Seeing the screen change and looking at the small familiar picture of her. A lump formed in her throat, her chest tightened. Barely able to keep her eyes on the image. The computer screen blurred as her eyes filled with tears. Like an old story, she had read and reread. She knew it. She memorized it. Engrained it into her brain. The tears fell nearly silent. The colors of the images blurred. The fairy avatar, surprised, looked over her shoulder. And recognized the emotion. Pain. Uncontrollable Pain. A memory bubbling to the surface. Too weak to fight it. It emerged without invitation. Making itself at home.
The fairy avatar revealing a little more emotion than a computer program had the right to show. With an empathic voice and eyes glistening, Are you all right?
Its nothing… Kuroko wiped her eyes, just a little sweaty… I guess sniffling.
The fairy avatar turned and raised her head. Looking at the name on the screen. Mikoto Misaka? Is she a friend of yours? She said with a tilt of her head. She's very pretty.
I… Kuroko hesitated. Her memory rolled over like a thick fog. Pictures flickered like old films of black and white as she remembered.
-Loud explosions, distant flashes of light, chunks of debris, shock waves pushing past her. Kuroko was on her knees, exhausted. She knew she had taken too many jumps in too short a time. "Gotta get you to the safety…" she said, cradling a little girl in her arms. The little girl was doing her best to hide from the chaos. Kuroko could feel her trembling. "You'll be okay…" she said, I promise.
It happened behind her before she could gather her strength. Another loud explosion. Debris crashed, the surrounding street cracked and burst, sending her and the little girl tumbling across the road.
I've got you! Doing her best to protect the little girl. Finally, coming to a rough stop, she grimaced and caught her breath. Pain radiated from her leg, across her body. Quickly squeezing her leg, she knew it was broken.
I can, at least…
She teleported the little girl to safety, seeing the surrounding light slowly fade as a dark shadow loomed larger. The sound of twisting metal, crashing concrete, and shattering glass.
How She remembered the sound of glass tinkling across the asphalt like musical notes. Crap… she said in a resigned voice. She knew it. She knew what was happening, feeling displaced air rushing by her.
Sissy? She raised her head, looked down the road, among the collapsed buildings and the shattered remains of beasts. She was coming.
Mikoto Misaka was running towards her. She smiled softly, with a blush on her cheeks. This is what it takes for you to run into my arms… She said as her words cracked. Too far away… isn't that the way it always is… you're just out of reach…
She knew she would be too late. She tilted her head as her eyes filled with tears… Bye, sissy… she whispered, as the corners of her mouth curled.
Everything went dark.
She felt as if she were being held. She felt a warm breath across her face, like a soft wind flowing through the trees. A familiar scent wafted.
Hey kuroko… She heard that familiar voice and couldn't help but smile and put her arms around. She'd gotten to her in time. Of course, she would.
Her sissy gently spoke. Hey?… You okay?
Kuroko nodded, slowly opening her eyes. And with it in the surrounding vail of darkness, she said.
Sissy… Your eyes are… Why are your eyes red?
All the better to see you with? She arched her brows and blushed. I guess…
And your wiiings?… noticing something in her sissy had changed.
They appeared from her back like two elongated arms, with a thin membrane stretching underneath. very sharp points lined the two prominent appendages like thrones on a rosebush. they were rising and falling like a breath, inhaling and exhaling air from underneath the rubble. blue sparks danced and played among the chunks of reinforced concrete surrounding them.
Okay, I mean… with eyes opened wider, her lower lip trembled. I mean, you've always had wings, right? Pulling her head back to get a better look.
Kuroko?, Mikoto said as she licked her lips. I've meant to…
Are those fangs? Sissy… Are you? Two bright white fangs pinching her lower lip.
Mikoto's shoulders dropped, slowly shook her head, and sighed.
Don't bite me?! Kuroko quickly flinched, trying to scoot away. But Mikoto's wings wouldn't budge.
Kuroko! surprised and hurt, I wouldn't… The pain of loss was filtering through her words. She knew it. She could see it in her eyes. it was something she wasn't prepared for. I'm not… I wouldn't… Sorry!
Mikoto Misaka shut her eyes. I promise I wouldn't… And then, as quick as a heartbeat she was gone, leaving only her scent.
Sissy! Kuroko dropped, holding one hand out as she was grabbing the wind. I'm sorry, I just…
She returned to the present.
I'm such a jerk. Kuroko wiped her eyes. I knew it, but I just couldn't.
Hey… The fairy avatar spoke, scrolling through the screen. Videos?.
Yes. There are videos… Probably from 10 years ago…
No… the fairy avatar said, shaking her head, puckering her mouth. Here are some just a few years ago
Kuroko stopped. What?
Something wasn't right.
She leaned closer to the computer screen. Enlarge, she whispered. Those dates are? Eight years ago, and those are seven. What the hell? I don't remember any of these dates. This one was six years ago.
Play that one. Kuroko tapped on the screen.
Yes… The fairy avatar stood straight and gave a salute, playing video. Six years ago?
Thick black clouds whirled above the top of the windowless building. Lighting flashed across the sky to the four cardinal points. North, south, east, and west.. Runic symbols rotating clockwise and counterclockwise, joining directly above the windowless building, condensing, and finally firing like cannon. the lightning crashed down, electrifying the entire building The building glowed in electric blue. Sparks and lightning danced and jumped. The building, encased in white smoke, slowly came into view. Nothing. Not a scratch.
Again! Ruiko… again!.
Mikoto Misaka yelled as she hovered alongside the building, her wings billowing like the sails of old wooden ships. Electric blue pulsed along the veins of the thin membrane bursting forward from her hands.
Like a fire mechanism reloading, the runic symbols rotated from the intercardinal points, northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. A loud click and the runic symbols snapped back to the cardinal points. Lightning dropped, swallowing the windowless building.
Give me back, Kuroko! She yelled.
She blushed, leaning forward. Did she just?
Kuroko tapped the screen, enlarging the image of Mikoto Misaka. Her red eyes thinned, brow furrowed. When did this happen? watching her large wings spread wider drawing more power.
Minimizing the screen and let the video play.
The damage to the surrounding building was being minimized by Ruiko Saten, looking every bit, the Magus Supreme. She formed a colossal barrier surrounding them and the windowless building. She was barely clothed except for a long white robe flapping in the gust of violent winds. She held her hands and staff into the air, gigantic bird-like wings spread wide from her back. She was yelling something at Mikoto.
Kuroko turned up the volume.
We need to leave! The portal is about the close!
Drop the damn thing on the building!
What? You're kidding, right… I mean ya, I can do that. She nodding her affirmation. Looking a little too excited. I mean, it would be cool and all… except.
Except, what?! Mikoto fired off her railgun. It tore into the building… nothing.
It would probably destroy Japan…
Oh? Really… so you're saying NO?
Kuroko chuckled. Of course, she's saying no… sissy. She sighed. Besides, you love Academy City, so don't even… not even for me.
She put her chin against her palm and braced herself against the armrest.
Why don't I remember this… and why didn't I have access to these files?
She watched as the video played. And watched the rest. Then sat silently for a moment. Running the scenarios through her mind. She was a level five teleporter. Leader of hound dogs. Why would she forget something like this? Had they really abandoned her? Left her behind. For ten years, she felt alone, and now these videos told her something else.
How much time till we are back in Academy City? She whispered, checking the watch on her wrist unit.
Around thirty minutes…. the fairy avatar answered.
Tightening her mouth, kuroko glared at the fairy avatar, looking innocently up at her, wide eyes, blush cheeks, and a slight tilt of her head.
Before she could ask, the fairy avatar blinked quickly, brought her hand to her mouth, and asked, what is it? Mistress?