Twist of Fate

Disclaimer: I do not own a certain magical index, it's characters or it's elements.

As always special thanks to my beta Sargent Crash.


Chapter 28: Reprieve

While the moon quietly floated above Academy City, two of the strongest magicians of Necessarius stood next to Kamijou's bed along with the former magic god Othinus who sat comfortably on his chest. Unfortunately for Kamijou, they were there to tell him that once again his life was in danger.

"Is it just me or does this stuff seem to be happening a lot closer together? A month ago the entire city was filled with ghost, like two weeks later two girls chased by a fire monster find me, and then the entire city is caught up in the level upper and its hasn't been a full day when this starts up!" Kamijou protested.

Let's face it the number of times that Touma has been put in the hospital in the last two months would be enough to make anyone a bit upset.

Kanzaki spoke up, "There isn't enough time to complain-"

The door the hospital room opened up and a frog faced doctor showed up. "It's late and I do have other patients besides Kamijou. You are all making a lot of noise and upsetting the one patient who regularly gets his own room even in the middle of a disaster."

The doctor grabbed the magicians and pushed them out the door. Kanzaki had more than enough strength to stop him pushing her out but she was just so surprised that she didn't even think of fighting back.

"Huh?" She let out on the other side of the door. She might have said something but he grabbed the tiny fairy and tossed her to Kanzaki. The saint quickly and carefully caught her in hand, she could only assume that the doctor thought she was some sort of toy and could't risk telling him she wasn't.

"You can check on him during normal visiting hours." The Doctor closed the door on them. "Kamijou needs his rest and try not to move him for the next few days. Somehow he received a shock right into his nervous system. Its miracle he didn't die right then and there but at the moment he lacks any real motor functions. So please don't drag him out somewhere until he gets better."

The doctor quickly checked on Touma and sedated him after seeing how worked up he was.

Kanzaki and Stiyl wandered off in the hall confused while Othinus sat in the saint's hands.

"What do we do now?" Stiyl asked.

"We have to do something to get Touma to safety." Othinus insisted.

"That is part of the mission." Kanzaki spoke out loud. "If the doctor is telling the truth then we won't be able to move him. I will contact Tsuchimikado, he was hurt during the last incident. He should be able to explain the situation to Kamijou. I will text him the details in the morning. I'm sure he's asleep right now."

"In the meantime what are we to do?" Stiyl asked once again.

"We will guard the hospital. That's all we can do for the moment. There is very good chance that the city will be dragged into war and the streets will be filled with blood and it all will have Kamijou in the center of it."

"Oh Rikou!" Someone let out from one of the closed rooms the magicians passed by. They paused startled by the noise.


The following morning Kamijou was resting in bed reading an old manga that Itsuwa brought for him. That was when the spy rushed into the room, "What the hell are you still doing here?"

"I'm hurt." Touma was more than a bit surprised. "It happens a lot so I thought you'd understand."

"Didn't they tell you what happened? There's a hit on you."

"A what?"

"An assassination. Someone wants you dead. The church obtained some information that some cabals have grudges against you, like the Gate of the Gods Come from the Heavens, Return of the Winged One, The Keepers of the Black Flame-"

"Wait, who are the last guys? Wait those are the guys I had to fight to help Yamisaka and that cursed girl. Okay, I can see why they have a grudge against me."

"Yeah…." The spy paused for a second. "Some rogue members of the catholic church who sided with Terra of the Left and some parties who lost big time in War World Three and some affiliates of Gremlin have banded together to have you killed. They're not even using magic directly. They are hiring people to kill you. Normal assassins, magicians for hire and I think even some espers have heard about it. Anyone willing to kill you for money is being let in on this. These are people who don't want to meet Kamijou. These are people that will kill anyone just to get to you. The church wants to move you and hide you until this blows over. Let's get going."

"I can't." Touma admitted. "What ever happened to me screwed up my nerves or something. I can barely walked without falling and I twitch every once in a while. The doctor has me on some medicine because he's afraid I might have seizure. I should be fine in a few days but without someone watching me ….."

Tsuchimikado understood seizures were very dangerous and unpredictable.

During the attack of the crazy Kihara one electric attack a managed to hit the stump that was left after his arm was blasted apart. The attack hit his nerves and did some damage. Kamijou was lucky it didn't stop anything important or cause any brain damage.

"Onii-chan!" Maika ran in and grabbed her older brother. "Come back to bed. The doctors don't want you walking much."

As he was pulled away he knew he'd have to tell the others. He didn't know what would happen. He was sure the magicians would be told about his arm and any non magic assassin would be able to handle Touma. He knew a lot of dark side organization in the city were probably being alerted about the hit on Touma. The bounty on Touma's head was so high that even Tsuchimikado was tempted to turn on him for the money.


In the city Index had wandered off from her watcher Itsuwa and was looking for a snack in a convenience store. Not for her but something nice for Touma and maybe a little something for her.

Little did the nun know that the convenience store she found herself wandering into had the famous Railgun looking through magazines. Mikoto found herself looking through one of the city's Love Horoscopes. She patted the sides of her bag inside held the present she meant to give Touma during Christmas. Thinking back her heart ached as she remembered how Konori confessed to him while in the shadows she watched them kiss.

She couldn't help but wonder if they were dating but she didn't have the courage to ask. Still she promised herself that she'd give him the present.

"Hey's it's you, short hair who follows Touma." Index spotted the esper.

"It's you." Mikoto shot back. "And stop calling me short hair. That's more of an insult than anything, I don't need any more nick names I already have enough coming from that idiot."

"But it's okay to call him that idiot?" Index made a very good point.


Several minutes later the unlikely pair found themselves in a restaurant.

Rather than admit her fault Mikoto bribed Index with food. "So you don't tell him I called him an idiot and I'll pay with this."

Index had already started eating the dishes set on the table blinked at the question, "Tell him what?"

Index had a perfect memory and couldn't forget, she just wasn't paying attention. "Why were you reading those love horoscopes?"

"Huh?"

"They're not that good by the way. I've looked into them and they're not very accurate. The charms in there are rudimentary at best. Are you having some trouble with your love life?" Index might not be very fond of the esper but she was a nun and felt it was her duty to help others.

"Well…."

"Onee-sama!"Kuroko teleported next to Mikoto and hugged her.

"Kuroko! What do you think you're doing? How did you find me anyway?"

"Oh, I can always find you." Kuroko said in a lovely voice.

"Oh, I see." Index smiled brightly. "You didn't have love troubles at all."

"Wait-do you think?" Mikoto stared at the mini nun.

"You don't have to hide that you two are going out." An angelic white light shone behind Index. "In England same gender relationships are accepted and I don't have any prejudice against it. There is nothing to be ashamed off. Any form of love is a gift from God and brings joy to the world. It shouldn't matter if you're a girl who likes boys or you like others girls. Love is love and that is all that matters."

"Kuroko say something!" Mikoto was powerless to say anything against the nun who at the moment seemed as pure as angel.

"Onee-sama!" Kuroko grabbed her hand. "That mean's we're together! We're partners. Let's run off together! Let's run off and elope!" Kuroko started to pull her away.

"Have a good time!" Index smiled as she waved them goodbye.

"Onee-sama let's get a marriage license and then we can talk about threesomes."

"Kuroko! What are you talking about?"

"Here I thought she liked Touma." Index shook her head before continuing her meal


Kumokawa Seria went back to performing her duties as the brain of Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, A Board of Director for Academy City. She blankly stared at the pile of papers, her mind wandering off into a daydream. She saw herself in a beautiful white silk dress being carried by her hero, Touma in a cool black tuxedo.

"Hey." Maria poked her out of her sweet thoughts. "Why are you writing Mrs. Seria Kamijou on all your paper?"

Seria's eyes opened up in shock. "What?"

"And the doodle is cute."

Seria followed Maria's finger to a small doodle on the corner of the paper that seemed to be of Seria herself in a wedding dress and of Kamijou. Seria looked her sister right and the eye and only received a smirk.

"You got it bad for him." She walked away with absolute certainty.

Seria looked on with horror and red face.

Maria smiled to herself, her sister was a maiden in love and as cold and calculating as her sister is, she did display moments of cuteness.


Touma was sleeping in his hospital bed when someone stepped inside and he woke up to the noise of the door with his name plaque closing shut.

"Huh?" Touma woke up to find several men in black body suits around his bed. "Did I step into one of Maika's mangas?" He blinked a second before he realized they were members of the Black Crow Unit. "Hey."

One of the men who seemed to be the second in command behind Shutaura took a step forward. "Touma Kamijou?"

"Yeah."

"We would like to talk to you about our commander?"

"Shutaura?"

"Yes, it seems like your close enough to call her by her first name."

"Yeah, it sort of happened when we were nearly blown up underground."

"That isn't the point. Our commander has taken a liking towards you. "

"Eh?"

"It has been clear since she has started to act differently since she met you." The man cleared his throat. "None us of us have anything against you though we feel that we should warn you: if you so much as hurt her we will make sure you won't get a second chance to do so."

They way the group glared at Touma made it clear what they meant. It also made it clear they had no qualms about doing it and had possible done it before.

Touma gulped and they seemed to understand that he understood. They left without another word. Touma had spoken to Aogami enough to know that there were people like protective fathers or protective big brothers who saw it their duty from protect a girl from any suitor that didn't fit their standards. These were usually obstacles that few men could pass and it seemed like Shutaura had a whole platoon of them. What Touma didn't realize was that Aogami would beat on him if he saw the situation. They weren't stopping Touma from getting with Shutaura but simply warning him that if he hurt he'd regret it. The distinction was they weren't blocking him so he passed the ultra difficult version of that obstacle without so much as trying and the blue haired esper would have noted the difference and beat up his unfortunate friend. Though he wasn't there Aogami felt a strong urge to punch Kamijou at that moment.


Across the city Sozty and Ureapaddy were out food shopping with Itsuwa. Sozty was wearing a school uniform trying to blend in and Ureapaddy was wearing a traditional sari, choli and skirt.

"So what do you want to make tonight?" Sozty asked her.

"I'm not sure yet." Ureapaddy admitted. She had been staying with Itsuwa so she thought the least she could do was at least cook a little.

"You know I overheard Itsuwa talking and she said she makes lunches for Kamijou." Sozty told her. "Maybe you should try to make Kamijou something too. I've been reading a lot of these Japanese manga and in them when a girl likes a boy she would make him school lunches. So you should try it too?"

Ureapaddy flinched at the thought. "W-well, I suppose I could try and make h-him something."

Sozty smirked at her now blushing sister.


Back at the hospital there were lots of things happening. Shinobu decided to take a nap on the couch In the lab that Shinobu and Kiyama shared.

Kiyama stepped into the room to try and finish up some of the reports they got from the Level Upper Incident and how it reacted to some people.

Shinobu was sleeping on her stomach with her fanny in the air and a smirk on her face, "Oh, Kamijou, really? Butt love? That sounds all right."

Kiyama flinched and simply stepped out of the room figuring she didn't want to know of that and decided to break for lunch.

In a whole different room of the hospital the level five known as Sogiita was sitting next to his friend Yabumi who found himself hospitalized. "Come now eat." Sogiita shoved another spoonful into his friend's mouth.

"That's enough." Yabumi tried to reason with him.

"No, you have to eat. You have to feed your gut or how else will get better faster and regain the power you got because of the gutless level upper."

Yabumi was about to say something but his mouth was filled with pudding. He would have sighed if he could. Still he liked the fact that his friend had such confidence in him.

In a nearby room Saten and Uiharu sat on a bed. Saten held out her palm as a small spiral of wind formed in her hand.

"That's about as much as I can do." Saten admitted. "Everyone else has started to lose the power we got from the network. It seems a little cruel, we got power again and tried to help with it but it seems to be going again."

"Well, at least the doctor think you'll be fine and you won't slip into a coma again." Uiharu told her. "You did a good thing and unlikely everyone else at least you got to keep the power boost a little longer."

"Yeah, I guess." Saten tried to look on the bright side. Still she like everyone was surprised that any of them had power after the network collapsed.

In his room Touma found himself asleep. The medication that the doctor had given him was making very sleepy. He only woke up then when he felt something climb into his bed.

When he woke up he found the two small blonde girls wearing gothic lolita outfits.

"You're Touma?" Febrie asked him.

"Ah, yeah."

Janie spoke up, "Good, we weren't sure we had the right room. The last spiky hair boy yelled something about guts when we asked."

"Can I help you?" Touma asked them a little uncomfortable that one of them had their knee in his stomach.

"Shinobu likes you, do you like her?" Febrie asked.

"We didn't get an answer earlier." Janie pointed out.

Touma didn't have an answer for so many sad reasons. "I don't know."

The little girls looked at one another before they looked at Touma. "Shinobu is very good."

"There is a lot to like."

"She's been taking care of us and she's very nice."

"She makes really good milk tea."

"And tasty lunches."

For some reason Touma was reminded of Index.

"Please like Shinobu." Febrie tugged on Touma's arm in an innocent fashion. "Shinobu is very nice and when she talks about you she is very happy."

"If you liked her then we're sure that she would always be happy." Janie added.

"Uh, I'll let you know." Touma told them. "I should go back to sleep, the doctor told me to sleep."

The girls nodded and got off the bed and started to walk away. Febrie stopped," I'm sure if you and Shinobu liked each other and did couple-y stuff like kissing you'd be happy too." Febrie added before she waved at him good bye closing the door behind her.

Touma ran his hand through his hair as a heavy felling weighed down his heart.

In the city Aogami punched a wall hard enough to crack it. "Kamijou and twin goth lolis! Why am I thinking about that now?!" He continued to punch the wall until Judgement officers started to show up.

In her dorm Konori was bringing soup to Aomi who was recovering from the Level Upper Incident.

"So, about that guy you were walking with?" Aomi started. "How far have you gotten?"

"Let's not talk about this."

"Oh, come on I can tell you like him and you didn't seem to have any trouble with him pushing his face into your breasts."

"Ah… well, during Christmas I might have kissed him and confessed to him."

Her mouth opened. "Okay, spill, tell me everything."

In her dorm Awaki sat alone in the dark. She hadn't been sleeping well. When she slept she only dreamed of screaming pain and of large wings. She had been having those dreams since the end of the level upper. She couldn't remember how it ended just that Touma was in danger and everything went black to her. Awaki alone huddled into a corner.

Awaki was scared and she didn't know why.

In Komoe's home she was making hot pot and sitting next to Himegami.

The small pink haired teacher looked over to the girl dressed like a shrine maiden. "You couldn't get her either."

Himegami told her, "No, she hasn't been picking up my calls."

"I'm worried." Komoe admitted, after everything Awaki seemed to stop talking to them and didn't even come to their hot pot.

Himegami might not have shown it but something was making her uneasy.

In her office Carina sat across of Kongou. "So, I hope you're all right. I heard something happened to the espers.

"Yes," Kongou told her. "It is not as troubling as it seems. Thought I would like to talk about this gentlemen again."

Carina smiled sweetly. "So, who was this?"

"Touma Kamijou."

Carina tried to hide a side smile as the young esper started to speak.

In the room she was borrowing from Seria Misaki was having sweet dreams. Her face was a full blush, dreaming about a married life with Touma and a spiky haired baby.

Misaki opened her eyes, "Oh, that idiot Attack Crash is affecting my dreaming ability. He's getting his crazy fantasy mixed up with my pure dreams of lust and love of my beloved prince."

Misaki tugged on the blanket in an attempt to continue her pleasant dreams.

Shutaura stared at her reflection in the mirror as she put on a floppy hat. It wasn't her type of clothing but she remembered Arisa having one and she wanted to try it. She still wasn't sure about anything but she was trying to move forwards. That was when her computer binged.

Itsuwa was entering her dorm as the sister decided to stay behind to look for a few more ingredients. In the mean time Itsuwa decided to leave the weekly groceries in the apartment. When she opened up the apartment she held back a scream. She was surprised inside were not only the members of her remix church and the high priestesses Kanzaki but various members of the Anglican Church.

"Ah! What are you all doing here?" Itsuwa questioned.

She was planning starting to make a lunch to take to Touma in the hospital but now those plans seemed to be put on hold.

Tatemiya stepped forwards, "Touma Kamijou has been targeted by various cabals. Both magical and non magical assassins are coming for him. It's likely they have already entered the city." He let that all sink in. "Also how far have you gotten with Kamijou?"

Itsuwa blushed unable to answer the question in front of so many people.

As the night started to settle onto the city already they started to arrive.


Authors Notes: So I decided to go ahead with the next chapter. Rereading the last one it really did feel rushed and I was trying to get it out before I went to my con and I didn't even manage to finish it before that. So I'll try to take my time from now on. In the mean time I decided to write this breather chapter before the next arc. Okay, some news I did write that podcast side story called Kami-chan Disease so look it up. Remember the 500th reviewer will get to pick a chapter devoted to a character of their choosing so if there is a character doesn't get a lot of attention it might be the right time to get them in the spot light. Okay, this next arc won't be about saving Touma so don't worry about it, I have a good twist in store so just wait. Also I retold a chapter of the Index-chan manga so you might want to check it out its very funny and I wanted to add that here for canon jokes to come later. Tell me what you guys liked most of this chapter, I got to take glimpses of most of the cast in this chapter so I thought that was fun tell me which one you liked most. Finally I will be focusing on another fanfic I've been trying to finish so I won't be updating until I finish the last chapter for that one. Okay, so until next time leave me a review telling me what you think.