Disclaimer: The author of the fanfiction (babbler) does not, in any way, profit from the story and that all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator.


Mikoto couldn't sleep. She blamed that fact on the shoebox sized room she was now occupying, but it wasn't the dimensions of the room that was causing the problem. It was far too dark. Mikoto closed her eyes for a second and opened them again…she couldn't tell the difference.

She reached over and turned on her desk lamp but it was no use. The room was completely illuminated now and there was no way she be able to sleep with its intense fluorescent glare. There was nothing else she could use for a nightlight.

"I can't believe I'm complaining about this comfortable bed when Kuroko's probably trying to sleep with medical machines all around her…and hooked up to intravenous…and probably getting needles all night long." She shuttered. Determined not to let the darkness bother, her she turned onto her side and tried to clear her mind.

"Onee-sama?" Mikoto felt a sharp poke in the side.

"What?" The restaurant's intense heat made her want to sleep.

"May I have a taste of your sundae?" Kuroko pouted and blinkered her eyelashes at her.

"You have the same flavour and besides it's all melted."

Kuroko grinned wickedly. "We have the inverse of each other. I'd like to know what Onee-sama tastes like…I mean what her sundae tastes like."

"Oooh! Me too!" Saten grabbed Mikoto's spoon and quickly tasted the dessert.

Kuroko's jaw dropped and she tried to grab the spoon away from Saten but she had already shoved another melted spoonful into Uiharu's mouth.

"Mmm…I think the strawberry sauce tastes way better than the strawberry ice cream." Saten slid the dessert in front of Kuroko. Kuroko raised the spoon slowly all the while staring intently at it. Thump! Kuroko's head hit the table.

"We should go to the movies. At least they'll have air conditioning there and we can get a crepe on the way!" Uiharu suggested.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Uiharu-chan, we're going to have to start rolling you everywhere if you need dessert after your dessert. I'd like to see a movie though."

Thump! "Yeah, lets get out of here." Kuroko lifted her head off the table and walked out into the aisle followed by the other two girls and a sleepy Mikoto.

"Hmm…pink today."

"Whaaaaaa! Saten-san, there are so many people around." Uiharu pulled her skirt out of Saten's grasp and twirled around seemingly trying to judge how many people just saw her underwear.

"Saten, that is so immature." Kuroko said and Mikoto stiffened; she could feel a hand on her skirt. "These frog underwear are cute in a immature way too I suppose." Kuroko held up a pair of pink and blue panties with a picture of a winking frog in the middle. She wiped away some drool from her cheek.

"Kuroko." Mikoto was surprisingly calm.

"Oh, are these your underwear Onee-sama?"

"Give them back!"

"But as a member of Justice, I need proof that these are…" A blue ribbon fell from the skies hitting Kuroko and she fell to the ground like her strings were cut.

Uiharu and Saten turned white, so white in face,few sheets dared approach their level of whiteness. The girls backed away several steps, looking between their two friends frightfully.

"Did…did…did you just do that Mikoto-san?"

Saten, regaining her composure, raced for Kuroko but jumped back as another bolt landed between her and the still smoking body.

"What the hell are you…" Saten fell to the ground.

"It's not me! I'm not doing this!" Mikoto screamed suddenly realising what was going on around her after the shock of Kuroko falling to the ground in a burst of light.

Uiharu turned to run but before she made three steps she collapsed in yet another burst of light. Mikoto looked toward the sky. How could this be happening? She was sure it wasn't her. Maybe some other electromaster was trying to frame her. Lightening bolts were falling from the sky like rain as she crouched by her friend and felt for a pulse.

Her face were burnt beyond recognition…

Mikoto's eyes flew open and she drunkenly tried to get out of bed and escape her sleep paralysis. She had to save Kuroko.

"Kuroko?" she said softly realising that she was back in her tiny room. She rolled back into bed and buried her face in her warm pillow. She couldn't stop the tears.

Mikoto sat up and shook her head vigorously while wiping away the tears. I didn't try to hurt Mikoto! Lots of things happen in dreams. Like that time I kissed To... There was something about this dream that was lingering and felt far too real.

She reached for the light switch, even though it was morning it was still quite dark, and she heard a tiny crackling sound. It sounded like a static shock but there was no way that could have been true. She couldn't even remember the last time she had a static shock. Shrugging her shoulders she flicked on the light and started getting dressed.

She glanced at her alarm clock and then reached for her ribbon…then looked back at the alarm clock again as her mouth dropped open. It was already a quarter to eight.

"Growl!" her stomach moaned. Shaddup you! She picked up her book bag and raced out the door. When was the last time I ate?

Mikoto collapsed into her seat. There was exactly two minutes before the bell would ring. She pulled the back of her uniform away from her skin. Arg! This feels disgusting! I wonder if we have today so I can shower?

She sat in her seat and laid her head on her arms. There were two rows separating her from the window and she'd wished there was someway to get herself moved. Usually, Kuroko would be talking her ear off by that point, before the bell rang, and she was forced to go back to her own classroom...she didn't want to think about it.

"Look at her all nonchalant."

"She tried to kill Shirai-san! How come she's not in jail?"

"If it was an accident she wouldn't go to jail."

"There's no way it was an accident! She's got a bad temper. I bet she got mad and then BOOM! Railgun takedown."

"Shirai-san would be dead if she shot her with the railgun."

"She's in the hospital and I heard she was in the intensive care unit. It's not like she didn't try."

"If someone tormented me like Shirai-san torments Railgun then I'd shock the crap out of her too once in a while."

"She's all tsudere here but I bet when they're back in their dorms it's all hugs and kisses and hehehe."

"Hahaha...you think they're..."

Mikoto thumped her head against the desk. She wished she was in the hospital so she wouldn't have to put up with all the gossip about her. Then again, Kuroko would definitely use that situation to her advantage. She didn't want to see Kuroko in a sexy nurses outfit...or anywhere near drugs and needles for that matter.

Despite not being next to the window, she still had a good view from where she sat. Somewhere out there Toma was probably...being utterly annoying. She slammed her hand on the desk as she remembered the garbage can he threw at her the day before.

"See! Like, she has an anger problem!" a brunette whispered loudly to her friend.

"I DO NOT HAVE AN ANGER PROBLEM!" she yelled at the girls, the colour draining from their faces. Everyone was staring at her now with an equal measure of fright and bemusement on their faces. Electricity was arcing from her...

"Mikoto Misaka! Why are you yelling in here!" the teacher paused briefly as the bell rung. "Another outburst like that and you'll be spending the day standing outside."

Mikoto sat down amongst a chorus of giggles. Maybe she did have bit of an anger problem. Toma never acted like this even when she knew he must definitely be mad at her. She lay her head on her arms and stared out the window once again...I wonder how Kuroko's doing.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The bell rang making Mikoto jump and search for the clock on the wall. It was 12:00. She didn't even remember what the subjects for the last two classes were. She reached into her bag to pull out her bento but all that was in there was her math book and pencil case. She had a habit of stuffing her bento into her desk so she could sneak some food during class but it wasn't in there either.

"Mikoto Misaka please report to the guidance office." The loudspeaker boomed.

Mikoto stood with a grunt, there was no way this was going to be good. No one said a word but she knew exactly what they all must be thinking. They'd all even stopped getting ready for lunch and just stood there, or sat in their seats, with their eyes glued on her. She shivered, it felt like the long march to the electric chair for some reason…though the chair wouldn't bother her at all. She gulped, imagining herself swinging on a short rope…being an electromaster wouldn't get her out of that one. She had to commit homicide to get the death penalty, her thoughts flashes back to Kuroko, somehow that thought didn't make her feel any better.

The guidance counsellor stuck his head out the door as she approached and beckoned her to come inside. "I couldn't really give you this announcement over the intercom so I had to get you to come here. Sorry for making you miss lunch," he laughed nervously.

"Hmm."

"I...There's a meeting you need to attend at an hospital a little ways from here, so you'll need to catch the bus immediately after you've finished eating."

"What kind of meeting."

"About the incident the other day," he said, looking over his glasses has he rooted through some paperwork on his desk, "they need to run some tests on you and take a look at your ability...just think of it as your usual check-up."

Mikoto turned and started to run down the hall, but there was a girl who was staring at her and trying to get her attention. She forced on a smile as she turned toward the heavily blushing girl.

"Mikoto-san would you like to eat with me?" Her voice was as sweet as honey.

"Hmm." Mikoto eyed her suspiciously and in response the other's shoulders dropped noticeably.

"It's...it's for for helping me...last week with those bullies." She suddenly turned bright red.

Mikoto didn't even remember saving anyone from bullies and especially if it was a girl from their class, but she was very hungry and the girl had quite obviously made a bento for her. "Okay, lets eat outside." The girl jumped a little.

"My name's Yuno Sainoji by the way." Yuno smiled at her.

Ugh. That's a very yandere name! "We're in the same class. I know your name." She didn't. They descended the back stairs and walked out onto a small grassy field filled with trees.

"Is this where you always eat Mikoto-san? I never see you in the cafeteria or eating in the classroom." She handed Mikoto a bento.

Mikoto hadn't eaten breakfast, or for that matter dinner the night before, and had to restrain herself from swallowing it container and all. "I eat all over the place. I hate it when people bother me."

"Is that right?" Yuno hoped the light breeze would take her away.

Mikoto jumped. "I don't mean it that way! It's just certain people annoy me...I didn't mean to say...you're not...This bento is great!"

"You mean Shirai-san bothers you?" She poked Mikoto.

"She's so..." Mikoto stopped herself and took a deep breath.

"Are you longing for her?" Yuno hesitantly put her hand on the other girl's knee.

"What?" Mikoto suddenly felt hot despite the shade.

"You just sighed and stared off into space...that's as cliché as you can get!" Yuno's smile was lopsided.

"I...I...I...I."

"Hehehe. You're so cute when you're blushing and stammering like that."

Mikoto concentrated on eating, the blush had to go away sooner or later. It didn't help that Yuno was staring at her with big bright blue eyes and that lopsided smile that would give Kuroko pause.

"I'm sorry. I'm being too forward."

Dropping her towel and chasing her naked was being too forward. This was Saten level skirt flipping. She could live with this. "Don't worry about it. I have to go now for an appointment. Thanks for the bento!" Mikoto waved to Yuno and ran off toward the bus stop.

Mikoto collapsed into the worn leather chair. Suddenly dealing with rumours at school wasn't so bad as four straight hours of testing, probing, and prodding. The three vials of blood they took had further sapped her strength. She closed her eyes...

"What's the point of this little conference? It's bad enough I had to do these tests out of the blue..."

"Then just report your findings...the less technical language the better." The voice sounded like the older lady she had spoken to at the detention center the day before.

"She's stressed and probably hasn't been sleeping well...if I zapped my friend I'd be the same. Everything else seems normal."

"What about her system scan?"

"It's off markedly from her last...but again, almost killing your friend might do that."

"We managed to find video evidence of the event and it backs up Mikoto-san's alibi. We need to be absolutely sure that there isn't something odd going on with her abilities. All we need is espers going willy nilly with their powers out of control."

"That's not much of a possibility."

"When there's children walking the streets that can rain down lightening, we take this kind of thing seriously..."

The window was open behind her and probably likewise in the little office, so there voices were obviously carrying. Mikoto opened her eyes. It was funny, but with her eyes open she couldn't hear their voices anymore.

She looked down at her hands. Electricity was crackling between her digits and in her full control. It took concentration and years of practice to control her abilities. Losing control of her powers was like losing control of her limbs; it just didn't happen. Losing control of her railgun would be like losing control of your hand and find it writing Shakespeare. It was far too technical to just happen on it's own. Random discharges of electricity would be much far more probable.

The acrid smell of charred flesh entered her nostrils and she realized she was cooking the leather of the chair...it reminded her of something but she couldn't put her finger on it.

She closed her eyes again...A loud thud made her set upright again wide-awake. She couldn't see where the sound came from. She wished she was back in her bed.

"Dammit," she'd still get no sleep in that mouse hole the headmistress stuck her in. The thought of waking up in that dark dreary decrepit place made her feel a little depressed.

If any of the nurses had been paying attention, or really anyone in general, they would have asked what was wrong. Mikoto had suddenly turned white as a sheet. Such a clichéd metaphor, but the fact was few sheets dared approached her whiteness. She had realized why the smell of burnt flesh seemed familiar to her.

The charred bodies from her dreams had surrounded her. She was having one of those moments where memories she didn't know she had, filled her head. The images were so nonsensical that they had to be a dream but that unholy smell of burning human flesh and hair was far too real.

"Mikoto-san?" One of the system scan people was beckoning her. She stood grudgingly and entered the small conference room. The sun was searing into the large window behind the adults and she could scarcely open her eyes. Was this intentional?

"Mikoto Misaka." she went rigid from her headmistress's voice. If there were a pole up her bottom she couldn't have stood any straighter. "You are a student of Tokiwadai Middle School and one of the most powerful psychics in Academy city. As such, I am very disappointed with the disregard you hold for your position. Kuroko Shirai, as annoying as she is, does not deserve to be in an hospital bed because you decided to play with your very substanitcal eletrictal powers! She is very fortunate to be alive. I don't know how much more I can stress that."

"You are very fortunate that video evidence of the incident could be found. You could have very well been confined for assault with a deadly weapon. Not even out of middle school and a serious charge like that gracing your record! Not to mention your conscious, since she is your FRIEND." The word struck her like a knife. "We believe that it was an accident, like you have said, but we will be watching you intently for the near future. If you have any concerns at all, anything, come see us immediately," someone else spoke but she couldn't make out who.

"We will release you into your headmistress' care for however long she feels fit to punish you."

Mikoto left the hospital quickly. It was unbareably hot in that wing of the hospital…probably because a certain esper was misusing her powers again, but she never dwelt on it. She could finally see Kuroko! She boarded a bus as it came near the hospital. It was the scenic route but she didn't really care.

Nearly an hour later Mikoto finally got off the bus again. At some point she had fallen asleep and her hair was puffy on one side of her head. She stood there for a few seconds looking around in a daze.

"Hello young lady. Would you like to buy some flowers? A pretty girl like yourself must have someone they like to give a flower to. They're all fresh and much cheaper than anywhere else." She waved her hand over a very full display of flowers that took up four tables and nearly the entire sidewalk.

Am I an evil person because I completely forgot to bring her anything?

The little stand of flowers brought a sence of vibrant colour to the otherwise drab midtown. She had no idea what to pick since it was or first time ever picking out flowers for anything. A lump of guilt formed in her throat as she wondered if she was supposed to know anything about flowers.

"I'll take one of those red ones. One of those red ones. Two of those orange ones. A purple one, and the daffodil."

The woman smiled at her oddly; was about to say something but then just wrapped them in simple paper with a bow. "That'll be 300 yen please." She winked.

Mikoto handed the women the money and walked quickly toward the hospital. She looked quickly around the entrance hoping Toma wasn't around and then darted inside. She had been in hospitals more than she ever wanted in the past few months. She didn't exactly dislike them but she was certainly beginning to.

Mikoto sighed in relief. Mikoto wasn't in the intensive care unit but moved to her own room on the general floor. She approached the door slowly. She was shaking so hard she was afraid she'd break the flowers. She knocked on the door hestitantly

"Onee-sama?" a soft voice asked barely audible over the beeps of the machines and bustle of the hallway.

"Hi Kuroko. How are you?" Mikoto pasted on a smile and trudged inside. Kuroko didn't say anything.

Mikoto placed the flowers in the vase beside her bed. She'd have to remember to get some water before she left. Kuroko's eyes were closed.

Kuroko didn't look well. Her face had a white pallor and she could see the veins through her translucent skin. On the side of her head was a red mark with hair fringed all around it that looked like she had been burned with a poker. Running down the side of her neck and into her hospital gown were a series of spider web likes bruises. The dark purple bruising on her pale skin made it look all the worse. There were wires hooked up to her heart that connected to the heart monitor or whatever you call the beep beep machine.

"I brought you some flowers." She moved the flowers to where Mikoto could see them.

"Thank you." Her eyes didn't open but she reached for the vase blindly. Mikoto put it gently into her hands. Kuroko finally opened her eyes.

"Are you playing sick?"

"I nearly died. Feels like I was kicked…everywhere." She pulled the flowers into her face to smell them and then looked at them individually. She plucked out poppy and dropped it into the trash bin besides the bed.

"Um?"

"It was wilted. The rest are really nice. I really like these gorgeous orange lillies and this monkshood is just…"

"Kuroko!" Twack. Uiharu doubled Saten over with an elbow.

"This is a hospital you're supposed to be quiet." Uiharu whispered harshly.

"Kuroko mind if I share that bed? I think she just took out some ribs…and my spleen…and liver…" She collapsed onto a nearby chair. "What does the spleen do anyway?"

"Wow. Uiharu bounced into the room. "Kuroko…do you have a boyfrien…" She looked at Kuroko and then Mikoto and then back again. "What a nice bouquet of flowers." She pulled the daffodil out and split it in two.

"Hey!" Mikoto yelped.

"Mikoto? A single daffodil means misfortune." She looked questionly at the garbage bin and the poppy within. "Do you know what poppies symbolize?"

"That's a poppy? I just thought it looked pretty."

"Don't tell her." Kuroko put her hand on Uiharu's.

"So you came to finish the job? Eh Mikoto?" Saten slapped Mikoto on the back.

"Do it quick! I think they're coming with dinner." Kuroko unbuttoned her gown a little and opened her arms.

Steam seemed to be coming from Uiharu's head. Her flowery headband was wilting quickly.

"I…I'll…go get us some drinks. Saten you're coming with me." Mikoto raced out of the room dragging Saten with her.

"It was only some gallows humor. I think I've earned the right to poke fun at my beloved onee-sama." Kuroko pressed the button besides her bed to move it up into a reclining position.

"Heehee. Did Mikoto bring you these flowers?"

"Yeah, other than that poppy, I've quite liked them."

"It looks like a lover's bouquet…monkshood? I bet she just picked them at random."

"Shush! She picked them knowing full well what they meant. Let me enjoy my illusion."

"What about the daffodil and poppy?" Uiharu narrowed her eyes.

"Those were completely random…all the rest were thoughtfully researched in advance." Kuroko yelped at nearly pulling her intravenous out.

"And the moonkshood?"

"I thought that was self-explanatory."

"Heehee. I guess she really did want to finish you off," Uiharu said making sure not to touch the flower. "What should we do with it?"

"I'll teleport it somewhere safe when Onee-sama leaves. Where do you suppose she got such a dangerous flowe…wait, did you just use gallows humor after chastizing Saten?"

"Must be your imagination."

"Why…why are they keeping you?" Uiharu looked at the floor. She couldn't bare to look at Kuroko. The side of her neck had a large bandage from collar bone to her ear. She had seen the nurse change the dressing the night before…and it gave her nightmares.

"Oh, I have an erratic heartbeat. Lightening strikes do that sometimes. Heehee. Onee-sama makes my heart beat faster…Onee-sama makes my heart…stop…" She was silent with a dark look on her face.

"They were all out of anything good." Saten walked into the room. "Lets go get some ice cream while it's still nice out."

"Okay." Uiharu smirked at Kuroko. She was about to tug on Mikoto's sleeve to get her to follow them but instead pulled Saten back out the door. "Meet us at the usual place?" Uiharu looked back at Mikoto questioningly?

"Sure." Mikoto took a seat by her roommate.

If she were faking to get my sympathy then she'd have tried something by now. I'm sorry Kuroko…I thought you were joking. She flashed back to Kuroko's smouldering body on the wet pavement…

"I'm okay Onee-sama." She wiped away the older girl's tears. "I just need to stay a few more nights and then we'll be back just like we were…with you trying to kill me again."

"That's…not…not funny," she stammered. "I'll make it up to you."

"Onee-sama, I'd really like it if you hit Saten with you rail gun. How dare she so casually mention ice cream when I'm going to be eating this dredge for days!"

"That's not funny either."

"Oneeeee-sammma? Don't you want to take advantage of indisposed me? You've definitely set off my flag with the flowers."

"That's it! I'm leaving." Mikoto walked quickly out of the room.

"You…you forgot to put water in the vase…" Kuroko closed her eyes again. It was hard pretending to be well.

"Wait up!" Mikoto ran to catch up with her friends. They hadn't made it far.

"So are you going to tell us what you did? Rumours are starting to circulate."

"Rumours like what." Mikoto stopped walking, seemingly bracing for impact.

"That Kuroko made you orgasm and electrocuted her by accident. That's a fun one!"

"Wha…wha…what?" Mikoto legs nearly gave out.

"I heard that Shirai-san was messing around behind your back so you took her out." Uiharu said sweetly, avoiding Mikoto's eyes.

"Not you too Uiharu?"


Please review! I appreciate all feedback and the more I get the faster I tend to write the next installment.