Almost all of the characters herein are from A Certain Magical Index and its related series, all written by our lord and savior, Kamachi Kazuma.

Chapter 2 – The Many Billiard Balls on the Table

Part 3

"Nothing to say? Then face my judgement!"

A gust, no, a twister, sent Hitsuji spinning and slammed her against a wall, where she cried out in pain.

And then there was nobody between the vengeful magician and Mitsuari Ayu.

"Move, human!" Othinus shouted in her ear yet again, and Ayu sidestepped, but it wasn't enough to avoid the horizontal blade of wind–

Somehow, with superhuman speed, Hitsuji had dashed to her side, and wrapped her in a bear hug with both arms–

In a long moment the both of them were parallel to the ground, the wind passing below them harmlessly.

Then they landed. At zero distance, the electric esper's grunt of pain was highly audible to Ayu's ears, and Ayu cringed. Hitsuji's embrace, too, felt oddly unpleasant, and Ayu felt an unpleasant prickling on every inch of her skin, her every hair standing.

Static electricity. But this is definitely Junko-chan's…

Mitori stepped in again. The Liquid Shadow dashed forward, a blade for each arm, and the white-haired girl leapt backwards, grabbing the handle of her bulky case. In a fluid motion, she spun around, and the full weight of the case bashed against the human figure, splattering liquid metal messily to the side…and reducing much of its structural integrity.

Damn it! I couldn't harden it in time! Swearing silently, but not relenting in her attack, the purple-haired girl pulled out a knife and flung it with precision. Not that she expected it would work, but more of a distraction…

…because Dolly was still on the ground, hurt. Damn it all!

As expected, the foreigner was unfazed. She slashed the air with her hand, and the knife was batted sideways by a gust, where it landed with a clatter next to Ayu. "Hand the doll over, esper, and nobody else needs to get hurt!"

"N-no!" Ayu bit out. She grabbed the knife and clumsily stumbled to her feet. What she would do with it was anyone's guess, though, as she was not given a chance to react, with a blast of wind being sent her way.

Oh no–!

But before she could even process the impending attack, a small figure leapt onto the scene and parried it away with a backhand swipe of his arm.

"Oi! This is Judgement! Stand down!"

It was a young boy with messy black hair, who looked to be either in elementary or middle school. The sleeves of his loose black shirt reached down to his elbows, and the ends of his baggy camouflage shorts were at his knees. Instead of being wrapped around his arm, the Judgement armband was clipped to his belt.

His gaze darted from gouge to gouge in the ground, and from face to face of all involved. "What's going on here?"

There was a moment as everyone stopped to process the new arrival, and then…

"She stole my item!" The girl reacted first.

"She destroyed my apartment!" Mitori said indignantly, an outstretched finger to match the girl's own that was pointed to Ayu. "And she hurt D–my friend!"

"Um." The boy said. He suddenly looked a bit more nervous. "I think theft takes precedence over property damage…but it depends on the value of the stolen item…and there's also the assault charge…"

"Andskotans helvítis fjandans djöfull." The white-haired girl let out a long string of curses under her breath. Enough of this farce! Didn't I put up a people-clearing field? I'll just fall back and hunt them down again later. Or maybe I can just grab the Oathbreaker now!

She lunged, and she summoned the winds to catch her mid-jump, propelling her forwards even more–

But the boy got in her way again. "Move!" she shouted.

"You're under arrest! Now stay still and–"

But the white-haired girl refused. Another twister, and it was only by some miracle that the boy managed to stay on his feet.

Ayu, who was knocked backwards, found herself wrapped up in a princess carry.

It's cold and slimy!

Unfortunately, it was just Mitori's Liquid Shadow. "Right, let's go. And stop squirming!" Mitori reprimanded as she helped Dolly to her feet. "You know metal just slides right off, right?"

"Are you sure it's okay to–"

"You're an escapee from juvie, harbouring some dubious talking doll that some crazy person is after, and you care what happens to a goody-two-shoes Judgement?" Mitori said as they ran.

Ayu swallowed. Some of her old self had come back to her after that incident with Shokuhou Misaki, and she did feel a small twinge of guilt.

"Spare me." Mitori flicked out one of her twintails. "We get far away, and then we hail a cab to a certain hospital, because Dolly here is injured."

"I'm not–" Dolly winced as her left arm brushed against a wall, and she cradled it with her right. "Okay, maybe I am."

~~[z]~~

"Get–out–of–my–way!" 'Miyuki' gritted her teeth in frustration.

"Attacking a Judgement officer! You're definitely under arrest!" The boy parried another blast of wind with a wide, backhanded sweep of his arm. The force of it knocked him backwards, where he landed with a grimace.

"I don't have time for this." Miyuki tossed out her hair, where it spread out behind he, a fluttering white halo in the cold wind. "And I will get my answers, even if I need to turn the entire city out brick by brick!" Said wind tore at the Judgement boy, who had to brace himself with a hand to the ground. Now, do I eliminate this obstacle here, or simply go past and continue chasing?

"Answers, huh?' The boy said.

"I've already said too much." I guess this falls to elimination.

"What if I told you I could help? Or that I knew someone who could?"

"You know absolutely nothing of me, esper."

"Your false identification says 'Kitakaze Miyuki'," the boy said. "It was a good move, to engage a forger within the City, as opposed to someone from the outside who couldn't possibly keep up with the technology."

"I see this city's law enforcement has some intelligence." The foreign girl remarked.

"Of course." The boy shrugged. "You're not the first magician that's invaded the city."

He knows? Then definitely elimination it is.

"Wait wait wait wait!" Wind gouged more trails in the concrete pavement as the boy leapt to evade. "I can help!"

"Help? Is this a terrible joke?" Leaping forward once more, she swung her case in a deadly arc, adding the force of a gale to the motion.

It was blocked by an upraised arm, and the boy dug in his heels, sliding backwards a few inches due to the force of the blow.

That much force should have shattered bone. Are all of Academy City's espers that inhuman? That isn't the case, right?

"No joke, magician." The boy's tone dropped an octave. "From recent events, I guess you are from GREMLIN. And also from recent events, I think I know what you want."

Kitakaze Miyuki disengaged, landing backwards. She stared at the esper warily.

"So here's the deal. You help us, well, me and my boss, anyway, and we don't call the entire City's law enforcement down on your head, or activate the anti-magician countermeasures that'll make your brain bleed out from the inside."

"That second one's a bluff." Miyuki said, more to probe than anything.

"Did GREMLIN not do research on what happened to Vento of the Front?" The boy shrugged again. "It's a real thing, you know." He dusted off his clothes, and started walking. "Now, are you coming or what?"

If this is a trap…Miyuki thought to herself. I can still probably fight my way out. It'll be fine.

Her hand tightened on her case's handle. It'll be fine. She repeated to herself.

You didn't change the way you do things for nothing.

~~[z]~~

"So this has become a two-front war." Mitori mused. Her shoulder was bandaged, and she was back in her more comfortable, albeit less fashionable, unmarked school uniform, a grey sweater over a white blouse, with a skirt in dark blue tartan.

Currently, she and Mitsuari Ayu were seated in a hospital corridor, on a standard line of joined plastic seats. Beside Mitori, the thought-manipulating esper was gazing into space blankly, a thousand-yard stare, not saying anything.

Hitsuji's…hurt. She's hurt…because of me.

A painful tug on her earlobe snapped her out of her reverie. "Ouch!"

"I know what you're thinking." Othinus said directly in her ear. "She's hurt because of me, or something equally asinine, correct?"

"But it is true." Ayu said.

"But is thinking about it useful?" Othinus prodded. "Will wallowing in self-pity achieve anything?"

Ayu did not reply. Mitori chose this moment to interrupt.

"Alright, Odious, or whatever your name is–"

"It's Othinus." The ex-magic god snapped. "Can't you remember three syllables, esper?"

"You sure have a lot of temper for your size."

"I have a lot of anger to spare for incompetents with the memory span of a goldfish." Othinus retorted. It's too bad I can't just slice off the arms of anyone who's being impertinent to me anymore. Her thoughts paused momentarily. But that's 'bad old days' thinking. I should no longer act as if I'm the leader of a cabal.

"Very rich, coming from someone who just rescued you. You may have went to Mitsuari here, but me and Dolly both are the ones who are doing the real work."

"Yes, I know." Othinus closed her eyes, then reopened them. "I apologise. But I will also prefer that you show me some modicum of respect."

"And you," Mitori turned towards Ayu. "Not to be rude or anything," Mitori said to Othinus, then addressed Ayu again, "What the hell are you thinking? Why didn't you say no? Don't you realise this just gives us one more set of problems to deal with? The heck are you doing, trying to play a hero?"

Clearly, Mitori was making full use of Dolly's absence to vent her much-accumulated frustration.

Because Touma wouldn't have handed her over. Despite all of Ayu's other reasons, that was the first thought that popped into her mind, and she sank lower in her chair.

"I know you have many questions. When your friend returns, ask, and I will answer. But know that some things are better left unknown." Othinus spoke up.

"That's what they all say." Mitori said sourly.

The door beside them chose this moment to open, and Dolly emerged, her arm in a sling. "Done! There isn't anything else to worry about."

"Please do remember to take care of yourself, Sakami-san." The voice of an old man, the doctor, sounded from the room.

"I know, I know." Dolly waved her free hand. "Thanks, doc!"

The door closed. "Now," Dolly's eyes were bright. "What about getting some snacks?"

Mitori sighed. "Just as expected of you."

The hospital they were at was situated in District 7, though it was not that big, nor did it play host to a certain frog-faced doctor. What it did have, however, were facilities that were suited to take care of the Sisters…as well as an excellent tearoom.

"I'll do that, thank you very much." Mitori made a gesture at Ayu, who had automatically started to cut the scones for Dolly. Relenting, the telepath handed over the butter knife, and Mitori immediately got to work. "And it goes without saying," Mitori shifted targets, "that you aren't allowed to fight for a bit."

"But Mi-chan–"

"No buts." Mitori was firm. "You'll only be putting yourself into more danger, having only one arm. Especially if that wind user is that strong."

"You…" Ayu's voice quietly sounded, causing the bickering couple seated opposite her to look at her. "Hitsuji-san…you used it, didn't you?"

"Ehehe." The electric esper scratched her head.

"Dolly…" Mitori gritted her teeth.

"Junko-chan's Rampage Dress." Ayu finished quietly. "By manipulating the electrical signals in your cells, you can boost your physical abilities beyond their normal limits."

It was not something she would easily forget.

The end of Ideal. Junko facing down the AIM monster, sparks flying from her body. Toomine-sensei taking a fatal blow for Junko, creating the final opening which Ayu herself had used.

"Any grownup…can become an invincible hero when kids are watching." You absolute liar. You became a hero…but you weren't invincible at all!

A happy memory of being with her friends that had ended in tragedy.

Maybe that was really the start of everything. When everything started to turn bad in my life.

Meanwhile, Mitori had (gently) seized Dolly's shoulders. "What–were–you–thinking?" She shook her very best friend, and Dolly's head lolled back and forth.

"Misaki-chan introduced us when I said I wanted to learn how to fight." Dolly said with a beatific smile. "Apparently, it's something any electric-user can do with practice. Like martial arts but for espers, you know!"

"Banned." Mitori said. "You're banned from such a dangerous technique." Her voice was flat. "In any case…" she looked back towards Ayu.

"It probably made your injuries worse." Ayu said distantly. "Junko-chan always had headaches when she overused it, plus it places a heavy burden on your body."

"Banned." Mitori repeated dully.

"Okay, okay!" Dolly relented.

"By the way, how did Shokuhou even introduce you?" Ayu asked. "I don't think even she'll be reckless enough to reveal the existence of military clones to the public."

"Just as another Electromaster friend named Sakami Hitsuji." Hitsuji grinned, and picked up a buttered scone. "And Junko-chan's a good enough girl to not pry too much. But don't worry, Mi-chan!" Dolly suddenly put her arm around Mitori's neck. "You're the only one for me!"

"Yeah, yeah." Mitori said gruffly, but made no move to displace Dolly. "Now can we get back on topic?"

"Yes." A fourth voice spoke up–that of the fifteen-centimeter tall former Magic God, who had calmly been drinking tea from a thimble which she had filched from somewhere. "Ask, and I will answer."

"Magic." Ayu expected Mitori, but it was Hitsuji that spoke up instead. "What is magic, and what is a magician?"

"...that is a question with an extremely long answer." Othinus tugged at the brim of her witch's hat. "If I had to put it in the simplest terms…I suppose it would just be another set of laws. Another set of laws known as the occult, which allow those who use it to gain supernatural abilities. You could say it is the 'opposite' of Academy City's esper development, which uses science." Though whether to call it 'science' is another matter altogether. Othinus kept the last thought to herself.

"Another set of laws, huh?" Mitori said thoughtfully. You don't think… "So a magician could do something like, mm, summon a weapon from thin air?"

"If that weapon had special significance to the magician, it would be simple enough to achieve." Othinus said.

"You may assume you're safe wherever you're hiding, but you're not aware of all my spells."

Mitori recalled a certain tanned, brown haired girl of MEMBER.

"It doesn't matter. When it comes to traitors, they must be punished."

Heh, she had a surprisingly kind and maidenly side, didn't she? For her to have been operating freely as a member of the Dark Side, right under the command of the Board of Directors...no, they definitely know. About the hidden world outside of the City, and a completely different set of laws.

How bloody far up does this go?

"The basis of magic is that it is something that allows those without talent to catch up to those with talent," Othinus continued. "And by 'those with talent', I am referring to the natural espers that came about by pure chance. Magic was created because people yearned for the same abilities as those naturally gifted ones."

So…I could do it, then? Ayu immediately thought. If I learnt magic, maybe something as offensive as what that girl had, then maybe I could…

But something stopped her. A ghost of a memory, of Kamijou Touma sitting next to her in an empty dorm room, the light of the setting sun streaming through the window. Of Touma's sad voice, telling her about his life, of the many incidents he had been dragged through–

Why had his voice been filled with so much despair?

"However," Othinus went on, interrupting her thoughts, "espers, of any level from 0 to 5, cannot use magic, since they count as 'people with talent'. If you do attempt to use it–" and it was here that Othinus turned and gazed at Ayu with a pointed look– "you will place a massive burden on your blood vessels and nerves, and suffer potentially fatal injuries."

A heavy atmosphere hung around the table for some reason.

"So it doesn't really mean much to us, then." Ayu said, cutting through the silence. "Okay. Another question. Who attacked us? The magician?"

"I…don't actually recognise her." Othinus said, a tad sheepishly.

A dissatisfied expression rose to Ayu's face, something like a pout. Without crushing force, she wrapped her fingers around the magic god, and brought her up to eye level. "HOW?" The girl with the cotton-candy hair finally shouted, and began shaking Othinus up and down. "Weren't you the leader of their cable or something? Do you not recognise your subordinates?"

"If–you–would–stop–for–a–moment–" Othinus held on tightly to her hat with both hands, and Ayu set her back down on the table. "Firstly," she staggered, "it's cabal. And cabal," she turned to Mitori and Hitsuji, "simply means 'a group of magicians that come together to achieve a common goal'."

If Kamijou Touma had been present, he would no doubt have remarked on the tendency of magicians to like explaining things.

"Secondly," Othinus tottered around the table, and eventually gripped on to the rim of Ayu's teacup for support, "GREMLIN had over a few hundred members. I could not possibly keep track of them all."

"Could you not recognise the magic she was using?" Mitori pointed out. "Like recognising an esper by their ability?"

"From what I understand, some espers here have the same abilities as well, so that metaphor doesn't hold." Othinus said. "In any case, she's using a mixture of magics. Whatever she was as a member of GREMLIN, I can no longer tell."

"Well, that's useless, then." Mitori sighed. "We'll just have to stay on our toes." No point worrying about this 'magic' nonsense if we can't use it. If that girl's any indication, fighting a magician is just like fighting another esper.

She took out her tablet. "But regarding our original problem, I finally have some leads. Two, to be precise." Too bad this doesn't seem like a problem that'll go away if we ignore it. If it was, I could just grab Dolly and Mitsuari, maybe even that doll, and hide away in some safe house for a week. Gah, I'm really, really going to wring Shokuhou's neck after all this. "First is the codename THEME, the funding which apparently comes from a woman named Yakumi Hisako. Second is a certain incident on September 7, which links MEMBER with the Dark May Project."

She took a sip of tea as Ayu and Dolly processed her words.

"Now, between a member of the Board of Directors and a Level 5, which do we want to go after first?"

"The end of Ideal" refers to Astral Buddy Chapter 15. Much of Othinus' explanation is paraphrased from NT Volume 2. And Mitori is of course remembering the disguised Xochitl.

Next time: the final part of Chapter 2.

Review please!