Chapter 10

A nondescript girl stepped out of an alley and stood over Gunha. She refrained from any emotion and wore a plain, white blouse and slacks with a stripe up each side. Her hair was a simple black and cut to mid length. She was thin and modestly developed.

A rather disappointing cohort, but her ability made all the difference.

"Did you read it properly?" Gunha inquired when she didn't say anything.

"Yes," she replied simply, turning to stare into the distance. "It's odd. Very odd."

"But you'll be able to track it, right?"

"Of course," Takitsubo Rikou replied. "I'll track him to the ends of the earth if it's necessary to take revenge for Mugino-senpai."

(***)

Something bumped into the front door, distracting Touma from the television. He waited to hear more and after a moment there came a weak, slow knocking. Standing up from the table, he moved to answer it.

"Who is it?" Touma asked as he reached for the handle.

He turned the knob and a weight from the other side pushed the door open. He stepped back to let it open and saw Takeki collapsing as the door stopped supporting him. Touma quickly reached out and caught him under the arms.

"Takeki?"

Touma turned the boy to his back and laid him on the floor. There was dry blood trailing from Takeki's lips and staining his chin. His dress shirt was unbuttoned and untucked. Beneath it Touma saw that Takeki's entire left side and stomach were covered in bruises. He also realized that Takeki had a full six-pack, but that didn't quite seem important at the moment.

Touma got a wash cloth and cleaned the blood from Takeki's face while he tried to wake him. When he had cleared away the blood and the young man hadn't stirred he hurried over to Takeki's bag for pajamas. On the far side of the bag Touma noticed a wooden chest. His eyes went wide as he recognized the marking on the lid as a rune.

Is Takeki…?

Touma pushed the thought from his head. It had to be a coincidence. Takeki must have gotten the box from somewhere without knowing the significance of the symbol.

Rummaging around in the bag, Touma found the articles he was looking for and returned to Takeki's side. He removed the boy's shirt and stopped moving again. Takeki's right shoulder was covered in a bleached scar where the skin had been removed. There was a line of puckered flesh a good foot in length on his left breast where a deep laceration had been stitched closed long ago. Though not bulging with strength, his biceps and pectorals were laced tight with lean muscles like those of an Olympic track athlete.

Like this Takeki didn't seem to be a shy, innocent teenager. He looked like a soldier.

It didn't make sense to Touma. If Takeki was a magician, why hadn't he taken Index? Or, if he wasn't after Index, why hadn't he attacked Touma yet? They had slept in the same room together, he had been totally defenseless. Furthermore, he didn't think he was on bad terms with Necessarius, so there would be no need for Takeki to hide his identity from Touma if the church had sent him on other business.

The truth was that Touma wanted to trust Takeki.

(***)

Academy City is scary.

The words were in Takeki's own voice and echoed as they bounced off the dark corners of his dreams. The dream had yet to fully form and he hung powerless in the void. A numb feeling encompassed him and impressed dread upon his heart. He didn't like dreaming, and he could tell this would not be a pleasant one.

The dream came in the form of a memory. For whatever reason, his brain painted it in grayscale like ancient cinema. He was sitting on a rail. Facing him, Awaki was rocking slowly back and forth on a swing. They were fourteen. They had been in Academy City for two years already.

"That's amazing, Onee-chan!" the younger Takeki exclaimed.

Awaki blushed. "It's not so…"

"It really is! You're going to be a Level 5! Level 5's are super powerful!"

"They say I'm going to go into a special program, though." She dropped her head and stared blankly at the ground. Takeki understood the expression on her face. He got to his feet. "And if I go into a special program, that means-"

Awaki gave a start as hands appeared from behind her. Takeki's arms wrapped around her shoulders. He gently placed his chin on her shoulder and pressed his head against hers.

"Onii-chan…" she whispered as tears welled up. She understood what he was saying even if he didn't use words.

"You don't have to worry about it," he reassured her. "We'll always be together."

Awaki wrapped her fingers around Takeki's forearms and nuzzled her head into his arms. Her heart throbbed with joy and relief. Even if they were apart-

A cold wind swept through the playground. Takeki squinted and Awaki ducked her head into Takeki's embrace. As it subsided the twins looked up. Standing at the center of the grounds was a boy a couple years younger than they. He wore a simple long-sleeve shirt and cloth pants. His skin was blanched and his hair held no color. Looking into the child's red eyes Takeki perceived a tainted soul, deviously scheming something. He tightened his grip on his sister.

"Hey you. You're Musujime Awaki, right?" the child called out.

The two at the swings hesitated. "I am," Awaki confirmed.

The boy grinned and started laughing. "Gyahaha! So, you're the one everyone's talking about. You know what they're saying? They're saying that you may even be more powerful than me!"

"Who are you?" Takeki demanded, growing uneasy.

"Me? I don't have a name! They took it from me! Gyahaha!"

Takeki straightened his posture and pulled Awaki to her feet. "Let's go, it's almost dinner time."

"Just wait a second!" The boy called to their backs as they retreated.

There was a crash and a rattling sound and suddenly the boy had Takeki's arm. Takeki blinked and looked behind them. There was a cloud of dust in the spot the boy had just been and the rail Takeki had been sitting on was snapped clear in half. The swing and its chain landed in a pile a few feet in front of him.

"Please let go of my brother," Awaki requested cautiously. "We need to be getting home."

"Not until I find out how strong you are," the stranger grinned. "This is the first time anyone has ever threatened my position as the strongest."

The boy was suddenly not there anymore. He reappeared in the original place he had been standing. He was confused for a moment, then started laughing again.

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of fighting you," Awaki told him as she pulled Takeki along.

"So you're that powerful! You're not even a Level 5 yet and you can already teleport me without touching me! That's interesting!"

The boy tapped his foot on the ground and came flying after the two. "They call me Accelerator! It's my desire to prove to everyone that I'm the most powerful being! And that means I have to defeat anyone that thinks they're even close!"

Awaki looked at him and he blinked out of existence. Takeki suddenly felt a searing pain in his back and tumbled forward, screaming. Awaki stood dumbfounded at the sight of Accelerator's hand embedded in her brother's back.

"How…" she tried whispering.

"Gyahahahahaha! I redirected your teleportation, that's how! I didn't even have to do anything special, you just teleported my fist right into his body!" His eyes were wild with excitement.

"No…" Awaki started breathing heavy and clawed at her face with her fingers. "No…"

"Want to see more of my power?" Accelerator jeered as he pulled his hand out of Takeki. "Watch this!" With just one hand Accelerator picked up Takeki and began swinging him in sporadic patterns over his head. He laughed maniacally the entire time.

"Stop it!" Awaki screamed and ran at the boy. Accelerator braced himself for her attack. Instead she grabbed the unconscious Takeki.

"Oh no, you don't," Accelerator swatted at Awaki.

The twins disappeared and reappeared a few feet away.

Accelerator grinned.

"Gyahaha. You didn't quite make it in time."

Awaki's eyes widened. There was blood staining her shirt. From her stomach to Accelerator's hand stretched-

…

There was darkness.

And Takeki's voice echoing again.

Academy City is scary.