Chapter Seven

"I'll be right back, 'kay?" Saten assured Misaka as she closed the door.

Misaka had told Saten numerous times to go home. Her life was in no danger and she wasn't in any pain thanks to the advanced anesthetics. The only thing Misaka had to worry about was getting bored while she was confined to her hospital bed. Despite that Ruiko had insisted on staying with her.

Misaka sighed. Well, while Saten-san's gone I may as well try persuading Kuroko to give it up.

She reached towards the phone lying on the stand next to her bed. Her entire arm shook from the muscle destruction she had incurred saving herself from the fall. She found that she couldn't quite reach the phone because of the condition she was in. Taking a breath, she began manipulating the electrons in the air. She created a magnetic field and carefully moved the receiver to her cheek. Once in place, she channeled her consciousness through the telephone and opened a connection with Kuroko's cell.

After a few rings her kouhai picked up. "Shirai speaking."

"Hey Kuroko, it's me. Listen, I-"

"I'm glad to hear that you are awake, Onee-sama. How are your injuries?"

"Oh, I'm doing well. The hospital gave me some medication so nothing really hurts. But-"

Kuroko cut in again. "That's wonderful news, Onee-sama. I'm really happy that they're treating you well."

"Hey, Kuroko, I just-" Misaka knew full well what Shirai was doing and she was certain that Shirai knew what she was trying to tell her.

"Well, Onee-sama, I must return to work now. I hope you recover-"

Misaka decided it was time to get direct. "Knock it off Kuroko! I know you've been at this since yesterday! Just give it up and get some sleep!"

There was silence on the other end. Misaka knew that Shirai was biting her lip, torn within her loyalty to her senpai.

"I'm sorry, Onee-sama," she whispered, "but I can't just let him get away with this."

"Whatever happened to working together, Kuroko? You always scold me for jumping into things by myself, so why are you-"

"I'm not working alone. Uiharu is monitoring all security cameras in the 7th District and Konori-senpai is using her ability to patrol the streets. And it's not just our branch. The rest of Judgment as well as Anti Skill are on the lookout for him."

"Then there's no need for you to be pushing yourself, Kuroko," Mikoto urged, exasperated. "Go home and get some sleep; I can tell by your voice that you haven't gotten any!"

Shirai was deeply touched knowing that Misaka knew her that well. Unfortunately, the only thing those feelings fueled was the fire in her belly. "Onee-sama, I swear I'll be alright."

With that she hung up.

Mikoto let the phone fall from her shoulder and closed her eyes. With the shape she was in, there was nothing she could do to stop her. Uiharu was probably of the same opinion as Kuroko. She would have to call Konori-senpai next. Mikoto trusted that their senpai still had her head on straight.

Misaka experienced a familiar presence. Opening her eyes, she saw him seated in a chair in front of the window. He was leaning to his right side, head resting on his palm.

"If you've come back to finish the job you should have killed me the second you got into the room." She prepared to fire a bolt at the intruder.

"I definitely would have, so calm down," the Mage Slayer promised her.

Misaka ignored his advice and grabbed the plastic buzzer lying on her bed. "Try anything and I'll have Anti Skill here in moments."

"Doesn't that connect to the nurses' station?" Mage Slayer cocked an eyebrow.

"You don't think I can hijack this with my powers?"

He gave that some consideration before shrugging. "I really don't know. I guess I'll just assume it's true."

The two sat in silence for a moment. Takeki was staring intently at Misaka. Not at the remote in her hand, but deeply into her eyes.

A nervous feeling began bubbling up inside of Misaka. "What are you staring for?"

Takeki gave it a moment before answering. "Well, I guess you're kind of cute."

More silence.

"Wh-what!? What are you talking about?" Even coming from the enemy, Misaka couldn't help but blush a little.

"I thought it might just be because you're a Level 5, but maybe he likes you."

"Who does?"

Musujime grinned, "Your boyfriend."

"W-w-what!? I don't have a boyfriend!" The blush only rose higher.

"I remembered when I saw you. Aogami said 'brown haired ojou-sama.' You're from Tokiwadai, right?"

"I am but-"

"Well, that's really none of my business," Mage Slayer waved her argument away with his hand. "I just came here to apologize."

"Huh?"

"Attacking you was an accident. I was… given bad information."

Misaka gripped the buzzer tighter. He kept changing the conversation and it was frustrating her. And now he was saying sorry for what he had done to her. She gritted her teeth. "What the hell? You think you can get away with it just like that?"

"Not at all. I plan on making it up to you. And now I know how."

"Why are you even apologizing in the first place?" Misaka yelled. "Even if it's a mistake you could have just let it go. What makes me different from the other people you've attacked?"

"Obviously it's because you're part of the Faction."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Takeki's eyes lost focus. "Sounds like someone's coming. I'll be back later with a gift."

And he disappeared.

Misaka glared at the empty seat for a moment before exuding her frustration through a sigh. It seems like conversations with teleporters always end like.

Saten slid the door open and looked around. "Were you just talking to someone, Misaka-san?"

"Just an annoying teleporter," she replied, her eyes closed and head resting against her pillow.

"Shirai-san was here? How was she?" Saten asked quickly.

"It wasn't Kuroko."

"Ah, another friend of yours then?"

Mikoto thought about that for a moment. He seemed like he was honestly sorry, but he hadn't seemed dangerous at their first meeting, either. "I wonder."

(***)

Life was wonderful.

Touma was walking on air for the first time.

Since the previous evening everything had gone his way. He had left the house on time. He didn't have any arbitrary hindrances on the way to school. There had been no problems with his homework. Not only had Komoe-sensei not interrupted the class to inquire as to how long Index would be staying at her house (and thus causing all sorts of unnecessary- though accurate- suspicions from his classmates) but she hadn't even mentioned it at all.

Perhaps saying that everything was going his way was inaccurate. Really, he was just leading a perfectly normal life.

Enjoying the warm afternoon sun on his way home, Touma was hailed by a familiar voice. It was Aogami, waving him over from the same maid café he had met Takeki in.

Yesterday, it was raining. Yesterday, he had been depressed and reluctant. Today… Today it was bright and warm, he smiled and he waved, and as he crossed the street there was a bounce to his step.

Entering the shop, he greeted the waitresses with a smile and was led to the same window booth they had occupied the day before. Seated there already were Takeki and Motoharu. Feeling like binging a little, he ordered a glass of lemonade and a mixed fruit parfait.

"We figured out Takeki-dono's preference," Aogami began. "He's a siscon!" Takeki blushed but didn't deny it. "He and the Sergeant here were comparing older sisters to younger sisters. Did you know that Takeki-dono has a twin sister?"

"Last night he said he had a sister, but he didn't mention it was a twin."

"Last night?"

"Oh, I guess you haven't heard. I'm letting Takeki-san stay with me while he's in town. But still, I would never have guessed that you felt that way about your sister."

"Ah, well-" Takeki began to say.

"He's not a full siscon, nya," Motoharu interrupted. "I'm still trying to convert him, nya."

"I see."

"I-I'm really close with my sister," Takeki explained. "And I love her. We've always been together after all. And… I'm not against being with her forever…"

"Then you should go for it, nya!" Motoharu declared.

"But! That isn't exactly normal, is it? If I were to do that people would-"

"Other people shouldn't be a barrier to your love, nya! If it's true love then it doesn't matter who you love, nya!"

"That's right!" Aogami confirmed. "Even if it's a loli or a milf!"

Takeki's eyes darted between the two of them before turning down towards the crumbs on his plate. He was thinking deeply about this.

Hoping to find him a way out, Touma began interrogating. "Do you have a girlfriend, Takeki-san?"

He looked up surprised, as if he had forgotten that Touma was at the table.

"Well, I can't say I do…" was his response.

"Are there any girls you like back home?"

"Not particularly…"

He was about to strike out. "Well then, what kind of girl do you like?"

Takeki thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I'd like a girlfriend who was friendly and rather talkative. I'm a good listener, so…"

"How about physical attributes?"

Musujime thought about that. "Well, I think black hair looks best on women."

"And what color hair does your sister have!?" Motoharu and Blue Hair chimed in together.

"Brown, like me," Takeki held some of his hair between his fingers. "We're twins after all."

Touma smirked as the two frowned in disappointment; Takeki had dodged a killing shot right there. Touma figured any other answers he got from Musujime would be faced with the same inquiries, so he stopped there.

Fortunately at that moment the waitress arrived with Touma's parfait. It created a break in the conversation and at least Aogami's focus was shifted to the maid as she walked away from the table. She was a petite girl, very pale with dirty blonde curls. She was dressed in a corresponding white gown with gold trim, its skirt barely hovering above the ground. Attached to her back was a pair of small angel wings.

Allowing just enough time, Touma changed the subject.

"So, did you find your sister's school?"

"Ah! Yes, I did, but it turns out that she wasn't there. One of her classmates said that she was in the hospital," the boy was very excited.

Touma wasn't sure how the young man could be excited about that, but he continued the conversation, "I see, is she alright?"

"Yeah, she's fine," Takeki replied with uncharacteristic haste, "but listen to this: I found out that the 2nd and 3rd Ranked Level 5's were attacked and are in the hospital, too."

"3rd Rank?" Touma's eyes widened. If he wasn't mistaken, the 3rd strongest ESPer in Academy City was…

"Yes! Can you believe someone defeated both Kakine Teitoko and Misaka Mikoto!?"

"Misaka from Toki-?" Touma began to ask.

"Wow, you know their names, nya?" Motoharu interjected. There was something in his grin that gave an edge to the statement. "They must be famous outside the city, too!"

"Ah, well, the people I heard it from told me their names. Like I said, I'm a good listener." He gave Motoharu a big smile. "But, anyway, I figure he must be really powerful. Do you think he's a Level 6? I mean, two Level 5's in a single night!"

"No way, nya," Tsuchimikado waved his hand. He smirked again as he theorized, "He probably ambushed them or something underhanded like that, nya. He just took them by surprise and got lucky. He's probably a total wuss, nya!"

Takeki's smile grew larger. "I suppose that's possible, too. Do you think you would be able to take down two Level 5's like that?"

"Maybe if-"

Contrary to his personality, Takeki cut off Motoharu, "Yeah, you're right. You can't help that you're a Level 0 with no real abilities to speak of."

Motoharu just smiled back, unfazed. "Yeah, guess I can't help that."

Ironically, Touma was thinking it was ironic that Musujime didn't know Tsuchimikado was a powerful Onmyouji.

"Do you know what hospital they're in?" Touma reentered the conversation.

"They're both at the same hospital as my sister," Takeki informed him. "I'm heading there after this; would you like to come with me?"

"Come to think of it," Aogami began, "Kami-yan's ojou-sama is from Tokiwadai, just like the Railgun. Don't tell me you met the Railgun there and have been working your charm on her!"

"What? Of cou-" Touma couldn't speak quickly enough.

"Kami-yan! I would have never thought you could be that smooth, nya!" Motoharu was slung an arm around Kamijou's neck. "I have new found respect for you, nya."

"I'm not-"

"Anybody can date down once in a while," Aogami continued, "but that's two middle schoolers in a row for you, Kami-yan! Now we know what your preference is!"

"Kamijou-san isn't like that!" Takeki declared. The bishonen's defense of him made Touma smile.

"Hmmm?" Tsuchimikado redirected his attention to Musujime. "What makes you say that?"

"Um… Well…" Takeki lowered his eyes in thought, looking up at the others at intervals. "I'm sure that it's just because… he has a younger sister, he doesn't really notice the age difference as much!"

Any hope that Touma had of support from Takeki disappeared immediately.

"I didn't know had a little sister, Kami-yan," the devil's grin threatening to split Motoharu's face in two.

"I'm surrounded by siscons!" Blue Hair yelled, attracting stares from the other customers. "I'm going to have to adopt a little sister at this rate!"

Touma sighed, "Fukou da…"