BAKUGOU'S P.O.V

Ugh. What happened? Where am I? As I lay in a weighted darkness, I let those questions swirl around my head for a few minutes, all whilst sound desperately tries to claw its way back into my ears. The demon. Did it... Did it die? Did anything happen to Kirishima? All I remember was getting taken over, and then just nothing. Until now.

As though someone has flipped a switch, audio suddenly floods my senses like the crash of a wave against a solid wall. Flinching a little, a small grunt escapes me, though it's drowned out by the shattering sounds splintering around my ears. At first, I can barely make out what's what. But, the more time I spend focusing, the quicker I realise what I'm hearing.

Okumura, screaming.

That bastard. Lemme guess, he saved me, huh? Not like I need someone like him to rescue me; if he'd given me more time, I woulda beaten that demon from the inside out. Maybe. Still, he doesn't sound right at all; whenever his cries break the layers of noise, they're strangled and desperate. He doesn't sound wounded- he sounds petrified.

Even though it hurts like a bitch, and I'm almost sure I shouldn't be doing this, I slowly prop myself up onto the heels of my palms for a few seconds, tatty breaths plucking at my lungs. Jeez, that thing banged me up good, huh? C'mon, Katsuki, get up. Okumura might be a demon, and a bit of an ass at times, but you're the only one that might be able to help him. Using that tiny slice of mental encouragement, I manage to force myself up, though I have to catch myself when my entire body sways and almost tumbles again.

Honestly, I don't even want to open my eyes at this point. If how my head is feeling is anything to go by, as soon as I take a single look at the shrine, the whole world will lurch and I'll be back on my ass again.

"Okumura?" I lowly growl, dragging my feet towards the sound of him struggling. I need to see. I gotta look at what's happening, or how the hell am I supposed to help? Biting the bullet, I do the one thing my brain is opposing and quickly open my eyes. I have to blink a couple times to get them to focus, but, when they do, I don't have time to care about the way the world tilts. Instead, all I see is blue.

Azure flames twist and rage over Okumura's body, snapping at the tail that's come free from under his shirt. His ears, longer than before, stick up in aggressive points that spit embers from the tips, and the balls of fire on his forehead even seem to form horns. With sheer adrenaline thudding through my system, I stagger over and collapse to my knees beside him, jamming my fingertips under his head and lifting it onto my lap. He's struggling to breathe, and he's way too stiff to move much more than a few inches.

What the hell happened to him? "Okumura? Oi, Okumura, snap outta it," I hiss, pushing his hair back away from his face. My fingers sting when pressed into contact with his searing skin, but, by this point, the pain really isn't a bother. I care more about what the fuck's happening to this idiot! Why the hell did he have to put himself in danger for me?! I coulda- I coulda beat that kitsune on my own! He didn't have to get hurt for me!

"Katsuki-" he finally chokes, only after a few moments of hissing and groaning. He doesn't open his eyes, but he does rigidly shift his head, his cheek pressing against my thigh. In seconds, the fabric is smoking, blue embers speckling the cotton.

"You ain't ever called me Katsuki before." Out of all the things to say, that's the only one that comes to mind. What am I doing? Should I even be helping him? Do I still need to make up for trying to kill him before? Maybe. I dunno! Part of me thinks there isn't any point; he's our teacher- he should know what to do in this sorta situation. But the louder part is demanding I stay with him. Help him. 'Cause if he's freaking out this much, it's gotta be because of something totally outta his control.

"My sword. I cracked my- I cracked my sword," he pants, crying out and reaching for something to grab. I barely think before gripping his hand, wincing when nails sharper than my hair pierce the skin beneath them. This ain't right. This really ain't normal. He isn't anything like he usually is; if I didn't know better, I'd say he's more demonic than before. Like something has taken over him.

Did the kitsune possess him? Is he trying to burn it from the inside? Or... Is it involved with what he keeps gasping about. His sword. Glancing down, I spot the sword laying idly on the cobbles, my eyes scanning along the blade. And, surely enough, right by the hilt, I spot a chip. A fragment missing from the length of the katana. "I can't c-control myself like this." Like this? Does his sword turn him into more of a demon than he already is? Why the hell hasn't he explained any of this to me?!

"I don't know what to do! The hell do you expect me to do?!" I snap, snatching up the sword in my spare hand. Only to immediately drop it when the hilt blisters my palm in burns, a sharp yelp escaping me. Shit. Shit! "How do I help you?!" I can't take this. This stress. This fear. People wonder why I don't get close to people, and this is why. Soon as you care, you've got something to lose. And when you start to lose it, you become so damn powerless! "Tell me what to do!"

"Gh- Holy water. Holy water on the sword. Do it," he stammers, wailing and burrowing his nails deeper into my hand. What the hell is holy water gonna do to a sword?! Does he even know how to deal with this situation, or is he just talking outta his ass?! "I said do it, Katsuki!" He cries, his muscles starting to stiffen and convulse. Damn you, you stupid demon! Why the hell did you leave it all up to me?!

Unable to take it anymore, I just do as I'm told. Snapping the cap off of a small vial of holy water attached to my belt, I toss the liquid all over the flaming katana. For a split second, nothing happens. Then, outta nowhere, Okumura lets out an unearthly scream that I bet the whole of damn Kyoto could hear, my heart leaping a mile in my chest. It honestly feels like it's never gonna end, until his body finally goes limp in my lap. His fingers loosen around my own, and his demonic features seem to shrink down to their normal state. Did it work? Did I save him?

Or did I just kill the guy?