The little girl backed away from me, allowing for me to see what she looked like. She had wavy, white hair, large red eyes, a small horn on her forehead, and many bandages on her arms and legs. She shook like a leaf in the wind, clearly fearful. Whether of me, or of whatever she was running from, I wasn't sure. "ɦɛʏ, ƈǟʟʍ ɖօառ. ɨ ӄռօա ɨ ֆɛɛʍ ֆƈǟʀʏ, ɮʊȶ ɨ աօռ'ȶ ɦʊʀȶ ʏօʊ" I said, trying to seem non-threatening.

Needless to say, it didn't work very well.

She took a few steps back, still shaking. Tears seemed to form in her eyes, and I looked around franticaly, "աɦǟȶ'ֆ աʀօռɢ? աɦʏ ǟʀɛ ʏօʊ ƈʀʏɨռɢ?"

"P-Please... d-d-don't b-bring me b-b-back th-there..." She whimpered. Although I had no idea what she was talking about, I said, "ɖօռ'ȶ աօʀʀʏ... ɨ'ʟʟ ӄɛɛք ʏօʊ ֆǟʄɛ, օӄǟʏ?" She nodded slowly, "wh-who are y-you..?" I smiled at her, "ɨ'ʍ ɨʐʊӄʊ ʍɨɖօʀɨʏǟ"

"M-my n-name i-is E-Eri.." She said. Just as I was about to respond, a man came out of the alleyway. He had short brown hair, bright yellow eyes, and wore a red bird beak mask with gold accents. His eyes were piercing as he said, "Eri, come on, don't bother this kid so much. Let's go back home now."

She looked at me, a certiant desperation in her eyes. I hugged her, and said, "ʏօʊ ʍʊֆȶ ɮɛ ȶɦɛ օռɛ աɦօ ɦʊʀȶ ɦɛʀ, ȶɦɛռ." He chuckled, "oh, is that what she told you? She's simply a clumsy girl"

I growled, harmless green flames emerging from my back, "քɨȶɨʄʊʟ ɛӼƈʊֆɛ. ɨʄ ֆɦɛ'ֆ ʝʊֆȶ ƈʟʊʍֆʏ, աɦʏ ɨֆ ֆɦɛ ֆօ ֆƈǟʀɛɖ օʄ ʏօʊ?" He didn't seem to have a good response. Eri started shaking, "h-he m-might h-hurt you.."

"Give her back." The man demanded, and she started shaking more. My flames grew brighter, casting green light on our surroundings. "ƈǟʀɛʄʊʟ ռօա... ɨ'ʍ ȶօʟɖ ȶɦǟȶ ɨ'ʍ ɨռƈʀɛɖɨɮʟʏ ɖǟռɢɛʀօʊֆ" I said, taking on a murderous act. The man pulled one of his gloves off, making Eri flinch. I tightened my grip on her, whispering, "ɨ ȶօʟɖ ʏօʊ, ɨ'ʟʟ ӄɛɛք ʏօʊ ֆǟʄɛ. ȶɦǟȶ'ֆ ǟ քʀօʍɨֆɛ"

I could tell that his quirk must be touch related since he took off his glove, which could be used to my advantage. After all, I'm a ghost. He walked towards me, "I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice.."

"օɦ? աɦǟȶ'ʀɛ ʏօʊ ɢօռռǟ ɖօ?" I asked, in hopes I could get him to slip up and tell me his quirk. He said nothing, however, and instead reached out to touch my arm. On a reflex, green flames burst out of my arm, burning his bare hand. He pulled back, cleary in pain from the fire.

"ȶօʟɖ ʏօʊ, ɨ'ʍ ɖǟռɢɛʀօʊֆ..." I said, not entirely believing myself. This was just an act, afterall, just like what happened with Sapphire when we had first met. Except, I actually harmed him...

I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. Right now, protecting Eri was more important.

He growled at me, probably prepareing himself to attack again. I glanced around, and released my grip on Eri, nodding in the direction of a piece of cracked sidewalk. "ɛʀɨ, ɨ ռɛɛɖ ʏօʊ ȶօ ɢօ օʋɛʀ ȶɦɛʀɛ, օӄǟʏ?" She nodded hesitantly, running over to the piece of side walk. The man lunged at her, trying to get to her, but I created a wall of green flames, keeping him away from her.

"ɦօʟɖ օռ ȶɨɢɦȶ, ʏօʊʀ ɢօɨռɢ ʊք!" I called out. Then, I forced the piece of sidewalk she stood on upwards, causing for it to float above both me and the man.

"How are you doing that?!" The man growled, and I just smirked. The wind around us picked up, and I couldn't quite tell whether or not it was my own doing. "ɮǟƈӄ օʄʄ ռօա, ǟռɖ ɨ'ʟʟ ֆքǟʀɛ ʏօʊ" I hissed, and he stumbled backwards slightly. Something about the tone my voice took on wasn't quite right, like a calm anger. My flames got even brighter, and I was almost surprised that heroes hadn't come. Then again, it was the middle of the night, so not many heros were on patrol.

He scampered back into the alleyway, terrified. Huh, I didn't think I was that scary...

My flames died down, as well as the thrashing wind, and I looked up at the slab of concrete Eri sat on. She seemed to be shaking, probably scared by my display as well.

I floated up to her, landing on the slab. "ɦɛʏ, ɨȶ'ֆ օӄǟʏ, ɦɛ'ֆ ɢօռɛ ռօա..." I said, a soothing tone taking over my voice.

Eri nodded slowly, crashing into my arms. I hugged her, gently rubbing her back. Her shaking slowed to a stop, and I floated down to the ground, bringing her with me. I then dropped the slab, causing for it to kick up some dust as it landed.

"ɖ'ʏօʊ ɦǟʋɛ ǟռʏ քʟǟƈɛ ȶօ ɢօ?" I asked her, and she shook her head, "no... I don't have a home.."

After a moment, I said, "ɦʍ... աօʊʟɖ ʏօʊ ʟɨӄɛ ȶօ ʟɨʋɛ աɨȶɦ ʍɛ ʄօʀ ǟաɦɨʟɛ?"

"You'd be okay with that?" she asked, and I chuckled, "օʄ ƈօʊʀֆɛ! օȶɦɛʀաɨֆɛ, ɨ աօʊʟɖռ'ȶ ɦǟʋɛ օʄʄɛʀɛɖ"

She seemed to think about it for a moment, before nodding, "Th-thank you..."

"ɨȶ'ֆ ռօȶ ǟ քʀօɮʟɛʍ. ƈ'ʍօռ, ʟɛȶ'ֆ ɢօ ɮɛʄօʀɛ ɨȶ ɢɛȶֆ ȶօօ ɖǟʀӄ ȶօ ֆɛɛ."

A/N

Wow, it's been awhile, ey? Now our little ghostie boy has to figure out how to take care of a living child while also functioning as Sapphire's quirk, so that'll be fun.