A certain path to atonement

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even Yuriko.

Author's warning: This is a sequel to a certain destined encounter, so you should read that before you read this.

Chapter 1

A day has passed since the showdown between Yuriko and Touma, with the Imagine Breaker as the victor against the strongest in Academy City, the level 5 Accelerator.

The once mighty harbinger of death, now sleeping peacefully under the care of Heaven Canceller, the frog faced doctor paced back and forth, assessing for vital signs, all of which were stable and even the bruises healed quicker compared to a normal human. Well, it's not unexpected, seeing as the level 5 could just divert more bloody towards the site of injury, ensuring for faster healing, with the aid of the IV fluids containing increased Vitamin K, thought the doctor.

A loud beep erupted over the monitor of the doctor's main computer. The doctor accessed his computer and looked at the contents; it contained a small list of instructions.

"Heaven Canceller, restore the subject, Alvl5, to perfect condition. Also, maintain surveillance over her stay in the hospital. Also, I request an update regarding her progress q6hours.

~A C"

The doctor's facial expression was unreadable, but it was very apparent that he did not enjoy Aleister's meddlings very much, it was his responsibility to ensure that his patients were recovered and out of the hospital as soon as possible without being drawn to Aleister's sinister plans. He took one look at the girl before returning to his office…

Within the mind of Yuriko, her mind has calmed considerably after the fateful but sorrowful duel against her only friend. A small fraction of her mind still refused to acknowledge the defeat and was uttering curses and desires for revenge against the black haired teen, regardless of their previous friendship. It was this part of her mind that Yuriko wanted to contain as much as possible, this mind belonged to the blood thirsty persona of Accelerator, the one that killed scores of Sister clones with a grin on her face.

With much willpower and mental strength, she managed to reduce Accelerator to a voice that continued to whisper in her mind. With that problem solved, her thoughts of happiness materialised to a smiling Touma who stretched out with his right hand, the same hand that destroyed her illusions while saving her from a path to carnage.

The pale hand reached out eagerly for the black haired teen's extended hand before she felt a jerk on her abdomen and feet. The albino looked down at horror, as claws formed by black feathers were threatening to pull her down.

The more time she resisted, the more effort she had to spend in escaping the claws, and her eyes look pleadingly at Touma, who refused to let go and his expression became serious as he continued to pull Yuriko up despite the interference. But, Yuriko's sight was fading as the black feathers slowly engulfed her eyesight and she felt too drained to continue. She muttered a quick "Sorry" to Touma before her hands gave way…

With the end of that dream, Yuriko leaked 2 tears from her eyes, it was so close, yet she understood the message regardless, I am too deep into the darkness and there is no way that Touma can ever forgive me, not after all I have done…With resignation, she turned towards other matters.

Slowly, she was regaining her both physical and mental strength and finally opened her eyes. The surrounding was blurred, much like one would suffer from severe myopia (close sightedness), but the vision was readjusting itself to the light but the eyes focused enough to notice that she was in a room of some sort that resembled a lab room.

Survival instincts kicked in, and the albino began to change the vectors, twisting the iron grips before a voice halted her.

The head doctor, which Yuriko noted mentally that he looked like a frog, looked at her calmly. Well, at least he isn't here to kill me yet…But the level 5 esper kept her guard high, her Redirection can kick in at any time, well if the doctor tried anything suspicious, his head would be rolling on the ground with his blood to paint the wall dark red.

"Well, at least you are fit enough to use your ability," the doctor muttered while scribbling down a footnote, in the charts. Without looking at the surprised esper, "You might want to lie down a little longer, several sedatives should be kicking in, but don't worry as soon as wake up the next time, you are free to leave." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of candy. The hand moved towards Yuriko unflinchingly, "you want it? It contains enough nutrients to last you until the next morning."

Red eyes blinked twice, after several seconds of processing her decision, the esper slowly took the piece of candy while deactivating her Redirection to avoid killing the doctor by mere touch. "Thanks," uttered the strongest as she opened the wrapper, swallowed the pill while slumping back into the bed. Yuriko now hoped that she didn't regret her decision, well he was no threat to her…Slumber took over, hopefully one that would be devoid of nightmares.

Outside of the hospital and into Academy City's dorms…

Touma returned back to the dorms after leaving the hospital, with the time to reconnect the memories of Yuriko. To be honest, it was his heart that revealed the name, that he had a previous connection with the girl that was branded the label of "strongest", with mostly small flashbacks from childhood during the fight. He also realised that there was a small ray of goodness that laid inside the black shell of death. The strongest evidence to support this was the fact that the girl had cried in his hands upon saying his name, even though the level 0 esper did not introduce himself prior to the fight.

But before he could think further, a voice cut him away from his thoughts.

"Toouuummaaa…." Came the drawling voice of the nun, "Are you thinking about something again?" The British Sister had a skill in picking up when Touma was deeply in thought, even if he was carrying about his everyday tasks or at least bugging him enough when she was hungry.

The male's tone was neutral as he responded, "Do you believe that someone is beyond redemption even if he or she has done a great deal of atrocities?"

Index's eyes narrowed in accusation at Touma's question, "Touma, are you saying that you are the ones that did those atrocities? What did you do? Spit it out and God may forgive you, at least you won't end up in hell….possibly." With the last word much quieter and subtle than the rest. The subject of a place of eternal damnation would not be a proper thing to discuss, even if it involved atheists.

The spiky haired teen sweatdropped, "Hell, no! While I may be the epitome of misfortune, I never used my misfortune as a tool of vengeance against others!" Even though he said that, he wasn't completely sure but at least he didn't see himself in that regard.

Hoping to switch back to the main topic and praying that he won't suffer a headbite before he tells the story. Another trip to the hospital for bite wounds and possibly anemia from blood loss is a very bad way to start one's day.

"No, I am talking about a girl who walked the path of carnage with the idea of devouring the weak because she was brought up to train to be the strongest. Upon reaching the last obstacle, she finally decided to change her ways from the bottom of her heart." While Touma was unsure if Yuriko really wanted to redeem herself and walk towards the light, he wished that it was true and that he would support her if she needed him.

Despite having the appearance of the child deep in thought, Index's response was one that contrasted her apparent age and match a priest's wisdom. Her lips formed a genuine smile, "Has God ever deserted his creation of Earth, the countless animals and humans that he had formed with his own hands? The answer is no, for he loves everything. In fact, he loved the world that he sent his Son to cleanse us of our sins. So, the question of redemption is upon one's determination to repent. If that friend of yours' really wants to avoid that dark path and set herself upon a path of light, then yes, she is saved…"

"Thanks Index, that's all I need to hear."

With that, Touma left the apartment and headed to a gift store before heading off to school for that day…

Upon night time, red eyes opened rapidly, the lights were off, but it was irrelevant, the moonlight from the window provided enough visibility for the esper to see clearly.

With her Redirection ability, she twisted the chains away and pulled the IV lines, but much more gently compared to last time. After fixing her uniform,

Upon reaching the door, she read a note taped to the wall.

"Dear Accelerator

By the time that I estimated that you wake up, I would not be in the office since I am have other patients to take care of. Some visitor also gave you a gift, I placed it on top of the drawer. Oh and take extra care when you leave, the news already spread like crazy."

Confused at what the doctor said, she looked beside her bed to locate the drawer, there was a small box, it was not wrapped professionally. Yuriko set her Redirection to passive in case this gift ended up being a disguised bomb, it was not the first time that an assassination attempt was made on her life. With a careful motion, she slowly opened the box to reveal a beaded necklace that consisted of a pattern of three colours, white, red and black and repeat. The esper's hands shook as she realised who was the one that even bothered to give her such a gift, "Touma, you are too kind…" it was the only phrase that she can speak, because Yuriko simply felt unworthy of still being Touma's friend, but the fact that he still held hope for her was too much to bear emotionally.

After attaching the necklace, the white haired girl departed the hospital and set off to her way to home, or at least her residence…

"Hey, it's the one that's called the Strongest, but she's just a weak little girl if she got punked by a level 0," taunted the ongoing pedestrians, but the esper simply didn't care nor responded to their provocations, she has too much on her mind right now and wouldn't waste time with additional small fry.

"Stupidity has no limits, one may say" sighed the albino as she dispatched several level 0s who decided to challenge her by reflecting their attacks back to them. Well, at least she didn't behead them or blow them up as a show of force. Primarily, it was simply a waste of effort on her part and she doesn't want her darker side to run wild again.

At the sight of her residence, the level 5 esper groaned loudly at the state that it was in. The windows were shattered, the closets were looted and the fridge was damaged beyond recognition. The owner turned her head towards the bed, and just gave it a look before turning away at the mess it was in.

Since the participants of the Level 6 Shift experiment were given a large amount of funding, Yuriko would also have a large sum in her bank account, and paying for the damages would not be an issue, it's to avoid a similar experience while she was away was the main problem.

She opened the mailbox, which was undamaged in the attack, she expected a prank mail or hate mail, but instead it contained a location for a new residence. The fact that this was act of pity only served to anger the Strongest. She clenched her fist and crushed the paper, "What is that person up to?" She swore, notably to the air, but for her, it was a way to vent our frustration instead of tearing another's limbs. The albino smiled evilly, "Sure, I'll play along. But I can guarantee that it won't go as he planned." The white haired esper packed lightly, with one set of clothing (that was undamaged), her wallet and identification.

Jumping from the 3rd floor was not a problem for the esper that controlled vectors. In fact, she can inflict more damage to the ground than what the laws of gravity would dictate, and even without a scratch on herself. To Yuriko, this was her way of avoiding the stairs and to conserve time.

At school,

Touma struggled to prevent himself from falling asleep in his teacher, Komoe, one of the many wonders of Academy City, as he opened his eyes to find the short teacher giving him a lecture of the 10 reasons why he was not achieving academic standards, have to participate in a punishment game and etc. It was nothing new.

Something nudged against the teen's elbow, "Hey Kami-nyan…You are SOOOO lucky to spend time with Komoe-sensei…..I envy you so much!" came the grinning response of one of the members of the school's infamous Delta Force, Aogami Pierce.

Touma couldn't help but shift uncomfortably. Yes, while he pondered about his choice of friends and that this 'friend' of his could admit blatantly that he is a lolicon.

After the class, the unlucky teen felt someone pat his back. Oh, what luck! It was the other member of Delta Force, Motoharu Tsuchimikado, the blonde wrapped his arm around Touma's shoulder, "Hey Kami-nyan…I've heard that you are having financial issues, how about a part time…?"

The response was quick, "No, I will not help to smuggle drugs, fight in underground arenas or join Skill-Out." The Delta force member just dropped his shoulders as though his friend just saw his plans through, but regardless he still kept that silly grin. He left while giving a "Let me know if you're interested."

Touma shook his head back and forth, there was one more place to find work, at least while comparably less in wages but at least it would decrease his time at home where he'll find a wrathful nun on an empty stomach.

He can cook for the cafeteria, assuming that there were still looking for applicants. Oh well, anything is better than no work and parents' allowances could only last so long. Touma facepalmed at the fact that he would also need to apply for a new credit card because he destroyed it when he sat on it this morning. "Such misfortune."

Back to the residence office

The white haired esper finally reached her destination. She revealed the letter to the head of the dorm, who read over the note. The dorm head adjusted her glasses, her lips curled into a slight frown, "Because of the sudden notice, you may need to take a temporary stay at a student's dorm before I get a room available and I also need to ask Komoe for permission." She also handed the esper the location of her temporary home, saying that she'll just have to stay there for 2 days.

Yuriko took the sheet while reading it over, she thanked the dorm head and left for her new destination. With her Acceleration, she just ran to the area, without exerting effort. She didn't even pay attention that a certain nun had just recently left from her destination.

With the key in hand, she opened the door, only to find the room in a state of mess. The comment that escaped her mouth, "It's definitely a guy's room." There were also lots of dirty dishes as well as discarded snack wrappers on the ground.

The esper continued walking and she didn't even notice as she stepped over a broken credit card, which contained the broken words, "Kamij…T…ma."

~End of chapter 1

Author's note and rambling:

So yea, I found some motivation to write this. But don't expect any fast updates for this story, as my summer school essays are killing me.

About the story and character:

While thinking of Yuriko, I think the voice actor that suited my image of Yuriko would be Yukari Tamura, using her dark voice (Rika Furude)