Kamijou Touma has awakened. As he recovers his strength, certain events are taking place. These events will determine the fate of Academy city, Infinity 5, and the world that he lives in. One can only watch as the major players of power communicate their goals and ambitions to one another. A strong fact remains. Touma's life will take a whole new turn as he draws closer to the fateful meetings that will shape the future of him and his friends. Where science and magic meets, that is where the epic story begins!
Academy city, West of Tokyo,
Dark clouds formed, hovering above the world's famous Esper development centre. Academy city lived up to its reputation on most occasions. However, any visitor's preconceived ambitions of touring this technologically advanced city was dashed as the brooding and intimidating weather covered the sky like a giant canvas, threatening the citizens on the streets below with rain if they did not move quickly to find shelter.
The weather report had predicted a heavy storm over the west coast of Japan. The storm was due to move inwards in a matter of hours. As a result, students had to react quickly if they wanted to avoid getting wet.
It was in a certain shop, called "Green Mart," down on the streets below, that a middle school girl could be found. If a stranger were to look at her, they would immediately recognize her as a student of the infamous "Tokiwadai Middle School."
This girl had short hair that reached to her shoulders. She carried a green phone that had a "Gekoto" strap attached to it. The girl was browsing along the comic's section. She picked up a manga, and began to flip the pages. Reading mangas for free in this particular shop was her hobby, as she did not need to pay for a copy.
However, she did know how to practice digression so that the owner of the mart would not chide her for taking advantage of the system. The streets outside "Green Mart" lit up as the sound of thunder could be heard. It was turning dark. Through the glass window, the girl could see people opening their umbrellas and putting on raincoats, as the barrage of water droplets descended upon Academy city.
Yet, here in the sanctuary of the well-lit shop, Misaka Mikoto pondered on the events that had unfolded nearly a month ago. The past month had been strange, and many things had taken place on a world scale. Misaka had been in a war that threatened to wipe out their very existence.
World War 3 nearly cost Academy city a great deal, even though they had won the war. Misaka had watched the surrender of Russian forces on the television, as they announced the ceasefire after some brutal fighting.
Every student citizen living in the city, was told of the news that the war was over and that they could breathe easily now. Yet, Misaka was sad, as she thought of a life that was lost in Russia.
Unknown to many people, there had been a casualty who had died, trying to do what was right. Indeed, the person Misaka was thinking of was a certain spiky-haired boy called Kamijou Touma.
While she was in Russia, she had stolen a Vtol, and together with a sister from the Misaka network, had attempted to retrieve him from his ill-fated duty. However, all her efforts to rescue him ended when she tried to use her powers to magnetically pull him out of the structure that was falling rapidly into the ocean below. To reasons unknown to her, he touched the lifeline linking him to her and broke it.
Misaka crunched her teeth as she though to herself,
"It was that right hand again. The same right hand that could block my electricity and iron sand."
Bringing the manga she held in her hands tightly to her chest, she muttered to herself,
"Idiot, why didn't he let me save him?"
He has saved her life when she hadn't asked him to. For the sake of her sisters, the boy had fought with Academy city's strongest Esper, the Accelerator, and had beaten him with his bare hands. Yet, when it came to himself, he just wouldn't let her help him. Even though he was badly beaten and injured, he still refused her assistance.
Now, he was dead, swallowed up by the sea. Misaka looked at the street outside and whispered, in a desperate tone,
"Why didn't you let me save you?" she asked again.
Misaka looked at the rain stained glass as she thought to herself.
After the structure had gone down, they had piloted the Vtol to get as close as they possibly could to the fortress. However, when they reached a harbor near the ice-filled coast, her sister had to stop the craft due to their low fuel supply.
Misaka had looked for any signs of life, anything that could prove that the boy still lived. However, her misery was compounded, as they could not find a single trace of the boy's existence, safe for a "Gekota" strap that she had pulled from the water.
Misaka snapped back to the present, as she reached for her pocket and pulled out the strap. She still remembered the date, September 30th. They had gotten the strap together after Touma had been forced to go on a date with her. Despite him being dropped kick by Kuroko, while they were in a photo booth, Misaka had enjoyed herself, even though Touma pissed her off for some other reason.
It was weird. For Misaka, Touma was an integral part of her life. He was the idiot who could handle her status and personality, even though he was a level 0. The realization that he was dead was another issue all together. Misaka wondered why she cared so much about him, until she realized that deep down, in her heart of hearts, she liked him.
Misaka blushed, as tears started to fill her eyes. As much as she denied it, she realized that she had feelings for him. He was the only one who could negate all her attacks with his bare hands, and the only person who would go the distance for others if they were in trouble.
Misaka looked up and closed her eyes. All her power as the 3rd level 5 in the city and she could not save one boy. As tears begin to drop, she resisted. The girl did not want to cry, because she was afraid of letting down her defenses and becoming weak. Yet, she would be truly heartless if she thought that the death of that idiot did not warranty a single tear.
Misaka struggled with her emotions before a clap of thunder jolted her to her senses. She put down the manga she had been reading and turned to look around the store. It was 9pm and the owner was tending to some customers who had lined up at the counter. Misaka walked past the aisle of the comic's section and opened the mart's door.
She stepped out into the cold wind as the street and roads were soaked in water. She took out her umbrella, opened it and started walking in the direction of the bus stop. As she made her way, she looked up at the dark sky. The rain was starting to pick up speed and thus, she needed to hurry.
Conversely, at the same time, another strong gush of wind blew past her, lifting her skirt and flinging her bag about her shoulder. Finally, she reached the bus stop and closed her umbrella. The bus would take at least 15 minutes to arrive, so she still had to wait for some time.
Looking up at the sky again, Misaka could feel that there was something different tonight. It wasn't like any other conventional day, when the city encountered heavy weather. Instead, this was the kind of night that changes usually occurred, unknown to the entire world.
Misaka gazed at a rotating, rain-soaked turbine just across the street and whispered to herself,
"There is something different about tonight."
The center of Academy city, the mysterious building,
Meanwhile, as the floodgates descended upon the residents of Academy city, a lone, windowless building stood out in the center of the hub. This building had been built to withstand a nuclear attack should Academy city come under an enemy threat. In addition, the building prevented harmful radioactive rays from entering it.
All these precautions were necessary for the being that resided within it's walls. Indeed, if one were to enter this building, they would come face to face with the head of Academy city himself. The former Magician who had deserted the magic side, only to become the head of the science side.
Aleister Crowley was a strange being. He floated in a cylinder-shaped container that had wires and tubes attached to it. These connections ran along the entire length of massive room and they held the life-support that Aleister was so dependent on to survive.
Yet, like the cold and calculating man he was, here he lived, plotting his next move and laying out the pieces as if there were an imaginary chess board. Aleister was expecting someone. That person had planned to meet him on Friday for a short while, and today was that day. Aleister looked at the screens floating in front of him.
These screens were outside of the tank he was in, and they held key information to the city and the outside world. Aleister was lost in his thoughts when a sound echoed throughout the room. Sleepily looking up, he saw the two people who had entered.
Musujime Awaki and Tsuchimikado Motoharu were present, as he had ordered them to be. Aleister smiled. Having underlings was one thing. Having underlings who would never go against you, for the fear of what you would do to the people they cared about, was a whole different thing.
Tsuchimikado glanced at Aleister and asked,
"Why have you called us this time?"
Tsuchimikado was wearing his school uniform, indicating that he had just returned from school. He wore his traditional black shades and had a serious look on his face.
"Ever since World War 3 ended, the Russians have surrendered to us."
Frowning, he looked at Aleister and continued,
"Academy city is in a better position than ever before. The Russian Orthodox church as well as the Catholics have had their strength momentarily drained from them."
"If everything has gone according to your plan, why do you still need GROUP?" finished Tsuchimikado.
He was obviously irritated. It had been nearly a month since the Russians signed the surrender treaty. On top of that, the English Anglican churches as well as Necessarius had gotten word that "Fiamma of the Right" was dead. Assuming that Aleister had nothing to do with it, which he obviously did, the power balance was tipping in favor of the science side.
Tsuchimikado continued speaking, as Aleister looked at him with a grin on his face.
"Not only have things gone according to you plan, but you hold all the cards now. The only thing I don't understand is why Kami-yan had to die for the evil that you have created?"
Tsuchimikado knew that the different churches had sent out their rescue teams in an effort to fish Touma out of the freezing waters. However, to their shock and loss, they realized that nobody could have survived in those waters of the Arctic Ocean. They could not find any life signs.
"Was he part of your plan? That you would have him die so that all the power in the world would belong to you?"
Tsuchimikado wanted answers and he needed Aleister, this evil man to answer them.
Aleister gazed at Tsuchimikado. With the evil grin still plastered upon his face, he said,
"It is true that destroying "Fiamma" was a part of my plan. However, I had not counted on the "Imagine Breaker" to head over to Russia by himself. I did send out retrieval teams to re-acquire him, to no avail. He was already fighting "Fiamma.""
"After he had defeated God's right hand, all I needed to do was to step in and finish the job. Off course, I had not counted on the boy to stay with the "Star of Bethlehem.""
After Aleister had said all of this, a red dot flashed on one of the screens below, coupled with a beeping that echoed all around the room. Shifting his head slightly, Aleister turned to Awaki, who had been listening in on the conversation up to that point, and told her,
"Go and retrieve out guest."
Awaki looked at Aleister with surprise, before she teleported out of the building.
Tsuchimikado watched her disappear before turning back to Aleister,
"And?"
Aleister replied, not concerned with the demands of the boy who was questioning him.
"It was such a shame that he had to die. I could have made further use of him. Well, it can't be helped."
Turning to Tsuchimikado, Aleister smirked.
"This is the fun thing when you control people with morals. Even if it means certain death, they will uphold them no matter what. That is why good people are so easy to manipulate, because they are so afraid of losing…..a couple of things."
"Isn't that right Tsuchimikado?" asked Aleister, studying the boy's face.
Tsuchimikado bit his teeth,
"That bastard," he thought to himself.
For Maika's sake, he had to control himself.
Aleister continued,
"The "Imagine Breaker" was a fool. That is why he died. He was weak."
Tsuchimikado stared at the monster through the glass and exhaled,
"Kami-yan wasn't weak."
Before either of them could speak, Awaki had returned. Behind her, a man wearing a rain-soaked, white lab coat was in tow. Tsuchimikado did not recognize this person. To him, he looked like some sort of Doctor or Researcher. The man walked towards Aleister and Tsuchimikado and stopped.
Even Awaki drew a curious expression at the stranger whom she had just teleported into the building.
The man looked like he was in his forties. He had a beard and wavy hair that grew on every side. He had a strong physique and his lab coat was un-buttoned, revealing a light blue colored shirt underneath. He wore black pants and a belt.
The man looked up at Aleister and smiled,
"You haven't really changed-?"
Inazuma grinned wider,
"-Have you, Aleister?"
"Who is this man?" Tsuchimikado thought to himself.
Awaki and him remained silent as they watched the two converse with one another.
The magician in the tank scanned Inazuma and replied his grin with a sheepish smile,
"I could say the same for you."
Inazuma continued, as he stole a glance at Tsuchimikado and Awaki,
"So, you are still using children to do your dirty work, eh?
Aleister smiled and replied,
"Sometimes, utilizing the youth is the best way to go about things."
Aleister continued,
"But let's move on to more pressing matters. Look at you, after all these years of hiding, you have finally decided to show yourself."
Inazuma closed his eyes and sighed,
"Well, there is a start for everything. I wanted to talk to you after all. We have some things to discuss."
"However, I have to be somewhere else, so make it quick Aleister."
Aleister complied,
"Let's get down to business then. When are you-"
The magician glared slightly,
"-Going to return the "Imagine Breaker" back to Academy City?"
A noise distracted Inazuma. He turned to Tsuchimikado who was apparently in shock.
Tsuchimikado exclaimed,
"What do you mean return the "Imagine Breaker?", I though Kami-yan was dead…"
Looking at Aleister, he shouted,
"I thought you told me he was dead!"
However, the magician seemed unmoved and smiled at Tsuchimikado,
"I lied."
Tsuchimikado pondered on this revelation.
"Tsk. That bastard."
Inazuma looked at Tsuchimikado,
"I don't know who told you Touma was dead-"
Inazuma's head snapped to Aleister,
"-But he is very much alive."
Tsuchimikado looked at Inazuma, stunned,
"Kami-yan is alive? Is he alright?"
Inazuma laughed and said,
"Yes, my boy, trust me when I say that Kamijou Touma is alive and well. I know this, because I am his Doctor. So stop worrying."
There was something about this man that assured him. Composing himself, Tsuchimikado relaxed his shoulders and re-adjusted his shades. He felt like he could trust this man.
Inazuma turned back to Aleister and spoke,
" Still manipulative I see."
Aleister ignored the comment and asked,
"Are you going to return him or not?
Inazuma responded,
"Ah yes, about that, I wanted to ask if the boy could stay a little longer in Infinity 5?"
"He just recovered and I felt that it would not be wise to move him so soon. Hence, I felt that 2 more months would be all he needs to fully recover."
Aleister processed Inazuma's request and replied,
"Is this your prescription as his Doctor, or your attempts to hide an altogether different agenda?"
Inazuma had a surprised expression on his face.
"What do you mean by "different agenda?" This is entirely for the boy's well being. I have no plans to keep him, seeing that he belongs to Academy city. I just want to make sure that he makes a full recovery, so that he will be able to ease back into school and life."
Aleister was not convinced. The angelic man spoke again,
"I know you Inazuma. You would not easily relinquish control over to me, knowing that the both of us have had conflicts in the past. You hate to see me win."
Aleister smirked as he looked at the Doctor through the glass.
"What are you planning?"
Inazuma responded to the subtle taunt,
"Believe me Aleister, when I say that the "Imagine Breaker" will return to Academy City in 2 months time. That's all."
Awaki and Tsuchimikado were looking at the conversation intensely. For Awaki, she had no idea what the two of them were talking about. On the other hand, for Tsuchimikado, plenty of revelations were taking place. First, the fact that Kamijou Touma was alive meant that different church factions could breath a sigh of relief.
Turning to Inazuma, Tsuchimikado asked,
"Touma has some friends from the magic side, can they come and see him?
Inazuma responded to the question,
"Sure, you can come, but I suggest that you wait for him to fully recover. After all-"
A serious look appeared on the Doctor's face
"-He just escaped death. On top of that, I doubt he wants to see anybody right now. Let him come back to Academy City first."
"However, if you are still adamant. You can set an appointment with me and I shall see what I can do."
Tsuchimikado nodded,
"It's okay, I will wait for him to return."
Inazuma smile and turned to Awaki.
" And what is a pretty girl like you doing in those bandages? If you want, I could offer you treatment so that you can heal completely."
Awaki looked stunned at first, but she regained her composure and blushed as Inazuma started walking away from the tank.
"If there is nothing you want to discuss, I will be heading back Aleister."
As Inazuma walked away, followed by Awaki, Aleister spoke in the cold, angelic voice he was infamous for,
"I know why you are returning the "Imagine Breaker" known as Kamijou Touma so easily back to me."
"Is it due to the reason that there is a second "Imagine Breaker" existing in Infinity 5?"
Inazuma stopped in his tracks.
Tsuchimikado looked at Aleister with an expression of none other than disbelief. A second "Imagine Breaker?" That was impossible! One person in the world could only possess this ability, and that person was Kamijou Touma. So why was Aleister referring to a second "Imagine Breaker" as if it was a fact.
It was impossible. A second "Imagine Breaker" just could not exist. Tsuchimikado turned to Inazuma who had stopped walking. The Doctor turned around and beamed at Aleister. If he was surprised, he showed no signs of it.
"Come on Aleister, we all know that this is not possible. The ability to negate all Esper as well as Magical abilities can only be found in one person. The fact that this ability can be found in one boy is already special, but for two people to have the exact same power-"
Inazuma shook his head
"-It's farfetched beyond belief."
Awaki's interest was perked. An Esper that negated all other abilities was something she had never heard of before. Even so, if an ability like that really existed, it would be incredibly powerful. However, this was the first time she had heard about this so-called "Imagine Breaker" and the boy called Kamijou Touma. The name sounded unfamiliar to her.
Aleister replied,
"Inazuma. Stop trying to hide things from me. I am the man who calculates everything. Did you not think that I would have accounted for that possibility?"
"And when have I always been part of you calculations Aleister?" replied Inazuma.
The former Magician countered,
"It is true that you always seem to disrupt my calculations, with your incredibly troublesome amount of free will."
The Doctor smirked and joked,
"I'm glad that I annoy you. Not many people can do that."
Aleister stopped smiling and gazed at Inazuma dreamily,
"Maybe, I should look into Infinity 5's student body and find out if such a being really exists. Maybe, if I please, I can have more than the "Imagine Breaker.""
The magician smiled even wider.
Tsuchimikado stared at Aleister with realization. He thought to himself,
"That bastard. Ever since Russia surrendered to Academy City, he is the one who has benefited out of the war the most. Right now, he holds all the cards."
"If he wishes, he could threaten Infinity 5 with invasion if they do not comply with his desires."
Tsuchimikado surveyed Inazuma. The Doctor was silent.
"Aleister is threatening him with invasion if he does not give him what he wants."
However, where most people would break down and surrender to Aleister's manipulation, Inazuma just stood there. The Doctor looked up and when he did, Aleister's smile disappeared. The magician's face was replaced with a serious look.
Tsuchimikado recognized that look. It wasn't a look of fear. Rather, the man floating in the tank looked like he had met his match. Turning to Inazuma, Tsuchimikado realized why.
The Doctor's face had lost all its optimism and gleefulness. The emotions that replaced them were so rare that one could only find them in men who held great power.
Inazuma had stopped smiling. His eyes were glaring at Aleister. The man stood in front of the former Magician without saying anything. Tsuchimikado felt Awaki flinch as the Doctor and Magician stared each other down. Tsuchimikado looked at Inazuma's eyes. Those kind eyes had changed.
Those were not the eyes of a healer. No, rather, they had become the eyes of a monster. Inazuma finally spoke and when he did, his voice echoed throughout the room, rattling the bones of the two teenagers standing there.
"Don't play games with me Aleister. You know better than to threaten me," hissed Inazuma.
Aleister was silently focused on Inazuma as the Doctor spoke again,
"You might have control over the world. You might even think that all the research cities are your pawns, funding you with money to create war weapons for you own personal gains."
Inazuma's hands were in the pockets of his lab-coat as he continued to speak.
"You might have conquered Russia, and managed to de-stabilize the Magic side by weakening the Russian Orthodox as well as the Anglican churches. Indeed, this had made you stronger."
Inazuma frown-glared at Aleister,
"However, you have forgotten that I am still here. You might be able to do what you want in Academy City, but, when it comes to my city, you won't have any free reins. "
Inazuma glared more intensely at Aleister,
"Don't try anything funny in Infinity 5 Aleister, or you will regret it."
Tsuchimikado and Awaki viewed the exchange silently. The atmosphere in the room had changed. The two adults were dead serious, and a killing intent was being emitted from Inazuma.
Finally, after a long pause, Aleister spoke,
"It that an order as a member of the Board of Directors? Or, your pride as-"
Aleister mouthed the next few words as intentionally as possible.
"-The only level 6 Esper in existence?"
Silence filled the room. Tsuchimikado and Awaki opened their mouths, stunned. Inazuma stood silently. Tsuchimikado struggled to absorb this shocking piece of information. He slowly turned to the Doctor, who was standing behind him and whispered,
"Level 6? Impossible."
Awaki shared the same sentiments too. Her eyes were fixed on Inazuma, obviously stunned. Awaki was lost in her own thoughts.
"This man….. this Doctor…...is a level 6?"
She knew that the "Level 6 shift" experiment had been designed to help Academy City's number one Esper, the Accelerator, achieve level 6. The "Tree Diagram" had calculated that he was the only Esper capable of reaching level 6. There was no one else remotely capable of reaching those heights yet.
So why was Aleister playing this game? Unless, it was really true. The man standing in front of them was really a level 6. Even then…it was still impossible.
"That's impossible!" Awaki cried out.
"Without Academy City's help, nobody would be able to achieve level 6, so it has to be a joke!"
She turned to Aleister,
"Please say that this is a joke!"
Aleister remained silent. Awaki gasped. So it was true. There was an Esper who had reached level 6. She turned back to Inazuma. The man had relaxed. The monstrous expression he had on his face was gone, replaced with a smile that hid the raw power residing within his body.
Inazuma sighed,
"You just had to go and say it Aleister."
Undeterred, Aleister ploughed on,
"Takada Inazuma, 20 years ago, you left Academy City, taking valuable pieces of information and research. You were our very first Esper and much more."
"You were also the first to reach the unprecedented level 6. With all the power at your disposal, you decided to escape Academy City and flee. We tried to stop you, but you wiped out all Anti-skill as well as Judgment forces in your wake."
"Even the dark side of Academy City could not stop you. You were a monster, and still is, a man who is highly dangerous and volatile."
Inazuma laughed in response,
"Well, I was younger back then. Now, I have mellowed down with age. Ever since I left, I joined a hospital, got promoted as a member of the Board of Directors, and even started a school for level 0 Espers."
He beamed even more.
"I am enjoying my current job though. Teaching and educating, rather than hurting people is much more attractive in my opinion."
Inazuma raised an eyebrow at Aleister,
"Which brings me to my next point. Why did that moron, Kihara Gensei, decide to create the "Level Shift" experiment and clone copies of the Railgun in order to reach my level?"
Awaki gasped again. Inazuma knew about the experiment? This conversation was getting more and more ridiculous by the minute.
Aleister responded,
"The tree diagram calculated that it would take 250 years for Accelerator to reach level 6. Since you took the original research papers with you when you fled, he had to calculate everything from scratch."
"Though, I was displeased with the way he covered it up."
Inazuma responded in disgust,
"And you felt that killing people was the best way to achieve it?"
"Those were clones. They had no emotions and thus, could be manipulated to do whatever we wanted them to do."
Inazuma retorted, the anger evident on his face,
"You fool! Those are not toys. They are girls with emotions and feelings."
Aleister spoke out lazily,
"Still sticking to you morals I see."
"That's the difference between you and me.", replied Inazuma, as he turned for the final time and walked into the darkness. Nothing he said was going to get through to Aleister. It was better to leave the conversation at that.
Awaki woke up from her shocked trance and stumbled after Inazuma.
"Touma will return in 2 months," Inazuma announced, as Awaki teleported him out of the meeting.
Tsuchimikado looked on as Inazuma disappeared, before diving deep into his thoughts. Several shocking revelations had taken place today. One, Kamijou Touma was still alive. Two, there was a second "Imagine Breaker." Three, this man, Takada Inazuma was a level 6 Esper.
However, it was the third fact that had merited his attention the most. Now, it all made sense. Inazuma was not just a member of Infinity 5, he was also the power balance against Aleister. Having a level 6 as an enemy was not desirable. Aleister had called Awaki and him to this meeting for the sole purpose of revealing Inazuma.
What they decided to do with that piece of information was entirely up to them. However, Aleister had not counted on the fearlessness of Inazuma to challenge him. Tsuchimikado realized that if there was one person who could put Aleister in his place, it was Inazuma.
Necessarius would welcome this piece of information with open arms, knowing that the most powerful Esper in existence was the "Imagine Breaker's" guardian. Hence, It was safe to assume that he would be on the side of the Magicians too, in case Aleister planned to draw the axe on the Magic side.
After Inazuma had left, Aleister spoke again,
"Takada Inazuma is a heretic to the church. Trusting him to help would be the same as wielding a double-edged sword."
"It is best that we leave it at here and wait for the "Imagine Breaker" to return. However, I want the two of you to infiltrate Infinity 5 and keep an eye on Kamijou Touma."
Tsuchimikado looked at Awaki and asked,
"Are you coming along?"
Awaki replied,
"The two of us were called to go, so I am in. It's boring to stay in this city anyway."
Tsuchimikado turned back to Aleister and pointed out,
"Inazuma knows that you are spying on him. I believe that he has his own agents in Academy City, doing the same thing to you."
Aleister looked at Tsuchimikado and teased subtly,
"I know, but isn't it fun to play with an opponent who is an equal too you. I don't like a one-sided game after all."
With that, the meeting was adjourned, and Awaki and Tsuchimikado teleported outside for the last time. Thinking about the events that had unfolded during the short discussion, Aleister looked at one of the screens floating in-front of him and smiled ever so slightly,
"Well Inazuma, let's see who is the ultimate victor in this game of chess."
Stay tuned to chapter 6 of this Toaru Majutsu no Index fanfic!