July 21st
Waking up in the morning has become a staple when you can eat tasty bread. Once I finished my daily ritual and ate breakfast downstairs I went out for the day since Asrael let me take the day off.
Groaning was heard as I continued robbing punks from their money and walked around until I was near a construction site.
"You can't do this!" I heard from the site.
I sighed as I walked around, looking for an entrance and found a black-haired girl doing the same with a flower pin on her long hair. She freezes as she sees me but I ignore her as I watch the scene in front of me.
A fat man is on his knees as a punk is dangling a music player and another is counting a stack of cash while the last one was smoking something.
Seems like a deal of some sort and the punks raised the price. The idea makes me grit my teeth and narrow my eyes. I hate drug users or dealers but that doesn't mean I can't understand. They're going through something, whether the buyer is going through a rough patch or the seller needs it to support himself, but raising the price like that? Not cool.
Me and the girl stay in the shadows as I wait for the girl to do something and I see the man start to get beat up.
Finally, what seems like the boss exhales smoke, "C'mon, pull him up." The other two pause as the boss' face becomes insane, "How far have you boys improved on your levels. Test'em on him."
I click my teeth as I look around and find what I'm looking for. Chicago is a very diverse place with a diverse group of people. Many who are willing to teach a kid like me. From traumatised soldiers to ex-monks and other thugs.
Like my dad, he was in the army for a bit and he taught me a few things with martial arts and trained me.
Then there were the traumatised soldiers who were more than willing to help in other techniques.
Regardless, I pick up a long pipe and turn back to see the girl walking away. I sigh as I piece together everything I found out today and yesterday.
Espers. People with powers that dwarf us normal people. Strength given form.
But, they're teenagers. Unstable emotions and hormones with powers that make even the weakest a threat makes due for complexes, whether it be inferiority or superiority.
Strength isn't a little bit of sparkling. It's the courage to stand up and retaliate, no matter how small it may be. Here, teenagers are taught that those with powers are better causing the creation of gangs like Skill-Out.
"Kn-Knock it off already!" I turn to the girl who's standing up to them and grin.
That's some backbone. She continues and doesn't look up to see the boss walking forward, "That person is injured. S-soon Anti-skill will be here."
She finally opened her eyes as the boss was cocking his leg back.
Saten didn't understand why she's helping a stranger. Why she's risking her neck to help a stranger. But she did so anyway.
When she opened her eyes she flinched as the boss already had his foot cocked back and was already releasing it when it collided with a pipe instead of the wall as she felt someone grab her shoulder, "That's enough, assholes."
The stranger that was with her at the beginning was holding a pipe as he pushed Saten behind him.
He had a defined jaw and a stern glare while his brown hair was brushed back with a blue denim jacket that had english words on it and a hannya patch on the right shoulder and a flag on the left with baggy jeans and black work boots. He was also tall, around the boss' height.
"Sorry I didn't step in earlier. But that was brave." He compliments her as he brought his pipe back and clicked his tongue.
"Who the hell are you?" The punks start as they release the fat man and the boss walks back.
I didn't deem it enough to respond as I tread forward and spin the long pipe on my hand so it nearly hits one of the punk as they step back and I lower it.
Without much fanfare, I sprung forward as they grinned, "You fool." One yelled as some of the equipment flew at me but stopped as I thrusted into the guy's solar plexus and he was forced to be bent in half as the wind left him weak as I spun back and lowered my hands on my makeshift staff and hit him across the face as he spun and the length of the pipe hit my back and I caught it by hooking my right arm around it.
The other was shocked as I released the pipe and hit him across the face as he stumbled to the side and onto a wall and he leaned on it as he held his cheek, "Let's see if I remember this right." I mutter as he turns with fear in his eyes as I grab his hair and pull him into a knee to his stomach and force him to the floor, "Not so fun being powerless, is it?"
I grab his hair again and pull him up and throw the back of his head against the wall and stomp on it as he falls to the ground, unconscious.
Turning to the boss, I couldn't help, "No matter where I go, whether it be Chicago or Japan, there's always scum like you, always exploiting other people's suffering."
The girl already helped the fat man away as they stand away, "So, you must be an Esper too huh? What level are you? What about ability?" The boss asks.
"Don't have one." I admit as the other two looked surprised.
"Then where do you get off you twerp, either of you. A scum without power has no right to point any finger at others." The boss said as I rolled my eyes.
I was about to open my mouth when another voice interrupted, "You have no standing to mock either of them for misconceiving strength gained from an outer object for your own capability." The voice was refined and high-class, it was the girl I saw a few days ago.
"All strength comes with a price. Time and effort being the price for true strength. Anything that doesn't use either is nothing but strength that will fail you in the end." I add as the twin tailed girl looks at me with some respect.
"I am Judgement." She shows us the armband with a shield on it, "You are under arrest for assault."
"Shirai-san!" So that's her name.
"Seems like someone already took care of the rabble. Seriously, what is it with people takin-."
A thrown pipe interrupts her dialogue as the boss is gone and he is suddenly behind Shirai, "How?" But she reacted quickly and brought out a needle as it appeared where his shoulder should be but it shifts as my eyes widen. He shifted. The pieces started coming together.
"You know, this gang of ours we laugh off robbing, violence, and threats. It's what we normally do," I get into my stance as my instincts go haywire, "all the other 'bad things' we've all done and we totally enjoyed it."
Snorting as I walk forward I interrupt, "So you want to take revenge on Judgement for forcing you into sticky situations when they chased you? Dude. Fucking lame~."
"What do you know? You're just some powerless dude who knows a few fancy moves. I can kill you whenever I want to." He taunts back.
"Then do it." My voice loses the amusement it had as all that was left was a blank face.
"Kid, know one thing. There are many ways people react in the face of death. Many run away in hopes of living, others accept it and plead for it to be quick, others will barter for their lives. In the end, none of these matters because death always finds its prey. It does not see us as men or women or anything else, just souls that need reaping. So, in the face of death, show it the same thing and in the face of a killer show him what death looks like and fight back. I know that there's nothing worse than fighting a man who's not afraid to die but afraid to leave those he cares for behind."
I straighten up and walk forward, "What are you waiting for? Do it."
Everyone in the alley was shocked at my change in expression and attitude.
"You're powerful right? Or, is your power not useful when it comes to face-to-face. Maybe it has to do with illusions?" I ask as his face becomes more unnerved, "That's why you had dumb and dumber over there with you. His ability to move things without touching them would make it easy for things like pickpocketing and assault while the other would be the distraction?"
Now he was sweating, "No, it's not illusions in reality but our mind. Maybe light distortion?"
He was shocked as I stood in front of him, "How pathetic. Speechless? Frozen? Let me give you a clue why that happens," I grab his shoulder before he could say anything, "'cause you're afraid."
That snaps him out of it as he steps back and goes for something as I pull him and bend his wrist inward and go under him as I force him to bend over and start twisting his arms as he yelps in pain, "Hmph, slow, weak and not even worth it."
That seems to anger as he ignores the pain and I catch the glint of a knife only to hear something whish in the air as the boss' hand disappears in place of a nail as I raise my arm to block the knife as it digs into my forearm but doesn't completely penetrate. He grins as if he's won, "Ain't talking so big, are you?"
"No. But I know someone who can." I grab his shoulder and headbutt him as I see blood fly from his nose and he releases his hold on the knife.
"All yours officer!" I call as I knee his liver and she comes in a dropkick as it knocks him out.
There was silence until I clapped my hands, "Well, this was fun, but I have to go now." I turn but find myself looking down to a cross twin tailed officer, "This ain't going to be easy, is it?"
She grins but I could see the anger behind it, "Nope."
I'm being scolded, but that ain't working against my dumbass when I've lived with sensitive teachers who blow everything out of proportion and are easily offended. And my mother.
"Hey, are you listening?"
"No."
"Listen!"
"Look, either start adding insults or yell louder. Make it interesting or something." I flinch as she adds something to my arm.
"Just be quiet, civilians shouldn't be risking their lives like this." Shirai, as she introduced herself as, scolded me but I could feel the worry in her voice.
"Not the worst I've gotten." I admit.
"What could be worse than being stabbed in the arm." Shirai grumbles.
"Being cut across the gut, being shot near the gut, a lot of things." I answer, familiar with those sensations.
"Where did you live?" She asks.
"Chicago." I respond.
"So American? You speak Japanese well for a foreigner." She compliments as I stand up.
"Had a friend who taught me in exchange for helping him with Japanese." I explain.
Anti-Skill already arrived and now I'm being scolded by them but they let it go since it was in self-defense and they asked me, with a weird look, if the money they had could be found. I gave them the money that was the fat man's originally but everything else was free for me to keep.
The boss started mumbling something that didn't make sense, "It's like those others, some of the other espers have been saying the same thing."
Shirai glares at me as I shrug, "You'd need a good punch to the jaw or the temple to be that delirious. I hit neither, you on the other hand…" I gave a smug grin as she slowly turned away as she started whistling.
Though, the mumbles are familiar, what he's saying and the meaning behind it, "It's like he's sleep-talking. Reminds me of some old war vets."
"How?" Shirai asks me.
"PTSD. Though that probably isn't the same in this case. It's like there's two people talking. The first sentence is his subconscious and the second is something else." I analyze.
The Anti-Skill officer scoffs, "What like a ghost?"
"No, like a second personality." I say.
There was silence as the officer sighed, "How do we know if that's true?"
"We don't, though his file probably will tell." I say as I stretch.
Shirai seemed focused as I noticed, "Something wrong?"
"No, it just seems like he's brainwashing himself." She analyzes as I nod.
I grimace as I punch a punk's face and find it hard.
"Hah! My ability is perfect for guys like you. I can make my body as hard as concr-ugh!" He's surprised as I sock him across the jaw and it hurts as he stumbles back, unconscious.
"Good thing I can break concrete." I say as I sigh and flinch at the blood on my arm where I was stabbed.
"Damn it." I grumble before sighing in acceptance. I went back to Asrael's bakery and switched out my hoodie for a short-sleeved shirt that still covers my mysterious irezumi.
I picked up a bag of my things like towels since I really wanted to go to a bathhouse and came across a person on my journey.
"Dude, I don't know if I should call the cops for peodphilia or being an asshole." I say to the spiky-haired kid in front of me.
"Geh, you were listening." He asks as he looks at me.
"At the beginning, no. But the end, kinda." I admit as I extend my hand and he grabs it.
"Such misfortune. Sorry if we bothered you." He apologizes.
"I'm used to worse. Name's Leo Valderas. I'm new around here." I say as his eyes widen in curiosity.
"Really, then I'm Kami- I mean Touma Kamijou." He introduces himself.
"Nice to meet you." I greet as we continue walking.
Something inside me bursts for a second as I'm startled as the world changes. It was pretty empty previously but now, no one but me and Touma were here as Touma's eyes widened, "Index! Get back!"
"Stiyl has placed Ophelia runes all over the area." A beautiful girl said as everything in me is going haywire.
"Um Touma, I'm not the only one seeing this right?" I ask as I get into a loose stance.
"'The One Who Purifies God and Slays Demons'. What a nice name." The girl had long black hair up in a ponytail as she had a nodachi if my blade knowledge is correct, her jeans had one side cut to the thigh while the other wasn't while she had cowboy boots and her shirt was raised and tied below the breasts.
"You, on the other hand, aren't supposed to be here. How did you get here?" She asks.
"Dunno, why don't we have a talk without weapons. Or violence? Over some tea?" I ask with a sheepish grin as I try to hide my fear with a smile.
I've only felt like this once, a sword master in Chicago. I couldn't blink and I had my side cut.
He also taught me a bit so I can somewhat do the same but something tells me this isn't going to be good.
"That depends on your friend. My name is Kanzaki Kaori, if possible before I tell you my magic name, do you want to protect Index?" She asks as her gaze pierces into him.
Touma gives a shaky grin before asking, "What if I say no?"
She closes her eyes and rests a hand on the handle and I feel fear pierce my soul as I grab Touma's arm and run to the middle of the street, "W-wait-."
"There is no choice then." Time seemed to slow as I stopped and the blade whistled against the wind as lines seemed to reflect the light in the air.
"Cover your head!" I warn as Touma does as I ask.
I cross my arms as I grit my teeth as everything shakes and a windmill nearly hits us as we fall to our knees.
Noticing a few things roll on the floor, my eyes widen as I grab them and hide them in my clothing. May be useful lafer.
Kanzaki appears in front of us as her hair shadows her eyes with a menacing look in them, "I'll ask you one more time, do you want to protect her?"
Touma grits his teeth as he gets up and I stay on guard, "Protecting again? You're just spewing things you feel like saying."
Her arms blur as my eyes widen and I roll to the right to evade one of the cuts. How? She's only moving for one attack. How's it causing this much damage?
Once the aftershocks pass, Touma calls, "Valderas-san. Are you okay?"
My eyes widen as I turn to Touma, "Oh, I don't know. I'm doing fine. Just having my worldview turned on its ass. Just a normal Tuesday."
Touma chuckles, "Me too."
"So, mind telling me what I may die for?" I ask.
"It's a long story." He explains.
"Well, give me something to work with, if I'm going to die I want to know why." I see the image of my 'friend's' back as he runs and I shake my head.
"The girl, Index." He says, though he seems to have trouble explaining it before giving up, "She has something that's important. And these guys want it."
I turn to the girl and I feel like something's off but I can check on it later, "Catch!"
Touma fumbles as he looks at the object in his hand, "This, what am I gonna do with this?" He asks incredulously.
"Trust me, get close and throw." I say as he sighs and hides the can in his clothing.
I look for a rubber band I picked up and a lighter I got from an old man and a rock on the ground as Touma gets up first.
I hope this goes well.
And if it doesn't, well I still have the other plan.
Wait, does he have an ability?
Shitshitshitshit.
I got up as quickly as I could and ran around as I started rigging my plan together.
Touma stumbled forward as Leo stayed hidden for the perfect moment.
"You can still stand? Where'd your friend go?" Kanzaki looked surprised but quickly regained her composure as Touma ran forward.
In an instant, Touma had cuts all over his body as he faltered but quickly regained his balance and extended his hand forward as Kanzaki slashed forward.
"Touma, you dumbass!" Kanzaki was surprised that she turned around to see Leo with something in his hand.
At the corner of her eye, she saw Touma throw something at her as she cut it but found it to be full with deodorant spray as the smell distracted her long enough to miss the rock being thrown at her.
Though once the rock was in the spray's vicinity it exploded into fire.
"Yeah! That's how it's done." I cheered as Touma looked shocked.
"What was that?" Touma asked, shocked at how I used a can of spray deodorant, a rock and a lighter.
"Deodorant spray is flammable and I added a lighter with it, when she cut it, she released all the lighter fluid and I used another rubber band to join a rock and a lit lighter that was thrown at her so I basically started a fire." I grinned as I remembered something.
"Dumbass! She has a sword, don't run forward. Do you even have an ability?" I scold as I glare at Touma.
"Ah, I do." Touma says sheepishly before my instincts run wild as I kick his shoulders hard rough to push him away as pain runs up my leg.
"Impressive, if I was anyone else that may have proven to be fatal." The bitch spoke as she glared at me, "Why did you involve yourself."
"Fuck! Argh, stupid bitch! Give me a minute!" I grit my teeth as I take a deep breath to calm myself.
There was silence as everyone waited for an answer while the pain racked my brain, "'Cause I'm a dumbass."
I hiss as I take another breath, "A-and 'cause you didn't kill me."
She seemed surprised as Touma interrupted, "Yeah, I noticed that too."
He sits up, "With those powers you could have killed us long ago. Hell, you probably wouldn't have bothered with all this. So, it wouldn't be too difficult for you to kill a girl who is alone and void of memory."
He starts getting up as I mutter, "Lucky bastard." Not noticing the blue flames on my body as they heal the damage I've taken.
"So why do you have to do it?" Exclaims Touma.
"I'm-!" Kanzaki exclaims before continuing in a softer tone, "I really have no intention of harming her. I just want to maintain the Church's barrier."
Ugh religion. My least favorite subject.
Ignoring my expression, or not noticing, she continues, "There's no other way," she hugs herself with one arm, "If I don't do it, there's no way she could continue to live in this world."
Now I was interested, "What are you talking about?" Asks Touma.
"Index, she is the most important friend to me."
There was silence at that revelation until I couldn't help but cough, "Um, sorry but I got my leg cut up for this girl, can I at least get some context? It's getting really good."
They turned to me as their eyes widened but Touma said it first, "Y-your leg."
"Yeah, it's cut uhhh." it's not, and it also has a blue flame surrounding it.
We all stared at each other for a few seconds of silence until I got up and found it in good condition, "I'm still curious, I just want everyone to know."
Touma's eyes widen as she turns to Kanzaki, "What do you mean! Are you saying that she's lying to me?"
She paused for a second as I started looking around for the towels we had.
"She did not deceive you, it's just that she had forgotten that we are from the same organization 'Necessarius'."
"Wait, what's Necessarius?" I ask as I find one my own bag of goodies with a big towel in it. Brand new as well.
Touma was going to open his mouth but Kanzaki interrupts, "It's what the Yakuza are to Japan in our world."
"So, a necessary evil basically?" I sum up as Kanzaki looks somewhat surprised, "What? I may be foreign but I'm not that clueless. The Yakuza are a government regulated organization where they are allowed to operate within certain bounds as long as they keep the place clean. So, Necessarius must be an organization that tracks down magical criminals and puts them down."
Kanzaki looks conflicted but concedes, "In essence, yes. It's also the reason why she was being chased afte-what are you doing?!" Kanzaki exclaims.
"What? Touma's injured for fuck's sake. It'll hold until we get him checked out or something but it's gotta hurt." I say as I ignore her and unsheathe her nodachi slightly and start trying to get the right measurements.
"Stop that!"
After that little debacle, Kanzaki, I can now call her that vocally after asking for permission, cut the towel into even pieces and I sewed them together with my rudimentary knowledge of sewing. Thankfully, I had brought alcohol by accident and a water bottle. And gained information on Touma's Imagine Breaker, or his right hand. Fucking hacks I tell you.
"Why did you have shampoo with you." Kanzaki asks as she shifts her weight slightly.
"Because we were going to the bathhouse." I explain but sigh since we've been here for too long and it's probably closed.
"No, why did you have it on you?" Kanzaki asks.
"I was gonna try and throw it into your eyes." I admit to her. Both Touma and Kanzaki gave me a shocked look.
"You get no say in this," I point to Kanzaki, "you did all this," I point to the destroyed area that was our fight, "with one swing. I refuse to fight fair with someone like that."
Kanzaki looked embarrassed as she coughed into her hand, "May I continue? We don't have much time left."
I nod as I clean off some of the blood on Touma's arm as he flinches, "Fucking pussy. Stay still."
"But it stings." Touma whines.
"Shut the fuck up." I curse at him as he sighs.
"Such misfortune."
Kanzaki only sighs as she continues but I interrupt her, "You should sit down."
Her hair shadows her eyes as her hand twitches before she exhales and sits down with us, "No more interruptions, got it?"
"Yes ma'am." We said in unison though Touma was slightly more anxious.
"The people after her want to get their hands on the 103,000 grimoires and they are magicians from different magician communities. She made the choice knowing the danger she'd be put in." Kanzaki says as her head tilts down in shame.
Touma sighed before saying, "Unbelievable. So why is it that Index can't remember anything about you guys? She has the perfect memory ability, right?"
Kanzaki stared at her hands, "Those memories of the past, we erased them with these very hands."
The pieces started to connect. Index has valuable information, incredibly so if they're going this far, but 103,000 books? That's quite a lot. But why hasn't anyone else been able to read these grimoires. Maybe anyone else will have adverse effects should they read it? Probably. But why do they have to erase her memories? It's not like the human mind is that weak.
Well, I don't have all the facts so all I can do is listen to the story of a nun I barely know.
She finished her story as I grit my teeth, seeing parallels to another friend of mine.
I finished making a makeshift bandage for Touma by the end of the story as he asks, "What happened to her after that?"
"Do you still want to know?" Kanzaki asks.
"If what you said is true, how long 'til Index reaches her limit." This conversation is pissing me off. But I'm not the one who should do it. Since I can't relate nor am I that good with words.
It's not that you can't relate to her, no, it's the other way around.
Caskets. Cuts. Guns. Defiled. Hung.
Male. Female.
No. Please. Stop it.
For such a steadfast individual you seem to have trouble with your past.
Tears start falling down my face as their faces come to mind. Headlines.
Senior Citizen Commits Suicide
- - Shot Down Walking to the Corner Store
Teenager Raped Behind a Church
Gunshot Heard in an Empty House: Body Found
No. Please.
An old man falls to the floor as a gunshot rings and two people with guns are there before they're shot down.
An adult is shot between the eyes as he's reading a story.
"No matter how many times she forgets," I hear Touma's voice say, "No matter how many times… You can always be friends again, right?"
There was a pause as Kanzaki paused, "Yo...You!"
"You will never understand anything!" Kanzaki screamed.
…
My emotions, carefully controlled, lose free as a spark lights a fire in me.
"No, Kanzaki you don't." I mumble as I grab the sword, surprising both Touma and Kanzaki before Kanzaki's confusion turns into anger.
"You're just an outsider, how would you understand anything that we're feeling!" She yells as I grit my teeth.
"Shut the fuck up!" I yell as I send a kick to her chin as it loosens her grip on the blade as blue flames wreathe my body and I dash to Kanzaki as I ram her against a building. "Your friend's a-fucking-live. So why do you take the role of enemy? It hurts to see your friend forget you huh? What about burying him? No? Then seeing her walk in, crying, bruised and beaten with ruined clothing? You say I don't understand but I do."
"Valderas-san, that's enou-." Touma tries to calm me but I was angry, sad, jealous, and every other emotion I tend to repress.
"Shut up! I've seen my friends die in front of my eyes, I've seen them overdose and die, I've lowered their caskets to the grave, so don't tell me I don't understand when it's you who doesn't." I growl as I stare deep into Kanzaki's eyes and the shame in them.
I feel the flame in me start to dissipate as my emotions return to their previous suppressed state but I didn't let go.
Sighing, I let her go as I step back and mumble, "I'm sorry."
"N-no, it's fine."
"You too Touma. That was uncalled for." Touma quickly straightens and shakes his head.
"It's fine." Touma waves it away.
We stand there in silence until I sigh, "Look, Kanzaki, I think the Church's lying to you."
Kanzaki's eyes widen as she straightens up, "How, why would they?"
"The human brain isn't a phone. I'm no neurologist or a brain researcher but I know that much." I say as Kanzaki's face is shocked.
"B-but, there were no cures, scientific or magical." Kanzaki stutters.
"Well, have you ever thought of opening a book on, I don't know, the brain itself? Or memory?" I ask as the realisation seems to hit her and she falls to her knees, staring at the floor despondent.
"B-but…" She stutters as I sigh.
"And the Barrier the Church used may be the cause." I decided to outright say it.
I don't think anything less than crying could signify what she was feeling right now. Her black eyes were showing sadness like I was feeling a few minutes when she cut up an entire street with a single swing but far worse.
Wait, how am I not still in shock? When did I get used to being shocked that I can ignore it?
Touma gave me a look as I started a conversation with our hands.
I'm the asshole?
Yes, do something.
What? Sing?
I don't know.
Flipping him off, thereby ending the conversation, I sigh as I crouch and bring her into a hug as I rubbed her back comforting, "It's fine, you made a mistake. You were too worried that it slipped your mind."
"B-but," she starts.
"But nothing. Look, you're here, it's fine. You can make it up to her. You still have a second chance. Besides, it's not like it's something that's incredibly obvious so I don't really think you should be the one that's blamed." I say as she seems to calm down a bit.
I feel something hook around my thumb as a snap follows and the two of us stiffen. I take a deep breath as I step back and raise my hands while Touma looks confused but still stepped back as well.
Kanzaki, on the other hand, was glaring at me with a flushed face while hugging herself as she grits her teeth, "You. You!" She growls out.
"I didn't mean to do anything?" I ask in hopes of coming out better for it.
I did not, in fact, come out better for it.
July 22nd
I wake up in a futon instead of a bed as I stare at the ceiling and grunt as I smell the familiar smell of cigarettes and alcohol.
"So," I mutter, "am I back in the Southside or in a shitty apartment."
"What a rude thing to say." I hear a voice come to my side as I see a pink-haired girl with pink eyes as I pause.
"Why's your hair pink?" I ask before my brain could catch up with me as it registers how rude it is.
Her eyes widen at that as she stares at me and starts sniffing and I start worrying until she says, "T-that's the first time someone didn't ask about my height."
I stare incredulously at her as I quirk a brow, "Really?" She nods as I shrug since for me being raised around people that were blonde, brunettes, and black-haired seeing naturally pink hair is way weirder than the height thing. Even if she still holds the record for shortest person I've met.
"Ah, you're awake." I heard another voice ring out to my right from the inside. She wore a nun's habit but instead of the normal black and white it was black with gold accents that fit her well. Her hair was also a weird silver color with green eyes and an innocent face that made it hard for me to believe that she went through everything I was told yesterday.
This must be Index, "Hello, my name is Leo Valderas. What's yours?"
"My name is Index Librorum Prohibitorum." The nun said as she knelt next to me.
The teacher sniffs before coughing into a fist to regain composure, "A-anyway, Valderas-chan, what happened to you?"
"Uhhhhhh. I was slapped." I grimace as I touch the point of impact where my status changed from human monster to human projectile from the strength of one of the most beautiful women I've ever met, something I didn't have enough time to really pay attention to.
But damn does she have a strong arm.
"Slapped? What were you doing out so late?" She asked as she seems to remember something, "And what about the tattoos on your back and shoulders!"
Oh shit, they saw them. Wait, how? I'm still in my shirt?
"Your guardian sent us a picture to tell us but didn't tell us why you got it." Fucking Asrael.
"Wait, what tattoo?" Index asked as curiosity glinted in her eyes.
"Irezumi is the right term. I don't mind showing it." I respond as I sit up and take off my shirt and show them the image of Seiryu with a phoenix and a skull.
"Oh ~. The dragon must be Seiryu, the Azure Dragon. Then the right shoulder must be Suzaku the Vermillion Bird. The Dragon represents power, wisdom and success and is said to bring strength, luck and fortune while the phoenix represents the undying soul and triumph." She explains as she looks over my tattoo, "And the skull, in ancient times, represents acceptance and embrace of our mortality as well as a 'great change'. The snake seems to represent protection of illness, bad luck, and disaster and protecting the skull from these events."
We stared at her as she only stared back while tilting her head, "What?"
Shaking my head, I put on my shirt, "Nothing important."
"Valderas-chan, where did you get these scars?" I freeze as I know which ones she's talking about.
"Dunno what you're talking about." I say as I make it a point to not look her in the eyes.
Both stare at me before finally Komoe sighs, "Alright, but remember if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here for you. Now, both of you behave. I've already informed your guardian of what happened and Index already knows the rule. Kamijou-chan is currently in school and I should get going."
"Thanks Komoe-sensei. I'll be out of your hair in a bit, I have to go take a shower." I say as I get up.
"Alright, would you mind taking nun-chan with you?" Index looked surprised as I nodded.
"Sure, first I have to go check in with my guardian and get a change of clothes." I say.
She nods, "Now both of you behave now."
She closes the door as I stretch, "So, Index right."
She nods, "Touma already told me about them and you, is it true?"
Nodding, "Yeah, those magicians were your friends. They hunted you dow-."
"No, not that. I'm happy that I have friends that care so much for me, but is it true that you overpowered a Saint?" She asked with bright eyes.
"A Saint?"
"Yes, one of not even twenty of this world," She proceeded to explain what a Saint was but I blanked out halfway through the lecture.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?" She pouts as I chuckle.
"Sorry, religion was never my thing?" I said as she gasped.
"Do you not believe in God?" She said as if it was the most unbelievable thing in the world.
"I believe that God exists, but do I worship him or am part of any religions connected with him?"
I grabbed a wine bottle as I uncorked it and threw it all over the marble floor as the priest slipped when he charged and I threw the bottle against his head as it broke over his head, leaving me with a unconscious priest, a group of suited men, another group of scared children behind me, and a broken bottle in my hand.
Religion is a scam.
"No. The most I do is pray out of habit." I admit as I get up.
"Come on, I'll show you the way to my home so you can go there if you need me." I say as I stretch.
"B-but, why aren't you religious anymore?" Index asks.
I pause before sighing, "My own reasons."
She seems to want to say something but decides not to as she nods in understanding, "Well, let's go."
We were walking to Asrael's bakery as we continued talking, "So you're from England?"
"Yes, at least I think so. I don't remember much from then." She admits with a sad smile.
"I'm from Chicago back in America." I say as we continue walking down the street.
"You mean where the Bean is?" I snort as I lean in.
"The original artist hates it when people call it the Bean. Keep doing it." I say much to her confusion.
"But isn't that rude?" She asks with confusion.
"It is but the artist's an asshole so it's fine." I whisper as she turns to me.
"You shouldn't talk about people like that Leo, especially about people you haven't even met." She says with a glare that isn't that scary.
"I like to take rumors with a grain of salt." I say as I grin and Index pouts.
"Come on, don't make that look. I'll serve you up some cake on me when we get there." I say as her face brightens up.
"Really?" I nod, "Yay! Come on."
She starts running forward as I jog, "Index wait, don't run."
I catch up before she can cause some trouble by running into anyone or anything as we continue having conversations.
"Hey, let me go!" I hear from somewhere as Index does the same as we spot a guy being beaten in an alley.
"Shut the hell up you useless bastard." Another teen says.
"Yeah, c'mon be useful and help us level up." I curl my hand into a fist as I turn to Index who's grabbing my shirt as I look at her.
"C-can you-?" I pull down her veil as I interrupt her.
"Of course I can." I grin as I walk in, "Don't move from that bench and don't follow anybody."
She nods as I walk in to the alley, "Alright ya crackheads. Let the guy go."
"What was that?" They turned to me.
"Well, you're probably a Level Upper user, so you're crackheads in my opinion. Considering you all can't do anything without it." I goad as they growl.
"You won't be saying that after I burn that body." One of them raises their hand and a fire ball appears on it and it flies in my direction. It was pretty big so I ran forward and slid under it as the second had shot a laser that missed.
"Fuckers." I growled as I got up and side stepped a laser before kicking off a wall to evade a fireball as I dashed towards the laser guy and threw a jab to his jaw as he lost his balance and swerved into the wall as I gave him a second one that knocked him out.
The fireball guy had wide eyes as I ran towards him and cock my fist back and threw a hook but he smirks, "Ha! We've heard of you. Someone who can beat Espers with martial arts."
He catches my arm and throws me over his shoulder in a judo throw but I smirk as I land on my legs and I can see his eyes widen as I spin so he's bent back instead of me, "Nice try."
I throw him up so his head's aiming at the floor and slam him down on it as he falls unconscious and I let him fall.
I turn to the guy on the floor and show a hand, "You good?"
He nods as he grabs it, "Ah, thank you."
"Don't worry. It's fine." I say as he seems to refuse to look me in the eyes.
"No, it's not. You could have gotten hurt!" He exclaims as I flinch.
"I would have healed anyway. Look, it's fine." I try to reassure him.
"I have to pay you back somehow." He exclaims again as I sigh.
"Fine. But maybe later. Give me your phone number."
He seems satisfied but the hat and the jumpsuit make it hard to see him.
After exchanging numbers his hat fell off and I saw red hair spiked back with purple eyes glaring at me as he wore a leather jacket, "Alright, I swear I'll pay you back."
We both gave our farewells before we quickly left the alley as I found Index waiting, "Are you okay?"
She starts looking me over for injuries as I wave away her worries, "I'm fine. I wasn't hurt."
"Are you sure?" She asks.
"Very much so." I assure her as I grin to soothe her worries.
"That's good." Index gave me her own smile as I nod.
"C'mon, I still owe you that cake." I respond as she nods and we walk.
After showering and changing into some new clothes consisting of a white t-shirt and baggy grey jeans with blue sneakers and my denim jacket tied around my waist.
Once I saw how Index put away an entire cake with no manners I proceeded to harness my mother's spirit into me and teach her how to enjoy food. With threats, a bit of pinching and glares.
Now, she's eating slowly as she enjoys each bite like a civilised person so, as a reward, I let her have the entire cake.
"Well look at you. Being somewhat sane." Asrael teases me as I wore a black band to hide what was visible of my irezumi.
"Oh stuff it. Anyway, how has she been?" I ask as I lean on the counter with my wireless earbuds around my neck.
"She's been fine. She asked for a box, and it seems like she wants to share it with someone." Asrael explains as I shrug.
"Well, we'll be off. I still have to complete one more thing." I say as I wave him away and Index comes along.
I slide under a kick as I swat the Esper's leg from under him as he falls to his back and raises his crackling hands to try and shock me but I was over him as I raise my fist and bring it down on his face as I feel something break and he stays down.
Getting up from my crouched position, I come face to face with a wind blade that seems adamant to take my head off and I decide to bring out a little secret.
"Damn. You're a monster if I've ever seen one. I didn't think it was actually possible to move that fast. But then again, I helped make you into what you are so it's my responsibility to see it through."
Ah, now I remember. Troy. He was a track star and the one who helped me be as fast as I am today.
My eyes focused as I moved.
To the surprise of everyone involved, I was aside the wind blade as it scratched my cheek before doing the same and blurring in front of the Esper as I threw an uppercut to his stomach and he holds his mouth as I shove him away and he starts puking.
"Wh-what the hell! That's physically impossible. I've gotta get out of here." The final Esper exclaims as he starts running.
Wait. Shit!
My legs seize up as I heave but force myself for a third as I choke halfway through but grit my teeth as I'm behind him and kick off a garbage can and throw a spinning hook kick to the Esper's temple as we both fall to the floor graceless.
"Leo! Are you okay?" Index asks in worry as I try to catch my breath and cough out phlegm.
I was keeled over as I held a finger and managed to get out, "I'm fine. Just, argh, gimme a minu-." I entered a coughing fit as my vision started to blur from a lack of air.
Finally, I took a deep breath as my vision cleared up and I spotted Index looking at me with worried eyes as I groaned and rested on the wall as I sat straight up and took a deep breath and released it calmly.
I've always hated using that technique. Always leaves me like this after two uses.
The technique is called Quick Shift. It requires intense focus and concentration along with stamina and strength.
With it, I can become fast enough to leave an afterimage, but I also run through my stamina quickly and become breathless after a third consecutive use.
Finally regaining my air, I manage to groan out, "I'm fine. Just go on ahead. Go out the alley and take a right. The place where I'm meeting them is in a small restaurant. No matter what, wait for me there."
"W-what do you mean? Are you going to be okay?" She asks, worried.
"I'll be fine. Just wait there. I'm just going to have a talk with someone." I smile to soothe her worries.
A beat passes as she nods, "Alright. But you'll have to be there to pay for my food."
Sighing, I nod, "Sure. Just make sure you remember your manners."
She nods as she walks away and goes to the right.
I sit in the dark alley before calling out, "I know you're there."
The atmosphere changes visibly as a man steps out of the shadows. He was tall, like taller than my ass which is saying something. He also had shoulder-length red-hair with a barcode tattoo under his right eye as he had a cigarette in his mouth and a glare firmly set in place.
There was silence as I tried to get up but I was still recovering from my high-speed movements.
Finally, I was on my feet as I leaned on the wall and we glared at each other.
Let's hope I can keep my promise.
Psyche Evaluation Subject: Leo Valderas
Age:17
Nationality: Latin American
Height: 6'1
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Skills: Minor sewing, weapon mastery, intelligent mind, mechanical knowledge(mostly for vehicles), master brawler.
Level: Unknown
Bio: Leo was a kid that is weirdly kind, accepting, and social for someone who grew up in the Southside of Chicago. A product from his time with his parents and the myriad of personalities that go there. His mother was a nurse that'd help any injured that came around in exchange for favors, money, or medical equipment while his father was a mechanic that would do the same but for cars. Because of this, Leo was on the overall 'Do not Touch' list for everyone. That didn't stop what happened to him.
At a young age he always connected with older people better than those his age, so he hung out around a lot of gangsters. So it wouldn't be a surprise that he's seen their deaths multiple times. Yet, on the surface it didn't affect him. So he kept going, seeing multiple times people die in front of him, to protect him, to help him, or being killed because he was the target.
During school he'd develop a yard-long stare in the middle of class as he'd disassociate and dove into music. It's only until he was eight where he learnt of his freakish strength and skill so he took to martial arts. Now, he could protect more people but some still died.
His parents noticed but didn't notice how bad it was until he pointed at a grave when he was fifteen and said 'He was my friend'. When they tried to ask what the features of the man were, they were met with a shrug 'I don't know'.
After a little bit of testing, in order to protect himself from the trauma, he began placing dead friends in a 'section' where their features meant nothing. He remembered what they did, but he couldn't remember their voice, features, or much else.
He forgot his friends but not what they taught him so he can cope with the pain.
A/N: Here it is! I'm going to need some help with Leo's own story since I want him to feel like he's part of it, not some guy slapped in. So, anyone who has any good ideas for plots, I'm all ears. I've also been reading 'I Don't Regret Saving You' so yeah. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this. I enjoyed it so the updates will take a while instead of being completely removed. Also, leave your opinion. Helps me a lot.