Next chapter, new arc!
Sorry it kinda took long to bring it out, but I was busy this whole time. My schedule was full and I couldn't find much time to write. But I hope I can upload it in a faster pace now.
Now enough with me and let the story go on with a new arc!
Nothing of 'To aru majutsu no Index' belongs to me, only my OCs!
Chapter 1: The past of the light
Kumiko walked in the classroom.
"Morning, everyone!", she greeted and got an " Good Morning, Kurokami-sensei!" back.
Kumiko began to pout at the answer.
"I know, this is just the second day I'm teaching you, but I need to say it again: Call me Ku-mi-ko-sen-sei!"
She began to smirk and continued in a playful voice.
"That or Kami-sama if you oh so badly want to call me by my surname."
The students, not wanting to enlarge Kumiko's ego, just answered with a "Hai, Kumiko-sensei!"
"Wonderful~!", she cheerfully said and then continued with a more professional voice.
"Ok, after I got you to call me in the correct manner and before we start with the lesson, I need to inform you that today is a System Scan. You most probably know that already, but it's my duty as your teacher to remember you."
A hand raised.
"What is it, Misaka-san?", Kumiko asked.
"Do you also take the System Scan?" , was Misaka's question.
At that every girl looked at Kumiko with wide eyes.
"Sensei, you are an esper too?", came a question.
"Yeah, I am.", Kumiko said matter-of-factly.
"What is your ability then?", asked a curious voice.
"Maybe you will see it soon. And to come back to your question, Misaka-san: No, I will not take this System Scan.", Kumiko replied.
"So, now after the answer-and-question game has ended, let's start the lesson. Yesterday we started with the more advanced basics of AIM fields. To understand the workings of and behind an AIM field, you need to...", Kumiko began the lesson and wrote on the black board.
Suddenly the door opened and standing in the frame was the principal.
"Miss Kurokami, I need to talk with you for a moment."
"Of course, principal. What do you need?", she asked, instantly switching to a overly polite way of speaking.
"I want you to take the System Scan.", the principal demanded.
At that every girl looked more curious and watched what happened in front of the class.
"By all respect, why do I need to take this scan?", Kumiko asked confused.
"Since you are an esper with an ability that is... unique, we want you to train the students to improve them. But since your last System scan was nearly ten years ago, we want to confirm what level you are now. And no dodging the scan: Do it or you are fired.", the principal answered.
Kumiko hang her head down in defeat.
"Fine, I will do it. After the lesson. So, If I'm allowed, I would like to continue the lesson now."
"Of course, and I will watch this whole lesson.", the principal said and wandered to a chair on the other side of the room.
"Why do you want to do that?", Kumiko asked incredulously.
"Because you are such a young person, barely 2-3 years older than the students you teach, I want to make a special evaluation of your teaching methods and If you can teach them."
"If you insist. Now class, what I wanted to say is that to understand the workings of and behind AIM fields, you need to understand some things about them. Firstly, ...", Kumiko could finally start the lesson.
After class has ended She stood in the middle of a yard in a circle 120 meters in diameter with markings every 20 meters.
'That's why I didn't want to do it.', she sighed internal, looking around.
It seemed the news of her System Scan spread like wildfire over the campus.
Around 120 students were watching with curiosity literally written all over their faces about the new and very young teacher's ability and level.
Then a voice came through a loudspeaker.
"Now we are going to start with the System Scan. Try to destroy the circle."
"Roger that!", she answered and thought:
'Nothing bad can happen. Heaven Canceller said so himself: My power output is nothing compared to what I had as a hybrid.'
Kumiko decided to go all out and stomped without thinking too much about it on the ground.
The effect was devastating.
Her stomp caused a crater and a little earthquake.
Everyone's eyes became as round and big as supper plates out of shock and surprise.
Kumiko, now standing in the crater, looked also surprised.
"It was maybe not such a good idea to go all out, huh?", she said sheepishly.
The yard was completely destroyed, and spurs even reached the gym hall, a half from it collapsed.
The tester scribbled frantically on their clipboards.
"W-We know commence the second test and final test. Please go to the... still standing half of the gym."
She walked out of the crater and to the gym.
In the gym was a big ball of what seemed to be heat resistant alloy.
"Please heat the target up as much as you can."
The students began to whisper.
"She can do that too?"
"Just what is her ability?"
Kumiko sighed, walked to the ball and laid a hand against its side.
Then she began to heat it up.
The ball evaporated instantly, leaving the students and testers with open mouths.
"T-Tests complete." a tester said and the results of the analyzed data got announced:
"Max energy output: 21.9 gigajoule.
Time of manifestation: 0.5 microseconds.
Result: Level 5."
At that everyone gasped, including Kumiko.
'How is that possible? Level 5? That can't be true!', she thought.
Whispering erupted inside the crowd of students.
"Level 5?"
"The 8th?"
"And again at our school!"
"Now we have three!"
"Someone know what her ability is?"
"No idea."
Misaka once again in two days couldn't help but say surprised:
"What?"
The principal walked to Kumiko while she still was baffled over her new status of Level 5.
"Miss Kurokami, please follow me together with Miss Misaka to my office. It seems we need to go through some paperwork and talk about the ranking battles to determine your ranking."
Kurokami, who was still speechless, just nodded and followed with Misaka the principal.
The news got immediately broadcasted through whole academy city:
"Breaking news: A new Level 5 was found today, the 8th since academy city opened the gates. We congratulate the new Level five, Kurokami Kumiko. She has already a degree in most academic professions at the young age of 17 and is a teacher at Tokiwadai middle school, one of the most elitist schools in academy city.
Now we hear a comment from a scientist about this development and the question of her placement:
'Well, it was her first System Scan in ten years. Last time she was already a Level 4, so for me it's not a big surprise that she became a Level 5 over the years, considering her intelligence and talent she shows us by teaching at such a elitist school at this age.
About her placement, her ability has a very wide range of applications and a considerable power output, so I would place her as the 5th or maybe even the 4th. But we will see what the ranking battles will say.'.
Thank you for this comment and once again we congratulate the new Level 5."
Standing in the principal's office were Kumiko, Misaka and Misaki together with the principal who sat behind her desk.
"So, now let's talk about the ranking battles.", the principal began.
"Miss Kurokami, you need to fight the other Level 5s from the #7 to the #1. When you lose against one you get the place of the last you won against."
Understood, principal.", Kumiko answered.
"Great! Now that is from the desk, let's get to the paperwork. You will get a extra allowance for being a Level 5 besides the salary you get for teaching. For your pseudonym as Level 5, you get the name 'Nova'. Questions?"
"None, principal."
The principal smiled and said:"About the teaching of students in their ability usage, I chose you because your ability is a hybrid out of all their abilities except teleport. Because of that I hoped that you could... help them to improve with their abilities and that they understand the workings behind it better."
"It might get entertaining. I will do it, but I can't do this for a long period of time because I need to care for my brother too.", Kumiko agreed.
"Of course. I know about your difficult situation and it will be considered."
"Thank you, principal. But if you will excuse me, I need to go now."
"Then out with you three.", the principal excused them.
The three Level 5s wandered out of the principal's office and closed the door behind them.
"Soooo, Level 5, huh?", Misaka asked.
"You aren't the only one who is surprised. I'm baffled too.", Kumiko said to her as answer.
"And your output is 21.9 gigajoule. I'm the third and mine is around 24 gigajoule when I attack normally without holding back."
Misaki interrupted their conversation with a fake pout:"How cruel, you don't even include me in the conversation~ability. Let me help you by giving you my name~ability."
And with that said she pointed a remote at Kumiko and pressed a button.
Misaki was baffled when her ability didn't work.
"Firstly, something like that won't work on me. Secondly, I know exactly who you are, Shokuhou Misaki. I didn't talk with you or include you in this conversation because your nature is close to that of another person I know who I don't really like.", Kumiko said coldly to her.
At that answer Misaki pouted more.
"I believe I know who you are talking about. And to think you put me in the same category~ability as him, I'm hurt.", she said theatrically.
"It's a woman but whatever. Misaka-san, I have a appointment to go to, so bye.", Kumiko informed and walked away.
"Bye, Kumiko-san.", Misaka said goodbye but then facepalmed in her mind.
'I forgot to ask her about the Incident with Accelerator!'
Kumiko walked to the dorm Touma's room was in to explain things to the group of people that were involved in the fight one and half a week ago.
*FLASHBACK*
Kumiko laid in the hospital bed when the door to her room opened.
Through the door came Touma and the rest who fought against her.
She rubbed the back of her head and sheepishly apologized: "Ähm, sorry for the problems I caused for all of you. And Gunha... sorry that I kind of stabbed you through the upper body."
"YOU STABBED HIM?", shouted Touma and Hamazura shocked in unison.
"No problem! Something like that won't kill my gutsy self!", Gunha reassured her at which she smiled.
The others looked at him like they saw a ghost.
"So, why are you here?", Kumiko asked in the round.
"You said things to which we like to have answers to.", Touma said.
"For example the super other two programs you were in.", Kinuhata gave an example.
"Your past overall.", Hamazura added.
"Well, I kind of expected that. Let's say I meet with you lot in... maybe 3 days? I get out of the hospital today and I need to start working at my new workplace tomorrow, so I have time the day after tomorrow."
"Ok, in my dorm room then.", Touma accepted the offer.
"I will be there. But could you get out now? I'm sleepy and I need more rest.", Kumiko said yawning.
"Good night then.", Touma said and went with the others out of the room.
Kumiko's eyes closed slowly and she drifted into sleep.
*FLASHBACK END*
She knocked at the room door, shortly after that the door opened.
"Hi, Touma.", she greeted the owner of the room.
"Hi.", Touma answered and let her in.
The room was occupied by Hamazura, Kinuhata, Takitsubo, Gunha and... Leivinia Birdway.
Kumiko's and Birdway's eyes met, both frozen at the spot they were in.
Birdway's normally composed expression changed slowly into one of terror.
Suddenly Kumiko dashed towards her at a speed that Birdway couldn't react to.
She hugged Birdway and rubbed her cheek against Birdway's.
"Le-Let me go!", Birdway demanded, finding the position she was in embarrassing.
"AWWW~, your bossy altitude is still so adorable, Leivinia!", Kumiko almost purred and continued with the treatment.
The others who saw that couldn't help but sweat drop.
"Ähm, Kumiko-san, could you let her go? We want to hear what you wanted to tell us.", Touma asked to help Birdway out of the situation.
"Of course.", Kumiko said with a little sad expression and let Birdway go who immediately enlarged the distance between them.
"Now I think I should start with my full story. It began for 10 years when I and my brother were orphans living in a child error facility. At that time I got chosen for the first, the Uranus Project...", She began to tell while sitting down.
*FLASHBACK*
Kumiko played in the garden of a child error facility with two others, one girl with brown and one boy with blond hair, and her brother hide 'n seek.
"Got you, Yukino!", she laughed when she got the girl.
"Ah, that was unfair!", Yukino shouted and chased Kumiko. When she couldn't catch her by sprinting alone she grabbed Kumiko with telekinetic, resulting in Kumiko being abruptly stopped and touched on the back.
"You again!", Yukino said laughing and ran away.
Kumiko, not wanting to chase her again, began to hunt down the boy.
They played till it was dark. Deciding it was too late they went inside and in the bedroom, Kumiko carrying her already sleeping brother.
Kumiko laid the sleeping Kureno in his bed and pulled up the blanket.
"Good night, little one.", she said then left for her own bed.
After Kumiko felt asleep she got an injection and taken away.
She awoke in a dark room with many others, beside her Yukino still sleeping.
She shook Yukino to wake her up.
Yukino let out a groan and opened her eyes.
"Kumiko, why did you wake me up?", she asked wearily.
Then she realized where they were and began to panic.
"Where are we? Where are the others?"
"I don't know. My brother is also missing.", Kumiko answered.
Then through what seemed to be loudspeakers came a voice.
"Welcome and good morning you lot. You most probably wonder where you are and why you are here. You are in a special facility and take part in the Uranus Project. Of course you don't know what that is and you don't need to."
At that the children began to get nervous.
AIM jammer got activated and scientists walked in, taking children with them.
After a while it was Kumiko's turn.
She got lead through the door to another room where a table with strange things attached stood.
The scientists laid her on the table and fixated her.
A helmet got put on her head.
"Beginning input sequence", someone announced and Kumiko felt pain.
A pain so big it felt like her brain exploded, her veins and muscles ruptured and her nerves burned like fire.
She screamed in agony.
After the process, which felt like a hours to Kumiko, was finished, she got carried back in the room she and the others were in.
Kumiko got brought back and after some time past Yukino also got brought back and laid beside her.
"Yukino, are you alright?", she asked with a weak voice, her body shaking and her face twisted from the pain.
"I think so, but the pain...", came the answer from the other girl who was crying.
Kumiko then saw something that she never wanted to see: Blood began to flow out of Yukino's ears and eyes and she began to cough it up.
"YUKINO? WHAT IS WITH YOU? YUKINO!", she yelled, tears starting to come out of her eyes, and looked at her friend, too weak to get to her.
Shortly after that Yukino stopped moving.
Kumiko cried, being broken; physically, mentally.
The whole process got repeated every following day... and repeated... and repeated...
*FLASHBACK END*
Everyone was silent and looked at Kumiko with sad eyes except Birdway who knew that already and didn't feel much about it..
" My ability now works through energy manipulation and control. The aim was to make a esper with the same ability as yours, Touma-san. The ability to counter other abilities. You are the original this Project had as 'blueprint'. "
At that statement Touma froze in shock.
"After 4 years the repetitions ended and only twelve, including me, survived. But the scientists weren't satisfied with the result: We couldn't react automatically to incoming attacks. So we got send to another Project, the Dark May Project."
"To get Accelerator's super Auto-Defense.", Kinuhata stated.
"Correct.", said Kumiko and continued her story.
"It was the same procedure as the Uranus Project. But because the children in the Dark May Project were still around 6 years old they needed a person to care for them, to help them. I made myself this person and helped them as much as I could. But the rest of the Uranus Project died with a couple of others from the Dark May Project. After a month It got decided to bring me away, so I helped them one last time. I made it possible for Umidori to end the project through sabotaging the AIM jammer suppressing her."
Kumiko paused for a moment and then told her story further.
"For around 2 years I got trained to develop Anti-AIM properties for my ability. Then the worst out of the three projects came, the 'Orion Project'. I got to chose because at that point they couldn't do much to control me: Either let the experiment be conducted on me or they will do the experiment with my brother. I chose the former."
*FLASHBACK *
Kumiko got brought through multiple doors to a room. In the room was a operation table with joists for arms and legs.
"Please lay down here so we can begin the experiment.", a scientist ordered.
Kumiko, without saying anything, did as told and laid down on the table.
She got fixated whilst another scientist brought in a container.
After she was completely fixated the scientist opened the container and pulled out a prism.
It got placed midair over her chest where it levitated.
Then it got shot at with a energy beam.
The prism began to spin faster and faster.
Suddenly it went down and slipped in her chest.
Whilst the whole process of subsiding the pain she felt was unbearable.
Kumiko screamed and screamed in agony.
Even after the subsiding of the prism was over she still felt the pain.
Shortly she lost conscious.
*FLASHBACK END*
"I didn't know what they did to me at that time. After I woke up I felt something was different. I felt... perfect, complete. Not even close to the feeling of happiness, love or something like that. Just... inhuman. But I didn't become what they wanted, I was still half human.", Kumiko told.
"So they went against the contract they had with me and took my brother, bringing him in the same Project. And with my brother... it worked. They succeeded before I could safe him."
Everyone was silent.
"But it didn't stop. After I saved him, my brother got hunt because of his now special body. To protect him I made a 'contract with the devil', as you could say. For the protection this person provided I needed to become the person's hit man with the code name 'Valkyrie' and so I killed persons that got marked by said person. You can say what you want about me killing people, I did it to protect my brother, even if it may be wrong.", Kumiko finished her telling.
"I think what you did was wrong. But you did it for your brother, a member of your family, so it is understandable.", Touma stated and the others nodded in agreement.
"Kinuhata and I need to go now, helping Mugino with shopping. If we not go now she will come and drag us back. ", informed Takitsubo and she went with Kinuhata out of the room.
"So, enough of the story telling. Why is Leivinia here?", Kumiko asked after the two left.
"I'm here because we need to plan something.", Leivinia answered.
"GREMLIN, right?", guessed Kumiko.
"Yeah. From where do you know that name?", Touma asked surprised.
"Hello?! I was Valkyrie. Of course I know from organizations like that.", she answered in a matter-of-factly way while pointing with a finger at herself.
"That sounds right.", Touma said sheepishly.
"Thought so. Now back to the planning: What are you about to do?", she asked the other three.
"We are going to Hawaii. It seems that GREMLIN plans something big."
"Interesting, so they start now... Touma, when you are in Hawaii, don't let yourself be captured.", Kumiko warned him.
"Why should they want to capture me? Because of Imagine breaker?"
"That is something I'm going to tell you later. It's better that way, trust me."
Birdway appeared to know it also and seemingly agreed with Kumiko's decision.
"Are you going with us? I mean, that would be a Level 5 more, right?", Hamazura asked her hopefully because it would make the whole thing easier for them.
"No, I'm not coming with you. I have another destination then you to go to.", Kumiko replied.
"Where are you going?"
I'm going to England. And I take Gunha with me.", she declared.
"Why England? And why are you taking Gunha with you?", asked Hamazura confused.
"To the 'why England', there are two things I need to investigate and deal with. Firstly, I found a file that says there is a high probability that GREMLIN will be there and I need some information plus aiding the local faction to stop GREMLIN. And the second is that there is a person I need to talk too. The 'why Gunha' is fairly easy to answer: Who except me can control him without physical methods? Right, Gunha~?", she enumerated and smiled at Gunha who in response gulped.
"And what is with your brother?", Touma asked concerned.
"At the moment he stays with a friend of mine. I really want to be the one who looks after him, but this matter is more important right now.", she answered.
"Then it's decided. We go to Hawaii while you and #7 are going to England.", Birdway ended the talking, not wanting to share a room with Kumiko any longer.
"Let's do it that way. I need to go now, still need to do something different, but before I do that: Here is my number. Call me if things get worse for you.", she said and gave Touma a piece of paper.
Kumiko stood up and with a "bye" she was gone, dragging Gunha with her in the process.
After a while Touma asked the other two who were still in his room:"Do you think this duo will blow up a city?"
Birdway and Hamazura just nodded.
'Fokou-da...'
Kumiko and Gunha walked along the street.
"Listen, Gunha: I don't know if I should tell you that, but where we are going to need to speak English. Now my question is: Can you even speak English?", Kumiko asked him.
"You bet! I needed English to talk with a person so I used my guts to learn it!"
At that she looked at him as if he had grown a second head.
"With a book?"
"No. With guts!", he answered like it was a normal occurrence.
Kumiko groaned and facepalmed.
"Why did I even ask?", she muttered to herself.
'He is not explainable! Definitely!'
Gunha looked at her confused.
"Have you a headache?"
"No, I don't.", she sighed and moved her hand from her face and grabbed her cell phone.
Kumiko dialed a number and waited untill the call got accepted.
"Hai~ho, Nee-tan~! What is it that you need?"
A vain popped up on her forehead.
"Percy, how many times do I need to repeat myself: Never use this creepy way of speaking when you talk to me."
"Sorry, Sorry. I speak like that to hide myself and It kind of became a part of me."
From his voice you could hear that he was definitely not sorry.
"Huh... whatever. Listen, you sorry excuse for a man: I will be in England for a not set period of time. Watch over my brother for me. And if one of your... specialties... rub off on him, I will personally drag you through a meat chopper."
The person on the other end gulped.
"Roger.", came the answer after a few seconds.
Kumiko, satisfied with the outcome ended the call with a "bye" and dialed a new number.
"Hello, principal? Here is Kurokami Kumiko. I need a vacation, there is something I need to do in England. Don't worry, I have the perfect replacement for the teaching role while I'm gone. I won't be long away, maybe a week. Yes, I accept not getting any payment for the time I'm gone. Thank you, principal. I wish you a nice day. Bye.", and with that Kumiko ended the second call and put her phone back in her pocket.
She noticed Gunha looking at her.
"What?", Kumiko asked him.
"Do you know you could be a general with your guts?", he asked her.
"Ah, just let it be. And I am not such a person: I don't order everyone around as it pleases me."
Gunha just smiled at her and said nothing.
"I'm really not like that!"
This is the start of a new arc, hope you liked it! As you already saw it will play in the same time as the Hawaii accident.
It is going to be named 'Britannia arc' as you could see in the chapter selection. About the power output of Kumiko, I think it is acceptable if you take into account that she could fight with accelerator on even grounds when she was still a hybrid.
Personally, I'm not really satisfied with this chapter, but at the same time I don't have a plan at the moment how to improve it, so live with it until I update this chapter. Maybe...
With that I'm out, bye!