AN: Hello folks! Once again, sorry for the wait. Work, school and studying has taken over my life. But I have started on the next chapter so hopefully it will be updated faster than this one. Thank you for all the love and support. Responding to a few reviews below.
xxBakaAkki: I do want to include Misaka Imouto! I definitely, definitely want to include Misaka Imouto and I want her and Kuroko to have some form of interaction. Many ideas are circulating in my mind concerning this and I'm exciting to implement some of them. Matter of fact, I am all for the idea of Kuroko having her own all female harem…though Mikoto is the one who ultimately captures her heart ;)
61wisampa: I missed you too! I always appreciate your reviews. I think it's pretty cool that you're willing to take a chance on a mikokuro fic. Pretty cool indeed. I'm glad you liked the chapter! I'm happy the sisters arc is over. Soooo happy.
Yumekage: I hope I'll be able to make your love for Kuroko grow even more! Making people love Kuroko is my true and only goal in life. I breathe jealous!Mikoto and watching her struggle is going to be so much fun.
Mastodonic: I always appreciate any and all reviews I get! So if you ever have more insight or even criticism, feel free to make the review as long as you'd like! I'll address any concerns you may have. I love talking to my reviewers and knowing how you all are receiving the fic.
dyri: Touma will end up with…someone…I'm not sure yet. I just read New Testament 9 and people seem to be all for Othinus x Touma so…really not sure.
ominonA: You're so nice! I'm glad I was able to leave you speechless heh :p. Touma and Kuroko bonding further and Mikoto growing jealousy is definitely going to be seen in future chapters. Thank you again for the review :3
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED. I honestly didn't expect so many because I've been gone for so long. I really appreciate each and every one I receive. I appreciate you guys so much. Thank you for reading my story and going on this journey with me. Seriously. It makes me so happy. I hope you continue to send me your comments and criticisms. You all are so amazing and I couldn't do this without your support and care.
Thanks again to my beta Touzen for fixing up the horror that is my writing. You da best.
Chapter 9
End of an Era (Beginnings)
August 23rd
11:41AM
Kuroko sighed, exiting the bathroom with a weary expression. She used her good hand to run a towel through her hair and then threw it on the bed. It was only a light toss, but the effort of it still made a spasm of pain shoot through her side. Kuroko placed her palm on her bed post, leaning against it for support.
With a deep breath, she undid the towel. Large purple splotches stained her side, with reds and yellows filling in the gaps The doctor had said she was lucky that none of her ribs were broken. Unfortunately, due to her fall with Kamijou, her arm had to be in a sling because it was broken.
Kuroko grimaced, examining her side for several moments before dropping the towel with numbed fingers. At least Mikoto wasn't around to see the full extent of her injuries. This was the first time Kuroko had been alone in a day.
Thanks to Academy City's advances in medicine, Kuroko's arm would heal in three more days, and her bruises would be completely gone by tomorrow. The electrical burns she inadvertently suffered at the hands of Mikoto were almost healed, and the bandages spanning across her legs and arms were mostly for show.
That didn't stop Mikoto from worrying though.
Despite Kuroko's numerous protests, the older girl was adamant about helping her through her recovery.
While Kuroko appreciated the care, she really did wish that Mikoto would stop gazing at her with such a guilty expression. It stabbed at Kuroko's heart; she wanted to erase the look from her senpai's face permanently, and would gladly take another beating if it meant that Mikoto wouldn't feel guilty for a day longer. She was happy her injuries would be healed soon so that they could put this all behind them.
The remaining Sisters were alive, her senpai didn't have to suffer any longer, and while Kamijou had endured worse than her, he would be okay as well. Everything worked out in the end.
No one else would have to die.
Kuroko gave a start at the sound of the bedroom opening. She looked up and met Mikoto's eyes.
Mikoto's gaze ran over her, lingering on her bandages before looking away. "I brought some snacks for when Uiharu and Saten visit." She held up the white plastic bag she had been holding at her side. "I got a little extra. I figured you'd be hungry."
"Ah," Kuroko faltered at Mikoto's pensive stare before mumbling a faint, "Thank you, Mikoto."
There was a moment of silence. Mikoto palmed the back of her neck, sighing as she walked into the room. She placed the bags on Kuroko's bed, turning away to rummage through them. Kuroko couldn't tell what expression she was wearing, and the sight of Mikoto's back gave her no clue.
"Does it still hurt?"
Kuroko was taken aback by the sudden question; it was the last thing she was expecting. Her eyes lowered as she licked her lips. "I-it's getting better."
"That's…" Mikoto straightened up and turned towards Kuroko. The older girl frowned, her brown eyes stormy and dark with emotion as she looked Kuroko over. "That's good."
Kuroko felt her heart clench at the grief, the shame she could see swirling in Mikoto's gaze. A strange desperate feeling began to well up inside of her, like something terrible would happen if she didn't reach out and touch Mikoto somehow. She was on the verge of doing it, she could feel it in her hands, but then a knock at the door interrupted them
The two gazed at each other silently before Kuroko cleared her throat and turned to the door. "T-that must be Uiharu and Saten-san," she said, subtly wiping at her eyes.
What was I about to do?
Kuroko quietly pondered even as she mumbled, "I'll get it."
Before she could take a single step, Mikoto grabbed her uninjured arm and gently tugged her back. Kuroko glanced back at her with a frown.
"Um…" Mikoto blushed, staring down at the ground in what Kuroko presumed to be embarrassment. "Y-you should..." Mikoto trailed off a little, before finishing in a whisper. "Probably put on some clothes."
Kuroko blinked, looking down at her attire. Perhaps answering the door in only a towel wasn't the best idea "Oh, right." A dull chuckle escaped her. She walked past Mikoto to grab her clothes from her bed and then disappeared into the bathroom, but not before calling over her shoulder. "Tell them I'll be right out."
"Okay…"
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Ruiko stood outside Misaka-san's and Shirai-san's door and peeked at her phone again. What was taking them so long to answer? Uiharu stood next to her, fidgeting nervously, which she'd been doing non-stop for the past hour. Seriously - at her dorm, on the bus, and now here at Tokiwadai's dorms; Ruiko was starting to get a little worried.
When she received the call from Uiharu that Shirai-san was in the hospital, it felt like her heart had dropped down into her stomach. Not only because her friend was hurt, but also because Uiharu had barely been able to talk through her sobs.
Ruiko always had a weakness against tears, but Uiharu crying was the absolute worse for her. When they visited Shirai-san at the hospital, Ruiko was afraid that the other girl wouldn't be able to pull herself together. That she'd have a complete breakdown and it would be up to Ruiko to stay calm and mature even though their friend might have been dying. Thankfully, her best friend had been able to keep the tears at bay long enough to see that Shirai-san was okay.
This visit to the Tokiwadai student's dorms was actually Shirai-san's idea. She suggested it to apologize for her and Misaka-san's combined absence.
Ironically, Misaka-san had little to say regarding this, choosing instead to stand beside Shirai-san's hospital bed with her head down. Something was clearly going on with her. She'd have to cajole it out of her when they got a moment.
Ruiko went to knock again just as the door opened, revealing a flushed, distressed looking Misaka-san. Ruiko barely got a word in before she and Uiharu were ushered in.
"Hurry before the dorm mistress sees you," Misaka-san urged, frowning as she looked at both ends of the hallway. Then she slammed the door shut and leaned against it with a sigh. "The dorm mistress is still pretty mad that we were out past curfew when Kuroko got hurt." Misaka-san laughed uneasily, straightening up after a moment. She palmed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly. "We're actually not allowed to have visitors, but Kuroko insisted, and I thought it would be a good idea too…"
Trailing off, an unreadable look crossed Misaka-san's face. Was she uncomfortable? Guilty? Angry? Ruiko opened her mouth to speak, but jumped when Misaka-san met her eyes.
"Kuroko will be out in a few minutes," Misaka-san whispered, gripping her arm as she looked towards the bathroom. "Feel free to make yourselves at home."
A thousand questions began popping up in Ruiko's head, but she swallowed. Perhaps now wasn't the best time to voice her concerns.
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"Ahh, I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Shirai-san!" Saten-san grinned while leaning back on Mikoto's bed. "We were so worried about you! Especially Uiharu."
Kuroko smiled, watching red span across Uiharu's cheeks as Saten-san nudged her. Uiharu huffed and brought her can of strawberry oden to her mouth.
"I knew Shirai-san would be okay," Uiharu glowered. "Besides, Saten-san, I'm not the one who screamed at the doctor when he wouldn't tell us what was happening."
"Hey! I was nervous, okay? And when I get nervous, I yell." A sly smile emerged on Saten-san's face as she swung an arm around Uiharu's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "Anyways, should you really be talking, U-i-ha-ru? You did most of the crying."
"S-s-saten-san!" Uiharu glanced up at Saten-san, aghast. "You promised you wouldn't say anything!"
"Now, now." Kuroko interrupted the girl's antics with an amused smile. "There's no need for that you two. Right, Mikoto?"
Kuroko turned towards Mikoto, expecting the older girl to back her up, only to be met by a solemn expression. The older girl's mouth was pressed into a thin, tense frown, and her eyes had a far-away look in them. Kuroko frowned, unsure how to proceed in front of their company.
A deep longing welled up in Kuroko. Her fingers twitched; she once again ached to reach out and touch the older girl, though she restrained herself Even after everything they had been through, Kuroko wasn't sure if physical comfort was allowed between them.
Mikoto was still closed off, in so many ways. They hadn't really gotten the chance to talk, and there was a lot still unsaid between them. While Kuroko felt as though she was breaking through some of those walls, it still didn't change the fact that Mikoto had very much cut her off during these last few weeks.
Kuroko couldn't say that she blamed her exactly. Perhaps if she were still Mikoto's "Kuroko" then the outcome would have been different. Maybe Mikoto would have been able to rely on her if things were normal between them.
She held in a sigh. Am I really still chasing after the shadow of my past self? She wondered somberly, taking a sip of her iced coffee. Uiharu and Saten-san broke off into their own conversation as Kuroko thought about her situation. Knowing Mikoto as I do, she wouldn't have done anything differently...she stubbornly refused help, even at the last second...this person...my senpai. She wouldn't have relied on anyone. Even me.
As if finally noticing the tense atmosphere, Saten-san released a small laugh. "Geez, what's up with you two lately? Did someone die?"
Though Kuroko knew Saten-san meant it as a joke, she couldn't help but wince at the very poor choice of words. She glanced over at Mikoto and noticed that her laced hands were quivering.
At that sight, Kuroko let go of her self-restraint. With a swallow, she reached out to place a hand on Mikoto's shoulder, but paused when Mikoto spoke up.
"I'm sorry…" Mikoto whispered.
"W-what for?" Uiharu asked, sounding confused.
Mikoto's hands tightened. "Just for…not being around as often and stuff…" Her hands wrung together nervously. "There was something I had to do, for myself, and…I ended up pushing you guys away. So…" Mikoto's shoulders shook a little. "So, I'm sorry. To everyone."
Kuroko gazed at Mikoto unhappily. Mikoto looked unusually small and vulnerable, and seeing her like that made Kuroko frustrated. More than anything she wished Mikoto would just stop beating herself up so much. Kuroko searched for something to say, anything to comfort her, but unfortunately before she could try to appease the other girl, someone else stepped up to the plate.
Saten-san stood up from the bed and stepped forward to place a hand on Mikoto's shoulder. After a second, Mikoto tentatively lifted her head to meet the other girls face.
A grin had widened Saten-san's mouth. "What matters is that you're here now, Misaka-san!" She squeezed the older girl's shoulder as her eyes softened. "And we're here for you. Uiharu and I." She looked back at Uiharu, who nodded with a smile of her own, before returning her gaze to Misaka-san's. "For you and Shirai-san." Saten-san grinned cheekily at the surprise on Kuroko's face. "So don't worry so much, okay?"
At first, Mikoto appeared taken aback by her statement. Several seconds passed as her eyes fluttered and a grateful smile came across her face.
"Thank you." Mikoto said, her voice tight with emotion. "Thank you…"
A small smile formed as Kuroko lowered her head. "You don't need to thank us, Mikoto." She continued where Saten-san left off. "We'll always be here for you. No matter what."
She could feel Mikoto looking at her, the intensity of her gaze nearly boring a hole through her face, but she could not force herself to lift her head. She held back tears as she took another sip of her coffee. Feeling tired and comforted, all at once.
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After a few hours of talking, Uiharu and Saten-San departed. The four girls made promises to meet up at Joseph's the next day, and with that, Mikoto and Kuroko were alone.
Sighing, Kuroko closed the door behind her and rested her head against the wood. Kuroko then turned, only to see Mikoto frowning down at her. Biting her lip, Kuroko found that she couldn't hold the older girl's gaze even if she wanted to.
"W-well, we should prob—"
"Kuroko."
Kuroko swallowed, varying emotions passing through her all at once at the simple call of her name. Inhaling shakily, she licked her lips as she forced herself to meet Mikoto's eyes.
The misery in Mikoto's expression took her breath away. All reservations flew out the window at the sight of Mikoto's furrowed eyebrows and trembling jaw. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned towards her senpai and wrapped her good arm around her waist.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she buried her face in Mikoto's neck. The older girl tensed for before relaxing in Kuroko's hold. Mikoto placed a tentative hand on the back of Kuroko's head and curled her fingers into her hair. Kuroko shivered at the feeling though she had no idea why. She inhaled deeply, taking in the unique and comforting scent of her senpai's skin. "The wounds I've suffered are nothing in comparison to the pain I feel when you look at me like that, Mikoto." She maneuvered her head so she could look up, smiling faintly at the melancholy in Mikoto's expression. "So please; look upon this kouhai of yours and take solace in the fact I am alive."
"Kuroko…" Mikoto sounded like she wanted to protest, but instead of arguing like Kuroko thought she would, she simply lowered her head until her hair was obscuring her gaze from view.
"We all survived," Kuroko continued, dipping her head so she could catch Mikoto's eye. "Do not take all the blame upon yourself."
"But it's my fault you're hurt!" The hand combing through Kuroko's hair dropped. "If I hadn't of—" Mikoto gritted her teeth, unable to complete the sentence.
Kuroko swallowed. "You did not do anything wrong—"
"I hurt you!" A spark of electricity left Mikoto's bangs and the lights in their room flickered. When the lights came back a second later, Kuroko saw that Mikoto's hands were clenched and tears were forming in the corners of her eyes. "I hurt you…"
Kuroko felt hers soften in response. "It was worth it," she whispered, resting her head on Mikoto's chest in the process. "Given the chance, I wouldn't change a thing."
"Damnit, Kuroko…" Mikoto sounded choked up. "Why are you always so—"
"I said it before and I'll say it again," Kuroko cut in softly. "I care about you, Mikoto." She released a small sigh as she pressed her ear against Mikoto's heart, finding comfort in the steady beats. "You're my best friend."
"That doesn't change the fact that I hurt you," Mikoto mumbled, though she sounded a bit calmer than before. "How can you forgive me so easily?" Her voice lowered. "You always forgive me way too easily…"
Kuroko was confused by that statement. It was whispered, like Mikoto didn't intend for her to hear it, but before she could respond,a taut arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her close.
"I'm sorry." Mikoto murmured softly, burrowing her face in Kuroko's hair. "I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Mikoto." Kuroko repeated, forgetting her confusion as a small smile made its way up her face. "I'll never let you fight alone again."
Something had shifted in the dynamics of their relationship. Something inexplicable yet undeniable.
In fact, there was one simple emotion that Kuroko simply could not deny, one that was rolling off of Mikoto in waves.
Acceptance.
Kuroko may not be the "Shirai Kuroko" of yesterday.
But she still took residence with the "Shirai Kuroko" in Misaka Mikoto's heart.
Mikoto breathed her name, and Kuroko's hand tightened in the back of Mikoto's blazer.
"I promise."
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August 23rd
2:45PM
When Kuroko saw Kamijou again, it was when she was on her way to the hospital to visit him. However, instead of meeting in a familiar white room full of hospital equipment, they met on a familiar road, a road that called to her like a distant memory.
Her brows furrowed as she glanced up at older boy, startled by his sudden appearance. "What are you doing out of the hospital so soon?"
"I could ask you the same question, Shirai-san." He responded with a grin as he hobbled over to her. "You look awful."
Instead of the familiar irritation she was so used to experiencing when it came to this boy, Kuroko simply smiled.
"I would not judge considering how awful you look." She stated, repeating his words back to him. They smiled at one another for several moments before she looked out towards the ocean and took a deep breath"
"Things are going to be different now, huh?" She asked, almost to herself.
Kamijou tilted his head as he stopped beside her, glancing at her in confusion.
"Are you okay, Shirai-san?" He asked, noticing the melancholic glint in her eye.
Kuroko smiled wider at that question. The meaning behind her smile was unknown. Something had changed within her within the last few days. She had finally found her footing. No longer was she scrambling to catch up, to live up to the expectations of the person she once was.
There were still many aspects of her previous life that were unknown to her. There was a door still left unopened.
Somehow, she could sense the presence of her past self looking back at her, beckoning her to catch up.
But instead of reaching forward to grab a outstretched hand, Kuroko held back.
It's not time yet, she said to a dream of herself. Maybe someday I'll be ready, but until then...
"I'll create my own path," Kuroko finished out loud, ignoring the puzzled expression on Kamijou's face.
She grinned up at the older boy, a smile that she had never donned before. His eyes widened at the cheer on her face, the beam that rested on her cheeks. His confusion only heightened.
But...but because he had an idea of what dilemma had plagued Kuroko's thoughts and heart up until this moment, Kamijou Touma was able to muster a grin of his own.
"Yeah..." He looked out towards the water and felt the breeze wash over him. "We will."
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AN: And that's the end of the Sisters Arc for real! It was more of a follow up than anything else but I'm glad it's over. This little era of Kuroko and Mikoto's life is over. The guilt, confusion and apprehension Kuroko felt at approaching Mikoto and helping her has faded. She's reconciled her feelings and has made the decision for herself to find out who she is now without having to resort to looking back…or is it look forward? Though this was briefly discussed last chapter, Mikoto has finally accepted that her Kuroko is gone but there are still elements of her in this Kuroko. They're finally growing up!
As for Kuroko and Touma, there has not been much of them yet which is definitely going to change in the upcoming chapters. The beginning arc of this story was Mikoto and Kuroko finding one another again and now that that's over, we're going to have Kuroko finding herself, Touma being Touma and fighting for the dreams of others, and Mikoto attempting to understand the conflicting emotions that have already begun bubbling up inside her. OH and once again I want to remind anyone reading that this is a romance story between Mikoto and Kuroko. Just a BTW.
Once again, I just want to say thank you so much for the support and care. The insightful reviews and thoughtful responses. I am so happy to be able to share this with you all. I hope you stick around for the next arc in our favorite characters lives.
After all, it's an end of an era and the beginning of something new.