A/N: I don't own anything. See chapter one for information.

Okay, I think I have nothing else to say here, so without further ado, let's get on with the story!

"Talking"

'Thought'

Joseph Restaurant

As Shadow and Kanzaki have their own moment, we shifted into one particular place when you can see a restaurant named Joseph standing there. It's a favorite places for the students to eat or just hang out there and it's usually crowd if it is weekend. Inside of it, there are four particular girls sitting there chatting idle while eating their portion as well. All four of them are Misaka, Kuroko, Saten, and Uiharu. Both Kuroko and Uiharu were working with an organization called 'Judgement', some kind of defense force in Academy City and it's their duty to keep the balance of student's life. Misaka and Kuroko are enrolled in Tokiwadai Middle School, whilst Saten and Uiharu were in Sakuragawa Middle School based on their school uniform, but for now the girls wear their casual uniform since it was weekend.

"Nee, Misaka-san, did you have something in your mind?" Uiharu asked as she ate her waffle-ice cream.

"Actually, I want to ask you girls about something," Misaka replied while eating her portion. "Have you guys ever met the hedgehog called Shadow?" At that moment, both Saten and Uiharu widen their eyes when they heard the name Shadow. Misaka saw their expression and got her answer already at the start. "So you did huh? Well, how did you girls met him?"

"You will not believe what we just saw back then," Saten tell her stories about their encounter. "We were being chased by a vicious dog when Uiharu dropped her ice cream, although partially it was my fault for flipping her skirt," she said sheepishly, causing the girls sweat-dropped by her act. "Anyway, as we mention, the dog chased us until we reached a corner nearby. Uiharu and I were scared back then as we have no escape whatsoever and the dog getting near at us."

"So what happen then?" Kuroko asked as she sipped her tea.

"We closed our eyes and hoping for some miracle when we saw the dog charged at us, and then Shadow-kun appeared and grabbed the dog with his bare hand!" Saten exclaimed. "When we saw what he was just done to the dog, we couldn't believe ourselves that he can done something like that like it was nothing, and he's a hedgehog nonetheless. Isn't that kind of amazing? A hedgehog can do like normal human does!" At the moment, Misaka and Kuroko narrowed their eyes as they heard Saten and Uiharu's story.

"Well, if you think that was amazing, you haven't seen what he just done yesterday," Misaka said as both Uiharu and Saten raised their eyebrows.

"Misaka-san, you met Shadow yesterday?" Uiharu asked and Misaka gave her a nod. "What kind of act he did yesterday?"

"Have you watch the news about the bridge being total messed by some unknown destruction?" Kuroko responded while eating her order.

"Yes, what about it?"

"Actually, it was Shadow who caused the destruction, and in just one stunt he did and causing that huge mess as you girls saw the news," Misaka replied while drinking her juice.

"WHAAATTT?" Both Uiharu and Saten yelled in surprise, causing the commotion among the rest of guests inside the restaurants. They closed their mouth knowing what they have just done. "But…how…? He's just a hedgehog right? How can he pull stunt like that? That doesn't make sense," Uiharu said still shocked.

"I know, but he just DID in front of our eyes," Misaka said while gritted her teeth. She's annoyed by this fact because she couldn't help but to admit but her power was still no match for black hedgehog, even though she's already level 5. "Anyway, I think we know what to do. We're going to find out more about Shadow's power and background tonight. Saten and Uiharu, you girls have free time tonight right?" Both Saten and Uiharu nodded. "Alright, I think that's settles it. We're going to investigate him tonight!"

And so, the four girls have their decision to do tonight, and that sure will bring Shadow more trouble than he have now, and the black hedgehog seems didn't notice by this fact, or he did?

Meanwhile

As Shadow finally decided to let his warm moment over and saying goodbye to Kanzaki, he teleport himself toward his place…I mean, Touma's room. When he reached the place, what await him are Touma and Index with their serious face looking at the black hedgehog, whilst Itsuwa standing beside them with rather regret motion. Shadow knows that the boy and the nun learn the truth what he and Itsuwa have been doing lately.

"Shadow, I know it's impolite for me to ask this," Touma asked while clenching his right hand. "I just want to know the truth here. What have you –"before he wants to continue, Shadow raised his hand telling him to stop.

"You don't have to. I know what you want to asked already," Shadow simply said already know the situation. "Which one do you wish to know?"

"I need to know everything."

A few minutes later…

After Shadow telling his recent activity, the response he's got from Touma and Index were surprisingly normal. The black hedgehog indicate that they must been through a journey involving magic and science. "Does my story conclude all of your curiosity Touma? Or is there anything you want to ask?" Shadow asked.

"I just want to say one thing," Touma stands up from his seat and looked at Shadow with rather angry. "Why didn't you asked me or Index as well? You know that we can help you with this! I just can't stand seeing you doing this alone."

"Heh, and you just said those words and you haven't realize to yourself," Shadow simply smirked while walking towards outside the window. "Tell me something, have you ever considered need help from other people? Because from what I've seen, you just barged in towards other people's problem and yet you haven't asked any help. Now that is something you should think to yourself right?"

Touma was stunned. Even though he wants to help Shadow, he himself was somehow startled by this fact. Yeah, he always helps other people's problem and let himself be in danger. But to hear this from black hedgehog, he doesn't know what to say anymore seeing that he himself was rather the same as Shadow does. "H-How did you…"

"Experience Touma, I have more than you do," Shadow said while looking at surprised Touma. "If you think that I will be the same as you, you're making a big mistake here. Sure, I used to solve my problem without asking a help, but I'm different now. If I need to, I can ask at that time. As in your case Touma, you just let you suffer yourselves while the others enjoy their happiness, am I right?"

Once again, Touma couldn't say anything. Shadow can tell that this boy struggled about his resolve. Meanwhile, Itsuwa and Index watch the conversation and they couldn't help but admire by the black hedgehog's calm and wise one, though he rarely shows it. "I guess you have nothing else to ask then," Shadow then decided to go outside alongside Itsuwa because it was night already, but not before saying some words to the boy and the nun. "If you want to help me, then I'll accept your offer. I'll be waiting." With that, he grabbed Itsuwa's hand and teleported themselves towards the destined position, leaving Index and the hesitant Touma.

Church

"Looks like this is the place," Shadow said as he and Itsuwa reached the destined position, which in this case is a church. He can feel a dark presence coming from that holy place and to think that this event was involving a religion stuff makes him more annoyed than before, though he didn't show the expression. "Itsuwa, did you sense anything inside?"

Itsuwa closed her eyes try to sense something and after few minutes later, she opened her eyes and become serious, "I can sense some dark presence inside this church, and it's quite large nonetheless. I think this might be hard Shadow-san. You should ask Kamijou-san and Index-san to aid you."

"I'm sorry Itsuwa, but I can't ask them for this, especially Touma," Shadow said while looking at the church. "Unless they can solve their problem about their resolution, I won't ask them until then. You saw Touma's expression when I told him about the resolve right?" Itsuwa nodded. "Then you know I'm not taking a half-hearted person for aiding me, and that's that."

Itsuwa can understand Shadow's feelings when he explains the situation. The black hedgehog doesn't want to risk the people surrounding him unless the people prepared mentally against the situation he faced. "I see, I guess it couldn't help," Itsuwa said in calm tone. "Let's go inside then and finish this task."

"Wait!" A sound coming out from behind Shadow and Itsuwa. When they turned around, they saw Kanzaki with her sword standing near the gate. "Looks like we have the same destination."

"Priestess-sama?" Itsuwa stated rather shocked when she saw her respected person in front of her eyes. "Do you feel the presence as well?"

"I do Itsuwa, and it's a threatening one," Kanzaki replied calmly while looking at the church. "It looks this is going to be tough one to deal with, but now that we're here, I believe we can solve this one without a problem," He looked at Shadow. "Shadow-kun, are you prepared for this?"

"Heh, don't underestimate me," Shadow smirked as he look at the priestess's face. "I'm an ultimate life-form and I won't back down from this plus I have my resolve in my heart, and that's good enough for me," The group then looked at the church and prepared their weapon as the battle is on the stage. "Alright, no time to waste. Let's go!"

A/N: Next chapter will be intensified as Shadow began his battle, but this time Kanzaki will joining him as well. Oh, and who knows? Someone will appear on the scene and helped them as well. I think it will take time for me to write next one so don't expect a thing so soon, okay?

I think that's all for today. See you later~!

sonic-elric

06 January 2012

08.20 AM