Author's note

Let me say this first…

I'M ALIVE! (Music : No Way Back -I'm Alive- OST from GOD EATER 2 RAGE BURST)

Sorry for a very slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww update. I got a lot of distraction and problem IRL. (Mostly the former, Skyrim (PC) and God Eater 2 Rage Burst (Vita) are the main culprit! /posing Detective Conan style)

And I still didn't have new Beta, so please tolerate my bad grammar. Feel free to criticize it, if I know what is wrong I can fix it. Hopefully…..

There is one reviewer that I want to answer to specially this time (aside from some that I already answer through message)

DragonXX : you really asked a lot which make me quite happy. But answer to those was mostly spoiler to this fic. So if you still want answer, message to me.

There is one I want to answer here even if it is a bit spoiler though.

Q : Would the Clocktower and church from Fate/Stay Night try to make a move on Himegami because she is the key to killing all vampire in Fate World and what kind of fight would happen to get a hold of her?

A: I'm really thinking of a one-shot about Himegami's life after she move to Fate-verse and become vampire hunter, on the basis that her power work on Fate's vampire. And end up being celebrity at clock-tower after her presence affect many of the big apostles guys ,also forced Zelretch away from Clock tower, which make Lorelai very happy, but she also being target from many sides since her presence disrupt the power balance in fate-verse, or something like that lol.

Due to problem on my own part, I have both good and bad news about this fic.

Bad one, is that I may end this fic (or at very least, take an even longer break) at the end of Index's arc. I want to put more effort on my Original fic that is currently stop at Idea stage. I like writing this, but I want to put more on something that may turn big later. Like Bakuman's MC. Seeing your own creation being Animated (In my case, probably a lightnovel book) is a nice dream that is far from impossible. I still want to continue that dream. It may be a late start, but it is still possible if I put enough effort for it.

Now to good news(or not?). Originally, I intent to just throw Emi in while follow canon Index as much as possible. But now I think that isn't good enough to go out with a bang! in case I really end this fic at Index's arc. So I already plan to add more characters to the mix, currently one on the Good and one on the … not really bad guy's side. (You probably now already if you read Index's canon)

Hints. Since the concept of Neccessarius is 'Necessary Evil'. Isn't there any Fate character that seem to fit that? For another one is result from I intent this fic to end on a good note after Fate&Hollow Ataraxia's canon. So there is one person that will gladly came to Emi's help when need. Not Zelretch though, he's having fun chewing his popcorn right now.

A side note, since my idea of another crossover just keep popup even though I have trouble keep this fic alone, I decide to just give in to the temptation and start another collection of one-shot of those ideas.

Oh yeah! Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya (Licensed version) finally out in my country. Another added to my morale boost items.

Well, let get into the story shall we?

XXXXX

July 20 Tokiwadai Middle School, last school day before summer break.

"… and remembered that you're Tokiwadai's student, even in summer break you must keep your good presence in public. Now with that said, see you again after summer everyone!"

After the passing word from their homeroom teacher, almost every girls in class ready to enjoy summer break to their heart's content. Many of them already planned what to do starting from the afternoon of this day. (School time end much earlier today, teaching only half-day) only a few exception that didn't have any plan beforehand.

Emi is one among that.

Last night, after meeting with that petite nun, Index, Emi returned to Uiharu's dorm and tell the event about convenience store when asked why she was late. But she didn't said anything about meeting with Index.

The possibility of magic organization exist is one thing. The possibility of HOSTILE magic organization exist is another. What if this universe's organization dispose who risk the secrecy of magic like in her own world? Could it be that she has already violated their rule by using magic in open? Though she already covered it as esper ability but… and yet, Zelretch already told her that it is fine to not conceal her ability here.

Does that mean the mage organization here didn't care about secrecy? Or Zelretch didn't know about them? He did told her to restrict the use of more 'Flashy' Noble Phantasm though, so he probably know about them beforehand.

The only reason He didn't told her beforehand probably that he want to see her surprise when she realize that herself while enjoying himself, watching from different dimension with his magic.

Since she can't figure what to do about this world's mage's organization at the moment, she will just ignored it for now, and hope that nothing serious happen until she figure about the organization being hostile or not? And a countermeasure if it happen to be one. Emi's sleep didn't feel good after reaching that conclusion but she still managed to, and in the morning she got up quick enough to cook some breakfast, wake up the other two girls, then get back to her dorm to take a shower and came to school in time. Though Dorm supervisor seem like to say something to her judge from the stare she got.

The school day went on with nothing of interest happen, aside from Mikoto seem to be sleepy again today, Emi admitted that she still wondered was it Mikoto who made the lightning that cause the blackout last night, and why did Mikoto have to use that, maybe she will asked about that later.

Already packed her own belonging, Emi go have some talk with Mikoto.

"Mikoto you ready to go?"

No response from the brunette. She still rest her head on the table while looking outside of the window.

That's strange Emi thought then look closer to the brunette's figure, and finally know what happened.

"….ZZZ."

Mikoto didn't just look sleepy, she really slept in class.

XXXXX

"Argh… I feel horrible." Said Mikoto while walking on the street.

"That is because you didn't rest enough. Honestly, what did you do last night? Was it related to the recent mass black-out somehow?" Asked Emi with a simple toned, hoping to catch the absent-minded girl off-guard.

"Ah… well.. I kind of having some quarrel with that spiky hair again, and instead of fight with me, that guy just keep running away until I lost him, can you believe it? I was into it so much that I only noticed how late it is after that. I also have to find some place to sleep outside since I don't want to face dorm supervisor's wrath. I even have Kuroko bring out my uniform for a change and took a bath at school instead."

"I see." Emi nodded. She understand the dorm supervisor part. So Mikoto was having another fight with Touma? Yet, she didn't get confirm that huge lightning was Mikoto or not though. She was going to ask again…

"… Ah? Onee-sama! Einzbern-san is here too." -When Kuroko suddenly appeared in front of the two.

Well, she is a Teleporter so this is quite expected. But she also look quite in a hurry.

"Kuroko? What in the hurry?"

"I didn't expected to meet you two on the way here but this is perfect. I have something to tell, Kaitabi Hatsuya, the culprit of the graviton bomber case, suddenly become unconsciousness and fall in to a coma!"

Hearing that, both of the girl become tense.

"What? How come?" Asked Mikoto.

"I'm going to the hospital to hear the detail right now."

"Then let us go there too." Said Emi. She was thinking of the fastest way when Kuroko said.

"I can teleport only one person with me, and then come back to pick the other. It is still faster than walk or ride a bus. Is that ok?" Koroko proposed, which both girls nod in response. "Then I'll bring Onee-sama first. Einzbern-san please wait around here for a moment." With that said, the two have teleported, leave Emi behind.

During Emi's waiting, she remembered something important.

I should disable my magic resistance beforehand, just in case it may interfere with Shirai-san's teleportation power.

That is possibility that could happen with magic resistance. In Emi's time testing her own magic resistance with Zelretch, there is a lot of incident which involve with Kaleidoscope's teleport power. The best outcome was just that magic just failed and nothing happen, a little more trouble case is only her clothe got teleport but she stand still. (She think this is more of a prank by Zelretch though) The worst outcome… let say that without Avalon she may have already died and resulted in Dark Sakura re-emerge and devour everyone in Clocktower. At least she learned how to lower her own magic defense after that.

"Ah… Wait for me!"

Suddenly, a voice that seem familiar come from afar. Looking around to find the source, Emi found that it came from the petite nun who is chasing the cleaning machine on the other side of the road.

"Index?"

That is definitely the gluttonous nun (Emi slightly cursed herself for remember that aspect of the petite nun as the first thing.) whom she met last night. Wasn't Index said she was going to find a nearby church if there is one? And aside from lack of headpiece, Index look like she was in trouble, maybe she should lend her some help?

"Hey In-"

Kuroko suddenly appear in front of Emi, cut her word.

"I'm back. Let's go Einzbern-san" Kuroko then grab Emi's hand.

"Wai-" Emi try to protest, but she isn't fast enough.

A moment later, Emi disappear from the road along with Kuroko. And Index continue following the cleaning machine that she thought stole her head piece.

All the while, a couple pairs of eyes never left petite nun's figure, follow her from afar.

XXXXX

At the hospital

the two girls suddenly appear in hallways inside the hospital where Mikoto was waiting.

Emi was going to retort a bit about how perfectly timing Kuroko intervened back there, but knowing that Kuroko wasn't intent to do that, she kept her word. Maybe she can go looking for Index later?

Also, somehow Kuroko's teleport power didn't gave her dizziness after used like Zelretch's magic. That's a good thing.

"Onee-sama, Einzbern-san, this way." As soon as Kuroko arrived, she led the other two to a part of Hospital which the other two quickly followed. Soon they reach the front of the room with a few doctors and nurse in front of it. "This is Shirai Kuroko of judgement, we're here regard to the case of sudden coma that Kaitabi Hatsuya suddenly fallen into".

"Oh yes" One of the doctor replied back after lok at Kuroko's armband. "We are doing all we can, but there is currently no sign of him recover yet."

"Uh…" Mikoto awkwardly raised her hand with a slightly pale face before said "It this because of me? I think I may actually put a lot of force when I punched him back there…"

Hearing that, Emi turn a little pale too before also quietly confessed. "I also hit his head with a shinai once. But I hold back a lot! I don't think it will turn out this serious…" To think that a hit to the head can turn out this bad. But Taiga used to hit her, well Shirou's head a lot but back there it still turn out fine isn't it?

The doctor then slightly laughed before said. "Well, I don't think it was related to that. There was only slight bruise on his head and no brain damage. In truth his body was healthy enough, he just become unconscious for some reason we don't know yet."

"So you don't know what causing this?" Kuroko said flatly.

"I'm afraid to say that, yes. And oddly enough, we've been getting ton of patients like this over past week. They all show no sign of brain damage, body function seem to be healthy, but all of them suddenly fall unconscious in to coma state." He then show the clipboard with the list of patients.

Emi slightly gasped once she saw the list, there is a lot of name on it.

"It's embarrassing to admit. But these cases are beyond our capabilities. We already invited certain specialist on cerebral physiology to help us on these cases." As if on cue, the sounds of footstep reaching them from one side of the hallways can be heard. "OH! There she is!" He said happily as a female leading another group of doctors come to view.

Dressed in a long white coat, a white shirt and black skirt plus stocking, the female raise her head to reveal dark brownish hair that border on gray heavy bags under her eyes.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting, I am Kiyama Harumi. The director of the hospital called me here."

Emi also noticed that Mikoto's eyes suddenly widen, does she know this Kiyama person?

XXXXX

As soon as they came, Kiyama and her group quickly get inside to examine on their patient condition. The girls have to wait outside in the meantime.

It was a while later when Mikoto was trying to keep Kuroko away from smell sweat on her clothes and Emi was buying some drinks from nearby vending machine that the brown hair woman came out of patient's room to meet them.

"Sorry for the wait. You're Judgements who're taking this case, aren't you?" Said Kiyama while looking at Kuroko's green armband.

"Yes, other two are my acquaintances." Replied Kuroko while gesture to Mikoto and Emi.

Kiyama nodded in response "Anyway…" She brought up a hand to wipe sweat from her face. "Why is this place so hot? Did they have energy saving project by shut down the air or something?"

"Well actually no." It was Emi who answered. "I have asked the Employee and they said that it was because problem with electric supply due to mass black-out affect the power plant last night. With limit electricity, they have to focus on medical equipment first." Unlike the convenient store last night, this was beyond Emi ability. Well, she did know some Mystic code that can produce thunder, but using magical thunder with delicate scientific equipment tend to result with a nasty case of explosions. Rin have showed her a lot of that already.

And that remind Emi that she still haven't asked if Mikoto related with the black-out last night or not?

"Can't be help then." Kiyama sighed before continue "Let's re-introduce ourself again. I'm Kiyama Harumi, a Neurologist, Expertise in AIM field… I don't think there is need to explain the detail of AIM field Tokiwadai's girls isn't it?" She didn't notice Emi's half-smile face.

"I'm Judgement, Shirai Kuroko."

"Misaka Mikoto here."

Before Emi introduce herself, Kiyama cut in "You're Misaka Mikoto… the LV5?"

"You know me?"

"It would be hard to not know the most famous persons in this city." Replied back Kiyama, before looked at Emi. "Ah sorry for cut in. And you're?"

"Emilya von Einzbern" Said Emi. "Just transferred here."

Kiyama raise her eye brow a bit but didn't said anything.

"Er… pardon me." The doctor from initial suddenly walked in and asked Kiyama "Did you find anything regarding the patient?"

"Nothing yet, we will analyze the data later at our lab. I'm a bit worry about patient but we can only hope they didn't become worse for now. Though I think we may have to figure what cause this situation first…"

Kuroko glanced back at Mikoto once before said "Kiyama-san, regarding what cause this situation… could it be that it is because the 'Level Upper' that is rumor on the net?"

"Hm? How does that thing work?" Replied back Kiyama almost instantly.

"Well… we still…"

"Then what it is look like? Or any data about it?"

"No… we can't find any confirmed data yet…"

"That mean you don't know anything about it."

"It is a possibility…" Kuroko replied back with a quiet voice.

Then suddenly there was scream.

"What are you doing!?" Emi and Mikoto shouted at the same time, also their face have become red, the same with most peoples in the room, not including Kiyama who is now taking her shirt off, showing black bra beneath.

"Hm? It was hot so I just take my shirt off. Is that wrong?" said a matter of fact tone by Kiyama.

"There are men watching!" Mikoto shout louder. While Emi put her hand in her face to cover her now reddened face. Kuroko just stood there with dumbfounded face.

"I still have my underwear on. It is the same as wearing swimsuit isn't it?"

"It is not!"

After that little commotion, they decide to talk in someplace cooler, so that Kiyama won't strip herself in public because the heat again.

XXXXX

At the nearby cafeteria

After ordered their drink, Kiyama suddenly spoke.

"Well, let us continue from earlier, about why wearing only underwear is inappropriate despite looking almost the same as swimsuit…"

"No, not that one." All three Tokiwadai spoke at the same time with a straight face.

"Hm?"

"We're going to discuss about the possibility of 'Level upper' relate to the sudden unconscious case here." Said Kuroko in a more serious tone before she explained in detail about what she and Mikoto found at the moment.

Since Emi didn't joined in this latest investigation, she also listen carefully. The two told the story start from when Kuroko heard about 'Level upper' and do some investigate, though from what they told, Mikoto and Kuroko didn't gain any more data due to 'some boy' mistakenly thought Mikoto was being bullied by the thugs that she tried to investigate and stepped in to help only to get chased by the group of thugs instead, on Kuroko side, she got distracted during said event and lost sight of Mikoto and said boy. Catch nothing, they then later return to their dorm.

Emi didn't think the two were lied but she also know that they didn't told the whole truth. Judged from their reaction during certain part of their story, especially when Kuroko face become slightly red when she told about said 'distraction' while also give a glance at Mikoto. Also Mikoto story didn't include why she came back late and look really sleepy, which reminded Emi that she has yet to ask Mikoto is she related to last night's black out or not…

It was Kiyama's voice that bring Emi back to main topic.

"So you're telling me that there was rumor of this 'Level upper' on the net, and you suspect that it may related to the mass unconscious patient that appeared recently. Am I right?"

"Yes it is." Replied Mikoto.

"Actually, after I report this theory in, the Higher up want to warn about this possibility with the students in the city. But since we have no concrete proof and may lead to student who didn't know about this 'Level upper' end up looking for it and cause more panic instead, we decide to withhold the information for now." Followed by Kuroko.

"Hm. I think the higher up is right here. This rumor will certainly cause panic if spread." Kiyama stopped for a moment here. "And the reason you told me this is?"

"To make someone's esper power become stronger, it would require to somehow tampering with that person's brain or Aim field…" Said Kuroko.

"Which I'm expert to both, I understand you want me to analyze this 'Level upper' once you found it?"

"Yes."

"I accept, I also want your help on this too."

"Thank you very much." Kuroko bow slightly to show her gratitude.

"But I've one more thing that concern me for a while-" Kiyama then glance to the window on the right, the same place where Emi's eye also focused on for quite a while.

On the opposite side of cafeteria's glasses window, Ruiko's figure in casual clothe stood there, looking at Tokiwadai girls with a bright smile, Uiharu, still in school uniform also stood nearby, wearing the same smile.

"-is those girls your friends?"

XXXXX

"You're a neurologist? Then what business you have with them? Is Kuroko-san finally admitted that her brain is not really all right or something?"

"UI-HA-RU! We're talking about level upper here!" Scowled Kuroko in annoyance.

"Level upper?" Ruiko asked, seem to not expect this conversation. Seeing Kiyama's nod she put her hand in her pant pocket and continue "I-"

Whatever she was going to said got cut short by Kiyama's next word

"We should put any person who have level upper in their hand into protection custody"

Ruiko froze, before asked "W-why is that?"

"We're not sure, but it seem that 'Level upper' is the cause of mass unconsciousness that happen recently. There's also tendency of it user want to test their newfound power by use it to commit a crime." Kuroko said darkly.

Ruiko gulped, her face went paled immediately.

"Saten-san are you allright?" Asked Uiharu in a worry tone.

"N-No, it's n-nothing! I just didn't expected rumor I founded to become this serious!" Ruiko quickly bring her hand out of her pocket and tried to wave it off, but her hand accidentally hit Kiyama's cola. And the content spilled over Kiyama's blouse and stockings. Shocked, she quickly apologize "I'm so sorry!"

"Ah, it's all right." Said Kiyama nonchalantly, before start undress the wet things almost immediately. "I'll just take it off…"

"I already told you DON'T undress in public!" Kuroko quickly screamed with a red face.

"But… no guy gonna be aroused by my unsexy body anyway…" Kiyama said in a matter of fact tone.

"Even if that is… true-" Kuroko voice become somewhat small at the last word. "-,but each person's preference are different! And even if guy don't interest in that body of your, some girls may!"

"Girl shouldn't show their underwear in public!" This time it was Ruiko who shouted.

"Even she said that, Saten-san always keep lift my skirt in public." Uiharu suddenly murmured in a very quiet voice, even Emi who sat next to her almost didn't hear it.

Emi is loss for word, not sure what she should retort first. Though she already prepare to trace some clothes to clear the mess that just happened.

XXXXX

"It certainly feel like a real things, I can't noticed the different." Kiyama said why put her hand on what she currently wearing.

"Just remember to change it once you get back home, it won't last pass day." Said Emi while looking at the clothes she has traced, and trying hard not to flush from incident in the cafeteria rest room that just occurred, especially about Kiyama's choice of underwears.

Unsexy? Rin gonna murder Kiyama for dare saying those word about herself.

"Sorry and thank you for the day, we will contact you again later." Kuroko said formally. They are in the street about to part with Kiyama.

"It's all right, today was fun. Remind me of a time I'm still teaching." Said Kiyama, her eye look in to the sky away.

"You're a teacher?" Asked Mikoto.

"For a while in the past." Kiyama draw her eyes back to the girls, for some reason, Emi feel that Kiyama eyes she saw at this moment is not an eyes of someone reminiscing a past, it was somewhat like the eyes she has saw many time before during grail wars, eyes of someone determined to do something…

before Emi can think too much about it, they already bid farewell to the mature woman.

"A strange woman isn't she?" Murmured Mikoto.

"Well, they said Genius is hard to understand?" Replied Kuroko without looking.

But Mikoto didn't listened now, her eyes already locked on a certain black haired figure in the distance she just saw.

As if on cue, the moment Kuroko talking with Ruiko and Uiharu, Mikoto quickly run after the black haired figure.

As the same time, Emi also noticed Mikoto running at a fast pace, and decide to follow, leaving the other three behind.

What just happened? A moment ago she was talking casually, now she was running as if her life depend on it was Emi's thought about Mikoto's sudden action. It took a few minute following Mikoto, until she saw Mikoto confront with the black haired figure.

"So… she just come to talk with Touma?" Emi said to herself. Still wondered what important that Mikoto have to run that fast just to see the boy. She then get close enough to pick up the conversation. Somehow both of them haven't noticed Emi's presence yet.

"…Do you know any Christian church here?" Was Touma's word Emi heard.

"A church? Didn't expected you to be a Christian?"

"No, it is just that I have to return something to a nun I met before. I just hoped I may find her there."

"I think there is one around here…" And then Mikoto told Touma the way.

Emi listen to the two talking, peacefully. So Touma just asked Mikoto location of nearby church? But that didn't explained why she suddenly ran off to meet him? Emi was trying to figure the relation between the two when Touma and Mikoto decided to part ways-

"Thank you Biri-biri, that was a big help." Touma wave his hand and began to walk away."

"A pleasure is on mine… Wait! I came here to fight you! Don't just walked away!" Mikoto then unleashed a small wave of electric toward Touma while stomp on the ground in frustrate.

Too bad that shockwave also effect the surrounding electrical equipment nearby. Even Emi's protected by magecraft phone become static for a moment. The same can't say for the other item nearby. Most of their circuit is fried, broken.

To conclude the thing that happen after, After one of the security machine nearby start blabbing word like 'Cyber terrorism', Touma quickly ran away in fear of being faulty blame for the damage, and Mikoto followed him quickly, Emi also followed them both behind shortly after.

XXXXX

A few minute later. At some vacant space nearby.

Hiding behind a building, Emi is now eavesdropping conversation between Mikoto and Touma, the latter also put his head to the wall in despair.

"Such misfortune! Being an acquaintance of Biri-biri just bring more misfortune to my life…"

"Don't say like I'm some jinx person! And my name isn't Biri-biri! Now let fight and see who is stronger!" Even after latest damage, Mikoto still want to have a fight with Touma.

"Said the person who never win a fight with me." Replied Touma while still hanging his head.

Never lose? Is Touma that strong? Was what Emi thought while listening to the two's conversation.

"T-that's not count! You never hit me once too don't you?"

"Well…-"

Then, with a smooth motion, Touma raised his head and look at Mikoto in the eyes. Due to Emi's hiding position, she can't see what face Touma's showing now. Though she can still see Mikoto's.

"-Can I go all out then?"

And Mikoto's shock face really made Emi wonder what's she seeing now?

There is nothing but silent for a while. Mikoto seem tense enough that there's a sweat on her face, trying to say something but can't get a word out of her throat. It actually make Emi worried a bit since Mikoto current face look really like someone who're making a very hard decision that may result in losing something important for her. At least that's what Emi's hunch tell. She have made one… actually a lot of hard decisions before.

Touma on the other hand seem more relax and scratching his head without looking at Mikoto anymore. He act as if Mikoto is just a normal girl, not the 3rd strongest esper. Touma then sighed once and start blabbering.

"Huh… such misfortune. Met a fake magician in the morning and Biri-biri in the evening…"

"Wait...!" Hearing that, Mkoto finally find her word. "W-what about that Fake magician you said?" Though it seem it wasn't what she really want to say since her face show her panic quite clearly.

"…Who know? -" Touma just replied like that and then walked away, leaving Mikoto behind.

Mikoto raise her hand to reach for Touma but stop midway. Her face become that of defeated.

He just defeat her with a word isn't it? Emi thought. It actually remind her of the time Saber beat Taiga into letting her stay at Emiya's estate during their 1ST meeting, although that one require more action on both side, and Taiga's defeated face is more funny to look, unlike the troubled face Mikoto showing now.

Normally, Emi would go to comfort another girl a bit now. But what she got from the two's conversation make her wonder about something on Touma's side. There is also last word that Touma seem to talked with himself before he walked away, it was so quite that Mikoto probably didn't hear it, but Emi who was using reinforcement to eavesdropping manage to catch it

"-I also wonder where that gluttonous girl is right now?" Is what Touma said quietly

Christian church, Fake magician, Gluttonous girl and lastly, the picture of troubled nun running around without her headpiece that she saw during the day flashed in Emi's mind. Could it be…

Decided that she will meet Mikoto later at the dorm anyway. Emi followed the way Touma went.

Emi didn't know yet how this simple decision will affect her life in Academy city from now on, even more so than the time she first met with Mikoto.

XXXXX

"Touma-san!"

Finally saw the spiky haired boy walking in the distance, Emi called him while waving her hand. Hearing that, Touma turned his head and seem a bit surprise.

Emi then walked to his side and greeting. "Hello there."

"Hi. Surprise meeting you here." Replied Touma, who then seem to remember something and look around a bit. "Don't tell me Biri-biri is coming too?"

"Um… no? I am here alone." Then she raised a smirk. "I did saw you 'defeat' Mikoto back there though. Not quit what I expected from when I heard about you two's fighting beforehand. She look really troubled with your intimidate back there."

"…Really?" Asked Touma who got a nod in reply. His face then become a little sad. "Damn. That was just a bluff…"

Emi blinked. "Bluff?"

"Yeah, I just bluffed her so that she could stop with her 'fight'. Didn't expect it to be that effective…"

"That was quite a good bluff. Maybe you might be a good actor if you need to?"

"It that a praise or something?"

"Dunno? I actually come to ask you something else entirely though." Emi decide to bring up the main reason she came here. "I did overheard your conversation with Mikoto-" Touma stiffed here, Emi not gonna tell how she manage to eavesdropped the conversation though. "-and… Say … did the name 'Index' mean anything to you?"

Touma widen his eyes is enough answer in it owns

"How did you know her?/You really know her?" Touma and Emi said respectively. "Lady first."

Referred as a lady, Emi raised eyebrow a bit before said. "I accidentally met her last night and give her some foods. How about you?"

Emi pretty sure she hear Touma mumbled 'That gluttonous' quietly. "You're not gonna believe me here…"

"I'm all ears."

"Well she just appeared in the morning at-" Whatever Touma was going to say got cut short when a large growling noise come from his stomach. His face reddened in an instant. "Sorry, I was looking for a dinner before…" He stopped at that, his eye averted from Emi

Emi can't really resist to giggle a bit here. "In that case… maybe we find some place to talk? I also feel a bit hungry now. Any recommend?"

"Ah. I know one good shop with Gyudon (Beef bowl) around here."

"Lead me there then."

XXXXX

After a meal of tasty Gyudon, and a little fun teasing Touma (Emi see quite clearly that he want the Big size bowl but worry about money, so she offered to pay for it, saying that she will ordered it but eat it or not is Touma's choice), Emi then heard Touma's story about Index, and understand how absurd it is. Not many one will believe a story of waking up one morning find a nun hanging at their balcony easily.

Emi is a few among that, partly because she believe Touma is honest enough person, partly because her own past is even more absurd. Summoned Heroic spirit in your house's shed after being hunted by another in a battle royal to the death is story of her life by the way.

And then Touma tell about Index's word before parting, which is the same 'Will you come along with me to hell then?' that was said to Emi the night before.

"I think that Index was in some kind of trouble right now." Said Emi, and Touma nodded I response thinking the same.

Though they can't figure what trouble was Index in from what they now since Index already left to find nearby church that maybe her sanctuary. They may try looking for her there and ask Index herself if she was there, but the place was on other side of academy city and too far to go this late in the evening. And then Touma told Emi about a headpiece Index forgot in his room.

"Can I see that thing then? I may be able to find something about her from it." Said Emi before explain some part of her 'structural analysis' to Touma, as a part of her 'Tracing skill' that is.

Although what she didn't told anyone in Academy city yet (since there is no need to) is that her 'History reading' part of her Tracing actually change a lot after she has been in this body of her sister. Before, Shirou could tell everything almost about sword (except some like Ea) that she have a glance on, and able to read some data about other non-sword objects given time.

But current Emi must be in physical contact with a sword in a longer time to obtain full data on it, including add it in her reality marble, no longer able to do it with a glance, but on the other hand, using other spell and reading other non-sword objects become much easier. Zelretch said that this happen because both Shirou and Illya's origin and element become mess up after forced putting the former's soul into latter's body. Though will it become better or worse is yet to know.

And Emi was slightly happy at that. Her combat skill may technically reduce, but being able to use other spell is better in the long run, since she didn't plan to become a hero anymore. A 'sword' is mostly use for a fight. But current Emi is not just a sword, but a person with important things to protect.

XXXXX

Seeing that Touma's dorm is close enough for Emi to take a drop for a few minutes and head back to her dorm in time, Emi decided to go with Touma to check on Index's headpiece. And now the two's already at the front of Touma's apartment.

"Like I told you before, this apartment is actually for male student, though there is female one nearby and there is no restriction about other gender messing around here so it is not odd for female to be around here." Said Touma.

"It seem no one is here at the moment though."

For some reason, there seem to be no one at the apartment or any place nearby at all. It was quite odd.

"Maybe everyone was still out? This day was the start of summer break after all. Though with no one around, there is no odd of someone mistaking you bring girlfriend back to your own room" Touma said thinking it was funny, then his face reddened a bit after realize what he just said and quickly apologized. "Sorry! it just came out of my mouth."

Emi still keep her face normal, though there is a bare hint of red on her face, before said. "It's all right."

"You don't angry?"

"Well.. no. I think you said that without any real intention" and then something came to Emi's mind "and isn't Mikoto already your girlfriend?"

"What!? Why did think of me and Biri-biri that way!"

"You really don't know? Go figure it yourself then."

"Guh… anyway, I'm living on the 7th floor."

Being at the front of elevator already, he called for it. a few minute later both got out at the 7TH floor.

What they saw immediately was three drum-can shaped auto cleaning machines doing something at the front of the farthest room.

"What did they do in front of my room? And three of them?" Said Touma and Emi can understand Touma's surprise. This Academy city's auto cleaning machines was quite effective. A single one can take care of a floors of one building quite easily. To see three of them at one place mean that there was something trouble them there. "Don't tell me Tsuchimikado do something again?" Said Touma the name of occupant of nearby room, before walked closer to see what happened, with Emi followed behind.

A few steps away from the target place, Touma then noticed what lying in front of his room's door and almost face-palmed.

"And after all of my, no, our worries. She just came back lying on the ground in front of my room?"

What Touma saw is Index, lying on the ground probably from being too hungry, or so he thought.

He then walk closer and then noticed the red liquid around her.

Blood

"W-what?"

"Touma." Emi grab his shoulder said with a hint of angry in her voice, she already noticed this before Touma said something earlier. "Call the ambulance and told them the way. I will do some first aid."

Emi won't be nervous from this since she already see hell on earth before, right now she's trying to heal index and figure what happened?

"This look like a cutting wound." Being a specialist on sword herself, Emi recognize the wound on Index's back instantly. "Quite severe."

"D-damn! Who would doing this to her and why?" Touma shout nervously, which incidentally was the same question in Emi's mind. "Who dare do this to her!?"

"Hm… that would be us magicians." A male voice answered

Both of them didn't expect to find answer immediately. And quickly turn around to found the source of the voice appeared from the way fire escape is.

A white guy around 200cm. tall. He wears a black priest robe and has a silver ring on each of his ten fingers, earrings on both ears, and a barcode tattoo under his right eye, and has a red hair long enough to hang on his shoulder. He also having a cigarette in his mouth. With all of that, it feel hard to call him a proper priest despite what he wore.

What sting the most in Emi's mind however, is what he called himself earlier.

"Magician…" Emi said the word coldly "is it you who did this?"

And while questioning the person in front, Emi also try to keep her anger, ready herself for magic that may unleashed at any moment now.

XXXXXX

After note

Ah… The joy of leaving things as cliffhanger. I now know why many writer love to do this.

At first I planned to let the fight with Styil end quickly and include in this episode, but decide against it after thinking for a while. I can't guarantee that I will make a good fight in next chapter since it was my weakest point in writing, but I will try.

And while I have no real intention to pair Emi with Touma, a bit of teasing is fun.