Mikoto wasn't sure how long it had been since she'd run, but it had started to rain. It was light but she'd still need to find shelter.

Continuing her trek she found a small hole under the roots of a tree. She was very grateful of her small body, as she only just managed to squeeze between the roots and into the hole.

Breathing a shaky sigh of relief she leaned back against the cold dirt and closed her eyes. A noise caused them to snap open and for her to shoot up, banging her head on the roots above.

Internally cursing she clutched her throbbing head, willing the pain to go away as she kept her ears open.

"Mikoto!"

She was right. She had heard her 'father' calling for her.

She squeezed her eyes shut and placed a hand over her mouth as he got nearer. Tears trickling down her cheeks as she held in a sob. Her heart was telling her to call out to him, to let him know she was alright. Except she had to keep reminding herself, he wasn't calling for her. He didn't want her. He wanted his daughter, Mikoto Ackerman. Not Mikoto Misaka.

When she'd lived in Academy City her head and heart were usually in sync. Usually agreed with each other. Yet since ending up in this world they very rarely agreed. Her heart wanted to go back home, back to the Ackermans. Back to the love and warmth. Her head wanted to get as far away from them as possible. She was a liar a fraud, she didn't deserve them.

So she stayed hidden even as thunder roared overhead.

"MIKOTO!"

He was almost right on top of her.

"PLEASE MIKOTO ANSWER ME!"

Lightning flashed and thunder roared. She knew he'd have to abandon his search. Being in a forest during a thunderstorm was incredibly dangerous, and they both knew it.

"MIKOTO IF YOU CAN HEAR ME...I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU RAN BUT, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HOME!"

Lightning flashed again and she could hear him leaving. Once she was sure he was gone she sobbed. She loved the Ackerman family, even more than the Misaka family. The Misaka family all lived completely separate lives. Tabigake Misaka traveled the world fixing other people's problems. Misuzu Misaka was studying at a college in Kanagawa. Whilst she was an Esper living in Academy city. So many times she'd wished they could be normal. As it were having all of them together in the same place was beyond rare. The Ackermans on the other had was the opposite. They were a real family, something she'd always dreamed of, something she'd given up on.

Life really was cruel sometimes.

Pulling herself out of the hole she, ignoring the scratches she received, she rushed off in search of shelter. It took a while but eventually she came across a cave. She could even see a fire and sitting near it was a boy. A teenager with dark brown, almost black hair. His dark blue eyes turned to her as she approached.

"Mind if I join you?"

He shrugged so she sat opposite him, letting the fire warm her up.

They sat in silence for a while before the boy spoke.

"You should get those cuts treated before they become infected. Name's Phantom by the way."

She glanced at the cuts littering her hands and arms, "I suppose you're right. I'm Railgun." Best to go with a name her 'family' wasn't familiar with.

The boy's eyes widened, "number 3?"

Her head shot up, "how do you...6?"

He nodded, "I've been looking for you, as well as the others. So far I've found Accelerator and Mental Out, or Accel and Misa Reiss as they're now known. What about you?"

"Mikoto Ackerman."

"What are you doing here? You of all people know the dangers of being in a forest during a thunderstorm."

"I ran."

"From your family?"

She frowned, "I'm not their daughter."

"I can't say I understand because I don't. You were the only level 5 that had a real family back in AC, but the others have accepted theirs. Accelerator has a brother here called Levi and Mental Out is close with 2 of her cousins. Even if given the opportunity I doubt they'd go back. What about you? Would you go back if you could? Would you leave the Ackerman family behind?"

She couldn't answer.

"This is just my opinion but you are both Mikoto Misaka and Mikoto Ackerman. We were reincarnated, that is irrefutable. Thus you now have 2 families. Misaka and Ackerman, you belong to both. You are their daughter whether you accept that or not."

"But they want Mikoto Ackerman-"

"You are Mikoto Ackerman, you just happen to be Mikoto Misaka as well."

"But I'm lying to them."

"You're not lying, you're just not telling them the whole truth. Whether you do is up to you, though I'd recommend discussing it with everyone first."

Mikoto smiled suddenly feeling better than she'd done in years, "thank's Phantom. I think I'll head home after the storm lets up."

He nodded, "by the way we're thinking about putting together a level 5 alliance type thing."

"Would that even work? I mean we all hated each other back in AC."

"True but none of us have our abilities, and 5th warned that if we wanted our families to live we would have to fight."

"That doesn't sound good."

"I know, in any case 1st, 5th and myself are in. What about you?"

"I'm in."

"Excellent now I just need to find 2nd, 4th and 7th."

"Good luck."


It stormed all night but let up in the early morning.

"Well I'm off home, what about you?"

"Shiganshina."

"I'll see you later then."

He nodded, "later Railgun."

Both took off in different directions. Mikoto was extremely grateful to Phantom for helping solve her identity crisis, and was now eager to get home. Back to her family.

Just the thought made her smile.

After a couple hours of running she skidded to a halt. She could've sword she heard...

"-oto!"

Her father.

She sprinted in the direction of his voice.

"Mikoto!"

Stopping she took a deep breath.

"DAAAAAAAAD!"

It was silent for a moment before she heard the squelching of boots on the muddy earth.

She saw him before he saw her and raced over to him. The moment she was close enough he scooped her into a hug and cried into her dirty hair.

"Thank goodness," he sobbed clutching her tightly to his chest. "Don't ever run off like that again. Promise."

"I promise," she murmured.

He pulled away and Mikoto saw just how stressed he was. He was paler than usual and there were dark bags under his eyes, his hair was also duller. But his eyes shone with happiness and relief, his kind smile made her want to cry as well.

"I-I'm sorry daddy."

"It's okay," he assured carrying her back home, "but this never happens again is that clear?"

"Yes dad."

"If you have a problem we want to help, so please don't run from us."

"Ok."

"You're still in trouble though."

Mikoto smiled, "I know."


It was mid morning when they arrived back home.

"Ready?" asked father standing outside the door.

"As I'll ever be."

He smiled and opened the door.

"We're home," he announced and Mikoto could see mother hugging Mikasa like she was going to disappear next. Their mother stood with tears running down her cheeks as she approached, Mikasa still in her arms.

"Mikoto?" she placed a hand on he head and Mikoto smiled slightly.

"Hi mum."

Mother sobbed as they all ended up in a family hug. Mikasa was even gripping her arm as tightly as she could, trying and failing to speak through her crying. Everyone was crying and it wasn't long before she was as well.

It was only when she sneezed that the hug ended and mother ordered her to take a bath.

"I wanna bath too," chirped Mikasa.

Which was how she found herself sitting next to Mikasa in a large metal bucket, these people called a bathtub. Mikasa was even clutching her hand underneath the water, and hadn't stopped staring at her.

Their mother was behind her, trying to get all the muck out of her hair.

She really hated bathing in this era. Of course Mikasa loved baths but she didn't know the luxury of the warm water tap. She screwed her eyes shut and grimaced as mother poured warm water over her head, rinsing out their idea of shampoo.

"This in your own fault Mikoto," said mother as if she didn't already know.

She was even forced to sit there as mother washed Mikasa's hair, until she was finally allowed out.

Mikasa only let go so they could wrap towels around themselves before grabbing her hand again.

"Alright you two go to your room and dry off, I'll be there in a few minutes with some antiseptic. Mikasa don't let your sister out of your sight understood."

"Understood."

Mikoto sweat-dropped when Mikasa glared at her, she doubted she even realised she was doing it.

Once they were in their room Mikoto quickly dried herself and pulled on some clothes. Watching from her bed as Mikasa tried to do the same. Unfortunately in her haste she was trying to pull her head through the shirt sleeve, and she'd already pulled her arm through the head space.

Mikoto couldn't help but chuckle as she floundered.

"Nee-chan!"

The distress in her voice quickly sobered her up and she moved to help. The moment the shirt was on properly Mikasa tackled her into a hug, tears running down her face.

"I thought you'd left again."

"Never," she promised manoeuvring them onto her bed.

"I'm sorry nee-chan," she sobbed into her shirt, "It was my fault, I m-made you p-play with me and...and."

Mikasa completely broke down.

"Mikasa, Mikasa look at me."

Mikasa shook her head.

"Please look at me."

Slowly Mikasa pulled away and tears gather in Mikoto's eyes at the sight of distraught her tear stained face.

"It wasn't you. I didn't leave because of you, so don't ever think that."

"Really?"

"Really."

"T-Then why did you leave?"

She turned to stare at the floor, "I felt like I didn't belong."

Mikasa clung to her arm, "b-but we love you nee-chan."

"I know, that's what hurt the most."

Unbeknownst to them both their parents were listening outside the door, and both were distraught.