Twist of Fate
Disclaimer: I do not own a certain magical index, it's characters or it's elements.
Chapter 35: Ghost of Christmas Present
Stuff was weird. Crowley still didn't know what was going on. Spirits were visiting him and he couldn't understand it. He didn't like that he couldn't understand it. He wasn't used to not understanding things. He saw that the clock on a screen read 10:59 PM.
He had turned off all the screens monitoring the city and set them only to alert him if something needed his attention.
He had set up every defense in the building so nothing could get in. There were no bells or anything that seemed out of order.
As the clock changed to 11PM he knew there was nothing that could go wrong.
"Oh, silver bells." Singing was heard over the sound of jingle bells ringing. "Oh silver bells!"
"No." Crowley growled.
Shaking a pair of small silver bells was a girl that looked like Misaki Shokuhou. She was wearing a sparkly long blue dress and what looked to be a long rope of silver tinsel as a boa. She also wore a green Christmas wreath as a crown. For one last touch she had long silk white gloves decorated with Christmas symbols like mistletoe.
"Mental Out?" Crowley questioned his eyes.
"Wrong!" She cheered. "The correct answer is the Ghost of Christmas Present."
"How can you be here? I put up every possible barrier."
"You can't keep out what is already here." The Christmas Spirit shook her finger at him.
As he looked he noted how the usual stars in her eyes were different, they were in fact the symbol of the star that had once lead three wise men to the new born Christ.
"Begone Spirit."
"Okay, I'll go."
Crowley was a little surprised that that had been so easy.
"But you're coming along." She clapped her hand together and the world around them changed.
Crowley found himself right side up on the streets of Academy City. They were still bustling with people celebrating the day.
Nearby Fukiyose looked up at the fireworks and light filling the sky. In her hand she held the gift left to her by Touma Kamijou. Though she was annoyed that he didn't get her batteries, she was nonetheless happy to receive it as it did have a good outcome. She silently thanked the boy for the gift.
"Ba humbug." Crowley scowled.
"Oh, are you getting into the spirit of the holiday?"
"I hate this whole Christmas season."
"No one quiet knows the reason." She smirked.
"Please don't start rhyming."
"Okay, it's not like I don't actually know why. Thought it's hard to see why it continues. We're in this large city filled with countless people all enjoying each others company and sharing joy. It's hard not to be swept up by it ."
The magician gave her a deadpan look.
"Fine, let's try something else." She clapped her hands and again the world changed.
They were somewhere Crowley didn't have his Underline observing. In fact it was the Kamijou Residence.
A man he recognized as Touya Kamijou was walking up to his wife Shiina Kamijou.
Touya looked over to his wife, "Honey, don't let me drink anymore tonight."
"What?" She looked at her husband in confusion.
"I think I'm already drunk."
"You look fine."
"Yeah, but I just saw Santa Claus land in our backyard and fly off with Touma."
Shiina looked at him skeptically. "Okay, you've had too much."
"And for some reason they were rhyming."
Shiina looked at her husband wondering if he had hit his head.
Slowly the Railgun walked by with her head turned to the ground, her steps slow and steady.
Misuzu Misaka noted the downcast look in her daughter.
"What's wrong?"
Mikoto looked back at her mother with almost red eyes. "N-nothing."
"What's wrong?" Misuzu said with her firm motherly voice.
"Nothing." Mikoto reaffirmed.
"I know when you're lying. Now tell me what happened. Did you give the boy you like the present you brought for him?"
"First off, I don't like him."
"I did ask you to stop lying." She smiled.
"I didn't get a chance to give it to him."
"Why not? Did you chicken out?"
"No, it's just a friend of mine."
"What about this friend?"
"I just found him with her and they were talking."
"There is nothing wrong about people talking."
"She confessed to him and then she kissed him under the mistletoe."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He didn't answer her. She just said she'll wait until he was ready."
"That doesn't mean you've lost."
"He did looked like he enjoyed kissing her."
"Most people enjoying being kissed."
"He kissed her back."
"But he didn't accept right away did he?"
"No, I guess he didn't."
"He's just being stupid. He doesn't know what he's doing. Just try to show him your best side and if he returns your feelings then great. If he chooses your friend… then is she a good person?"
"Yeah, she is. She's a girl in judgment and she's kind and strong."
"Then if they end up together and you've tried your best I want you to be happy for them. I'm not saying give up yet, but treat her like you'd want to be treated in the situation. Don't sabotage them but still be your best. Then in the end even if you're a little sad you can hold your head high."
"I guess I can try that."
"I want you to give him that present. I want you to promise that you will."
"Fine, I promise you."
"No, don't promise me, promise yourself. You'll regret not doing so. Make a promise to yourself that you will give him that present. It doesn't have to be today but just do it."
Mikoto looked at her for a moment, "Okay, I promise."
Mikoto was unsure but did make the promise.
Nearby, Index was eating to her heart's content.
The spirit swaggered off near her took out a small salt shaker, pouring some out onto the food. Index paused for a moment and started to eat more slowly. Her hunger didn't stop, she just started to savor the food, taking time to enjoy the taste.
The spirit silently patted her on the head.
"What is the point of this?" Crowley spoke to the spirit, annoyed.
"You're supposed to be smart and yet I have not seen any proof."
"If there is a point I would appreciate that you just get to it."
She huffed, "Look at them. What do you see?"
"People. They are celebrating the holiday."
"And they are?"
"Wasting their time."
"To you it truly does seem that way. No, this day isn't just a day to celebrate a birth, but also to follow an idea. To be kind to those around you. It doesn't matter if they're family or friends or strangers. They do so to remember what it means to be human. To give of what you have, to make other people happy, to share life with others. That's something you have forgotten. You've so detached yourself from everyone that you can barely be called human. I offer you one chance, turn back now and save yourself. Stop all those plans. I will not ask you to treat the sick, or make the world peaceful, only that you turn back."
"Turn back?"
"Take any other path besides the one you're on."
He looked at her and after a beat spoke, "No."
"No? You know how many will suffer?"
"Yes I do."
"That doesn't move you to stop?"
"No, I've come too far and lost too much to hesitate when I am so close."
She looked at him sadly, "I guess there's no point in trying to move you to do the right thing." She let out a long sigh, "Good Bye, I doubt I will ever see you again. Now Merry Christmas."
She vanished and the world around them turned black. The sound of church bells rang through the darkness marking midnight and the start of Christmas.
Crowley expected to be taken back to his tube but that didn't happen. He sensed a presence and before he knew it someone had wrapped their arm around him and pulled him into the darkness.
Authors Notes: Okay, second part of the christmas story. Not as deep as the last chapter but lets face it we already know what happened during the last christmas. Anyway, with some luck I might just have the end out by Christmas. Anyway leave a review telling me what you think. I liked seeing what everyone else did during Christmas I thought it was a nice moment between Mikoto and her mom. And those who read the book should get the affect that the salt had on Index. Anyway getting to the next chapter. And lets all welcome my new beta Excaliburswrath.