Alright guys, what's up?! Crazy to see me up in another story here eh? Well this isn't gonna be a long one (it's actually pretty short, so if you don't have a lot of time to read, this is perfect!). This started out as just a one shot, but I'll probably end up making a second part, depending if y'all like it and what not ;)

This has just been an idea I've been wanting to write after I found out about Kuroko and Musujime's fight. This was actually what I wanted to write as my first fanfiction of the MikoKuro pairing (but it turned out to be Though The Flame Lies Dormant)

Also, I'm sorry if I don't write Touma accurately. I don't know him as well as everyone else lol. But I know him more or less I hope!

So ok, check it out! Happy reading!

To Protect Your World

I had never seen her like that. So much blood covered her clothes, her skin. Exhaustion was apparent in her eyes. Honestly, at that moment, I wasn't sure if we made it in time. When Kamijou returned my kouhai to me, I tried so hard to keep my tears locked away. But…my heart sunk in my chest. My entire body was trembling. I knew Kuroko must have been fighting Musujime, and I felt relief that Kamijou went in to save her. I knew that he would come through, he always did.

But, I didn't realize the severity of her wounds. I didn't realize that…that she was on the brink of death. When I caught sight of her, I wanted to run to her side. Hold her in my own arms. Tell her I was sorry that she was involved in my problems, in my affairs, in my world. I should've been looking after her. I shouldn't have let her get hurt…dammit, what kind of person am I?! I must be some monster to have nearly killed my kouhai. It was all my fault. Even still…that idiot smiled at me when our eyes met. Those ruby red eyes that were gradually losing light.

We sat on the sidewalk while we waited for the ambulance to reach us. It would have taken too long to run to the hospital, despite how inclined I was to do so. I laid her head upon my lap and applied pressure to the gunshot wound. Kamijou remained silent as I tried my best to speak to Kuroko. I just tried to keep her with me. I just wanted her to keep breathing. In the midst of my talking, I felt tears begin to trail down my cheeks.

'Why…' I heard Kuroko begin to say. She was trying so hard to talk. 'Why…are you…crying, Onee…sama?'

'Kuroko…' was all I could choke out. Though she must have been in excruciating pain, she managed to flash me another bright smile.

'…I was…trying my best…to end your nightmare. I wanted…to protect your world.'

I wanted to shout out. I wanted to be angry. More tears started to fall from my cheeks, decorating my best friend's face.

'Dammit…why? Why would you go so far?' I hung my head low and rested my forehead against hers. I used my free hand to embrace my kouhai. I gritted my teeth. 'Why did you risk your life for me?'

As I heard the sirens grow closer to us, I felt Kuroko's hand use whatever strength that remained to bring her hand up to my tearstained cheek.

'Isn't it obvious…Onee-sama?'

Kamijou waited with me as Kuroko was taken into the emergency room. Usually being around him would make me flustered, but not tonight. Tonight, my thoughts were only of my idiotic kouhai. That being said, for the most part, it was silent as we waited for word on Kuroko's condition. Well, that was until he spoke up.

"So…" he began."Shirai-san sure is something else."

"What do you mean by that?" I replied absentmindedly, crossing my arms.

"Well, I'm guessing you never mentioned your sisters? Or anything about Tree Diagram?"

"…no. But what are you trying to get at?"

"She had no knowledge about what was going on. She was completely in the dark. But regardless, because she knew it was hurting you, she put her life on the line to help." Kamijou stopped for a second to chuckle."She kind of reminds me of myself, now that I think about it."

For some reason, I felt my face heat up a little at that comment. I guess Kuroko and Kamijou were similar in that sense. Whenever I try to clean up my own mess, these two idiots tend to involve themselves. They get themselves hurt for my sake…

"But you know, Shirai-san has other reasons for doing what she did. That girl really does…care about you, doesn't she?"

For another reason I wasn't sure of, a brighter shade of red became apparent on my face. I also felt another quick wave of anger, though I'm not sure exactly what I was angry at.

"Kuroko does not know the meaning of privacy. She's stubborn and can be condescending. She's always getting mad at me for my taste in clothes and 'childish' tendencies," I said, my voice sounding harsher with every word.

"Uh…" Kamijou scratched the back of his head awkwardly, probably wondering if he said something wrong.

After I finished my quick rant of my kouhai, I lowered my eyes. I stared at the ground for a couple of minutes, trying to sort out the feelings that were bubbling all together. What exactly was I feeling? I knew I wasn't actually mad at Kuroko. It's just…why? Why did she care for me so much? She almost died to…protect my world. I allowed a small smile to grace my lips. Dammit…why does she always go off trying to sound cool?

I heard the shuffling of Kamijou's feet. I'm sure he was beginning to feel uncomfortable in this awkward silence. "Well, looking beyond all that, you have someone that ultimately cares about your wellbeing. She seems to look up to you. And she would give anything to be a part of your world and protect it. That definitely deserves some merit."

My heart seemed to skip a beat as I twiddled my thumbs. I mean…yeah all that's true…maybe behind all those perverted gestures… I ruffled my hair a bit. Maybe what?

"But why? Why would she do that…for me?"

Kamijou just sighed and folded his hands behind his head. "Honestly, Misaka. Even I know why…"

I cocked my eyebrow at him as he rose from his seat and placed his hands on his hips. "When I involve myself in others' affairs, when I put my life on the line to protect them, that's just me being stubborn. It's just my rotten luck that I can't let someone else suffer…but that's not the case for Shirai-san. There's a word for why she does what she does. There's a reason why she fights, a reason that drives her further into such a dark world."

Not long after that, Heaven Canceller came to let us know that we could see Kuroko. Kamijou seemed to take that as his cue to leave. He just thanked the doctor, tapped my shoulder, and walked off.

"Now, Shirai-san is asleep right now, but we have set up a chair in the room. You are free to stay tonight if you wish," he told me with a smile.

"Of course I'll stay," I said as I clenched my fist. It's my fault that she's here in the first place. I can't just abandon her.

When we arrived at the room, I immediately moved the chair next to the hospital bed where Kuroko resided. Heaven Canceller made sure to state that he'd be nearby if we needed anything before exiting the room. I almost didn't even realize that he left. My eyes instantly scanned my kouhai. Her hair was untied, falling freely past her shoulders. I could see bandages snaking up around her neck and a couple stray bandages decorated her face.

Upon looking at her battered state, a wave of guilt once again ran through me. I felt tears begin to well up in the corners of my eyes. I hunched over and brought my right hand up to my heart, fiercely gripping onto my shirt. Kuroko…

The looming guilt within me began to subside as I heard the soft breathing of my kouhai. My eyes widened at the surreal sound as I picked my head up to gaze at Kuroko. It was a sound I was afraid I'd never be able to hear again. Her chest was rising, ever so slightly: up and down, up and down, up and down. I wasn't sure what came over me, but I hesitantly reached out for my best friend's hand. It was a little rough to the touch, but surprisingly delicate. I grasped it tightly and lowered my head to rest on the mattress.

My breathing became a little unsteady and my heart began to race, though I wasn't sure why, much like everything else I wasn't sure of today. There were so many things I felt like I should say, but nothing came to mind. So I went with the obvious guilt that still bubbled inside.

I took a deep breath and muttered, "I'm sorry…Kuroko."

At that, I felt her arm twitch, and before I knew it, I heard her small voice call to me.

"…Onee-sama?"

So what do you guys think? I was kinda just wanting to write this as I continue to think about ch. 10 of TTFLD (my main story). There is a lot of extra work I have to do with that chapter…..lol

But yeah, so I've just been wanting to write this for a while. I was gonna do it after my other story was done (but it's not really close to an end)

So if you guys liked it, please review! :) if I found out that you guys liked it, I'll make sure to make a pt. 2 for this! (cause you wouldn't want it to just end there right?! I also have this interesting thought…what if Mikoto started to show some tsundere tendencies towards Kuroko? What if Kuroko just realized how strong her feelings of love were towards our electromaster? Maybe that'll be fun to read?)

Anyways, thanks a lot if you took the time to read this! maybe see ya next time?