Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! I do love a good Touma X Mikoto, a nice change of pace from Accelerator and Kakine. I'm surprised I didn't get any flames—heck, I asked for it. Maybe this story isn't that bad after all?

Anyway, onto the responses (skip if you like):

1412karasu: Your observational skills are really scary…everything you said is completely right. And when you see Touma's ability "evolve"…let's say the Imagine Breaker can do plenty of interesting things. As for Accelerator's ability evolving, it's more like he gains a more heightened awareness of its capabilities. (sorry if that sounds a bit vague, but I don't want to give anything away.)

Guest: Mikoto X Accelerator?...but—but I didn't plan that pairing at all…I would've put them in the same chapter if that was the case.

Redhood Company

The newly risen sun crested over the horizon line, splitting the sky in two halves. Facing the light of the new day, Touma and Misaka glimpsed their saving grace. Though exhaustion and aching seized her legs, Misaka could hardly believe their good fortune. "H-hey!" she cried, her voice slowly rising to a shout. "You, over there!" She turned to Touma and muttered, "Help me, idiot."

Approaching from the horizon line was a horse drawn-wagon, wooden and large. They stumbled towards it, only to fall to the ground. Against the earth, Misaka could feel fatigue seep into her body. With the pain exuding from her protesting muscles, how had she managed to walk all night? "Huh?" She felt a hand pull her upright.

"Lean on me, Misaka." She knew this tone. Gone were the panicked cries of the high school Touma Kamijou—this was the very same boy who'd taken it upon himself to save her SISTERs from Accelerator's bloodbath. But nobody's life was at stake. There was no reason for him to undergo such a transformation and shoulder such a weight.

His shoulder was strong and rugged, no doubt from all the fights he'd been through. Her gaze fell to his shirt and she wondered if beneath the fabric, there lingered countless scars, each a memento of every dance with death. His hand was equally strong and though it showed no unusual signs, it was nevertheless the hand that had beaten her time and time again.

And it was in that hand—in that determined grip that she found her answer. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile and she planted her feet in the ground. "Why?" She pulled away from Touma, tearing her hand from his. It felt wrong, so disgustingly, irrevocably incorrect to reject his kindness, but the feelings blooming inside her like a black, rotting flower were even worse. "Why?" she cried, lifting her face and glaring at his confusion. "Why do you always help?" Those memories of seeing him frantically returning to a battlefield, wounded from a previous bout. "I asked you then," she muttered. "and you still haven't changed!"

He opened his mouth to answer when a cry exploded into the dawn air, "You two all right?" They turned and found that same wooden wagon a mere thirty feet away. A young woman waved at them from the top, a bright grin on her face. "Hey!"

"0-n"

"Where'd you come from?"

"What Fuerza do you have?"

"Are you married?"

"Have you seen any Fae?"

They nearly backed out at the relentless bombardment of questions, but a pair of confident hands pulled them through the throng and across the wagon. No matter how she squinted, she couldn't make out the contents of the wagon other than grabbing hands and inquisitive faces. It was only when they'd reached a pair of seats that Touma and Misaka sat down at a large, wooden table at the back of the wagon. The woman who'd called to them stared back at them with that same smile. "So, who are you? Where're you headed?"

"I'm Touma, and this is Misaka. We're on our way to…" Memories of the previous night flooded his thoughts and found himself gazing at the circular pattern in the wood. That sky—that beautiful darkness that glittered with garnets and opals and topaz. Silver had streaked across the sky like a shooting star. "I don't know."

"Where are we?" Misaka asked, reaching for Touma's hand underneath the table. She took it and squeezed tight. His hand squeezed back, and she added in rejuvenated tones, "We're looking for some answers."

"But that still doesn't tell me where you're headed." The woman jerked her head back. "You were headed that way, right? There's nothing there but a few ghost-towns. Why?" she asked, leaning over the table. "You have family there?"

"We don't," Touma replied, exchanging furtive glances with Misaka. "We're trying to find a doctor. She was pretty badly hurt a little while ago."

The woman's eyes roamed Misaka's form for a moment. "She looks fine to me," she decided. "but we'd better get going; if she was poisoned, you'll be digging your wife's grave." Misaka blushed but before she could protest the woman reached across the table. "The name's Jessie James of the Redhood Company." Jessie gestured to a small boy around ten years of age. "Bill, give 'em some food and make sure Misaka doesn't do too much." The boy nodded and took their hands. Once again they were pulled through a throng of people and questions, before they found a small basket in the boy's hand, piled high with bread and meat slices. Misaka reached first and gingerly bit into a piece of bread. A honeyed sweetness aroused her hunger and she wolfed down her first helping. The other members of the Redhood Company chuckled and wolf-whistled at her relentless pace. "She's got quite an appetite, doesn't she?" Bill pressed another basket of fruit into her hands. Large, purple produce, the color of grapes and the size of watermelons, stared back at her. Succumbing to a second bout of hunger and the encouraging stares of the men and women surrounding her, Misaka lifted one from the basket and asked for a knife.

Guffaws filled the sturdy wagon and Jessie shook her head amidst chortles. "Where're you from? You actually thought we cut these with knives?" She giggled again and took it from Misaka's hands. "You suck it dry." As if to demonstrate, she raised it to her lips and took a small bite. Misaka watched as juice began to spill out. It was a sticky and black like tar, and the woman pressed her lips to the opening. For a few moments, the only sounds were slurping and sucking and Misaka watched as the massive fruit slowly began to dwindle. Its fleshy surface began to sag and ruffle. Finally, Jessie pulled away and wiped her mouth against the back of her hand. "There ya' go." She threw the fruit's remains to a man in the corner. "Take it below—we'll burn it later." The man nodded and left without a sound. "Take another," she encouraged, before glancing at Touma. "You too."

Mikoto took one and handed it to Touma, before sucking yet another dry. The juice was sweet and held a tangy edge, a light contrast to its grimy appearance. It wasn't long before they'd finished four, the husks stowed below. Their thirst and hunger sated, they practically collapsed to the floor—it was only when their stomachs were full that their minds felt the full brunt of the entire night's walk. Exhaustion ran its course and brought them to sleep.

Author's Note

…*Cries* I'm so sorry! I know I said every two days and it's been three, but I had Christmas stuff to do with family…so would you forgive me, just this once? I wanted to give you something for being a little late, but this definitely turned out shorter than I planned. So little TouMikoto today! *Apologizes again and again*

I assure you—tomorrow's chapter will take the cake!

Anyway, how many of you noticed the Bible reference? Don't worry…it'll have something to do with the story…maybe. ;)

And now all the preambles are out of the way! The chapters will start picking up from here, so there's your warning. Let the fun begin…tomorrow.

Zekrom1 (and Vanitas1776)

By the way, what're your views on Puella Magi Madoka Magica?