tw; implied abuse, emotional manipulation and death
npcs



It's a simple prospect that legends tend to abide to by. Immortals, gods, they don't suffer the same fates as mortals do because they're simply just not the same. They're better, holier, stronger, powerful entities that reside above mortal realms and peer down on them like lesser, inferior beings. Gods don't bleed because they're not the same as them. When the first Ikarashi received their quirk, they wondered if they could make mythology a reality, and so the conquest for immortal power began... where it leads down today.

Kaida often wonders of what exactly that conquest would be- the Ikarashi Clan has been around since long before quirks existed. So what did their goals change to?



It snowed when Kaida was born, a foreboding to her future abilities. She screamed. God, did she scream, instantly making her twin brothers Katsurō and Sōma hate her, whilst the middle child Ichirō looked mildly disinterested, as did her parents Kazuya and Nanami. But her? The eldest, the wisest, the most sane, Kasumi, took Kaida into her arms with the gentleness of an angel and looked down upon her with the only benevolence that was present in the family. Kaida stopped screaming immediately. Unbeknownst to them, Kasumi made a very very devout promise to this newborn, who she knew would endure a world of pain, only because she was never supposed be in the world in the first place.

Her parents were relentless people with high expectations. Her first few years were under the guise of normality because she couldn't think of anything else as a toddler, but past the age of five, she was forced to learn of the harsh reality that was living in the Clan. Etiquette, standards, intelligence, the head of a warrior and a leader. Though the maids taught her kindness amongst these things, it was hardly a spell to dampen her anger when being taught by her "parents", who only interacted with her through bloodying her till she was bruised in the name of martial arts techniques. Though she did her best, got everything correct, did everything right... it was never enough. She can only remember the intense scorn and disdain on their faces when she struggled to get back up and face them with broken bones.

A disgrace, they called her. A disappointment. You'll never be anything like your siblings.

Quickly, she realised they never intended on having her in the first place. But Kasumi? She had always wanted her.

It was tough. An incredible understatement. Growing up with the twins was hard enough, the power dynamic between her and Katsurō them trying to kill each other because their personalities clashed so much, Sōma one-upping her on every test, and Katsurō being his general dismissive self didn't help. The epitome of a dysfunctional family. Kasumi was the only reason she didn't try to kill anyone when her quirk manifested.

A spar with Ichirō came. In the midst of it, he had abruptly collapsed. He hadn't been like the twins- he was merely disinterested in Kaida. So of course, she showed concern- only to have her arm be snapped in two once she got close enough. He was hauled away, screaming, whilst Kaida gritted her teeth against the pain as she was taken away, reaching out for Kasumi. But no. She and her parents merely watched, with disinterest, seemingly betraying everything Kaida knew about Kasumi. Did she not care? Was it because she wasn't strong enough?

It only confirmed her suspicions. Her family wasn't normal, and not by a long shot.

Kasumi was a complicated girl. Even if Kaida had spent hours upon hours with her, Kasumi would always prove to be a mysterious person with no clear objective, apart from abiding to the clan’s laws. She was simply mystifying, regal- the eldest sister of five who had to uphold her reputation, and eventually, become the pillars for her clan. So when Kasumi instead decided to continue with her duties instead of visiting Kaida in her room while she healed and studied, she felt as if she understood Kasumi for doing so. She had duties. But even if she did think she understood, it didn’t stop the doubt, insecurity and rage that bubbled inside Kaida’s heart.

But it wasn't just rage. It was something else, a voice of bloodlust, carnage and of sinister intent. An idling voice telling her what to do once she was cleared. So the first thing Kaida did when she was allowed to leave was demand answers- in the form of exchanging fists. Kasumi, understanding Kaida's rage, merely accepted. When the prospect of the dragon surface, Kasumi tackled Kaida to the ground, pinning her so she couldn't transform. Surprisingly, Kaida caught Kasumi off guard with a hook to the chin.

“Screw you.” Kaida had spat. “Get your hands off of me!”

Kasumi suddenly enveloped Kaida in a warm embrace. She only struggled for a few moments, but saddened by her solitude and lack of physical touch, and easily melted into her sister’s grasp. Kaida was smart enough to realise why Kasumi had done this, but it didn’t get rid of the ache within her heart.

“Father and Mother said your quirk hasn’t developed yet,” Kasumi gulped, and Kaida paused at the sight of tears streaming down her sister’s face. “They… told me if you didn’t… t-then- '' Kasumi had shook her head, burying her face in Kaida’s onyx hair. Kaida only sighed, getting the gist of the situation, and wrapped her arms around her sister, letting Kasumi have a scarce moment of vulnerability. She didn’t want to hear what would happen if her quirk didn’t develop, anyway.

“Making me endure overwhelming emotions like this was the only way of forcing it out, then…” Kaida had whispered her reply. Only then did Kasumi fully break down into sobs, chanting her apologies to her younger sister repeatedly.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

No, Kaida didn't understand Kasumi. She never would. Kasumi stood upon the highest unreachable pillar Kaida could never hope to reach, she had responsibilities that plagued her, bloodied her hands and mind. But all for the sake of what? She hid that reason- but if it got her to stop looking so weak and exposed like she did now, then it was fine with her. Someone as strong as her didn't deserve to fall apart.

Kaida and Kasumi were only human after all. They would endure this hell together.

When Kaida turned ten, a ceremony was held. In the past, all of her siblings went under the same ritual where they would be given tattoos that would represent Japanese mythological legends, an honour only those of the main family bloodline receive. Kasumi revealed hers to be the glorious sun goddess, Amaterasu- and according to her, Kaida's tattoo was supposed to represent Susano'o, the god of storms. Now accepted into the clan, she was introduced to training involving her quirk, battle strategies, and the use of militarism. These actions caused her to think more about her clan's history, and why they lived under the facade of a normal family in a farming village. She asked Kasumi, who didn't answer. Sōma and Katsurō merely gave her mean smirks, and Ichirō and Kazuya were out on a mission. As a last resort, she asked her mother, Nanami.

She should have known better than to do that. With a slap on the cheek and a blood-red glare that could make mountains submit, Kaida's mother coldly reprimanded her. She could only send an enraged glare to her mother before leaving, confused as to why they would be so secretive about their goals, their history, the world- everything. No answers. Was she doomed to live a life in the shadow of her family?

Her questioning resulted in punishment in the form of double the training, studying and lecturing. Sprained bones from the jeering of Katsurō, harsh criticism from both Sōma and Kazuya. Thankfully there was no berating from anyone else. When it was over, she fell unconscious thanks to the harshness she was put under, and woke at Kasumi's side. Kaida could tell Kasumi was disappointed, but most of all, scared for her. Kasumi told Kaida of the fate that they were to endure, but still hid the reasons as to why they were put under pressure. Kasumi also told Kaida that she would succumb to a less than favourable fate if she questioned her parents again.

This was their fate. They couldn’t escape from it. Even if they did try to run away into the thick and lush wilderness to desert their family, they would only be dragged back screaming, and forced to bear even worse consequences.

Kaida chose to accept their fate for the time being. With that acceptance came the realisation of why her clan was so covert and why she wasn't trusted with secrets- her clan was yakuza. They had ties to the underworld, and even if Kasumi didn't speak on it, Kaida was smart enough to understand. It explained why Kazuya and Ichirō were always out on missions, how they got their money, why they were so uptight about their reputation. Though it clicked together, she chose to stay quiet about it.

Over the next five years, Kaida's quirk continued to get more unstable, sealed away by the quirk of one of Kaida's trusted maids named Ai. Kaida did notice when this happened, immense intrigue would appear on her parent's faces- but also fear. She wondered as to why people as powerful as them would be afraid of her. The years passed with Kasumi still taking them on nature excursions to the great unknown outside the estate to nullify the voice of the quirk inside her head, as normally as it could. Winter came on her fourteenth year, and with that, the festival of a new year. Kasumi announced that they would be doing their kagura dance again for the village, as they had done for many years previously. Flourishing financially in that winter, Kazuya and Nanami decided they would put more effort into the festival for the village than they ever had before.

Kaida, amidst the darkness of her life, found this festival to be a light at the dark end of the tunnel, moreso than ever rather than the ones that had come before.

The clan was relieved of their duties for three days, which Kaida was suspicious of, knowing her parents had no hearts to speak of. But she and everyone were too busy to question it afterwards, preparing costumes for kabuki plays, food for the market and fireworks for the final day. While they weren't practicing, the two sisters enjoyed the night marking, browsing all sorts of times, food, games and other things. For once in a while, they laughed together, having the time of their lives.

Kaida couldn’t remember the last time she had been so happy.

Kaida and Kasumi perfected their kagura dance as shrine maidens while wishes were exchanged at the temples, getting ready for the last event of the festival. Golden lights, flaring candles and excited patrons murmured at the foot of the stage they were to perform at, Kaida anxiously hiding behind a curtain. Kaida searched the audience and asked why their parents weren't there.

"Mother is attending to the festival's needs, as she is the organiser of the event," Kasumi had replied. "Father is... tending to other business. He will not attend this year."

Kaida felt suspicious, but also relieved. But suspicious. But relieved. Which was it? Which was it? But that's not her speaking- she felt the apprehension of the moment, gaze desperately searching for her parents, wavering over her twin brothers but finding no one else important but them, that voice coming back... the voice came back. What's wrong? There's nothing wrong.

Don't lie.

Kaida stepped on the stage, sluggish, feeling the voice wrap its arms around her shoulders as Kasumi stood beside her, visage worried as they began their dance. Only then did she notice her mother at the edge of the crowd, observing them with a critiquing, judgemental gaze. It completely threw her for a loop.

She slipped, and the kagura suzu she held onto was flung from her hand, decimating a selection of candles and incense that sat on the floorboards. Before she knew it, half the stage was set on fire.

Kasumi said she wasn't supposed to be here. Don't lie.

She could see Nanami's wrath manifest as Sōma rushed to put the fire out, Kasumi scooping Kaida up as she threatened to fall unconscious due to shock, her twin brothers following Nanami to the backstage after putting the fire out to eagerly see the fate that would befall their sister. Kaida was ready for the verbal abuse she received from her mother, but it didn't lessen the pure horror Kaida felt because of her. Kaida was sent away to lament over her mistake, effectively ruining the last night of the festival for everyone.

Kaida made it back to the estate with a sluggish demeanor and dirtied clothes, not ready for the punishment that would come for her afterwards. If it was worse than what she had endured when questioning her mother the first time, she wasn't sure she would survive. Though as she passed by a barely closed door, she heard Kazuya's voice. Peeking in, she saw him, Ichirō, and many other gloomy, crime-induced looking men and women. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be here. She was supposed to be at the festival, performing for the village. But she listened anyway.

Monsters. Japan. Cities, countries, yakuza. Fake. Gods. No choice. War.

War.

Is this what you've been training us for, Father?

She's not supposed to be here.

Don't lie.

Kasumi...

Don't lie.

Had she done it on purpose?

Don't lie.

Was it because of the mistake Kaida made that Nanami had finally decided to exile her from the clan? To set her on a path that had her destined to be destroyed?

She wouldn't lie.

Kaida knew her parents never loved nor trusted her. She knew her siblings didn’t love her. She knew the clan was a façade for shady business and yakuza dealings behind the world’s back. She knew why they were isolated from the rest of society. She knew that she was never destined to have a fate that was controlled by her own hands. She knew that she was the odd one out in the clan, a child that was eventually meant to be cast out.

But most of all, she now knew why she was born.

I’m a weapon for a war that they’re making.

She lied to me.

Her chains finally broke.

The fireworks that were supposed to light up the sky to signal the festival’s end instead illuminated a beast of incredible stature. Deep onyx, icy fur. Deadly pointed teeth that could tear through the grittiest of rocks. A long, thick, sweeping tail. Ivory horns and claws. Bright but cold amber and blue eyes. The earth fissured and shook as it moved, and let out an ear-splitting roar that could be heard from miles upon miles. The previously peaceful atmosphere of the festival turned as the people of the village ran with ghastly screams as they fled from the monster that had risen from the clan’s estate.

The beast doesn’t remember much of what happened the night where her world changed forever. A battle occurred that left scars on her body. The ground under her feet was churned and turned to ash. The lush forest around the village was set ablaze with the fiery inferno of hell. Her home burnt down before her very eyes. People may have died. Was it her fault? She didn’t know.

Did she win? She didn’t know that, either. The only memory that was burned into her mind was as she watched Ai and Kasumi put a gentle but sorrowful hand upon her snout.

The sky was bleak and grey when she woke. Through the bleariness of her gaze, she saw Kasumi's figure disappear as she flew away from her. The personal contents of her belongings in a bag weighed down her stomach as she sat up, a note on top of it.

We both know of the fate that has been bestowed to us, sister. As I have accepted mine, you must accept yours, too.
- Kasumi

Realising she had been banished from her clan for the destruction she had caused and secrets she had heard, Kaida took off into the city that Kasumi had left her in. Over the next year, she would make a living the only way she knew how- with what little Kasumi had left her with, and by stealing from others. A few months later did she see on a passing screen in a television shop how her hometown had ended up- ruined, deserted, completely abandoned, with destroyed buildings and a charred forest. She saw the truth. She saw the truth of her clan, and what they had done to her- and to other innocent, innocent people.

Just like her.

Who's to tell her to not feel the rage she should at them? Even if the Hero Association forced her to be a hero student instead of living on the street so they could keep an eye on her, who's stopping her from boiling? Who's stopping the glacier, moving at a slow pace, but destroying everything in its path?

I accepted our fate a long time ago, Kasumi. But Mother and Father never said anything about not letting me change it.