Chapter 12
Hi everybody! I'm doing a double update, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13. I am advising for you guys to read Chapter 13 SLOWLY. I'd like to think of it as an end to a season. I'm really keen on exploring a sullen exposure to the pair. I've been trying to build it up in the past chapter. As you may have noticed, I started with a really cutesy vibe. I was really trying to change the mood. If I did a good job, let me know. More notes on the next chapter :0) Make sure to read it!
Thank you all for supporting this fic! It means a lot, really! Thank you for the kudos and reviews!
"All right!", the door to Misaka's room slammed open.
Right after Shokuhou's visit, a cheery Saten arrived at the room. With her fist in the air, she certainly made her presence known. "I'm here guys!", she laid out three jars of cake, magazines, pillows and a blanket.
"Saten, are you planing to go camping or something?", Kuroko deadpanned.
She placed her hands on her hip, "Well, I thought that since we were all watching her, you guys would also like some entertainment and comfort. Look, I even brought games!". She quickly pulled out a Monopoly board, a Chessboard and a deck of cards from a paper bag.
Uiharu sighed, "Saten, you continue to surprise me. At least, I brought my Judgement work and our actual homework for the day".
"That's where you'll help me!", she smiled broadly. "Since I brought the games, you give me the homework answers!". Uiharu completely blanked out, "E-eh?".
In the end, Uiharu grumbly complied. They both had the same homework anyway and it was rather short and bland. When both of them were bickering on what game to play, Kuroko's phone started ringing. "Excuse me", she said before standing up and moving outside the room.
The number was unknown but she made a habit of picking them up in case of an emergency. "Shirai, get ready for tonight", a familiar voice spoke. Surprised by the sudden command, she hurriedly tried to reply but was too late.
"Q-Que—", the call was ended before Kuroko could even confirm who was the caller.
By the honeyed voice and commanding tone, it was obviously the Queen. She didn't want to admit it but the prospect of working with "Mental Out" is giving her a sense of mixed comfort and anxiety. There were the dangers of working with her but the undeniable benefits of working alongside her as a powerful esper. She rubbed her forehead in frustration.
Sighing loudly, she came back to the room to see both girls playing chess right at the couch. Her face was twisted in a look of distress. "If she was leaving tonight, who would care for Onee-sama?", she thought.
"Are any of you free tonight? Unfortunately, my dorm mistress is strict on me staying", her concerned voice stopped the game midway.
Saten looked at her for a second and smiled broadly. "I'm staying for tonight", Saten joyfully declared.
"R-really?!", Kuroko teleported right in front of her in excitement.
Saten grinned, "Why'd you think I brought the pillows and blankets?".
Kuroko's expression was pure relief. Saten had volunteered to stay for the night at Misaka's side and that's one thing off the list. According to her, the couch was big enough as a makeshift bed.
Shirai couldn't be more grateful when she volunteered because true to the queen's word, a black car appeared when she was leaving the hospital for her dormitory. Right when she got in, Shokuhou briefed her on the situation without missing a beat.
Shirai Kuroko had never imagined this scene. Here she was, right beside the Queen of Tokiwadai at her car. She was alone this time. "Is she really?", a part of her doubted that. She was the one who was truly alone at this meeting and Kuroko was aware of that fact. Dealing with the queen, it was dangerous territory.
"I had someone look into the case. He came back with the answer after an hour. It was sloppy work, really.", she gestured her hand dismissively.
"What was it?", Kuroko asked in curiosity.
"A research group who calls themselves 'Fe: Iron'. Their base is an hour by car, if you can call it a base. Their hideout is in a basement of an abandoned building. They furnished it themselves, complete with bunkbeds and cabinets. They do have a van for themselves though. The chemical pumped out of Misaka is one of their projects. The main premise of the project is still unknown, that's where you'll come in handy. Your Spatial Movement will grant me access to a quick and easy fix. They possess a fair share of defense.", Shokuhou supplied.
Kuroko looked at her in doubt, "Wh-why do you need me? Any esper would do".
"Because you're actually willing and you're actually capable. Unfortunately, those two are hard to find. It's even harder if it's a case with Misaka. Truthfully, she might combust if she knew I involved multiple people in response to her situation. I trust that you're undying love to protect her will do the trick in convincing her of your willingness.", Shokuhou leant in the car.
Suddenly, Kuroko's phone dinged with a notification. She also noticed the small sound and vibration from the Queen's cellphone. They both pulled it out at the same time to read the exact same thing.
"It looks like they're issuing the check-up already.", Shokuhou commented.
Kuroko read the details carefully. Tomorrow, at Tokiwadai, all students must arrive at their respective advising class for briefing and further instructions on how to proceed with a health check-up which is compulsory, of course. There were some small vision tests, physical test but most of all a mandatory blood test. She guessed that the "blood part" was the important thing. "They are", her voice sounded distant. Her mind flew to Onee-sama's state and how a schoolmate of hers could end up the same.
"Don't worry. You'll basically be doing nothing when we get there.", Shokuhou commented when Kuroko sat in silence.
Shirai Kuroko's heart couldn't help when her heart skipped a beat. "Is she saying the truth?", she thought.
"Your body is really tense. Relax, it's only 4 pm and a car ride is the perfect time for rest", Shokuhou looked at her. It was like she could read her mind. "Wait, she can read my mind", her inner self panicked for a second.
The normal psychological response to the basic command, "Don't think of an elephant", is thinking of an elephant. Maybe the human mind is flawed in that way and Kuroko is no exception to human nature. But knowing that somebody could probe her mind, she should really cease all brain activity. Even with her will, her mind reached overdrive. It was like an explosion of thoughts. "I shouldn't think of Onee-sama or anything about Onee-sama's habits, personality, facts or even photos!", she shouted in her mind. Unfortunately, at her every command, a picture was being pulled up. She thought of Onee-sama's face, her independence, her love for Gekota and a multitude of favorite photos from her album collections. Hurriedly, she tried to gauge every bit of movement and reaction from the girl but she didn't even touch the remote. She was sitting prettily, resting, with a small smile on her face.
"I said relax, Shirai. You're getting really red", she spoke with her eyes closed.
oOoOo
Cold hard ground met Shokuhou Misaki's face. She was shoved into the uneven cemented floor, leaving a bright red gash on her pale cheek. Shirai Kuroko was right by her side. She was disappearing but reappearing at the same place with no progress. They've been brought to the ground with Capacity-Down.
"This is unbelievable, a Level four and another Level 5 for us!", a crazed laughter boomed in the area. "This is perfect, so perfect! You hear me?!", he shoved the woman on her side.
He sadistically smiled at the sight of the cowering girls. The presence of another Level 5 is just perfect, so very perfect. His latest invention, a tablet packed with multiple brain booster chemicals such as DHA to activate a person's personal reality to the highest brink, required some parts from a Level 5 to act as a catalyst. Maybe a bit of blood there, some brain fat or more is just enough to test it out. He was still in the very first phase, he isn't even done with the tablet yet. Chemical testing is still needed and he needs to check if the strength aligns with a Level5's immune system.
"This is perfect!", he shouted.
His fingers touched Kuroko's hair. The fine strands were placed in his calloused fingers. "What a fine specimen, save her. We need all the espers we can get, anyway", he looked at his fellow researcher who was operating the capacity-down by the truck.
"Can Jay get them? I don't want to mess up the anti-esper system we placed here or we're toast", the researcher shrugged.
The main researcher immediately nodded, "Jay, get them. Our future is in their hands".
What a cruel fate, his dreams were indeed placed in Shokuhou's fingers. She played with the hem of the remote in the swivel chair, Shirai right by her side. The Judgement member watched the four people laid out in the room in fascination. Their eyes were blank but a soft gold glint was shining in the bottom.
Kuroko couldn't help but think at the sight, "What incredible power".
Here was Shokuhou, reading their minds and filtering all the important information form their memories while playing with their dreams. She wanted them to have a taste for a split second and so she chucked a victorious memory that lasted for an hour in their minds, and a few seconds at reality just for amusement. The nature of these researchers is vile, just like the ones she knew.
"How did you know they had anti-esper technology hidden in the room?", Shirai asked.
"I thought that was pretty obvious.", Shokuhou teased as she slightly waived her remote.
She continued taking important information from their minds when suddenly, she froze. Kuroko looked at her in surprise. "Are you okay?", she asked.
"Teleport me to the car, now!", she shouted. Her face was contorted in utmost fury and she gripped her remote hard.
"What? Why?! What happened?!"
"I'll tell you on the way!", Shokuhou's frantic state caused Kuroko to just follow her.
She touched her shoulder and teleported themselves in the car. Shokuhou immediately pressed her remote for the driver to start driving in a speedy pace.
"What happened?!", Kuroko asked.
"Those researchers… they were greedier than I anticipated. They've hired an organization knowing full well that they can't pay. They asked for a pint of her blood.", Shokuhou grumbled in annoyance.
Kuroko stared in confusion, "Can't you just mind control those people to cancel the command or brainwash the organization itself?".
"It's a lot trickier than that. Dark-side organizations is a large web. They have their own system of contracts and the organization the researchers had hired is the fourth-ranked and her team. I can't very well cancel the order when she's on her way and I can't control her either.", Shokuhou said.
"Dark side organizations, huh?", Kuroko rubbed her chin. "Can you tell me more about them?".
Kuroko's face had turned serious. Truthfully, this was the rarest chance that she had. Her Onee-sama would never involve her and she can't very well ask the people from the dark-side. She just wants to know if her Onee-sama is…involved with them. As soon as Shokuhou Misaki mentioned the words, "Your Onee-sama is involved with a lot of things", it's been echoing in her head ever since. She couldn't help but think of the times her Onee-sama left at night and returned tired, if she ever returned at all. She's aware and she's respectful of the certain boundaries that her Onee-sama had set between them but she just wanted to help.
"I'll tell you all about it after this.", Shokuhou paused.
"Who's in Misaka's room?", Kuroko snapped back to reality with the question.
"Saten is there. She might be sleeping right now. It's almost 10pm by the time we get there", Kuroko answered.
"I'm aware that the doctors have briefed you and the others on her status. They've also began the detoxification process, thank God. Now by the time we get there, I want you to quickly teleport me into her room and out of her room. You will stay by my side at all times.", Shokuhou commanded.
"What will happen? What's your plan?", Kuroko asked.
Before Shokuhou could even answer, Kuroko's phone suddenly dinged with a text. She quickly read it, eyes widening and worry etching to her face.
Her voice was shaking, "Onee-sama, she's awake"