If Only

Chapter 2 - Hero?

Izumi felt a hand gently touch her cheek. She sighed, not wanting to wake up from the groggy, confusing place that was her dreams. But despite of that, she opened her eyes. He head was resting on Akiro's shoulder. His chin was resting on the top of her head, so that all she could see was the tanned skin of his throat, and smell him, a metallic tang, like the kind you tasted when you bit your tongue. 

She shifted, closing her eyes once again. "Oh, sorry to wake you, sweetie." Akiro's throat vibrated with his speech. 

"Mhhh." He chuckled, and rubbed her cheek with his knuckle.

"We're almost there. You should wake up. Or... I could carry you." Izumi could hear the smirk in his voice and she lifted her head, glaring. He chuckled, and Izumi could feel the blood rush to her face. She sat up, stretching and yawning. The train stopped as the overhead voice announced her town. 

They got off, and Izumi wrapped and arm around Akiro as he slid his around her waist. They walked toward her home. Late afternoon sunlight shone down from the deep blue sky, traces of clouds floating slowly by. A cool wind brushed her face, stirring her hair. Cherry blossoms bloomed, their petals floating through the air, gently landing on the ground. The lake to her right was gleaming, little waves washing up on shore. Crickets chirped in the background. 

Tokyo sure is beautiful, Thought Izumi. They reached her house. A two story building with a small yard, cherry trees blooming in the front. "Here. I'll meet you at your door tomorrow." Akiro pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. She dropped her book bags and reached up, one hand cupping his neck, the other, not high enough to reach his hair, gripped his shoulder. He deepened this kiss and Izumi's heart took off. Her back arched, and she gripped his shoulder harder. 

Akiro let go, a gleam in his eyes. "I can't get carried away yet, Izumi. I'll wait until you're a junior." Without meaning to, Izumi blurted out,

"B-but that's, l-like, so long a-away!" Akiro laughed, and patted her head.

"It'll be better if we waited. I don't want to hurt you." Izumi felt the blood rush to her face and she glanced down, muttering. 

"What?" Akiro asked. 

"I-I just, I, nothing. I-its just, will, will you w-wait that l-lon-" Before she could finish Akiro was kissing her again, his mouth crushing hers. Izumi's gasp was lost in his lips. He let go, fiercely grabbing her shoulders, and shook her softly. 

"Izumi. I will never, ever, abandon you. Not after what you've been through." Memories flashed across her mind and Izumi's joy was lost to a deep depression, an ancient depression, that was familiar as it raced across her body and mind, cloaking everything in an heavy grip. Pulling her down. Choking her. Making her stupid with self-loathing. 

"Izumi. Snap outta it." She blinked. The only think that could make her come back from that depression was Akiro. His warm voice always managed to grab her, and heave her from the black hole of dispare. He kissed her softly. "I-ll always wait for you. Forever, if I have to."

Izumi's eyes watered and she hugged him, burying her face in his chest. "I love you." She mumbled. 

"I love you too. Now go, before you mother gets mad." Sighing, Izumi jumped and kissed his lips lightly before picking up her dropped bags and walking away, waving behind her shoulder. He stood there, smiling, waving back.

She got in the house, taking her shoes off. "Tadaima!(I'm home!)" She called, climbing the stairs. 

"Hello, Izumi, dear," Smiled her mother, coming to the bottom of the stairs, drying her hands on her apron. "How was school?"

"Good. I'm going to study." Izumi replied, jogging up the rest of the stairs. 

Izumi ran to her room, closing the door, before throwing her bag down next to her desk, and jumping into the chair, twirling once before she grabbed the desk for support. 

With quick fingers she entered her password on her computer, and pulled up her email. Nothing. Disappointment spread through her, and she sighed, slumping in her seat. Of course All Might hadn't responded. Why would he have time to respond to some stupid little girl when he was busy saving lives?

Still, thought Izumi, as she twisted, staring glumly at the floor, He could just answer.

She pulled out her books, and began to study for her upcoming test. Soon though, her eyelids drooped, and she slumped, asleep before her head thumped softly against the textbook.

***********

BING!

Izumi awoke to a notification. She groaned, sitting up tiredly. Her eyes focused on the screen. 

"HOLY CROW!" Footsteps sounded, and her mother burst into her room, jumping to see Izumi staring intensely at the screen, her mouth agape. 

"What, Izumi? What's wrong?" She asked, hurrying over. She glanced down at the screen. 

Dear Izumi,

Thank you for your email! I would like to meet with you in person at ***********, at 3:00pm tomorrow. I'll answer your question there. I'll be there!

-All Might

"Holy..." Breathed Izumi, dizzy.

"Are you alright dear? You look pale." Asked her mother worriedly, glancing at her. 

"Look! I get to see All Might tomorrow!" Her mother smiled.

"Good. Now come eat and then finish studying. You need plently of rest."

"Hai!(Yes!)"