitted thoughtfully.

"Yeah, but what does your heart say?" He placed a hand over his and tapped once. "Mine knows you're worth everything you're afraid to give me."

"It - it might take awhile before I believe that." She took a shaky breath. "I hear you now, though. It's difficult for me to believe."

"I promise to always be on your side. Ya know, unless I'm under you, or on top, or we're trying something weird and diagonal." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"<i>Mic</i>!"

He chuckled and kissed her on the forehead.

Speechless (2)

Elly and Hizashi were getting ready for a small get together of local heroes at a restaurant nearby. It was informal but each wanted to keep up their impressions in the community. Hizashi knew a lot of heroes underestimated him, and for good reason as his happy-go-lucky persona was a means of defense. But fellow heroes needed to know he should be taken seriously, and he desperately wanted them to accept his girlfriend as well.

He went first, showering and changing into a black, close-fitting sweater with khaki pants. His long hair took awhile to dry and he combed it out and then brushed it as she showered and got ready.

Elly didn't need as long, so she was out from under the water in ten minutes or so. As she cracked the door to let the steam out she heard him humming to himself and smiled. And, as she got dressed, her sensitive ears picked up his low voice singing.

<i>You say you'll be down in five
The smell of your perfume is floating down the stairs
You're fixing up your hair like you do
I know that I'll be a mess
The second that I see you
You won't be surprised
It happens every time
It's nothin' new

It's always on a night like tonight
I thank God you can read my mind
'Cause when you look at me with those eyes</i>

Elly closed her eyes and finished brushing her hair, choosing to leave it down instead of spraying the sides up like she normally did. Hizashi's warm, sweet tone lulled her into a dreamy state as she spun about in the mirror, checking her outfit.

<i>I'm speechless
Starin' at you standin' there in that dress
What it's doin' to me ain't a secret
'Cause watching you is all that I can do</i>

She <i>was</i> wearing a dress tonight, and his nearly encyclopediac knowledge of music had probably picked this song because of the fact. It wasn't fancy by any standards, just a simple black piece that fell to her knees. But she rarely wore such clothing and as she perked her ears to hear him sigh she finally knew the impact it had on him.

She crept around the corner and raised a trembling hand to her lips. Hizashi sat on the couch with his best pair of noise-cancelling headphones on, his eyes closed and long, blond hair splayed over his shoulders like liquid gold. As trite as it sounded the shining tresses were so beautiful she could think of them as nothing but the most precious metal. He was worth far more to her than that, but her mind was unable to process this level of beauty.

<i>You already know that you're my weakness
After all this time I'm just as nervous
</i>

He was gorgeous, his face ever so slightly flushed over the bridge of his nose and spread over his cheeks as well. Those expressive eyebrows were pinched tightly together, drawing his high forehead into a point as he sang. Though most people thought he had an annoying voice, his quirk was so much more than simple volume control. The high and sometimes squeaky Present Mic voice was part of him, but it wasn't all of him. Hizashi could alter pitch at will, among other aspects of his vocalizations. And as he took a soft breath and continued singing, the smoothness and emotion behind the lyrics caused her to quake in the doorway.

<i>Every time you walk into the room
I'm speechless</i>

To her shock he got up, running a hand through his hair and flipping it so the blond canopy covered his back. He opened his eyes to unerringly gaze into her own, a smile on his lips that hinted he'd known she could hear.

Of course he knew.

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes as he walked swiftly over, still singing, and took her hand in his. He was tall and she wasn't, so he looked down and then slowly got down on his knees to serenade her.

<i>It started when you said, "Hello"
Just did something to me
And I've been in a daze
Ever since the day that we met</i>

<i>You take the breath out of my lungs
Can't even fight it
And all of the words, out of my mouth
Without even trying</i>...

Elly cried out and knelt, throwing her hands around his neck. "I love you," she wept.

He didn't answer but caught her in a tight embrace, breathing deeply of her hair and once again sighing so heart-breaking a sigh that she shivered with emotion.

"Do you take requests?" She caressed his cheek, her lips parted and chest heaving. He thought she looked so lovely in her love for him that he remained unable to speak. He squinted quizzically at her instead, nodding, and she melted further in his arms.

"Oh, <i>baby</i>, please. We can be late just this once, right? Put that song on, take me into the back and make love to me."

He drew in a short, tight gasp, the circles in his eyes thinning momentarily. When he opened his mouth, however, she placed a finger on his lips, hushing him.

"Show me."

Hizashi's expression firmed, his eyes shining and a smile that promised what was to come. He stood, picking her easily up in his arms, and carried her into the bedroom.

The dress was tossed over a chair and he flung his clothing on it as well, to be put back on afterward if they didn't get too wrinkled. Now the song was placed on repeat, flooding the room with beautiful music - <i>though never</i>, she thought dreamily, <i>as wonderful as when he sang</i> -- as he pressed against her, kissing her with mounting passion.

No words were exchanged, only sounds of love and desire as they kissed and touched each other, gently playing at love before the act itself. It took the better part of half an hour but finally she couldn't handle any more teasing and grasped his rear firmly, squeezing and pulling him greedily towards her. Hizashi gasped and let the nipple he had been sucking fall out of his mouth.

He looked into her eyes and she smiled and spread her legs, raising them caressing along his waist. He set himself and thrust into her welcome heat, sighing in bliss.

Soon he was biting his lip, tears spilling down his flushed cheeks as he panted and strained. This was <i>primal</i>, fully sexual with no joking or silliness like they might fool around with on any given day. No, here was only the soft strains of music accompanied by the squeak and thump of the bed as they moved together, their breathy gasps and heady cries of desire mounting.

No doubt about it; he was going to have a monumental climax.

He felt it in every part of his body, not just the crushing pressure in his groin. His muscles were flexing and pulling, sweat trickling down his chest and tickling him along with his hair that swung all around them. His moaning became desperate as he realized his desire to have <i>all of her</i>, and he reveled in the act of their love. Hizashi smelled and felt and saw and tasted their sex, hands sliding from her hips to her waist and breasts and then back again. His mouth eagerly devoured her whispered praise, shuddering when she kissed back with lots of wrestling tongue.

And yet he wanted - no, needed, ached, yearned in the depths of his very soul -- for <i>more</i>.

His hips canted against hers, driving him deeply inside as he strained forward. Elly grasped at his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his waist and holding on as his pace quickened.

Hizashi buried his face in her neck, thighs quivering and jerking while he breathed in great, tearing gasps. He lost himself completely in the moment of release, everything blotting out for those wonderful few seconds.

When he came to she was kissing him all over his face, purring and stroking his sweaty hair away from his flushed, sticky skin.

"Hey, lover," he whispered gently.

"Hi there."

He pulled out of her with a groan. "Messy, baby. Sorry. Did you come?"

She nodded fervently. "I know you were really out of it there, at the end, but I'm surprised you missed it."

He flashed her a grin. "Spectacular?"

"Very."

"Mmmn, I'm glad. I love you so much." They shared a sweet, lingering kiss as their bodies cooled. "Think they'll guess why we were late?"

"I think everyone's going to know." Elly traced a finger along his neck, tickling him a bit.

He shivered. "Hmm? Howzat?"

"You have a hickey," she snickered wickedly. "I'm guessing it will take approximately five minutes after some opportunist find us before it's all over the internet."

"How big is it?" Hizashi blushed, wiggling around as if he could somehow see it without a mirror. He flopped over onto his side, legs splayed as he tried to roll and regain his balance. "How big is it?!"

"Not that big."

"<i>Doesn't matter, your turn</i>!"

She squealed with laughter as he jumped on top of her. In the end not only did they show up late, they arrived in slightly rumpled clothing with visible love bites peppered all over their necks.

The internet was, of course, <i>not</i> speechless. Neither was their publicist, though there were varying opinions on the matter. In the end they considered this a win, because all the heroes that night commented on the strength of their devotion to each other.

Aftermath 36

 The wedding itself was a small gathering, the ceremony Western but mixed with traditional Japanese customs. The gathering was a blend as well, including the students of class 1-A and a few local heroes.

It was held on campus grounds under the pretty, flowering trees near the east wing with the principal officiating. Nedzu didn't need to do much except stamp the marriage certificate, but he still stood up on a podium at the head of the aisle for the look of things.

"Are you all set, Aizawa?" The large rodent was wearing a white suit and his eyes were exceptionally bright and beady with excitement on this day. "The paperwork was filed and complete this morning, so technically you two are already married. There's nothing to be nervous over."

"I'm fine." Though he had gotten the chance for uninterrupted sleep the night of her party it didn't mean he'd actually slept. He <i>had</i> been anxious, a fact that caused him to be grouchy at first but when Hizashi reminded him it was '<i>his wedding day, for fuck's sake</i>', his brow cleared for once.

"Ah, there she is."

"Yes," Aizawa agreed softly. Though his stubble was freshly shaved and his hair pulled back in a neat bun, his eyes still had those dark circles from lack of sleep. He stared blearily down the aisle as Elly walked carefully down the path, dressed in a white kimono with her hair adorned with the <i>best</i> Hello Kitty barrettes Eri owned. His heart soared, beating quickly and causing him to blush and cough. He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve this, but her eyes were filled with the certainty of true love.

Once by his side her ears flicked and she gently touched his cheek, purple eyes filled with love and concern. He shrugged off the unspoken comment with a gentle smile and reached out to take her hand.

Aizawa led her over to the wedding table and poured sake into three different sized cups for her to drink from. He was attentive, handing her the cup to drink from next and replacing them until she had sipped three times from each. Then they repeated the process with her serving him. This represented their vows, which was far simpler than reciting any, something the quiet man had been terrified about until she told him it wasn't necessary.

They embraced to the cheers of the guests and some loud whistling they both knew came from Hizashi.

"C'mon, kiss!"

Aizawa glared at the culprit but he doubled down, cheering happily and repeating his request. Elly laughed softly, and he nodded. "Alright. It's our wedding, after all." He looked down into her shining eyes.

<i>Do it for her</i>.

"If I did anything right in my life, it was when I gave my heart to you," he said clearly. She dissolved into joyful tears right before they kissed.

Happily ever after doesn't mean perfect, and this means the newly married couple had their ups and downs. As what happens with PTSD, Elly never completely got over the trauma, but the attacks grew less as time passed. Aizawa was always there for her to help her through the rough patches, just like he had been when she woke up in the hospital that fateful day. She tried her best to be there for him as well, and since that's what matters most they were happy together.

Aftermath 35

 "<i>Bachelorette party</i>!" Kayama screeched with glee. She and Thirteen were dragging Elly along into a private room at a popular restaurant. The cat woman looked nervous and she kept glancing around as if she expected to be ambushed at any moment.

"See? It's not so bad. Look, we even got you a cake!"

Elly's ears snapped upright when she saw the paper mache monstrosity in the middle of the room. She was ceremoniously ushered into a seat of honor close by at the head of the table and a garish party crown placed on her head. "Oh no, Kayama, you <i>didn't</i>..!"

"Woohoo!" The dark-haired woman cheered loudly and slammed a fist down on the table the cake sat on. "Party time!"

The cake crumbled open to reveal Yamada Hizashi - fully in Present Mic mode -- wearing nothing but tight leather pants and a shiny black bow tie. He pointed at Elly with a huge grin.

"Hey hey, special lady! I'm here to get this party started!" The pants must not have been actual leather, because he ripped them off in a split second, revealing a gold, sequin-studded thong. They sailed across the room and, unable to help herself, she stared directly at his crotch which was aimed specifically in her direction. "Any requests, sexy listener?"

"<b>Mic</b>!" Elly yelped in surprise, covering her eyes. "<i>Kayama</i>!" She screamed, laughing hysterically and trying not to flinch away, certain it would hurt the man's feelings.

"What? You told me I had a budget to work with!"

"I said no strippers! I told you that so you <i>wouldn't</i> get a <i>stripper</i>!" She accidentally dropped her hands and screeched when she saw Hizashi had dropped to her level.

"Oh, honey," he said, rolling his eyes dramatically. "I'm not a stripper." He placed a finger under her chin and pulled her flaming face close to his so he could whisper in one furry ear. "I'm a <i>tease</i>."

"<i>Kayamaaaaa</i>!"

"Sheesh! Go with it, girl! I mean, I know it's Yamada, but you could always pretend it's someone more sexy -"

"Hey!" He strutted off the side of the table, jumping with a little hop that made his crotch jiggle in the skimpy thong he was wearing. Elly choked harder and placed her hands over her eyes. "I'll have you know I am a <i>treat</i> -" Here he paused, posing and making what was supposed to be a sexy face at the bride-to-be. To her it looked intimidating, and she found herself clutching at her heart, breathing far too hard.

"A treat?!" Kayama laughed so long she started to wheeze.

"A <i>sumptuous kitty treat</i> for our friend here. I mean, tomorrow she hitches up with Aizawa, of all people." He winked at her. "No offense, cutie."

She sat stunned and unable to respond.

"Awww, see, she's speechless!"

"I sometimes wish you were."

"Pffft. You know you love me. Everybody does!" He tilted Elly's chair back and swung a leg over her, sitting down in her lap. "You wanna sing into the Mic, baby? Get a little karaoke goin'?"

She ignored this, a little frown wrinkling her forehead. "Wait. If you're here, then was Shota spared <i>his</i> party?"

"Yeah, well." He cleared his throat. "He threatened bodily harm if anyone tried to throw him one..."

"I believe what he said was he would disembowel anyone that threatened his getting a full night of sleep on the eve of his wedding," Kayama interrupted.

Hizashi glared at her. "Like I <i>said</i>, bodily harm. Anyway," he continued, "He didn't want one, so I put all my effort into yours instead!"

"Lucky me," she groaned.

Hizashi leaned over so that he was mere inches away - kissing distance -- and he wrapped his arms around her neck besides. "You <i>are</i> lucky, baby. Look at all yer friends!"

She jerked her head to the side where a bunch of her colleagues, female <i>and</i> male, along with a few mixed and others, were now gathered. Not having another party to go to meant they had <i>all</i> went to hers, and she saw with amazement that everyone she knew was here.

And they were all holding their phones out.

Hizashi burst out laughing as they snapped pictures of her in her compromising position. She shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips, as he continued to whoop laughter.

"Nice," she scoffed in a joking tone. Then she gestured at the Voice Hero's scantily clad body and sputtered in exasperation. "How are you not embarrassed?!"

"Me?" He looked down. "I told you, my body is a delectable treat."

"That reminds me! I bought you edible undies for your wedding night!" A package was tossed in her direction.

Elly held it up in front of her face to hide her growing blush. "Thanks, Kayama," she sighed in a resigned tone.

"They're not for <i>you</i>."

Moral Dilemna

 "Shit! He got away." The villain ran off into the distance as Present Mic watched. He couldn't chase after because not only was his partner down, their fight would cause a greater disturbance in the highly populated area He had escaped to.

"M - Mic?"

"Yeah, Ches. You okay?" He breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe the bad guy had missed her, which was great since he didn't know what quirk he had. Then again, she didn't look normal. Her cheeks were stained pink and her purple eyes wide and dilated. It was as if she were drunk, and warning signs flashed in his head.

<i>Not good, not good</i>..!

"I feel so hot." Elly grew limp in his arms, her breathing picking up as she groaned softly. "Mic..."

"M'right here, babe." Hizashi bit his tongue - he hadn't meant to say that.

"Want you."

"I'm on it, it's okay." He was just about to report in and request medical care when she spoke up louder. "I'm callin' the -"

"Want your <i>body</i>."

Blood trickled out of Hizashi's left nostril as he stared incredulously down at the dazed woman, phone held loosely in one hand. "<i>Whaaaaat</i>?!"

"I want you, Present Mic."

To make matters worse, he almost dropped her in shock when she let this secret out. His hands slipped and he grabbed a little lower than propriety allowed.

"<i>Yes</i>, please," she groaned. "Now kiss me."

"Sh - shit!" He put his phone away, hazel eyes bugging out of their sockets in panic. "Fuck quirk!" He decided against calling for medical help and instead held her close as he ran off towards his apartment. He held the wriggling cat woman at bay until he could deposit her safely in his bed, perhaps not the best choice, given her situation, but the only one he could think of. His next move was to call his friend and beg for help.

Aizawa arrived twenty minutes later, more disheveled than usual and highly irritated.

"I was <i>sleeping</i>, Yamada," he grunted by way of greeting when the blond-haired man opened the door. "This had better be a fucking emergency."

"That's literally what it is!" Hizashi was frantic, his movements jerky and quick. One nostril was still bleeding sluggishly and he'd plugged it with a wad of tissue.

"You look like a crazy man," Aizawa snorted. "What's wrong?"

"That!" He stormed into his bedroom, dragging his friend with him. Once inside he gestured empathically at the cat woman laying on his mattress. "<i>That</i> is what's wrong!"

"Mic?" She tossed her head, restless, and started to sob. "Oh, you gorgeous, <i>gorgeous</i> man. Why... why?!"

Aizawa's eyes widened. His quirk immediately flashed into action, his tangled tresses rising as his eyes lit up red.

"Please let it work," Hizashi prayed fervently.

"Shut up."

"Miiiic!" Elly whined, tugging desperately at the sheets with both hands. "I need your <i>hands</i> on me!"

"Nothing." The scruffy man grunted sourly.

Hizashi jerked his chin at the door, indicating they should leave. "How the hell do we help her, then?!"

When they were safely in the hall his friend shook his head ruefully. "You're not going to like this," he warned.

"<i>Please</i> tell me we can help her! She's stuck!"

Aizawa grunted, rubbing at his neck. "I've seen cases like it. More than likely hormone-induced, which is why I can't turn it off. Her body has been tuned to crave sex, and her mind has chosen you. Or her heart, if that makes you feel better." He glanced back at the closed door.

"So..?" Hizashi wrung his hands together, anxious and pale except for the hectic patches on his cheeks.

"You guide her through."

"Uh." He stared blankly at his friend.

The Erasure Hero sighed wearily. "You need to have sex with her, Yamada."

The plug of tissue shot out of his nostril as Hizashi started bleeding again. "Wh - wh - <i>what</i>?!"

"Yamada." Aizawa took hold of his arm to ground him as the other man stared dazedly into space. His glasses slipped down his nose and the spirals in his green-gold eyes were thin with worry. "If you take her to the hospital, they can do nothing. Plus, word might get out of her condition. Getting struck with such quirks isn't looked at in a favorable light."

"It's not her fault!"

"I know that and so do you. But the media -"

Hizashi snarled. "Man, fuck the trash media."

"You're better off fucking <i>her</i>."

"<i>Aizawa</i>!"

"Keep your voice down," he hissed. "Poor choice of words, okay. I know you like her and I highly doubt she'd want to make love to someone she wasn't in love with, either. She doesn't seem the type."

"She can't <i>consent</i>, Aizawa. That's rape. I couldn't do it anyway. How'm I supposed to... <i>you know</i>, be able to," he blushed even harder, "'cause I won't be if she's not into it." Aizawa gave him a look that spoke volumes, and he squirmed uncomfortably. "So she's into it in her dream, yeah! Big whoop! She doesn't respond when I talk to her or anything. It's gross. I can't."

"Then we have to get her to the hospital."

"They can't treat this! You know what happened the last time somebody got hit with an aphrodisiac quirk. It was pure hell."

Aizawa pointed resolutely into the room, indicating his only other option.

<i>Her</i> only other option.

Hizashi whimpered and walked back in, sitting beside her on the rumpled bed. "<i>Please</i> snap out of it, Ches."

She moaned and sniffled, a tear slipping from one closed eye. "Mic."

He sighed and held up his phone. "A'ight, um. I'm recording this so hopefully you won't hate me later. Please don't hate me. Ya got hit by a quirk and now you're like this -" He held the phone briefly over her body laying in bed. As he did, she stirred and gasped out his hero name again.

"P - Present Mic! Oh... <i>Mikey</i>."

Hizashi swallowed hard as he trained the phone back on his blushing, sweaty face. "See, uh, that's the problem. I didn't know ya liked me that way, dig? And, well... I do, too. Like you, I mean." His forehead scrunched up tight, his eyebrows raising and his eyes welling with tears. "I - I <i>can't</i>! See, this is why I can't." He dropped his hand to his side where all it showed was white the fabric of his pants, but it was still recording. "Can't even get it up if yer like this," he muttered. "If I had consent, sure, but not. Like. This."

There was a knock, and the door opened a crack at Hizashi's answer. "Hey." Aizawa stuck his head in. "I called the hospital, and they said they can release some information to you. Only <i>you</i>, so get off your ass and c'mere."

He rushed over, hurriedly snatching his friend's phone out of his hand. "Yamada Hizashi, Present Mic here!"

"If you could, Mic," the person on the other end responded in a calm, professional manner. "I need your hero liscence number and date of birth, please." He rattled off his memorized number, then paused while they checked it in their database. "...and, birthdate?"

"July 7, 1989."

"Okay! Sorry, but we have to be sure when divulging sensitive information."

"No, that's good!" He bit his lip, staring behind him with a worried frown. "What's this, uh, about then?"

"Eraserhead said Cheshire got hit by an aphrodisiac quirk. Is this correct?"

"Yeah," he whined sadly. "I was gonna take her to the hospital, but..."

There was a pause, then the woman's voice spoke firmly. "That's fine. These quirks aren't easily controlled anyway, and we can use the free space to treat people that can get relief. To cut right to the point, Mic: Cheshire has you listed as her aid if she ever got struck with this malady."

He listened, his eyes growing wide and his mouth slack-jawed in relief and astonishment. "Ohhhhhh," was all he could manage at first.

"If you need directions on how to ease someone down from this, you can Google <i>Mating Centers</i> in your area. They have a lot of helpful tips."

"Th - thank you!" He squeaked in sudden embarrassment, realizing that at least one person knew he and Cheshire were going to be, well, intimate. He hung up, dazed but relieved.

"Give me that before you drop it." Aizawa took his phone back from his shaking hands. "So, are you okay now?"

"Yeah, they uh, she had me listed as a partner for help with this type of thing. I didn't know."

"You've got <i>her</i> listed, yes?"

He coughed uncomfortably. "Well, uh, yeah, but -"

"All right. I'm leaving; text me if you need anything." He turned and strode out as quickly as he could.

Elly mewed and clawed at the sheets, gasping something unintelligible. Distracted, Hizashi only thanked his friend after he heard the front door click shut. "Oh. Oh, well. He knows." He shrugged and turned back to the matter at hand. His mind raced furiously, a thousand different ideas whirling around but the first thing he grabbed hold of was safety.

"Condoms! Uh... hey, I know you probably can't hear me, but it's not like I'm getting some twenty-four seven, okay?" He opened a drawer and shook one out of a box. "I buy these every month to have just in case. I usually throw the whole damn thing out." He refrained from telling her he sometimes blew them up before doing so, because he hated waste. At least he got a bitter laugh in the end, though this time their use was bitter, as well.

"I guess I hafta drop trou at the very least, huh?" He stared mournfully down at his tight leather pants. "There's no way I could just pull em down a little." He unbuckled and unzipped, tugging and wriggling until they were finally off.

"Ohmigod," she breathed with a slight catch in her voice.

"D'ya know what I'm doing?" He tossed a condom onto the bed beside her and crawled up. "You hear me, Ches?"

"Please, help me," she moaned.

"I guess I better hurry," he muttered. Hizashi shuddered as he pinched the end of the condom, rolling the tube onto his firm length. Despite his best intentions he was ashamed to see he was harder than he'd been in a long while, his body eager though he still had doubts.

"God, baby, this still feels wicked... okay." He bent down, her head cradled in his arms, and whispered in her ear. "I love you. Let's start with that."

Her smile shone up at him, beautiful and happy. Once again he wondered if he was reaching her, and hoped it was true. He gathered his courage and kissed her on the forehead as he carefully spread her legs. He unzipped her suit and pulled her underwear down, minimalizing her nudity while giving him some space to move. He wanted to be sure to give her the most privacy even as he performed this intimate act with her body. Once he positioned himself he bit his lower lip, whining with desire but still hesitant.

"Please, god, let me be doin' the right thing." He thrust slowly, exhaling in a rush as her warmth gripped him. "Sh - shit, Ches, yer so hot. I can feel you through the condom. Wow. Ohhhh... oh, baby." He dropped his head to her neck as she began to pant. "You feel me too, don't'cha? I'll go slow an' maybe you'll wake up..."

It was so good.

It was <i>too</i> good!

He started to move faster and he whimpered, guilty and sure that he wasn't going to last. His hips pistoned and he started to gasp loudly, a litany of "ah, ah, <i>ahhh</i>" filling the room over and over again. He was close, so close; the weight in his lower belly was crushing him, the pressure trembling and about to burst when he heard a muffled cry.

"<i>Mic</i>?!"

Hizashi choked, his hazel eyes popping wide. He scrambled backwards, forgetting the condom in his haste as he disconnected from her with a moist sound and a painful rubber snap.

"Owowowow!" He doubled over, wincing. "I deserved that! I deserve worse! <b>Please-please-please don't hate me!</b> I swear I only wanted to help!"

Elly clapped her hands over her ears, yelping. "Mic!"

"Ohmigod," he choked, struggling to control his volume. "I didn't mean to! I'm sorry -"

"I know," she said, still dazed.

"Hwhaaa?"

"I said, I know." She gulped when she moved to reassure him and felt wetness below. "I could hear you the whole time. I thought it was a dream. I - it's really not, is it?"

"Ahhh, no." He hung his head, shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

By now Elly had time to process things a bit and she realized he'd been placed in a difficult situation. She reached out to him and he stared, wide-eyed, at her arms. "It's okay, Mic ...um. Yama - " She paused, sighed, and tried again. "<i>Hizashi</i>."

"I understand if you wanna press charges or - or anything. I made the wrong decision, and I'm willing to pay the price."

"No, Hizashi," she said softly. "You didn't." Again he was speechless, something that would have amused her if she wasn't so serious at the moment. Elly caught his shoulders and tugged him down for a gentle hug. He resisted at first, very aware that they were still slightly undressed, but when she insisted, he gingerly laid in a way where they didn't touch below the waist.

"I'm <i>terrified</i> of drugs the way you are of insects. Any hospital would have drugged me through it, and that's more stress and pain for me than the guy I clearly wanted making my - my fantasy come true."

"Fantasy?" His hazel eyes grew impossibly wider.

"I want you," she admitted simply. "Not just... you know, but I've been in love with you for awhile now."

"Oh - kay," He murmured, uncertain and more than partially stunned. "Well, how about we clean up and I take you out to eat? Then we can talk later if you still need, uh. This."

"I like that idea." She took a very deep breath and placed her hands on either side of her bodysuit. "Not the order, but the idea." One tug and it opened fully, exposing more of her body. "See, the quirk hasn't run its course yet. I'm still excited and I really want us to finish what you started."

His eyes grew even wider as he stared at her cleavage, and he physically jumped when she popped the catch on her bra and her pale breasts tumbled free. "Oh," he squeaked in a tiny, strained voice.

"It's okay," she told him warmly, laying her hand over his. "Help me undress, and then," she licked her lips as she stared at all the leather he still had on. "Then you can strip for me. Won't you please, Present Mic? Take it all off and make love to me."

Hizashi groaned, the sound rattling some of the furniture in the room. "That's it," he gasped. "I'm done. You've destroyed me, baby. So, <i>yes</i>, whatever my number-one listener wants, she gets." He gently urged her into a sitting position and slid the one piece bodysuit off, humming with appreciation and starting to breathe faster once she was completely naked. She tugged his white undershirt up and he followed suit, dropping the cloth to the floor along with his heavy leather jacket. When he nipped the gloves between his teeth it caused her to gasp and he grinned and moved a little slower. Eventually they were gone, too. He placed his sunglasses on the nightstand and leaned down to embrace her.

"There," she whispered, reaching out to clasp the back of his neck in her palm. The feathered ends of his hair tickled and she stroked them, her eyes dreamy. "Other than the hair, you're Hizashi now. <i>My</i> Zashi."

"Oh shit. Ches." He breathed out shakily, pressing insistent, hot kisses all over her neck. "I love you. I <i>love</i> you. I'm - hell, babe, I'm all yours. But ya gotta take everything, yeah? Mic, me, all my dumbass habits an' my drinking problem, and -"

"I already do," she promised. "I see the person in you that you don't."

Hizashi's eyes grew wide. He grasped her in his arms and proceeded to love her through a haze of tears, gasping and crying out so loud that, in the end, he managed to break two of the "unbreakable" windows of his bedroom.

He might have worried about that, but for once he was calm inside. Elly would not leave, and he was certain now that they would last forever.

What had begun as helping her had ended with healing them both.

Shining 15

 He smiled when she came to him, and held out his arms. Elly sank into his embrace like she'd yearned to do for awhile, letting go of the stress and uncertainty of life. Here was love, unquestionable now and unwavering, and a warm, strong safety that reassured her.

"Giving in so easily?" He sounded surprised but pleased.

"Why would I fight?" She nuzzled his neck. "I've already given you everything but this."

"All right, then," he murmured. "Give me all of you, and I'll do the same." He moved in close and she moaned eagerly at the touch of his chapped lips on hers. This time the kiss wasn't fleeting, and he hummed with satisfaction when she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to slip inside. They kissed, unhurried, with their hands wandering over each other's bodies until he grew impatient.

Her chest heaved as she lay back and watched him pull his shirt over his head. The sight was nothing new - she'd seen him nude to the waist before -- but he was closer, and she was free to reach out and touch the hair puff in the middle, to run her fingers down the trail that led down his belly. He let loose a large exhalation of air and she giggled.

"What." He gave her such a look that her laughter grew louder.

"Now that I know, I wonder how I missed it. You make a <i>lot</i> of horse sounds!"

He grunted and poked the front of her outfit. "That doesn't change the fact that you're still dressed."

"Help me, then."

The help involved a lot of kissing and he grew distracted several times, but at last they had managed to strip each other naked.



Aizawa's thighs trembled when she touched his lower belly, running her fingers through the hair down until she touched the tip of his erection. He tried to busy himself with kissing her and fondling her breasts, but her gentle rubbing soon made him come undone.

"I've never lain with a woman before," he admitted grudgingly, panting roughly.

"I know. You're a loner, and you're not the type to frequent brothels." She placed her other hand on his cheek and smiled. "There's nothing wrong with that. We'll go slow."

"It's not that. It's... I want this to be good for you." He placed his forehead on hers so he could gaze into her eyes. "I hurt you once by casting you out. I swear I'll <i>never</i> hurt you again, and I want to give you the best I can." Tears bud in the corners of her eyes and he kissed them away.

"You will," she sighed. "You just need to relieve some of this tension." She gripped him more firmly and he started to sweat.

"Please," he gasped raggedly, "if you do that it'll be over."

"For now, but not later." Her hand stroked him lovingly, testing different speeds and strength to see what he liked. "It's okay. Let go once, and you'll last when your body is ready again."

His body stiffened and he buried his head in her neck. "I - I want - I'm going to..!"

"Do it, love," she crooned, and he did. His toes curled and his back arched as he shot several bursts out in rapid succession. She cleaned the mess on him and what had hit her belly with a soft cloth that had been on the nightstand.

"Now what?" He panted, out of breath and feeling more than just a little urge to cuddle close to her and never let go. "What can I do for you, my light?"

Elly took his hand and kissed the palm. "Anything you want. You can use your hands, your mouth... oh!" She cried out when he bit her gently on the neck. "Oh, that's good. I like that."

He smiled and followed his curiosity, licking and stroking from her neck down until he reached her lower belly. "You're so different from me," he said quietly as he peered between her legs.

She took a deep, gasping breath, trying to calm down enough to answer any questions he might have. "Y - yes, but -"

Aizawa looked up with a sly grin. "You're breathing hard. Did I do that to you?"

"Yes."

"How can I do even <i>better</i>? There's a lot of petals here, and I'm not sure which to touch."

She swallowed, gulping audibly past the lump that formed in her throat when he looked at her that way. "Th - the top, it's where you'll find a little lump hidden under the folds of skin..."

He stroked lightly, nodding when the skin slipped apart to reveal the button of flesh. "I see it, love. It's not very big," he said dubiously. "Is this all there is to making you feel good?" A slight tickle of his fingertip caused her to jump and he paused, a smug smirk replacing his uncertain expression.

Elly twisted her hands in the sheets as he swirled his fingers, teasing her and stopping before she could finish several times. He lost himself in giving her pleasure, so excited that before he knew it his body had caught up with hers.

"I'm hard for you," he whispered in her ear. "Do you want me now?"

"Always!" She gripped his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Make us one, now and forever!"

Choked with emotion, he tried to thrust into her heat but missed. Swearing faintly, he tried a second time using his hand to guide him. "There?"

"There," she agreed. "Oh... oh yes. There."

Aizawa's body gave a wrenching, shivering jerk. "You're so hot!" He cried out, immediately delirious with passion and unable to hold back. She'd known this, however, and since she had insisted he come once already, he didn't finish too fast. His movements, however, were quick and sloppy, his hips pistoning wildly as he gave vent to a series of loud, guttural moans. He was completely overwhelmed and lost in his own pleasure for awhile, but as he kept on her own began to creep in and mingle with his. He heard sighs and whispers of his name mixed with loud cries when he hit a certain spot. Determined to give her everything he could, he began to reach for that one area deep inside her, angled almost directly at twelve o'clock from where his member entered. He had to drop back on one knee and pull her leg higher, but it was possible to strike it with every single thrust.

Elly started screaming in rapture, and he growled deep in his throat, digging into his reserves for more willpower to stave off his impending orgasm. The weight was crushing him and he knew he didn't have long, but thankfully he didn't need a lot of time. Several more angled strikes and she was writhing underneath him, her hair messed in all directions on the pillow and her face contorted with ecstacy. He squeezed his eyes tight as he teetered on the brink, and then she whimpered and bucked her own hips several times, rapidly, as she came.

"Oh, oh my gods, Aizawa, my love!" Her cries grew feverish and he cried out, thrusting faster.

"My <i>wife</i>!"

"My husband," she whispered with a soft smile.

Shining 14

 It took the couple more than an hour to walk back to their home. They might have had an easier time if Elly rode the black stallion, but there were some problems about that idea. Aizawa wasn't too sure how he'd changed in the first place, and he doubted it was a good idea to do so in the light of day. They parted ways with Hizashi and walked slowly, hand in hand down the dirt road that led to the town. Ignoring the curious looks they received, they went straight through and eventually were walking down the sandy path to their cottage.

"I'm so happy to be back." Elly stepped past the threshold and gestured grandly at the warm and cozy surroundings. She turned to Aizawa as he followed behind her. "And I thought I was never going to see you again."

He sighed, nodding. "I know. I thought so as well. And, if I may..." He held up the soft, white seal skin. "What am I to do with this?"

She smiled. "It doesn't matter. I can change without it since you accepted me."

"You gave me something so special. I ..." He carefully placed the pelt on a chair and reached around his neck for the end of the necklace he always wore. It slipped off without a fuss, like he somehow knew it would. Aizawa stared at the chain in his hand as he remembered his mother. "I want you to have this." He placed the chain gently around her neck. "In fact, I think <i>she</i> wants you to have it."

"Your mother."

"Yes. It's never come off my neck or opened in all these years." He shrugged. "I think I knew it was magic, but I ignored the possibility."

Elly ran her finger lightly along the locket, nodding as she listened. It was a simple metal - brass, maybe, not gold -- but for it to remain pristine after all these years and never broken or come off proved its nature. Still they both jumped, startled, when the pendant snapped open the moment her fingers brushed it.

Inside was a lock of dark hair. She held it in her palm, entranced. "Why now? Why would it open and reveal this?"

Aizawa reached out to take the hair and feel it curl around his finger. "It almost feels alive," he choked harshly. "It feels..."

She threw her arms around him as he stiffened, his eyes popping open and a gasp rushing out of him. "My parents," he groaned. "I remember the night they died."

"Oh no," she whispered, already near to tears.

He continued, one hand gripping the hair as they held each other close. "I guess people found out what we were, my family. They burned our home down while we slept. I used to have this nightmare about it, and I'd wake just as my mother pushed me to safety, after she presses the necklace into my hand." He frowned. "And my lower back hurts every time."

"The ..." Elly paused. "Aizawa, love, pooka can't retain a human form without giving themselves away. They always feature one type of horse attribute on their person." She ran a hand down his back, causing him to shiver.

"Wh - what..?"

"Your scar. I sometimes see it when you bathe." Her fingers traced the circular patch of skin at the base of his spine. "Your mother must have torn your tail out so you could pass for a human. You didn't have one in horse form."

"I uh, didn't?"

"You didn't notice?"

He snorted. "I was too busy, so... no."

"Give me the hair," she sighed. He passed it to her and she touched it to the scar. The wound reverted back to smooth skin, the hair rooting in place as if it had never left. "I thought so."

He rubbed awkwardly at it. "What did you do? Am I going to have a two inch spot of hair over my ass now?!"

Elly giggled. "No. I think it will all grow back. But you can easily hide your tail as an adult."

He blinked, nonplussed. "Huh."

"Your hair really is beautiful." She stroked it away from his face and brushed her lips on his in a fleeting kiss. "I know you think it's silly when I say it, but mine's always been short like this. Yours is so <i>long</i> and dark."

He chuckled and kissed her back the same way, though he lingered longer, his eyes staring hotly into hers. "I guess so, if it's really a mane."

They broke apart with some regret, knowing if they wanted to eat later, they would need to gather fresh ingredients, prep and cook them. Yet the night was not long in coming, and they had waited longer before. A few more hours was nothing compared to the possibility they would have been parted forever.

That evening Aizawa bathed and washed his hair without any prompting. He went a step further and braided it as he'd never done, surprising her even more since she didn't realize he even knew how. He chose a pair of clean, new trousers and decided on a front lacing shirt which he had bought from Hizashi years ago for a special occasion that never came. It was softer than cotton, a flowing, black garment that complimented his hair and pale skin. His efforts paid off; he noticed Elly casting glances at him throughout dinner and when the last dish was put away he walked over and took her hand in his.

"Shall we retire early to bed?" He brought her hand up to his lips, his gray eyes asking the real question.

Shining 13

 Aizawa cautiously kicked a foreleg, scuffing up the dirt of the road. There was no doubt about it: four legs, hooves, and a heavily muscled body that felt like it could run forever. He was a horse.

<i>Impossible</i>!

He didn't have time to marvel at this bizarre change or panic, however, because his instincts took over when he smelled the familiar scent of the sea mixed with the sweet spray of lavender on the wind.

The man had no idea he was being pursued until he heard the thunderous hoof eats behind him. He turned around and saw a glossy black stallion racing towards him, snorting with rage. The beast's eyes were glowing like coals, red and oddly human enough to clearly express his rage.

"Noooo!" He yelled in fear and turned his horse about, digging his knees in to hold on for dear life as his poor mare galloped forward. The basket-like cage snapped off the pack and broke open, spilling a plump little seal onto the road. It was somewhat of a shock to see her like that, but all that mattered to him was that she was okay. Aizawa paused to nicker and rub his cheek on her fur for a minute, sighing with relief that she didn't appear harmed.

But the man on the horse still needed to be taken care of, and though he'd stopped for a brief moment, nothing - <i>nothing</i> could outrun a pooka. He soon slammed into the other horse, dislodging him and transferring him to his back. Aizawa screamed again, in triumph this time, and ran directly for the crag overlooking the sea.

Elly pulled her coat down and watched as the man tried to jerk free, but once on a pooka's back a person could only be released if the fairy horse <i>wanted</i> them gone. Aizawa decided that the best place for the evil man was over the edge of the cliff. He bucked him off violently, leaving him to dash to pieces on the rocks below.

He then trotted back, whuffing with satisfaction. By the time he reached the road he was human again, and he waved when he saw Hizashi was standing there beside Elly.

"What on earth are you doing here?"

"I'm afraid I wasn't always that open with you, mate." He grinned at him. "I'm fae, too. Caught up easily with you both, but you had to be the one to rescue her. I was just here for backup." He lifted the packs and saddle off the trembling animal, who was staring at Aizawa with wild eyes. "Here, now," he turned to the unfettered horse and clapped a hand sharply on one flank. "Be free! You deserve it, too."

They watched as the mare sprinted off joyously through the fields, whinnying with glee.

"Did you have to kill him?" Elly sounded uncertain.

Aizawa's jaw clenched as he thought of the fate she would have met if he hadn't rescued her. "Yes."

"It's better, in the long run," Hizashi agreed surprisingly. She frowned at him and he pointed to the saddlebags. "This man was catching - and killing -- all sorts of our kind to steal their treasures and magical items. He's even got several bounties on his head for human murders."

"Oh." She thought about it, then nodded. "Good."

Before anyone could say anything else, Aizawa fell on his knees before her, hanging his head in shame. "There's great regret on me," he mourned softly. "I couldn't believe you loved me and I chased you away."

"Did you realize how you felt before or after your transformation?"

"Oh, way before!" Hizashi butted in again, sticking his head up from where he was digging through the bags. He unscrewed the top of a jar with a loud grunt and what looked like a cloud of tiny fireflies flew off into the sky. "He ran after you while he still thought he was human. I was afraid his lungs were going to burst from running before he finally transformed!"

"This is all so much," she groaned, shaking her head.

"I know, but nothing else matters to me right now but <i>you</i>," Aizasa told her. "Come home to me," he pleaded softly. When he looked up she saw his eyes were bloodshot and raw from weeping. She silently held out the little white pelt and he immediately took it and held it to his heart.

Elly smiled tearfully. "Let's go," she whispered.

Shining 12

 It was only a few days afterward when Hizashi barged into his friend's home in the wee hours of the morning, when the sun was just beginning to lighten up the sky.

"Elly's been caught!" He burst through the door, waking Aizawa from his fitful slumber.

"Hizashi," he gasped, jolting upright and throwing the sheets back. "What's wrong?"

His friend stood hunched over, gasping for breath. "Saw a man with her," he choked out. "She's in a cage on the back of his horse. It was maybe a couple miles out of town."

"A cage? What?"

"She's stuck in a cage like an <i>animal</i>!" He shook him by the arm. Aizawa flinched at the word, his face paling, but Hizashi didn't notice. "She didn't even look at me when I called out, she just said - she said ..."

Aizawa stamped his boots on as fast as he could. "What? What did she say?"

He stood there with tears in his eyes. "She said, '<i>my heart is no more</i>', and she wouldn't move or say anything else."

The two men rushed out of the cottage but at the sight of the open moors ahead Aizawa froze. "He's on a <i>horse</i>, there's no way I can catch him." He stared hopelessly out at the rolling countryside, chilly and shrouded in mist.

"He stopped for the night," Hizashi pointed north, at an angle along where the road led out from town. "At the old ash tree amongst the gravestones. You might catch up if you hurry. You have to try!"

Aizawa shook his head but his feet were moving before he knew it. His heart raced with fear and adrenaline in his chest. He'd never catch them. They were gone, the fresh tracks of hooves leading far away from here and god knew how long a head start they had.

Never mind couldn't - he <i>had</i> to catch up.

Throwing logic to the wind, he got up again and ran as fast as he could. Aizawa ran until his lungs felt like they were on fire and his legs were about to give out, and then he ran some more. As he ran, his mind repeated their last interaction in agonizing slow motion over and over. He called her an animal and rejected her cruelly after she declared her love for him. It was true that he thought she was lying about her love, and it stung so deeply he had lashed out.

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes and he stumbled, winded, almost unable to go on. What would happen to her? Would she be sold to the highest bidder at auction? Or would she, perhaps, be paraded around for coppers at fairs and dirty towns more wretched than the one he lived near, with dirty waifs poking her through the bars of a cold, hard cage with sticks?

He clenched his jaw and screamed in desperation, only to jerk wildly to one side in fear as he heard the shrill squeal of a horse nearby. Aizawa tossed his head up, snorting, and pulled to a stop.

<i>Could that be them</i>?

He grunted as his rear skidded on the grit of the road.

<i>That hurt</i>!

He looked down and his knees buckled - all four of them. 

Shining 11

 Elly, of course, was having problems of her own.

The sea was new to her here, as she really had washed up on that beach after a storm. She didn't know the local waterways or if there were any others of her kind around. It was a little colder, and she missed the warmth and comfort not only of a cheerfully crackling fire, but the presence of Aizawa close beside her.

She swam like a furry bullet through the water, chasing after a fine, fat fish she had her eye on. But once it was between her teeth, her first thought was how pleased he would be at the sight of dinner. Elly shot up onto a cluster of rocks, landing with a meaty thump. She'd let the fish go for lack of hunger and a desperate needed to cry. Her coat rolled off her pale shoulders as she shed it quickly.

<i>My heart, my heart is so heavy</i>.

She knelt on the jagged gray stone, naked and cold and uncaring. All she could see were the gray eyes that had looked upon her with warmth once but had been filled with such anger towards her at the end. She cried until her eyes were sore and she grew dizzy. Then she sighed and rolled herself up in her skin, changing again into a seal that couldn't weep.

Elly tucked her head back and rolled over, closing her eyes as she lay on the hard rock. It was by no means as nice as the bed she had shared with him, but what she missed was not the softness but his incessant snoring.

She barked several times, sadly calling out without hope that anyone would answer.

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Shining 10

 Aizawa jolted awake, gasping, his hands tearing off the sheets covering him as he thrashed in bed.

He'd had the dream again, but this time it was Elly that pushed him away to safety while she burned to death. Unlike the dream with his mother, he understood their peril and believed he could save her. All he needed was to reach out his hand and pull her out, but every time he tried she slipped further away.

She didn't scream.

She told him she loved him three times over before succumbing to the flames.

He sat with his head in his hands, his tangled hair falling down to hide tear-stained, stubbled cheeks. It had been only a couple of days, but he couldn't sleep and his heart ached like a hole had been torn out of it. He sighed shakily and looked out the window at the beach stained pink with sunrise.

<i>She often sang old songs in the morn as she stoked the fire</i>, he thought as he got up. <i>Come to think of it, when she found her cup, as if it cheered her so</i>.

He rubbed his bleary, sleep-crusted eyes and groaned out loud. She was fond of a blend of chicory and other herbs that tasted odd to him. Nevertheless, he used to get up before her and set it to steep while she slept because it took longer than his tea. Aizawa rose and filled a cup with the mix, then set it near the fire. The smell - something he'd routinely complained about when she was here -- infused the small home, and he sat on the edge of the bed and wept again.

He wondered where she was, if she were safe, and warm. Elly might think he didn't care, but he did, and that was why her omission had hurt so much. All humans were taught that the Good People - and fairy beasts -- were out to cause mischief at the very least and death at the worst.

It hurt because he couldn't believe a fae would fall in love with a human. It wasn't possible... and even if it was, why him? No, it had to have been a ruse.

"My light," he croaked out sadly in a hoarse voice filled with pain.

He had to remember; <i>light brought him pain</i> and <i>salvation.</i>

Shining 9

 True to his word, Hizashi met her on the beach the next morning, face flushed and triumphant.

"I got it!" He reached into his cloak and showed her the skin. "The guy was holding out for me, knowing I buy this type of thing."

She trembled as she took it from him. "Thank you so much."

"Now all you have to do is tell him." He looked around. "Where is Aizawa? Isn't he usually up by now?"

"He is." She smiled nervously as she tucked the pelt under her arm. "He's doing some inside work today, that's all."

The sunlight shone on Hizashi's bright hair as he nodded. "Good luck."

Elly headed back inside filled with trepidation over the conversation that was to occur between them. She knew what humans thought of fae, and was sick to her stomach that the wonderful man she was in love with might see her differently. She opened the door to find him in the act of reaching for the handle.

"What's wrong, my light?" He stepped backwards and then saw her offering.

"Hizashi found my clothes." Elly held the shining white pelt out to him. "I want you to have them."

"That's..."

"Please," she whispered, "if you take it I won't have to go."

But Aizawa was staring at the hide with repulsion, his gray eyes wide with shock and pain. "You're a selkie," he said out loud at last. "Of course."

She flinched and got down on her knees on the rough woven mat, still offering her coat. "I didn't want to frighten you," she tried to explain. "I wanted you to know before we -"

"Before..?" He ground his teeth together. "Is this why you wanted to wait that day on the beach?" His boot stomped down on the floor so hard the furniture rattled. "You <i>lied</i> to me!"

"<i>I never lied</i>!" Tears flowed down her cheeks, obscuring her vision, but she didn't waver. "I like it here and I like <i>you</i>, Aizawa. I want to stay."

"Sure, and it's convenience you want," he snapped. "What was it you said? That you're happy with warm food, a bed and a roof over your head... <i>because you're an animal</i>!" He swung a fist through the air, curbing his desire to slam it into a nearby wall. He stopped inches before it struck, trembling with rage. "Anything's better than the cold sea!"

"No. It's more than that." Elly cringed, weeping openly and clutching the pelt to her chest. "Please, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. My heart's pulse, I -"

He squeezed his eyes shut at the endearment, blocking his vision of her. "I've no need of a <i>pet</i>!"

Silence.

She ran straight into the sea, wailing, her heart broken in so many pieces she couldn't tell if it was even beating anymore. She tore the dress she wore off in a single movement and wrapped the skin around her shoulders, transforming back into a plump little spotted seal with that beautiful white fur, a rarity among her kind. She sniffed the air, nostrils flaring and struggling to regain a sense of purpose, but to no avail. Elly raised her muzzle and cried out in agony, a lonely sound that resembled a human cry.

Aizawa rushed to the door as he heard the eerie scream breaking over the crash of the waves. He threw it open only to catch sight of a small, white head before it popped under the water.

She did not return.

Shining 8

 After dinner Hizashi was to leave for town. When he arrived he set up a stall right away, with his customers coming to him at all hours of the night as well as day. Elly walked him to the door and then a little ways further out, gesturing to him urgently.

"What do you need, little sea foundling?"

"Please." She pulled him aside. "I'm sorry, but I need to be blunt. I know what you are and I'm not scared. Aizawa doesn't, does he?"

"No." Hizashi set his jaw and shook his head. "No, he doesn't know." His hypnotic eyes stared hard into hers. "How did you find out?"

She pointed at his hair, three times as long as any she had seen on any human. "Your hair is long, like a woman's, and there is something special about your voice. I heard you repeat things a couple of times, and Aizawa listened to you and changed his mind without an argument."

"Ahhh. The long hair bit is usually such a <i>good deception</i>, you know? Human folk believe only women are banshee because of our grooming habits."

"You tied it up, but I can see how extraordinarily long it is."

He frowned then, stepping closer to her with a low, serious tone. "The only ones not affected by my Voice are those who are deaf, but you hear quite well. How is that?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "But, listen, I'm not trying to blackmail you or anything! I need help. When you go into town, someone might try to trade you a white seal skin."

Hizashi's hazel eyes shone in the light of the moon as he stared at her. "I thought so," he muttered. "Are you going to leave him the minute you get your coat back, then?"

Elly looked out over the ocean at the ripples playing on the water with longing. But what she said next astounded him. "No, I'm - I'm going to give it to him."

"You realize he'll know, then."

"Yes." She sighed and rubbed a hand over her eyes. "But if he holds it, I won't leave. I'll be free to change back and forth if I want without the terrible compulsion that plagues my kind."

"And if he doesn't accept you?"

"I think you know what will happen." She gestured over the water. "I want to stay, I really do. But if he doesn't accept the burden of my love, I can't be with him."

"Burden, ha." He scoffed and grasped her by the shoulders. "You listen to me! Fae love is not a burden to humans. And, well..." He swore faintly, then sighed. "I'll keep an eye out for your coat. I'll buy it if I have to - no, no need to give me anything for it. That's why I do what I do, to buy our stolen items back from humans who think it's theirs to take."

She nodded and glanced back in worry over her shoulder.

"Go to him," he told her quietly. "And I'll return with your coat in the morn if it's to be found."

Shining 7

 After he told her of the impending visit from a friend, Elly left to catch a fresh fish for the stew she was preparing. While she was gone, there came a heavy knocking on the door and a great laugh.

"Hey, mate, let me in!"

"All right, calm down." Aizawa opened the door with a wry grin. "You act like you haven't seen me in a year."

"Almost one and a half, this time!" The man that stood there with a huge smile had long, plaited blond hair that swung down his lower back. He wore a brown weathered cloak and carried an extremely large leather pack on one shoulder. His hazel eyes sparkled gold, then green - dazzling, ever-changing colors that matched his personality.

"Wait a minute, that smells way better than anything <i>you</i> can make." He pointed at the pot on the fire. "I swear you burned water once."

"I did not!"

"And your place looks different. Nothing too noticeable... oh. I've got it!"

"At least sit down before you start bugging my ass," Aizawa grunted.

Hizashi whistled lowly and sat. "You're with someone! Where'd you find a lady, in town? I thought they didn't like you that much."

"She sort of found me."

"She what?"

"She washed up from a storm on the beach. She'd put her clothes up to dry, and someone stole them." He coughed uncomfortably as he realized this was admitting he'd seen her naked. "I helped her, and she decided to stay. That's it."

"Yeah, but she decided right then and there to share your bed?" He blinked, amazed. "There's no new one or anything, so you have to be laying together!"

Aizawa choked.

"You get a sex spell from the local witch or something?!"

This time he shook his head, his face flushing a dark red color. "Hizashi!"

"I heard that." Elly poked her head in the front door with a wry smile on her face. "He doesn't need any spells," she proclaimed firmly. "And, besides, we're not together in that way."

Aizawa turned his flaming face to the wall and kicked it.

Hizashi looked more than amused at the turn of events unfolding in front of him. "You've caught his eye though, surely," he chuckled. "The mere mention of you and he's tongue-twisted and red in the face."

"As always, you exaggerate."

"If you'll excuse me," Elly grinned, lifting a large, freshly gutted fish in one hand as she passed between them. "I need to get this in the pot or we'll be eating veg stew instead of meat."

"And now you've met Hizashi," Aizawa sighed and turned to his friend. "This is Elly."

"The naked lady," she added unnecessarily, causing Aizawa to glare at her. She dropped a mocking sort of curtsy as she popped the fish in the boiling stew pot.

The blond-haired man laughed. "I like her, 'Zawa," he proclaimed loudly with a slap to his leg. "She'll definitely keep you on your toes!"

"Hizashi is the merchant I was telling you about." He gestured to a heavy pack slung in a corner. "He sells oddities around the country."

"Oddities?" She passed them both cups of ale drawn from the cask in the corner.

"Yeah, well... strange stuff I find in my wanderings."

"Huh." She looked interested but dropped the subject in favor of paying more attention to their dinner, a choice that paid off well in second helpings that night.