I've been trying to get this out for a while now, but with President's Week, finally managed to get time to finish it! I really thought when I wrote this that this was going to be the fourth arc for Wanderlust (Way out there I know), but then I really didn't want to have to fit everything in the three arcs before this into this universe, so it went solo.

This one would be the third reincarnation of this story since I rewrote it a few times since I didn't really like the way it was worded or the way it was so bare in detail. But I got it out (finally) and here it is, hope you guys enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own this.

Conflict has always been a companion of humanity, so when drastic climate cooling beginning in 2030 caused dwindling food supplies and energy sources around the world, humanity turned to war as their answer and thus World War 3 began and would not end for twenty years.

In this war, a new weapon was used, magicians. People who are able to utilize the 'supernatural power' that was systemized at the dawn of the 21st century, commonly known as 'magic'. In this war, the term 'slaughter' was elevated to new heights, leaving the world's population at 3 billion. Fortunately, the world's 'magic technicians' were united in preventing a nuclear holocaust, but even then the landscape of the world would be scarred by conflict.

It was during this war that an unknown tomb was discovered in Japan, a tomb so old, but so well preserved, that those that explored it were puzzled beyond belief. Yet they could not have known what it was that resided in this tomb, or even if it was a tomb at all.

February 17, 2047

Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Undisclosed Location

"Look at these intricate designs on the walls, how old is this tomb dated again?" One of the scientists asked as he examined the lines and spirals that was carved into the walls along with what seemed to be pictures of people and towns.

"Preliminary results say more than five thousand years. It's a miracle that the details of these designs are still legible, whoever made these had to be incredibly good." Said another as they walked deeper into the tomb alongside a few guards.

As they walked deeper into the tomb, the walls changed from smooth rock to patterned marble and the hallway they were in began to enlarge until they arrived at a large set of wooden doors that had incredibly intricate pictures of a singular person and various animals carved onto it. The person was a woman with long flowing hair that was circled by nine different animals. Each of the animals had tails that numbered from one to nine with each bowing their heads to the woman.

When they touched the door, the door itself, along with the walls around them began to glow brightly, causing the group of scientists and soldiers to back away fearing danger. Fortunately for them it wasn't so, as the door began to open slowly without a sound. The view inside would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Past the doors was what seemed to be a large bedroom lit with braziers that hung off the walls, with the centerpiece being a large bed, larger than that of a king-sized bed that was richly decorated with red and golden colors and designs. The walls were a pleasant cream color with animal designs similar to the ones on the door. The ceiling was the same as a traditional Japanese home, with wooden beams going across at regular intervals.

The floor was lacquered wood that shone in the light of the braziers with steps leading up to the bed. The room was filled modestly with a few night stands on either side of the bed and a door that they assumed lead to the closet. Another doorway to the right had no door and clearly showed a bathroom in the next room. The other furniture in the bedroom was several large bookcases filled with scrolls and books, surprising the scientists with how they are still intact all these years.

As the group moved into the room, the floor right in front of the bed opened, revealing a platform that rose and covered the hole. Atop the platform stood a small podium on which rests an opened scroll that had what appeared to be an old dialect of Japanese written in it. As one, both scientists walked towards the open scroll and began attempting to read what was inscribed.

"Here rests she who defeated the Juubi, the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox and later all the Bijuu and held their respect, Kage of Konohagakure no Sato, and the last Sage. Here rests she who brought peace to the Elemental Countries and saved the world from those who wished to conquer it. May her rest be forever peaceful as is her right." One of the scientists said out loud, confusion laced in his voice. "You know anything about this?" He asked of his compatriot.

"Not a thing. This is the first I ever heard of any of that." He replied back as he began to climb the steps towards the bed. As soon as he reached the bed, he gasped out loud, "Oh kami, this is impossible!" Prompting the other to hurry to his side.

Once the other scientist reached the top step and looked onto the bed, he also gasped in amazement. Laying on the bed without a hint of decay was a woman around the age of 18 to 20. Her red hair splayed out like a half moon on the pillow upon which her head rested and her skin a lightly tanned. Her lips were pale and her hands were clasped together on her stomach, below a modestly-sized chest, which, to their utter amazement, was going up and down. The woman was clothed in an orange kimono with stylized pictures of a Kyuubi that went down to her feet.

Before they could do or say anything else, the woman's eyes slowly opened, revealing eyes with a light purple sclerae and irides with a ripple pattern that spreads across the eyeball of both eyes and six tomoe that surrounded the center of the eye itself. After she blinked once the eyes changed to the bluest blue one would ever see which would then quickly rest on the two men standing by the bed.

With an almost supernatural grace, the woman sat up, her hair trailing behind her. The two scientists slowly began to peddle backwards as she placed her feet onto the floor next to the bed. The soldiers in the room quickly aimed their weapons at the woman when they saw her rise from the bed. Soon, the woman was standing on the top step and looking down towards the group of soldiers and scientists below, her eyes inquisitive and showing her mirth.

"I've been asleep for a while haven't I?" She asked suddenly, her melodious voice as well as her chuckle after her question reaching the ears of the men below. The scientists were amazed at how clear and accentless her voice is seeing that she came from a time long ago while the soldiers were simply looking if she was a threat.

The woman then slowly began to walk down the steps, the group taking a step backwards for everyone she took forwards. "Why are you here?" She asked as she took her second step down, her eyes not losing contact with theirs.

One of the scientists took a step forward, "We found your, er, resting place, and wanted to explore it, thinking it a tomb from a bygone era."

"I see. Truly, I do come from a bygone era. Wouldn't be surprised to see the world having changed entirely to something I don't recognize." She finally reached the bottom step where she slipped her hands into the sleeves of the other, forming a loop. "Of course, you didn't think of pillaging it did you?"

"No, of course not. We are people of knowledge, not raiders looking for money." The man replied, although his compatriot behind him seemed to disagree, what with how fast his head whipped around to look at the back of his head.

"Well, now that you found out this isn't a tomb, what do you intend to do now?" The woman's second question of 'What are you going to do with me' going unsaid.

Before the scientist in front could answer her question, the second scientist pushed him to the side and pointed at her, "I don't know what this dumbass is going to do, but I'm going to find out how the hell you're still alive after all this time! I'm going to use you as a test subject until I find out everything I can from you! This'll get me that grant from the government for sure!"

The first scientist managed to get his footing and was appalled at what he heard, "You idiot! She's a living person! You can't -"

"I thought as much. Humans have always been greedy." She said, cutting him off. Then, she raised her right hand into the air and caused the offending scientist to slowly levitate in the air, his limbs splayed out away from him. When the first scientist made eye contact, he felt a singular primal fear in the pit of his stomach. Her eyes had changed from the casual blue to the angry light purple of before and caused him to take a step back.

The soldiers behind the scientists, seeing her becoming hostile, opened fire. The 7.62 mm bullets flying towards her in the dozens. But with a simple glance, the bullets all stopped in the air as if they hit a barrier, levitating in place. The soldiers all slowly lowered their guns in awe, knowing that they can't exactly do anything with what they currently have. Only a magician can fight another magician.

With another flick of her finger, the bullets all began to coalesce into a small, dense metal sphere before it was released and fell to the ground with a thud. "I've always detested people like you. Seeing others only as ways to further themselves. I assume with the soldiers that you're at war right now?" She didn't wait for a response before she continued talking, "No matter, any questions of mine I'll find an answer to in your mind. This won't hurt a bit, no, it'll hurt a lot!"

Her lips twisted into a cruel smile before her eyes focused onto the second scientist's own. With a loud, piercing scream of pain from him, the woman lowered her hand and he collapsed onto the ground a drooling wreck, his eyes unfocused and his limbs trembling.

The first scientist and one of the soldiers rushed to his side, before the scientist turned to the woman, "What did you do to him?"

The woman had her hands in the same loop again, her eyes still the same icy chips as before looking straight into the first scientist's eyes, "Nothing much really. I merely took what I wanted from his mind, which was everything. Of course, the way I did it wasn't as precise as I could have made it thus leaving him a vegetable, his mind destroyed from what I did." She then glanced to the blubbering remains of the foolish scientist, "From what I saw, he deserved what he got. Such an asinine individual, reminds me of a fool from my own time, except just more stupid."

She looked at the rest of the group, "I would suggest that all of you leave this place and report to whatever superiors you have of what happened here. Know that since you weren't as foolish as that one, that you won't be accosted by me or by the defenses that has been activated due to my awakening. Hopefully you have good memory as you won't find this place again."

The remaining group, plus one vegetable, quickly backtracked their way out of the woman's resting place. As they hurried out, they noticed how the previously banal designs on the walls were now glowing and felt that as they were moving out they felt as if there was something or someone watching them, which wasn't wrong.

When they all finally got out of the crack in the earth that allowed them entrance, the earth behind them slammed shut. As the last scientist sat on the ground, he wondered how he was going to report this to the higher ups.

March 3, 2095

Hachioji, Tokyo

First High School

"Onii-sama, why are you a reserve? Didn't you top the entrance exams? Typically speaking, the one who should become the freshman class representative should be you, not me!"

"Putting aside the question on how you got a hold of the entrance exam results… since this is a Magic High School, it's obvious they would place more emphasis on practical magic skills rather than on paper tests, right? Miyuki, you are well aware of the extent of my practical abilities, aren't you? I'm quite surprised that I even got accepted here as a Course 2 student."

Naruko entered the schoolyard to the scene of a boy and girl arguing. The two of them felt really familiar and it took a second until she recognized where she saw them from. The two were at the Entrance Exam Venue, and if she remembered correctly, the two are siblings. Even if they are siblings… Then they are siblings that don't resemble each other at all.

The sister was petite, yet her beauty is one that anyone would be captivated with. Her glossy black hair was smooth, and cut in a hime-style. Her body was the hourglass type that men would drool over, and women would be jealous of. Her eyes is blue, a slight shade paler than her brother.

The brother in comparison, other than his piercing blue eyes and erect back was simply ordinary in appearance. His brown hair with bangs that covered his forehead, and somewhat broad shoulders is something you would forget about quickly after meeting him.

"How can you be so unsure of yourself? Even when there is nobody who is a match for you in studies and taijutsu! The truth is, even for magic -" The sister said before she was cut off by Naruko who interrupted.

"Ah, excuse me for interrupting, but…" The two siblings turned towards the voice and saw a girl with vibrant, crimson hair flowing down her back. Her face was framed on either side by crimson tresses with the slightest sign of whiskers on her cheeks. Her piercing sapphire eyes bringing sharp contrast to her hair. The absence of the eight-petaled flower design of the First High School's emblem glaring. "Since he's a Second Course wouldn't that mean even if you give up your position the school won't give it to him since they would rather give it to a First Course?"

Miyuki looked slightly abashed, "I see, I'm sorry onii-sama, for being selfish. In that case, I'll do my best. I'll be taking my leave…?"

"Of course, do your best, Miyuki." Tatsuya replied before he turned towards Naruko again, "Thank you for your help, but have I met you before somewhere?"

"Not personally, I was at the Entrance Exam Venue for First High at the same time you were. Your magic sequence was impeccable though, clean and efficient. Uzumaki Naruko, call me Naruko." Naruko said, clasping her hands in front of her and bowing downwards a few inches.

Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, "Thank you, although I'm surprised you aren't praising my younger sister like everyone else. Shiba Tatsuya, Call me Tatsuya." He then bowed slightly in response.

"Well, power and speed is nice and all, but not everyone can make their sequence as clean as yours was with no emission what-so-ever."

"I see. You are… different, that everyone else." Tatsuya said.

Naruko shrugged, "Wouldn't be the first time someone said that about me. But aren't you different as well, Mr. Stoic?"

Tatsuya's lips lifted in the barest hint of a smile, "It seems so." The two then started to walk side by side, talking about a wide range of topics, from the types of magic to what they expect out of the coming year.

"I seriously do hate this Course 1 and 2 business. So what if they have a higher grade during the enrollment process, it's not gonna matter on the battlefield." Naruko replied to Tatsuya's question on how she felt about the system.

"But remember that they might not be going into that type of career."

"So? Magicians were created first and foremost, to become weapons. Glossing over that fact won't change history no matter how much you try. The proof is in how the militaries around the world now revolve almost entirely around Magicians."

"In that case, it may be the fact that in this stage in life, they want to find something to make them feel higher than others?"

"I can see where you're going with that. Especially when the system indirectly encourages that fact." Before they could continue though, someone stepped in front of them.

"Ah, you two are new student's aren't you?" The other student had black hair, not as glossy as Miyuki's though, a light shade of red eyes, and a petite build in body. "Do you need help with anything?"

"Ah, nothing at all." Naruko and Tatsuya both bowing to her, both catching the glint of a CAD on her left wrist.

"I see, I'm the president for the Student Council. My name is Mayumi Saegusa, written "Nanakusa", but read "Saegusa." Nice to meet you." Her eyes going over their chest and shoulders, noticing the absence of the flower.

"Er, my name is Tatsuya Shiba." Tatsuya bowing as he finished.

Naruko then bowed as well, "My name is Naruko Uzumaki."

Mayumi's eyes turned to look at Tatsuya, "I see, so you are that Shiba-kun, yes?" The 'that' probably hinting the fact he was the brother to a prodigy. Both Tatsuya and Naruko merely kept quiet though. She then turned her eyes to Naruko, "And you are Naruko Uzumaki… Both of your exam results are spectacular. The faculty has been buzzing about you two."

"That is only due to them being paper tests. In the real world, practical results are valued more." Tatsuya said.

"And even if I am high on the paper tests, my practicals also weren't enough to land the Course 1." Naruko replied as well.

But before she could continue, another student came up to them, "President!"

The three of them turned towards the female student that was running towards them. "Rehearsals starting!" Before stopping before them, "Ara, are you in the middle of something?"

"No, excuse us." Tatsuya said, prompting the both of them to bow and walked away.

XxBreakxX

It was time for the address that Miyuki was to speak in. Both Naruko and Tatsuya immediately noticed the disparity in seating. In front were the Blooms, the back, the Weeds. Quickly, they made their way to where there was some empty seats, Tatsuya taking the seat on the edge and Naruko taking the seat next to him.

"Excuse me, is the seat next to you taken?" A female student asked Naruko, another female student, her friend they assumed behind her.

Naruko shook her head, "Go ahead."

"Thank you very much." In which she and her friend then proceeded to sit down in the seats next to Naruko.

The student that asked Naruko had shoulder-cut dark brown hair, her golden eyes sitting behind a pair of glasses. Her body, unlike Naruko's, was filled out, not chubby, but not lithe either, although her chest might say otherwise.

The one behind her had bright red hair, unlike Naruko's crimson. Her hair was also slightly wild, with it cut short but slightly messy. She had a bright brown shade of eyes, not enough to be called red. Her body, unlike her friend, was similar to Naruko's lithe body, except a bit skinnier.

After they sat down, the one next to Naruko spoke up, "I'm Mizuki Shibata, nice to meet you."

"I'm Naruko Uzumaki, this guy next to me is Tatsuya Shiba. Nice to meet you." Naruko replied, the both of them slightly bowing in their seats.

"And I'm Erika Chiba! Nice to meet you Shiba-kun, Uzumaki-chan!" Mizuki's friend spoke up, leaning forward in her seat slightly to be able to see them. "But don't you think it's a cool coincidence that three of us have last names that almost rhyme? You know, Shiba, Shibata, and Chiba?"

"Huh, you're right…" Mizuki said.

"Pretty neat huh?" Erika smiled.

Before they could get any further, the announcer came on stage, "We will now begin the matriculation ceremony for National Magic University Affiliated First High School." Which gave way to Mayumi to step onto the stage. Saying a few quick words of introduction, she then stepped off the stage, to which the announcer announcing that Miyuki was coming on stage for her address. "The newly-enrolled student's address. Representative of the incoming class, Miyuki Shiba."

"As the sunlight streams gently, and the vivid cherry blossoms flutter on this gorgeous spring day, I feel so happy and honored that my wish to be admitted…"

Done. Well. Kinda had to force myself through a writer's block doing this, but it worked out I guess. What you guys think? Is it good, bad? Review!

P.S. If you guys read my other stories, know that I'm going to update Wanderlust next before going to HROM, so just fyi.