Here we are with yet another chapter, for this one we get to see Tamamo meet up with an old acquaintance, we also get a glimpse into the greater world out there, it will be quite interesting to say the least, so let's get down to it.
Index and Fate belong to Kamachi and Nasu respectively. Lets go!
Chapter 9: Reunion of old Rivals
It was a sunny morning in Academy City, the Kamijou residence was going about tidying the place up before Touma leaves for school, though so far only two were doing any actual cleaning, Index was indulging herself in a magical girl anime.
"Index, can you take up a duster and get that corner over there please." Touma asked.
"But it's getting to the best part, give me a minute." She responded.
"Index, you need to help you can't just sit around." Touma sternly proclaimed.
"Hold on!"
As Index was to focused on the screen, she didn't notice Tamamo come up and turn it off.
"No why?!" Index whined.
"Index, that is twice now that Touma had to tell you to help, no TV for a week."
"A week, but I'll miss out on a lot of episodes they're doing a marathon!!"
"One week, that is final."
Index merely gave Tamamo a pout.
"If you're going to have an attitude like that I can extend it to a month if needed." Tamamo added.
That made Index back up a bit which let Tamamo know she got the message, nodding she took a duster an handed to Index.
"Start with that corner Touma told you to get ok."
"Well you heard the boss Index, no free loading under this roof." Touma stated.
"You're a nun Index, shouldn't you have some sense of responsibility the church teaches you?" Tamamo asked.
"I'm responsible for upholding the faith and service to God."
"And I'm sure God would want you to be more contributing to your new home, now dust young lady." Tamamo ordered.
"Slave driver." Index whispered, she forgot Tamamo was part fox.
"Ok, no tv for 2 months." Tamamo quickly said.
"Nooooo the rotten luck!!!!" Index whaled.
"Welcome to the club Index." Touma said smirking.
"Index would have gone out her way to bite Touma on the head for that snipe, but remembered Tamamo's warning a few nights prior, Tamamo would probably put her in a kennel for an hour like a dog if they had one, they finally finished cleaning and Touma got ready for his remedial class.
"Ok Index, I'm gonna accompany Touma to school and I'll be running errands, there's some books for you to read so you won't get bored, do you know how to use your new phone?"
"Yes Tamamo." Index responded, though she did sigh a bit.
Tamamo knew she had to be stern with Index to be a proper lady, but she decided one more thing before going, she took a bit of fur from one of her tails and wove it into a little fox familiar.
"Alright little one, keep Index company till I return ok?"
The familiar yips obeying its master before scurrying to the young nun, which she was quick to play with as it licks her face.
"We'll be back later today Index so don't go anywhere." Touma instructed.
"Be a good girl ok." Tamamo added.
"Bye guys."
Touma and Tamamo were walking the street as they left the dorm behind.
"Man Index can be a real hassle you know Tama, she's like the little sister I never asked for."
"Honestly the way we treat her she's more like our daughter."
"Daughter?!" Touma said shocked.
"I mean look at our set up it's like a family you're like the father, I'm the mother, and Index is our daughter."
"I…see where you're coming from, it's just a strange way of looking at it for me, I'm only 15 I wouldn't no a thing about parenting and Index is 14."
"She doesn't really act as her age dictates though, so she's pretty much a wild child nun, however I will take it upon myself to ensure she is a proper maiden."
"So says the mother." Touma played along.
"They finally reached A Certain High School, Tamamo gave Touma his bento as he made his way inside, but not before giving him a kiss on the cheek for good measure to his shock, he then left as his face was scarlet.
Tamamo then reached into her pocket and pulled out a list of things to buy for the day and started walking, she only made it one block before she was halted by a very familiar voice.
"Umu!! So it is you Tamamo!!"
Tamamo quickly turned around to find none other then her once greatest rival Nero Claudias, the emperor of roses.
"Nero! You're here too?!"
"But of course my foxy acquaintance, it seems the same phenomena that brought me here also got you as well, most interesting I say."
"Well color me shocked little miss theatrical, I never expected this."
"Umu, tis a most glorious turn of events worthy of the stage, tell me, how has your new life in this great city of academia and technology treated you old friend?"
"It's been an interesting one so far, but I'm happy since I found someone very special to share this new life with!!" Tamamo gushed.
"UMU!! You as well huh, a fortuitous coincidence on this beautiful sunny day."
"Oh, you found a special someone to spend this new life with? I bet he is just as eccentric as you."
"Umu, he is the most worthiest person I could ever pick to have for a praetor, such a beautiful fire in his eyes and actions is one that could be written in songs!"
"Well now you have my attention, tell me about this new praetor of yours, what was your first meeting like?"
"Come sit, let me regale you the tale of our first meeting."
So the two sat at a nearby bench as Nero told her story, apparently she appeared in a abandoned part of Academy City, Aestus Estus in hand, and by chance a boy had been in the area and witnessed it, he went up to her curious about her appearance and weapon, of course being the show off type she proudly exclaimed to him what her powers were, and he responded by saying something about guts, Tamamo found it strange but continued to listen still, Nero then went on to explain that the boy wanted to test her guts and attacked her right out of the gate, Nero obviously retaliated in defense, the two would go around destroying countless structures in their clash, but the most interesting part was nearing the end of the fight.
"You had Aestus Estus at full burn and he caught it with his teeth when you swung for his head?!"
"Umu, it was the most spectacular thing I ever saw, the look in his eyes as he clenched his jaws on the fire laden blade, the way they pierced my very soul, I managed to wrench my sword away from him and we both set up for one final attack."
Flashback:
Nero prepared her noble phantasm as a coliseum sized theatre replaced the original surroundings, Aestus Estus blazing with all its glory, red rose petals swirling around.
"AESTUS DOMU AUREA!!!"
"Man this is some crazy guts! Time to take it up a notch!"
The boy took a stance and began to power up.
"Super….Amazing…..PUUUUNNNCHH!!!!"
A powerful beam of kinetic energy shot forth towards Nero.
"LAUS SAINT CLAUDIAS!!!"
Swinging her sword she sent forth a blast of fire ripping through the theatre to meet the oncoming kinetic attack, the two forces collided causing a massive explosion to tear through the area sending both combatants flying in opposite directions as the scene changed back to the abandoned district.
Nero landed hard in a heap of rubble, sure she still had the durability of a servant despite being fully alive once more, but the impact HURT LIKE HELL!!!
"Umumumumu…ow." Nero wheezed as she sat up.
Her dress was dirty and in tatters and her bun was undone leaving her blonde hair to fall past her shoulders, some blood coming down her forehead.
She opened her eyes to see the damage left from the battle, craters, wrecked buildings, fire and debris littered everywhere.
She then heard footsteps coming her way as she saw the boy looking just as beat up as her, a stern look on his face changing to an upbeat smile, putting his hand on top of Nero's head.
"Man! That had to have been one of the best fights I've had in a while, you've got some guts for a girl who looks frail and sweet at first glance."
Nero didn't know what to say but shades of pink dusted her cheeks hearing that, the boy leaned down and offered his hand.
"What's your name?"
She took his hand and helped her to her feet though she did stumble a bit, she clung to the boy who held onto her to keep her steady.
"My name is Nero Claudias."
"Well Nero, Gunha Sogiita is my name, we should definitely go another round sometime, you're really fun!!"
Nero couldn't help but let a happy smile grace her lips and her eyes glistened.
"Well, I should get going, see you around Nero."
"Wait!!"
Gunha stopped in his tracks when he heard Nero tell him to wait.
"Huh, what's up?"
Nero then took his hand and brought it to her, a hopeful look in her eyes.
"I've decided, I want you to be my praetor, you who are most worthy!"
"I don't know what that means but it sounds gutsy, sure I accept."
"Wonderful!!"
"So what are you gonna do now Nero?"
"As my praetor I shall accompany you wherever you go!!" She boldly proclaimed.
Gunha then flashed a grin.
"Think your guts can keep up Nero?"
"Umu!!"
Flashback end:
"Wow, you actually made a praetor out of the 7th rank level 5 himself?" Tamamo asked astounded by such a meeting.
"Umu, though in my eyes he will always be ranked number one!!"
Tamamo noticed the light shades of red adorning her face, and she smirked.
"You're in love with him, aren't you?"
"Eh…w-whatever do you mean, surely you jest at such a notion." Nero stuttered making her even redder.
"I'm just wondering as all, you seem to hold him in high regard, I wonder, would you ever consider marrying him?"
Nero's mind went blank for a moment, then her thoughts drifted to an image of her and Gunha at a wedding ceremony, Gunha in a tux holding her lovingly while Nero wore the bride outfit she saw her bride self wear all the time.
"UMU!!! Nero's face turned completely scarlet as such a thought overloaded her, but snapped back to normal when she heard Tamamo laughing.
"Mu…what about you Tamamo tell me about your new husband." Nero asked wanting to change the subject.
Tamamo then looked away from the emperor as a blush formed on her face."
"Our meeting wasn't as over the top as yours and Sogiita's, when I found him he was about to get killed by 15 thugs, I don't know the story behind that but I immediately stepped in and took them down with a sleep spell, it was at that moment we locked eyes for the first time, I could tell he was a kind and interesting soul, though sadly he is cursed with endless bad luck do to circumstances out of his control."
"How tragic, to have to walk through life with the world out to get him, such a thing can encompass a most beautifully inspiring yet tear jerking play write! That aside I bet he was in absolute awe of your heavenly beauty!"
Tamamo fondly remembered how he couldn't keep his eyes off of her the day they met.
"He certainly was, though initially he didn't believe I was a genuine fox spirit, much less magic being real, though I don't hold it against him, he lives in a city that stands against mysticism."
"I imagine life became interesting for the both of you after that?" Nero asked.
"It's definitely hectic, but I'm grateful to granted this new life, with new possibilities."
"Umu, as am I."
Tamamo then let her mind wander, she began to think about the overall scheme of things, if Nero ended up here, then who else may have been caught in the anomaly and dumped here?
"Hey Nero, what do you make of the anomaly that brought us here?"
Nero began to ponder as she thought about the question.
"Such a thing eludes me as well, however I will say that it doesn't just go from where we came from to here."
"Really?" Tamamo asked surprised.
"Yes, this isn't the only place I landed in, before I came here I was dumped into another reality, I was in a forest of sorts, I was getting my bearings until I was ambushed by some kind of military group, I was able to evade them for time but then they managed to use strange means to subdue and capture me eventually."
"You're kidding me." Tamamo said stunned.
"Umu, I kid not, I found myself barely waking up inside of a facility of sorts, I was bound by chains that were laced with thaumaturgical properties as well as a collar that blocked all my strength and power, I could just make out a conversation between what looked like a couple of researchers, they are apparently part of an organization known as the foundation.
"Foundation?"
"Yes, I was then guided to a containment room and they released the chains on me, I was too weak to anything though cause of the collar, luckily the accommodations were decent, I sat in the chamber for a while and by chance there were files for me to look through, each holding information on various objects an entities locked in this place that hold terrible powers."
Tamamo was silent as she soaked in every word of Nero's story, she found herself able to speak once more.
"Did you manage to escape?"
"Umu, though it was by pure luck, do you remember Mysterious Heroine X?"
"Yes actually, one the saber faces we fought side by side with in the grand orders, she was there?!"
"When my rescue happened the facility was under attack by an insurgent group, and there were containment breaches throughout, it was a miracle of the gods themselves that X was nearby when the disaster struck and recognized my signature, she charged into the facility and made it to my chamber to bust me out, though escaping was by no means easy, I still feel chills remembering when we had to fight off a giant reptile that refused to die, X almost died at the hands of some freaky fast moving demonic heart."
"What happened after that?"
"We finally made it out of the facility, and in the knick of time to, the facility set off a warhead, luckily we had already gained major distance to witness it occur, then next thing you know I get enveloped by the same anomaly bringing me here, I don't know if X was able to follow, get sent somewhere else or ended up remaining there fending off any group that would seek her."
They both sat in silence as Tamamo was still soaking in the information she was given, trying to make sense of it all, her thoughts were interrupted when she caught a peculiar scent, one that made her stiffen, it was also making her angry, and it was coming from Nero.
"Nero, I feel like you're hiding something from me, you didn't tell me everything didn't you." She said eyes narrowed.
"Seeing Nero look away was all the proof she needed, and the emperor finally spoke.
"I've been neglecting to tell you something that happened in between the whole rescue fiasco, something I think you should know."
"Tamamo merely looked at her waiting, though part of her felt like she wasn't going to like the next thing she heard.
"You see, there was a particular entity I ran into as I was navigating the facility."
Flashback:
Gunfire and screams rang throughout the building as Nero ran through the corridors, she got separated from Mysterious Heroine X after they were assaulted by a stone statue trying to snap their necks every time they blinked, she got lost and ended up in a heavy containment area, she kept Aestus Estus up always on guard as she walked her way through.
"AAAAAAAHH!!"
She heard a bloody scream and made her way to the noise, what she saw next was forever etched into her memory.
Body parts strewn out before her leading up to a poor guard personnel trapped in the grip of a woman, a nine tailed fox woman, she laughed as she tore out the guards throat and then pierced his stomach pulling out his liver, she tossed the dying guard to the side and began eating it.
Nero looked on in horror, especially when this creature reminded her of her old rival, the woman then turned around catching sight of Nero, as her blood stained face turned feral, she charged Nero who immediately ignited Aestus Estus and swung at her causing her to back peddle, then the woman's face went from feral to curious as she started sniffing the air, she slowly approached Nero till she was up close and personal giving one final sniff as she circled her, once she was done her face gained a very devious grin before she turned around to leave as Nero stood there confused.
Flashback end:
"I didn't think it till after I reunited with X, but I think she caught your scent when she was near me, I know it sounds crazy but you and I have crossed each other many times before, it wouldn't surprise me that some of it rubbed off on me somewhere along the lines."
Nero was met with silence as she looked over at Tamamo who sported a dark expression on her face for a moment, and became worried.
For Tamamo she was slowly processing all she was just told and part of her felt sick to her stomach, if her tails were visible they would be frizzing like crazy.
"Another nine tailed fox that is now aware of me huh?" She lamented.
"Not a day goes by where I wonder if they're hunting me down after I escaped." Nero said glumly.
"I doubt they have the means to come to this world, we're safe here." She gave Nero a reassuring smile while putting a hand to her shoulder.
"Mu, I thank you for the comfort but something tells me they do, and it's not a matter of if they will be here…but when."
Tamamo merely gave a curt nod to her old rival before standing up.
"Well I need to go, I'm behind on an errand run and need to move."
"Umu, I understand, I will not hold you any longer then I have, my precious praetor awaits me."
"Nero."
"Umu?"
Tamamo walked up to her and gave her a hug to her shock, but hugged Tamamo back smiling.
"It's good to see you again you airhead."
"Mu! Same to you!! I do hope we can meet up again next time with our special partners by our sides and introduce them to each other."
"I believe we will, I heard there was an event later down the line called the Daihasei Festival, all four of us can meet up during that time as a double date!"
"Umu! I love festivals, perhaps I can show off my glorious arts and talents to the people of this extraordinary city!"
"Ha, all of a sudden it goes from Daihasei Festival to Nerofest." Tamamo snickered.
"Quite fitting don't you think?" Nero responded.
The two shared a good laugh before finally parting ways but not before exchanging contacts through their newly bought phones, Tamamo went to the store to get the necessary items on her list, she was stopped every now and then by some female students who admire her model work and even signed a few autographs when requested.
Once she was all set she left the store and made her way home, but she took a pit stop when she saw Anti Skill units as well as her four middle school friends along side a girl she recognized as Mii Konori from the photo shoot.
"Tamamo it's good to see you!!" Uiharu shouted.
"Hey guys, what happened here?"
The girls went on to explain how they were investigating a Skill Out group called Big Spider, and that Konori had history with them at one point, needless to say Tamamo was glad everything was settled on the issue, especially between Konori and the former leader Kurozuma.
"How did your day go Tamamo?" Misaka asked.
"My day went well thank you, I was just running errands after walking with Touma to his school."
"How is Kamijou by the way?" Saten asked with a concerned look.
"He's fine, he quickly adjusted to his new life, but his bad luck stays the same though sadly, oh and Index is staying with us as well."
That news shocked the girls as they didn't expect such a thing, though Saten was quick to jump on it.
"It's like you have a family Tamamo!!"
"I know right!"
"Miss Koyanskaya!! What a surprise." Said Konori.
"Hey, you doing ok Konori?" Tamamo asked.
"Yes thank you, I'm surprised to see you here."
"I was merely in the area when I saw this whole set up."
"Hey maybe all six of us can hang out sometime, how about it!" Saten suggested.
"I'm sorry Saten but I'm gonna be very busy these next few days, maybe on a lighter schedule I'll consider it. Konori said.
"Oh, well what about you Tamamo?"
"I'm not very busy so of course, just let me know when."
And with that, she continued her way home, she walked into the dorm room to find Index cuddled up with the fox familiar reading it a story.
"I'm back Index."
"Welcome back Tamamo!!"
"I see you and the little one are getting along."
"Yep, Pickles has been great company."
Tamamo stared at her completely bug eyed before busting out laughing.
"Ahahahahaha!! Index, you named him Pickles?!"
"Hey, I think it's a cute name for him." Index pouted.
"Hm, fair enough." Tamamo proceeded to ruffle her head.
Later in the day Touma finally came home, he told Tamamo and Index about his day at school, apparently a rumor spread that he was blackmailing Tamamo into being his lover, of course Aogami and Tsuchimakado definitely didn't help and only escalated things by claiming he has rough sex with her every night which made every male in the school want to murder him, and every girl look at him in fear, Fukiyose wanted to beat the shit out of him and even his teachers were suspicious of the accusations, the schools beauty senpai Seiria Kumokawa, whom he was friends with was giving him the cold shoulder, it was rotten luck at its most prevalent handy work, he became a social pariah.
Touma collapsed onto the bed and laid on his side facing away from his two companions looking ready to cry, until he felt an arm wrap around his shoulder, he turned over to see Tamamo laying next to him with a loving smile on her face as she caressed his cheek ready to wipe any oncoming tears brimming in his eyes.
"Looks like I'll have to visit your school for damage control purposes." She whispered.
"Tama no, you-"
"Shhh, let me do this, it's ok, and don't cry, it hurts me to see you like this."
They continued to look at each other as they got lost in their own little world, Touma felt his heart racing a million miles a second, he ironically felt so lucky to have her… he needed her.
Without thinking he moved in and started kissing Tamamo who went wide eyed before melting into it, they got so lost in making out on the bed they forgot about the other two occupants in the room, Index the ever innocent nun covered her eyes face red but kept a slight gap between her fingers, Pickles sat next to her tilting his head.
Touma rolled Tamamo onto her back as they separated to breath, a trail of saliva bridging between them, their eyes glistening showing a deep sense of longing, Touma then snapped out of his sudden daze and immediately started freaking out and falling to the floor.
"Aaah!! I'm so sorry, p-p-please forgive me for doing that I don't know what came over me, I just uh, well you see-"
Tamamo watched in avid confusion as Touma started babbling like an idiot continually shoving his foot into his mouth, she then began to giggle before it turned into full blown laughter, it confused Touma for a bit till she stopped, her ears twitching as usual and her tails waving about she gave Touma a very beautiful smile showing her canines that he would forever remember.
"I love you." She simply said.
Touma didn't know what to say, his brain at that point fried completely after hearing that, things calmed once more as the Kamijou residence prepared for another dinner together and once more go off to bed to see a new day.
AN: Well wasn't that nice, but I have to say ominous things are looming, just they won't happen yet till a future project, anyone want to start a fan theory on the anomaly that is opening holes in the greater multiverse? And owe boy what kind of damage control will Tamamo do for Touma's social situation?
Next chapter goes into the Deep Blood arc, and that is where major changes begin to occur.
Next Chapter: Foxes Alchemist and Vampires Oh My!
Catch u next time!