Author's Notes: Alright, time to get started. For the next three weeks, it is highly unlikely to be no updates as exams are on the way. Now...

To Mr Ficfan, now I will somewhat explain. As it can be determined from the story, the mirrors have exactly the same abilities since they are after all copies. Obviously our Mr God's Shadow here doesn't know the depths of each person's abilities. So he builds his magic spell that can perform an analysis and reconstruct accordingly. In addition, the Imagine Breaker can dispel magic but it cannot dispel regenerative magic based from the light novels. This somewhat follows the principle as in the To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Level Upper case as well. The core needs to be broken but of course one blow won't be enough. ^^ I hope this explains it enough. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Chapter 10: Wheels of Fortune

"Cheers!" Saten Ruiko took charge of their celebration of saving the world. Glasses of sparkling juice tinkled with one another before their contents were drained dry. A banquet has been prepared in the red round table that they sat. The background was merry with foreign music whispering softly. The lights are dim to enlighten the atmosphere. There are not many other customers for the staff to cater to, giving the small entourage from Academy City their full attention despite their inability to understand Japanese.

"Honestly, the kind of things people can do is atrocious!" Kuroko said in anger. The others agreed full heartedly. Yori had something to add.

"Without atrocities such as this, how would we be human? There would be no distinction between our natures." Without evil, there is no real good as Yin is as to Yang to the Confucian teachings. Everything would be seen as neutral, no distinction. Humanity would be a clean flat sheet with nothing extraordinary if wasn't for them.

Kuroko was outraged. "I can't believe your defending them!"

Yori explained his point. "I'm not. It's just greed for success and money that brings the worst of people."

Touma agreed with that. "Greed brings problem to everything."

"There is no doubt about that. That's why you heroes will be the one stopping the bad guys." Uiharu said cheerfully.

Misaka downed another glass. "Damn straight it is. We'll stop them whatever they're planning." Weapons of Mass destruction are heavily frowned upon but when desperate time comes, desperate measures have their place.

Touma downed another glass. "So when are we returning to Academy City?" Stiyl had already left Australia for more work.

Yori answered as he refilled his glass. "The next flight will be in two days' time." As Academy City is very stringent on people going in and out of the city, the number of flights available is highly limited in comparison despite having the fastest aircrafts in their disposal. "I suppose we'll have some R&R in the meantime."

Saten proposed another toast. "Then let's enjoy the free time we have!" Another round of drinks went on.

Uiharu typed quickly into her laptop. "I found us a nice hotel nearby. I've already made the necessary arrangements." She received a gold card from Yori which startled her.

"Put it on the underworld charity tab." He had his drink filled back to the brim. "In the meantime, let's attempt to get ourselves drunk!" That will never happen of course.

"Wow." Saten was amazed by the sight before them. They had taken a taxi to get to the Realm hotel. In the night, it is certainly a spotlight to behold. It is a large complex. Balconies stand out from the clearly defined spots of rooms along the floors of the hotel. Below at the ground level, bright lights lit the front entrance and inside are grandeur.

Yori complimented. "You have good taste." Uiharu blushed red as they entered the Realm Hotel to check in. Inside, there are two primary staircases. One leads up to the reception and the rooms. Below leads to a small waiting area and entrances to the other facilities that is provided. Up above in the sky, red decorations have been hung, dabbing here and there along the walls with their light redness. The marble floor and red carpets with the inclusion of red and black chairs create a sense of royal majesty. It is indeed a five star hotel. They went off to their respective rooms and kick start their recreation.

Sss…..

The hiss of steam burns into the human skin. In the hotel sauna was four girls, all covered with towers. They spoke as the room's temperature climbed. Misaka started it first. "This is the closest to a hot spring in Australia hmm…"

"Don't they have hot springs of their own?" Uiharu had her curiosity stirred.

"I think they do have their own hot springs but it's not commonly used like Japan." Kuroko gave her opinion.

"Eh, I want to ask you all something." Saten pushed the conversation on a vector. "What do you think about Yori?"

"A bad guy turned good." Uiharu gave her thoughts.

"An open minded knowledgeable fellow." Misaka gave her impression of him.

"A childish arrogant cocky reckless egoistic kid." Kuroko spattered hers.

"Isn't that rather harsh?" Uiharu was surprised. "Yori has been a good friend isn't it?" He had always been covering the expenses for all their trips. He had been helping them out with the weapons smuggling case several months back.

Kuroko explained her answer. "He is a kid who thinks he can do anything in the world. He thinks he's everything, being ungrateful for being brought back to life. He clearly doesn't appreciate his friends with his reckless abandon into danger."

Saten pointed out. "Don't you get into danger as well?"

"I get involved to put an end to it. He'd go because it's fun."

"Ah…" Saten had nothing to argue. She isn't much of a combatant and thus doesn't see much of Yori's expertise of death. "I see…well…I think I'm taking a liking of him."

"EHHH?" The other trio screamed in surprise.

Saten placed a hand on her head with a laugh. "I don't know if it'd grow but I'm certainly curious of him." What she got from Kuroko in response scared her.

Kuroko said with an aura so dark that it can create night. "Then you must take your treatment to be cured from that idiot." Her words were very menacing indeed. Kuroko began the first step towards Saten before being interrupted by a simple splash of water onto her back by Misaka.

Sssss…..

"HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!"

At the guys' side, it's a lot quieter. The heat is strong and there is little need for words. The echoes of commotion far away did spur a conversation. Yori raised an eyebrow. "What on earth are they doing?"

"I have no idea." Touma answered. "Shouldn't you keep it sealed?" He was referring to Yori's metal exposed arm.

"Call it a good sterilization. It's part of the maintenance." His legs too were shiny metallic. The hydraulics and locomotion that make the limb function are all hidden away from the shiny shell. Its movements were fluid and totally silent.

If Touma wasn't seeing the biopolymer flesh by the side, he'd think the arm was covered in a metal gauntlet. All beneath it now is entirely manmade. Yori asked him a question. "Now what are you going to do?"

"Going to do about what?"

"Your relationship with Misaka, I only know the vague details about it."

"Well…" Touma put some thought on it. "I'm not sure whether it can bloom again. She did take quite a hit despite how trivial it may seem. Sometimes I don't understand girls at all."

Yori gave similar sentiments. "That's true about that. Kuroko is especially a difficult one to handle."

Touma laughed. "Kuroko is difficult. There is no doubt about it." The younger girl is very defensive of Misaka when the issue was about him every single time. He then noticed. "This is the first time."

"The first time for…?" Yori didn't quite get it.

"It's your first time you're having a break since your resurrection." Touma smiled.

"Ah…that." Yori rinsed his mechanical arm in steam water. "I suppose it's a good thing."

"It is. When we get back, we'll take the next step to your goal."

Yori assured. "To our goals Touma…to our goals."

Misaka tossed and turned under the warm comforts of the bed blankets. Her bed felt fine. Then what's causing her trouble of sleeping? Misaka checked the time.

12.17 AM

I really should get some sleep. Kuroko is clearly knocked out in her dreams. It's probably something perverted.

"Oh Onee Sama…" Kuroko moaned in her sleep. "I can't believe it….ah." Misaka felt a vein pop. Yep, her guess is spot on. She felt restless for no apparent reason. It doesn't appear to be the jetlag. Even if it is, her bio clock would be saying it's just one hour behind, not really an issue. She got up and off the bed.

I think I'll have some fresh air. She changed from her pyjamas into a blue tank top and white shorts and headed out. She decided to head to the open air roof. The outdoors is a bar. She expected to be alone with the cool wind. She was almost precise. Another young lad appears to be having a restless night as well. By the bench of concrete, in his red shirt and brown shorts, Yori held a small green can named Carlsberg. A few cans unopened sat neatly beside him. He took a sip as Misaka questioned. "Aren't you too young to be drinking?"

Yori turned slowly in surprise. "Ah…I'm used to it. It eases the mind if you take it moderately." He patted at the spot beside him. "Take a seat. Nobody's around." She obliged, sitting to his left. He asked the common question. "Having a hard time sleeping?"

"Yeah." The illumination of the night is only by the moon and the stars. The lights are already turned off. Unlike Japan or the rest of the world, the lights in the city is far and few. She asked him back. "Why can't you sleep?"

Yori took another slow sip of beer. "I've been thinking a lot that I can't sleep."

"What have you been thinking about?"

"A little of here and there. How I wished to be fully human again etcetera. I've come to terms with my fate but it never hurts to dream right?"

Misaka smiled faintly. "It's alright to dream. Losing something precious is always painful."

Yori was optimistic in response. "Thanks for the encouragement. My future will certainly improve as time goes. It does make me wonder about one thing." He clenched his steel fist. "Why am I brought back to life? Why did they want particularly me to kill Touma?"

"They wanted you to kill Touma?" Misaka is surprised. She didn't read the files of the Demon project given by Stiyl Magnus. Yori had kept those away in one of his underworld stashes.

"Their intended objective of reviving me…yeah." He gave a grin. "Don't worry; he'll just live through anything thrown at him."

Misaka agreed fully with him. "That idiot certainly likes to spark trouble."

Yori moved it on to another topic. "Speaking of which…you two had quite a relationship eh."

Misaka looked away. "That was over a while back. Please don't bring it up."

Yori emptied his drink. "Maybe that's what is bugging you." He opened the lid of a fresh can. "Talking about it will make things easier for you."

"I can't open up. I just can't." That was her reply.

Yori nodded. He passed her the drink. "Have some. It's why we drink it for, to open up and be ourselves."

Seeing the drink of adults, she hesitated a little before accepting it. She took a short sip before recoiling almost immediately in distaste. "It's bitter!"

Yori explained while wagging a finger. "You drink not for its taste. Its good taste only comes when you aren't focused on it."

"Ugh…" She wasn't that satisfied with his explanation. "You can really get in trouble for underage drinking."

"You just don't have to get caught, that's all." Yori chuckled. "So feeling opened up now?"

Pondering a moment, Misaka marvelled at its effects. "It is working. I feel better now."

Yori suggested. "Up to talk about it now?"

Misaka began her rant. "Yes. That idiot always been so reckless! He always puts his life on the line for others. I always thought he had been faithful from that particular behaviour of his. Apparently, it wasn't the case." She took a long pull from the alcoholic beverage. "It hurt so bad, seeing him with that nun and another girl…in that intimate position." She took another pull. "It just hurts…"

Yori wrapped his left arm around her back. "Listen to me. Things are a matter of perspective. It might have all just been an accident. I'm sure Touma still cares about you…I care about you too." Her lack of an answer confused him. "Eh?" He noticed she had already passed out. "Oh my, you got drunk from just one can." He then noticed something missing. "Where did my other three cans go?" The other three cans were beside Misaka, already empty. He shook his head. "You weren't supposed to drink that much." He lifted her up gently. "Time to put you to bed."

Moments later, Yori put Misaka to bed. It is his bed. He didn't want to bother the other girls, probably fast asleep. Touma's already asleep so there shouldn't be any problems. After all, it is only just one night. He whispered to her sleeping form. "Good night." He covered her with the blanket before lightly kissing her forehead. He closed the door to his room quietly and went out of the hotel. One thing's for sure…we can't be together Misaka. His right hand twitched a little uncontrollably.

WARNING: ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE PRESENT. SYSTEM FLUCTUATION IS IN EFFECT.

SYSTEM: INITIALIZING RECALIBRATION OF ALL ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS.

SYSTEM: PULSE RATE REDUCING

SYSTEM: REM PATTERN DETECTED

MEMORY PLAYBACK: APPROXIMATE DATE 3 YEARS AGO

A young eleven year old entered the deep depths of Academy City. He wore a simple shirt with long black pants. A brown jacket covered the outside from the dark rain. He has a mission here. That mission is his first step to the path he must take. Nobody is around. Nobody is around that will save him, more likely they will consume him if he isn't careful.

Young Yori entered a private salon in the 3rd District. There are very few teenagers around, private salons catering towards the adults of Academy City. Even so, these aren't the goody shoes type such as Anti-Skill or your regular blue collar worker. His target is here in one of these rooms. He gave no eye to the staff manning the counter. He already knew which room it will be.

His overall objective is to find Takeo and get his revenge. The first step to that is acquiring a sizeable sum of resources aka cash and contacts. Step one is cash and the best place to get that cash is in the darkness itself. His heart pounded into his ears nervously at every step. His legs felt like heavy lead at times. Danger possibly lurks at any corner. Be brave…

He went up to the third out of six floors of the building. He opened the sixth door to his right. Inside, a party is going on. Food and alcohol is in abundance. The number of people is set to be ten. They are all adults. They aren't the types that look delinquent or roughnecks. They aren't the types that look professional with proper dressings either. They are just normal looking people in everyday lives. They however aren't the people you want to mess with.

The ten noticed the Yori's entry. One of them said with a bottle of beer in his hand. "Kid, you got the wrong room." That is quite some manners considering their occupation of killers.

Yori answered back. "I am in the right room." He looked at their leader, one wearing a red shirt with the black skull of death. He had blonde hair with a brownish tint on it that matches his ochre pants. A pair of black sunglasses is on the table, clearly his. He had a masculine look with the perfect tan, one that a woman would kill for. Yori gave his intentions. "I'm looking for Masaru Akihiko."

"Then you came to the right room. Who are you?" The man was cautious. For a young boy to come looking after him, it pays to be careful.

Yori introduced himself and his intentions. "I am Yori and I want to get money fast."

The one with the bottle answered. "Go to the bank kid. We don't give money here."

Yori answered back. "The banks won't give me. I will earn it here."

Masaru raised an eyebrow. "A kid like you think you can work under us?" Several of them laughed.

Another one of them said. "Go home kid. This isn't your turf."

Yori scanned his eyes across the room. "You are after all guns for hire." He reached into his jacket and pulled a small pistol. It is the same New NANBU M60 pistol he had acquired from the truck heist. It created tension in the ambience as he put it on the table. "I want to be one as well. I need to learn the ropes and you guys will be my stepping stone for that."

Masaru was intrigued. He leaned forward. "What are you planning?"

Yori said it easily. "I need to find someone and get my revenge."

"Why do you choose us? I'm sure there are other groups that are willing to take you in."

"I choose to learn from the best that I know of right now and that is you."

Masaru answered. "Honestly kid, you're toeing down a very dangerous line. My advice would be to go home and forget all this." His eyes sharpened. "Nevertheless, are you sure you want to take the risk?"

Yori nodded. "I will."

"Should you die, it will not be on our hands. You have decided your own future and you will pay the price accordingly. Welcome to the Wolf Hounds."

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

It is eight in the morning. The fact that it is eight is drilled hard into their minds by the loud noise of the digital alarm clock. Misaka felt a blast of a headache. Such an annoying alarm... She reached to turn it off to sleep some more. The alarm turned off but she felt flesh instead. It felt thin, muscular and all too familiar. She turned and saw Touma had also reacted to the alarm. "Eh?" Why is he here?

Touma was also surprised. "Why are you in my room?"

Misaka shot back. "Why are you in my room you pervert?"

Touma pointed to his belongings. "This is our room. I don't even know how you got in here." Misaka can't remember anything about last night or rather in the earliest of the morning. Blame the alcohol for that.

Misaka strode to get up. "Then I'll leave!" Her clothes had gotten rather dishevelled, one of her straps down her shoulder. The door burst open and Kuroko entered fully dressed.

"Why is Onee Sama here?" Seeing Misaka's condition, she said "Why do you look so messy?" Only now did the Railgun realized her predicament and covered herself with the blanket. Immediately the teleporter turned her demon eyes at Touma. "What have you done to my Onee Sama you barbarian?"

"I didn't …" It was already too late for a powerful drop kick struck him right at the chest.

"FUKOU DA!"

"So what are the plans for today?" Saten started off their one day vacation before they have to return home to Academy City. Now, it is ten in the morning. That leaves approximately twenty four hours before they have to turn in and prepare for the next flight

Uiharu listed off their options. "Canberra has a good number of tourist attractions. We have the Botanic Gardens…the War Memorial, the High Court, the Questacon, the Telstia tower, The Museum, the old parliament house, the national library and much more."

Touma commented. "That's a lot! I'm sure we can't cover everything in a day!" The time they have to cover everything is only seven hours before everything closes up for the night.

Kuroko stated the obvious. "We'll have to choose then. Where do you all want to go?" After some proactive discussion and bickering, they decided to go to the Glassworks and the National zoo and aquarium. The others will have to come at another point of their lives.

Misaka flicked a coin. "Now let's go!"

The day went by quickly. Hours felt like minutes throughout their day. For Touma, somehow it is always series after series of misfortune befalling upon him. The Glassworks is a nice place to visit. They got a chance to see how a silicon mixture could be formed into pure glass. From the start to the finish, they saw it all. Saten had a chance to try free sculpting a glass beaker the old fashion way instead of mechanical automatons. It is an educational trip of seeing the theory made into the practical.

Next step off is the National Zoo and Aquarium. The number of animals there is enormous. They had animals from around the world. A good number were from Africa such as the giraffe, zebra Eland, meerkat and so on. Others also attracted them such as the European bear, the snow leopard and other reptiles such as the chameleons, alligators and snakes. The reptiles certainly did scare the girls with their hardened scaled skin. The guys teased and naturally barely made it alive out of the women's scorn.

That was just the zoo then came next the aquarium. It Is the only zoo in Australia that has an aquarium. The variety of species again is staggeringly a lot. Different sizes and colours make an array of patterns that fill the bright blue aquarium. That is not the main attraction. It would be the cheetah, a pride of the zoo. They got a chance to feed it with some game and then take photos with it. The photo shoot was chaotic as Yori sat beside the prone cheetah, Saten flipping Uiharu's skirt with Uiharu screaming in response, Misaka forcing Kuroko away from further molestation and Touma just trying to survive in between the two groups. That moment was recorded forever with a click.

By now, it is already seven and night began to creep upon them. Most shops were already long closed since five. Only a handful remained open. Uiharu popped her canned drink's lid open. "It was so fun today."

Yori laughed as his eye caught a sign "It's a long day and…are you all interested to finish it off with a carnival? It looks like its last day before moving off is tonight."

Saten turned energetic once again. "Then let's not waste the chance"! Oh dear…

It turned out to be the right choice. There are plentiful of rides to enjoy. From a House of Mirrors to the Disk O to the Drop Tower to the classic Ferris wheel, they are there. Adding to that is also the plentiful of side games to play, meeting its expectation of a large mobile carnival. Yori ended up getting blacklisted for scoring perfect hits in a target practice with a BB gun consecutively. He did manage to get the girls at least one plush toy though.

Kuroko muttered as she looked at the teddy bear plushie in her hands. "This isn't something for my age." Misaka on the other hand is winning consistently with the metal throw rings game. I'd say she's about to be blacklisted shortly as well.

"Oh really?" Saten took the bear. "Then I'll just have it then."

"Whatever." Kuroko's answer is casual. Misaka just got blacklisted and left the booth with a bunch of simple key chains. Uiharu returned with some cotton candy for all of them.

The girls went on to the other games, leaving Yori and Touma on their own. The two walked down one of the few paths around. Yori said nonchalantly, taking a bite from the pink candy. "It's a bit disappointing to be blacklisted like that."

"You can't miss, I'm sure they think you're cheating." Touma suggested strongly in a joking manner. Yori had struck bull's eye with single handed aim for 30 shots in a row at 10 metres. For a pistol, that is very accurate. They happen to stop by a fortune teller stall, almost hiding by one of the ends of the designated pathways.

The old lady suggested. "Come young ones, I sense a lot of your futures." Touma didn't quite understand what the lady was saying but he had an idea of encouraging him to parlour the booth.

Yori raised an eyebrow. It was tempting to shatter that illusion she brought up. "Let's see if she's all talk." Touma merely nodded as they patronized it.

The fortune teller began with Yori. She read the spiritual lines of his palm. "You were once a bright one, having turned dark by the loss of your parents. You have struggled hard and have been successful. Now you reap the benefits of your rewards."

Yori played along with the woman. He too can play with that game. He replied with his American accented English. "Sounds good and all but how does that have to do with my future?"

The haggard lady continued reading the future. "Your journey will be a hard one. There will be more conflicts, more problems. The decision you make in the coming weeks will affect your relationships."

Yori wanted to reply but his phone rang all of a sudden. He answered it as the Fortune Teller moved on to Touma. "Your life is a mystery to you. Your long journey has now been hidden from you. Still, you persevered and made your life anew…" She gave a pregnant pause. "Soon, your actions will decide the lives of your loves ones."

"What do you mean by that?" Touma demanded. He didn't understand English fluently to get the message. The woman chuckled.

She spoke in her native language of Japanese. "I didn't expect a fellow Japanese to be a visitor today." She then repeated her predictions to him.

Touma was unsure. "How will I know when that time comes?"

"In time young man, you will see…."