Author's Notes: Here's another chapter up. This one felt a bit more solid and I felt some slight improvement in certain areas of my skill level. Nevertheless, there is much to learn. I've looked back at Time Index and its a whooping 233 pages lol. Prismal Reflections will probably be larger than the original and hopefully be better ;D. I'll probably release a chapter for Return of the Grail by tomorrow or so. It's been 6 years since I started writing and I just can't help but just wow.

I hope you enjoy the chapter and review. Thank you.

Chapter 7: Reflections

"What are we going to do about the project?"

"The answer's simple. We do nothing."

"Why? It escaped from our hands! That's millions of dollars all gone!"

"The project is already a success. Our investors are giving us the funds for the next phase. The failure of this part is expected. We were building on a flawed core after all."

"How can it be safe to let it be? It might come after us."

"There's no worry to that. Like any flawed product, without proper maintenance, it will eventually tear itself apart."

"So what did you find out?" Touma asked.

Yori gave the results of the interview. "Nothing that's really useful. This Parker's a Parkour sniper. He's fairly well known in the underworld, not the best though. I have to give some credit for effort though. He got a job of killing you which he obviously failed." Both Yori and Touma walked down the streets, again.

"Why does everyone want to kill me?" Touma sighed. Index wanted to kill him. Misaka wanted to kill him. Stiyl Magnus, Kaori Kanzaki, Accelerator, Yori Tamotsu, Roman Catholics, Amakusas, Anne all wanted to kill him. At least once that is. What kind of social life does he have? Such misfortune.

Yori gave the universal don't know gesture. "Beats me. I was dead for three months. You racked quite a price on your head. Anyway, the guy doesn't know who employed him. His handler usually deals with that."

"Speaking about him…were you really going to do what you threatened?" Touma inquired.

"If you don't stop me, yeah I would. Even if you did stop me, I'd knock him out and let you go home first and then do it." Yori has no hesitation to do anything necessary to help his friends. Any means necessary and Touma doesn't have to see it.

"I'd prefer otherwise." Touma let it be. This Parker is now in Anti-Skill's hands now and out of Yori's reach. This time, Yori didn't get caught in the process unlike the previous time.

Yori acknowledged before asking. "He was smart to talk. Anyhow who are we meeting?"

Touma answered. "It's a friend of mine. He said it's something important."

Yori decided to follow along. "Okay, let's just not get shot at this time."

They entered the Topaz café. Inside is pure brown. The decorations and furniture is entirely brown. It appeared like an old fashion coffee café but with modern tools and architecture of Academy City. The staff however appears to be wearing formal uniform. Stiyl was waiting at the table at the inner corners. The two sat as Touma introduced. "Stiyl, this is Yori. Yori, meet Stiyl." The two shook hands in polite greetings. "So what's the trouble?"

"Is your friend trustworthy?" Stiyl was in doubt of the immediate security.

"I can keep a secret, even the lethal ones." Yori assured. Touma nodded in agreement.

Stiyl went straight to the point. "The Roman Catholics have been launching large scale plans all over the world. I've found several plans that relate to Academy City and specifically you."

Touma was surprised. "What are they planning? Why would they want me?"

Stiyl explained. "The details aren't clear but from what I gathered they are putting a lot of money into many research and development companies. As for you, you've made yourself a target since the Orsola incident." Yori kept quiet as he put bits of information together.

"That's a first." Touma was surprised by this one. Judging from his battle against Agnese, the Roman Catholics stand fast on old traditions, using sacred medieval weaponry and not depend on science and modern technology. The Magic and Science side have been in conflict for years without end. That's what he was told during the battle against Sherry Cromwell before that. Finding this is quite an odd but serious discovery.

"It is." Stiyl handed Touma a file. "On the details on their intentions on you, they have a project dedicated to killing you." Touma glanced through but he couldn't understand a single syllable of English and Italian. Yori was able to decipher things quite easily having stayed in America for some time.

"If that is so, the attempt had already been stopped." Yori noted. "We caught him and sent him to Anti-Skill." That puzzled Stiyl.

"It's supposed to be enacted next week. This project Demon is somewhere in Academy City."

Yori and Touma looked eye to eye in surprise. They both said simultaneously. "Oh…you mean that project." It puzzled the magician even more.

"What do you know about it?"

Yori explained. "That project…is me or I rather say was me." That caused Stiyl to raise an eyebrow.

Touma summarized. "It's all fine. We've dealt with this project of theirs here in Academy City."

Stiyl was befuddled. His first priority here was already completed before he got here. "I see…then you will now at least know who's funding it." He opened another file. "There is another project here in Academy City. Its objective is to take out the entire city. What I only have here is the name Armastech and a cash transfer of ten million Euros. I recommend you start finding and stop them."

Touma asked. "What about you? How are we going to find this Armastech without a clue?"

"I'm going to investigate one of their projects in Australia. As for your search, both projects are run by Armastech. That'll give you something to work on. Keep the file and I wish you good luck." He stood up and was out the door.

Both of them watched the magician disappear. Yori commented. "That is a lot of secrets to keep."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Five months ago…

"Anthony Hugh, head of the 55th division." Anthony entered upon the call of his name. He stands before a miniature court of four. The space is not very big. Give it ten by ten feet big. The four are standing in four separate stands at the corners of a box. Anthony is surrounded by these major powers. He stood in confidence as he received an audience from God's Right Seat.

The spokesperson, Fiamma of the right began. "You declare you have a plan to subjugate the science side."

"Yes, I do." Anthony confirmed Fiamma's words.

"Explain."

"The plan I have in store is a multitude of offensives both direct and indirect. The focus of the assault will of course be on the pinnacle of the science side, Academy City."

"How do you plan to do so?"

Anthony iterated his plan. "I plan to do so with the use of economics, greed and fear."

Aqua of the Back was clearly interested. "How would you use them?"

Anthony used his fingers to count his phases. "Wars are not won just by blood and brains. Money and resources play a huge role as well. I plan to use economics to bolster our strengths while minimizing the growth of their combat capabilities. We use our financial strength and size to expand even faster than them to make even the best of qualities to be overrun. We deny their strength with the second element of greed." Anthony adjusted his glasses before giving a question of his own. "I ask you all, what is the best weapon against an enemy?"

Vento of the Front answered. "The best weapon would be one that gives complete annihilation."

Anthony corrected. "That is precisely what everyone thinks. The actual efficient weapon against them is simply themselves. With the same money, we cut their growth and we use their own weapons against them. Combine them with our own strength and their defence will break. We do need the remnants for the aftermath."

"That stands strongly against our policies." Terra of the Left warned.

Anthony remained steadfast. "In war, there are no rules. If you want to win, this is what I can present to you."

Fiamma ushered "Go on."

"Last and not least is fear. No matter how powerful your weapons are, they are useless is there's no one to use them. Break their spirit and the will to fight and they will easily fall. Smart weapons and tactics will grant us that result." Anthony concluded.

Fiamma pondered for a moment. "How soon can you start?"

"The moment you give me the fifty million dollars I need."

"Touma!" Index yelled from her seat by the TV. "What took you so long?"

Touma plopped onto the bed. He felt tired after being out all day. Add that a high danger chase atop buildings and a hand to hand combat match. "I've been put up with things. Anyhow I've met with Misaka and settled things with her. You can be normal to her now." He doesn't want to tell Index anything about the Roman Catholics's plans. It might cause further trouble by inciting intervention from other magician societies. A good example was the one Anne came from.

Index rested her head on the side of the bed. "You seem like your hiding something. What are you sneaking behind my back?" She was already suspicious of something. Index's guess is accurate. Her question though was not answered for the man of Imagine Breaker is already fast asleep. She pouted a little but left him be. She returned her attention back to the TV.

In the other part of Academy City, Yori was hard at work. He had been reviewing the file Stiyl Magnus gave them since he's the one who could read English between them. Inside was plenty of classified documents relating from project description down to the medical report.

Yori read in depth every detail on each page. Word to word, paragraph by paragraph. After a good hour of processing everything, he finally knew what he had truly become.

I…

Am….

A machine….

The next day…

"Good afternoon Konori Senpai." Uiharu greeted as she and Saten entered the Judgment branch 177 office. They were greeted in kind by the head of Judgment 177. As they walked past Konori Mii, Saten noticed something.

"Eh? What is that cute cow with a heart on your screen?" Konori quickly closed it before saying.

"It's nothing."

"Really? Your face is quite red now Konori Senpai." Saten teased.

Konori shook her head. "It's nothing really!"

"Are you sure it's nothing?" A man's voice came from the door. A redhead man in red shirt, black pants and jacket entered the room with a carton of Musashino milk.

Konori frowned. "Don't go too far now Kurozuma-kun." Kurozuma, former Skillout and now Anti-Skill took a seat on the sofa. She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be at your office?"

Kurozuma emptied the carton of milk. "I was around on an errand. I thought I'd past by your wonderful office."

Konori snorted to that. "You're a terrible liar. What's your real reason to it?"

"It is true. Ah well, I suppose you wouldn't want to go to Arika for some ice cream perhaps."

"Really?" Konori's eyes brightened on hearing that fact. She looked at the digital clock at the bottom right of the computer screen. It read three thirty six. "It's still Judgment hours." She has to remain on duty for quite some time. She appeared reluctant.

Saten encouraged. "Don't worry! Uiharu and I will cover it!" Despite Saten not officially being a part of Judgment, she helps out a lot of times since Uiharu is a good friend of hers. The other side of the relationship though, who knows?

Uiharu nodded in agreement. "Kuroko's coming soon too."

Seeing this, Konori nodded. "Thank you." She grabbed her things. "If there's anything, don't hesitate to call." The two left Saten and Uiharu in the office.

Uiharu said as she sat on her desk. "It must be so exhilarating to be in love."

Saten nodded."You haven't met your to be right?"

"Not yet but I'm certain he'll be a charismic charming sexy man." Uiharu dreamed.

Saten pulled up Uiharu's skirt. "If you wear this kind of panties, I think it'll be a bit hard."

"Kyaa!"

Touma entered the hideout workshop. He wanted to check up on Yori about the reports Stiyl gave. The workshop door had been left unlocked. He entered inside. It was empty. He looked at the empty stool. The assassin had been handed over yesterday to Anti-Skill for prosecution. Of course, Yori didn't get in detail with them. The man was just left outside tied up with a note. Yori's status of deceased must not be changed for now. It could complicate things. The workshop remains empty. Perhaps he's upstairs. Touma figured.

He went up the stairs to the second floor. The bedroom is empty. The bed was left in a mess. So is the kitchen. The sink held the dirty plates, evidence of accommodation. Where can Yori be? He looked at the stairs up to the roof. He's probably up there. As he guessed, Yori is on the roof. He is sitting by the ledge, a leg hanging in the air. Another leg is bent on the ledge as the winds went by. Their skin felt its touch; their hair blew lightly by it. Yori looked far in deep thought.

Yori didn't acknowledge Touma's presence. He continued to stare far off into Academy City. Touma broke the silence and asked. "Are you okay?" This was the first time Touma saw him in such a state.

Yori sighed. "Have you ever thought what is it like to be something else? Something other than human that is."

Touma didn't have an answer to that. Last year, he had lost all his memories due to a conflict about something. He had been able to put up a false front and regain some track of what he has been in his past life. Touma was frank on this. "No I don't."

"Well…now I know what it is like to be not a human."

That puzzled Touma. "You're a human Yori. A normal human being like anyone of us. You can't be anything else."

"I am something else." Yori's tone got rougher. "I am an abomination."

Touma rejected. "That's nonsense."

"It's a fact." Yori looked at him in the eye. "I knew I took quite a loss. I lost my legs, my hips, my arm and even an eye. All that replaced by metal contraptions. I thought maybe I could live with that. Maybe…just maybe you know. As it is Touma, I'm more machine now than flesh."

Touma assured. "It doesn't matter."

Yori snapped. "It does matter! I'm not human. I'm not even a man right now!"

"You even lost…that?" They both knew what the meaning is.

Yori emphasized. "I did and now what I have is a shitty replacement. I will never have kids anymore. I will never have a family."

Touma pointed out. "You still are what you are."

"That's right. I am an abomination. Now, I need to be alone." Yori stood up and leapt off to another roof and ran out of sight.

Touma sighed as he encountered a manly crisis. "What misfortune."

Three Years ago…

"I'm sorry for your loss." Eleven year old Yori Tamotsu bowed as he gave his condolences. His aunt nodded in grief as Yori dressed in the traditional yukata moved on to let the next relative to give their own condolences. Minutes later, the funeral procession began. The coffin carrying his uncle was lifted to be buried into the cemetery in Kumamoto. The body of his uncle was returned to its land of birth after suffering murder in America. Yori was the sole witness to the crime scene. Yori closed his eyes and a memory involuntarily came to mind.

I'm here….

Yori opened his eyes, banishing it the image away from thought. By now, the coffin is now in place and the dirt began to pile up. His aunt cried in mourning as her husband was being put to rest. Yori can't bear looking for much longer and turned away. His parents are gone two years ago. He can't bear to bottle any more pain. It was all caused by that same person…Takeo. Yori tightened his fist instinctively. By now, the funeral is over and the crowd of the extended family began to disperse for their respective homes. Only Yori doesn't have a home to go to. His first home had been destroyed the same night his parents were murdered. The next was his uncle's which is now deceased.

"Don't hurt him!"

His mother's voice echoed in his ears. Yori felt a pang of pain in his chest. It was not of flesh but of the soul. An old uncle approached him. He doesn't really know much of his extended family. "Young Yori, we need to talk."

Yori maintained his manners with a slight bow. "What is it Uncle?"

"I have discussed with your other uncles and aunts about your predicament. We think it is for the best for you to continue your education in Academy City. It is a safe place for you."

Yori kept a poker face. "I don't want to let this be. I want to get my revenge for Mom, Dad and Uncle Fumio!"

"That is nonsense." His uncle rebutted. "The police will handle the investigation. You focus on getting a good education."

Seeing the futility of resisting, Yori submitted. "Then I will go to Academy City Uncle." Even if he is a eleven years old, he will search on his own for Takeo and find the answers. Academy City will be the starting point of his quest.

In a blink of an eye, it has become amonth later. Yori dressed in the military style gakuran uniform sat by a bus stop. A bus will take him to the bus stop nearest to Academy City. The rest of the way will be up to his two feet. His luggage was placed by his feet. For an eleven year old to be out here alone is a rare occurrence. He was reading the newspaper as he waited patiently. His first school day will start tomorrow. Today will be orientation day and getting to know Academy City. How can I find Takeo? How can he start the search from here with just some living essentials and small amounts of cash? The trouble is already presenting itself at the start.

A van was forcefully put to a stop across the street to Yori's left by another car. Yori watched the three passengers of the car disembark and caught sight of an important thing. Guns. He immediately hid himself behind the seats. The van is a security van, carrying money to be supplied to the banks probably. The occupants of the van were forced out of the van too quickly to put up a response. Yori grit his teeth. It doesn't look good. A siren blared as a police car stopped some distance behind the van. Two police officers exited the car with pistols drawn, yelling at the robbers to surrender. Yori watched patiently, the situation might resolve itself without him getting caught in the crossfire.

The robbers did not heed to surrender and instead opened fire. Their guns are a shotgun and a pair of pistols. The volley managed to take down the two officers into a pool of blood. The robbers turned back to work to unload the money and stuff it into their escape vehicle. Yori looked around. There aren't any other witnesses. Police won't be able to get here in time. Should he take this into his own hands? If I can't solve this, how can I even start with Takeo? Yori made up his mind. He sneaked quickly to the left, staying out of sight. The robbers were hastily loading money while one kept watch on the van crew.

Yori reached to the police car unseen. The officers were already unconscious or dead. It isn't Yori's priority. He grabbed one of the pistols on the floor. It is an old model, the New NANBU M60 but it would do. He knew the gun is live and all he has to do is point and shoot. He trained the pistol with a dual grip. The ironsights would not stay steady for him. Is it the weight or is it his mind reminding him the point of no return? Are you really capable of killing someone? Yori tightened his grip and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The three robbers are down. Yori's wrist felt sore from the acting hard recoil. The van crew retrieved the guns from the heavily injured robbers and had the situation under control. Yori looked at the pistol before looking at the open van. Stacks upon stacks of money were filled inside. Yori put the gun by the car as he closed his eyes. If only I have that much money… At that moment, he has decided the beginning of his journey.

Yori ran and ran and ran without stopping. His mechanical components worked without complaint in timed synergy. It never got tired, just like a machine that it is. He ran across boundless number of rooftops in his path. At this rate, he'll reach the edge of Academy City soon enough. How far did he travel already? It must be at least half the city already! All he wants is to run. Not eat, not sleep, not think, just run.

His cell phone rang and he cancelled the call without even bothering to see the caller ID. It rang again which met the same demise. Then it came for the third time. It irritated him. Touma while dedicated and persistent can certainly be a pain in the ass. He answered it. "Leave me alone."

It was Kuroko that spoke instead. "You're certainly in a bad mood."

Yori replied. "I'm certainly not interested to talk."

Kuroko replied that reply "Good, then just listen."

Yori admitted "I don't want to listen either."

"You are being childish and immature with your darn thoughts of oh I'm half mechanical therefore I'm not human anymore. Get real with life Yori, it's far beyond that."

"You're certainly colourful with your words. You don't even understand a single thing. Anything else you would like to add before its tata to this call?"

"Grow a brain, stop brooding and be back to normal right now." Kuroko was to the point.

Yori gave a sarcastic remark. "Oh, I can't grow a brain. I had mine manufactured." The call disconnected. With that, things are quiet again and he kept on running.

Kuroko closed her lipstick like cell phone. "Grr! The nerve of him." She is clearly annoyed of Yori's antics. She turned around her seat. "Uiharu, did you get a trace?"

Uiharu shook her head. "He cancelled it just a second too early." Their plan to find him has failed. "I only have his general area of the 13th district. I can try to create a list of probable destinations."

Kuroko waved it off. "Don't bother. We won't be able to find him." Kamijou Touma had been able to explain to Kuroko about Yori. That explained to Kuroko everything about the mechanical arm Yori has.

Saten was worried. "Are you sure it's okay to let him be?"

Kuroko gave her confidence. "Boys and their egos. If he wants to be alone then we'll leave him be. He will have to solve it himself."

Yori leaned back against a red brick wall. He took another breath out of many. His heart is just running in a nominal rate. Running feels nothing to him now. He's hardly winded from the running. He doesn't feel the sweat. He doesn't feel the ache. His legs are working fine, just demanding more power from the batteries. Just like a machine. He lowered himself to the unpaved soil. His previous relaxation is now no longer working. What's the point of running then? What's the point of being alive?

He gazed at the street to his right. Life goes on even if he doesn't exist. Just like how it has been for the past three months. Just like it always has been… He saw a young ten year old girl brunette dressed in light blue dress, carrying a number of grocery bags. Doing her stuff as usual. He looked slightly to the left. A car's speeding its way down the road. Wait, wasn't the girl crossing the street? In his mind, he knew instantly. Probability of collision: 100%

Yori was on his feet in an instant. He stepped into the collision path and grabbed the girl off her small feet. He leapt to the side away from the danger. The car came to a screeching halt as Yori put the surprised girl down. The bags she carried were still in her grip, still held tight due to surprise. "Watch your driving man!"

"I'm sorry for that." The speeder apologized humbly. The driver continued his way this time at a regulated speed.

Yori looked at the young girl. "Tsk, don't kids know how to look both ways before crossing the street?"

The girl shyly chuckled. "Sorry Onii chan. I wasn't paying attention. Thank you for saving me."

Yori went back to sitting by the wall, just another one this time. "Geez…now go along properly this time." The girl stepped in front of him and bowed in gratitude.

The girl however didn't move on. "Onii chan, what are you doing?"

Yori looked up at the cheerful girl. "Nothing of your concern. Go on."

The girl shook her head. "You seemed troubled. I want to help you in return for saving me."

"No one can solve my problems." Geez, why is everyone all out against me?

The little girl replied. "Nobody can if you won't let them."

"Even if I did, it can never be solved."

She sat in front of him. "If there's a will, there's a way."

"I tell you my problem's unsolvable. I'm a machine now. I can't be a human anymore." He just realized he just got tricked into revealing his problem. Now he has to argue it out or run.

She gave a faint smile. "You are still human Onii chan. You do have a heart."

"I don't have one. Machines don't have one." Yori stated.

She reasoned. "If you didn't have a heart, how would you compel yourself to risk to save me?"

"…." Yori did not answer and looked away. He was seriously contemplating more drastic action. Still, she pushed her offensive. She hugged him.

"Even if your entire body is cast of metal, you still have the human heart and that is all enough to be human." That is the soul of humanity. "Everything will just be fine. You just have to believe. That's all you have to do."

Yori felt his real eye turn teary. "I…." He responded by wrapping his arms around the little girl. Tears dripped to the floor. "I am a human after all."

"I am a human…"