"Miss Shirai… You act as if you haven't eaten for so long. Please calm down and chew your food properly." Fukiyose chastised, rudely pointing her chopsticks in her direction. "You're acting as if you didn't come from a proper family."

"Maybe I didn't." Kuroko said in between bites, even if the seasoning of the fried fish was a bit dull it was still so warm in her mouth that she didn't care about the taste; Kuroko was instead savoring every bit of it.

Index was doing the same beside her. Chowing down the food as if there's no tomorrow.

Fukiyose resisted the urge to sigh.

It was a great Sunday morning. Things still haven't changed, The summer heat was still tedious to be around, Kamijou was nowhere to be found and Index is still the gluttonous little nun that she knows.

("How much do I owe you for this?"

"You don't need to pay for anything."

"Really? It's free? You're gonna get exploited by someone if you keep this up."

"...Have you never heard of the concept of being hospitable?")

Still, it was a great morning to wake up in, no distraction or any spectral entity whatsoever. It was also the first in the entirety of the week that Kuroko had slept soundly with no one hovering around her and asking for a very unreasonable request.

Kuroko was still raking her brain in each hurried bite —since Index is literally just sucking up the whole meal on the table— of what they should do after this.

She was already feeling better, the pain in her back wasn't as unbearable as before. She can already feel her energy replenish from being able to walk, not to mention that she was starting to feel a bit better. She can ask Fukiyose about it later, just leaving without saying goodbye would just be horribly rude. Even if they don't get along that much, Kuroko still respects Fukiyose for doing so much for them.

The next goal she has in mind is how they could avoid those pesky magicians. Pesky is being generous too, not after that damn priest damaged the back of a susceptible teen with far too many (none) dreams in life.

(Didn't he know the body of a young lady is their most prominent weapon in life? Seriously…)

Eitherway, she knew that burn would remain a mark if she didn't take care of it. If only she was in her dorm, she could have rubbed the ointment for it.

(Ah, she misses that room even if it was similar to a pig's den.)

Kuroko could ask her parents for some help in keeping Index safe. They could easily send her a group of mercs —human fodder— to keep them safe, but then that would mean her parents would be troubled with an outrageous request from their mediocre daughter.

Kuroko also didn't want to explain why she had a deep sense of duty as to why she had wanted to protect this one girl.

What reason could she even say? That this girl, with the name of Index Librorum Prohibitorum, has 103,000 grimoires stored in her head and that magic is real?

That alone was already outrageous to say out loud to her more scientifically, rationally inclined parents.

No way, they would probably send her to the nearest mental hospital to get her checked if she's still sane.

Kuroko took the empty plates of Fukiyose and Index, insisting to be the one to clean the table out. Fukiyose didn't protest much and Index was too intrigued with the program that was showing on the television to give a single care in the world. Kuroko couldn't help but wonder for a bit if the girl knew about this… I mean she couldn't possibly be that sheltered right?

She'll ask Kamijou about it later.

"What's your relationship with Index?" Fukiyose's voice brought her back to reality, her hand was still soapy and the sponge was still in her hand.

"Hmm? Whatever do you mean?" Kuroko asked, not meeting Fukiyose's infamous stare. It reminds Kuroko of a strict teacher that's mildly disappointed in you for answering wrong.

Kuroko wasn't fond of that look.

"She's a foreigner."

"It's great that your eyes are working, Miss Fukiyose." Kuroko said, ignoring the incomprehensible muttering of the iron willed girl. "She's a guest of mine, that's all."

"Miss Shirai, you don't need to lie about these. A simple guest would never make you run around like a headless chicken. You were injured yesterday."

"She's a troublesome guest." She instead reiterates, using the rough part of the sponge to scrape out the remaining burnt flesh from the skillet that Fukiyose had used. "I don't get why you're so interested in our relationship, Miss Fukiyose."

"Then please try to cooperate and not avoid these questions Miss Shirai." She sighed, placing a hand on her hips. "I only want to know what I'm getting myself into."

'There's nothing for you to get involved in the first place.' Kuroko thought internally. Her eyes slid back to the messy stainless steel pan, no matter how much she tried to scrub it the burnt part still remains.

Kuroko is starting to condemn it.

Fuikyose moved to Kuroko's right side, she was a few inches taller than her, well every girl in their academy was always taller than her. It's rare to find someone that's smaller than her, maybe some middle schoolers but even they're taller than Kuroko herself.

What does Academy City feed these kids with?

Fukiyose took the dry rag from one of her cupboards and wiped off the excess water from one of the plates.

Kuroko met her gaze for a bit. "Thank you… but you don't need to know. We'll be out of your hair after this." She let her know, her eyes going back to the plates in the sink. In the corner of her eyes she could see Fukiyose look visibly confused.

"I'm not kicking you out." She said with a crease in her brows. "Whatever this is, maybe Anti-Skill can help." Fukiyose suggested, which earned a snort from Kuroko's mouth.

"If it's that simple I would have done so earlier." Kuroko stared at the mocking dirt in the pan, really, why is this so hard to clean. "I'm not reckless Miss Fukiyose, I dont rush into action just because I forgot a crucial detail like calling the authorities. I simply do not have a choice."

Kuroko sighed, resisting the urge to pinch her forehead (she didn't want to get any soap on it after all).

"Staying here for long wouldn't be ideal either, it would also trouble you." Kuroko continued, "Our sudden appearance was already inconvenient. I don't want to add more unnecessary trouble to your plate."

Finally, the hardened grease from the skillet was gone. In those moments Kuroko had a bit of a moment to be proud of herself and the chance to look up at the person next to her.

Fukiyose had this complicated look to her, her brows were crossed, she looked upset but it wasn't directed to anyone. She bit her lip, just in the same way that Index bits her lips when she's looking helpless.

"Bu–" She tried, she really tried. Fukiyose was stubborn.

She just didn't know that Shirai Kuroko herself was also stubborn.

"It's just simply not safe." Kurooo turned the faucet off. "So please, respect that decision."

Kuroko expected the conversation to be over. Seeing that Fukiyose was staring at her hard, with that look she knows they're gonna get kicked out afterall Kuroko wasn't the most ideal person to be around. She was even sure she was grating Fukiyose nerves from the way she keeps frowni—

"AUGH?!"

—Did she just hit her?!

Kuroko rubbed the top of her head at the sudden smack of the girl in front of her. She was still nursing her poor skull and when she looked up at the black haired girl in front of her. She was furious, that hand that had just damaged her still raised in the air.

"You're such a dumbass!" She yelled, it made Kuroko gape.

("I'm in the honor roll! How can I be a dumbass!")

Is what she wanted to say and complain about, and she would have continued with it if not for the fury that was displayed in Fukiyose's eyes.

So she closed her mouth, grumbled and waited for Fukiyose to explain.

With a still shaking fist, Kuroko shrank, covering the top of her head to avoid getting hit again. Though Fukiyose seemed to calm down, withdrawing her hand back to her side, deciding that hitting her wasn't worth it.

"Respectfully, your decision sucks." She blurts, finally cooling down, still does she have to insult her? "I'm not kicking you out of this place Miss Shirai, and even if I do I'm not so heartless as to kick out an injured person."

"I'm getting better." Kuroko grumbled pointlessly.

"You can barely walk and if I touch you like this…" She reached towards Kuroko's back, making the lightest touch at the place where Stiyl fire induced burns resided.

Kuroko jumped out with a hiss when the contact was made.

"...you would do that, and I don't think a person who flinches at the slightest contact is what you call 'getting better'." Said a very smug Fukiyose.

Kuroko scoffs, showing pure disdain at the conclusion that Fukiyose made.

This is why she can't handle people like Fukiyose. They're too unreasonably reasonable for Kuroko's concrete logic to decline. They make so much sense that Kuroko's way of thinking would suddenly just feel… wrong.

"Fine. You win." Resigned to her fate, Kuroko finally conceded. "But we're not gonna stay long alright?"

Fukiyose gave a self satisfied nod. "I can live with that."

Kuroko sighs. She's really bad at handling Fukiyose; for once she wished Tsuchimikado and Aogami were by her side to deal with her.

Still…

"Miss Fukiyose, is there a reason why you hit me?" Kuroko looked up to her, a curious expression on her face.

"Seriously?" She asked with a brow raised.

"Do I look like the type to jest?"

Fukiyose stared at her for a long time before answering her question. "You really are such a dumbass. I can't believe it. Now I understand why you're with those two." She huffs.

"That doesn't answer the question–?! Miss Fukiyose, don't just walk away— I need answers!"


Kuroko had managed to convince Fukiyose to let her go, well, she's still not leaving the dorm room since Fukiyose keeps stubbornly insisting that they stay. Kuroko felt an immense amount of pride that she had at least convinced Fukiyose that she needed to do a quick errand.

(Of course Fukiyose didn't let her out, looking like she just survived an apocalypse. Instead Fukiyose thrusted her with her old clothes in her chest and told her to change. It was something simple, a random graphic tee and some jean shorts.)

In reality, Kuroko was out to scout the area to see if someone was following their trail, but it was also to have a talk with Kamijou without anyone batting an eye in their direction. A private and much needed talk was desperately needed.

Kuroko, truthfully, can't keep this charade up. She was running ragged with minimal materials and areas to cover around. Kamijou was too stingy with information, and he never really told her about the plan he has for saving Index. This series of events that he ran her over with were minimal to the most basic premise of what event it would be, withholding from her the crucial information that could help her overcome this tortuous quagmire.

The only thing that she remembers right is that all of this was part of his so-called: 'Amazing would totally work 100% plan!'

She didn't know why she didn't argue with his naming development skill, now she's really regretting why she didn't pick a fight with him about it.

Well, that's simply alright. Kuroko believes she can make it work…somehow, if she finally gets the whole story straight.

Afterall she is the great Shirai Kuroko! Everything will work out in the end for her!

…Hopefully? She really does hope she can succeed past this unfortunate situation.

Kamijou hadn't given her much time to prepare. She always thought that this would be just a quick errand, who thought it would devolve into a 24/7 surveillance operation?

At this point of time Kuroko would have run, farther and away from all of this nonsense the moment she heard about magic; It's just too much trouble to be in.

But beliefs change and opinions are easily replaceable.

Shirai Kuroko, who once believed purely about science, had started believing in magic. To insist that it's not real would just mean that she would be directly ignoring the existence of the power in her right hand, or dismissing the life that Index has gone through.

Kuroko, while she may have a hard time empathizing with people, is not an absolute moron to reject the new reality that was presented to her in dazzling 1080p resolution and 7.1 surround sound.

(It is hard to be ignorant when proof has been shown, if she continues being so then she would just sound like an obstinacy of broken records.)

She stopped mid step in the stairs. Kuroko noticed someone unusual, a black hair tied in a white ribbon, and eyes sharp as a hawk.

Down the stairs she descended from, presents a woman that she didn't expect to see in broad daylight.

She turned to meet Kuroko, the sheath in her waist making a small sound, threateningly loud for Kuroko when she knew what's hidden behind those steel sheaths.

Kuroko felt her grip over the handrail clenched.

She knew they would eventually catch up with them but she didn't expect it to be this soon..

She was careless–! She knew it was a wrong idea to stay idle!

Fuck!

Kuroko twisted her body to turn back and rush to get Fukiyose and Index to safety. Maybe she's too late and that damn emo fire boy would be there, taking Index from her.

Shit! She needs to get there faster!

Kuroko stumbled back to her feet when Kanzaki stepped in front of her in a flash. Her speed relates to a singular blink of an eye. The saint appeared in front like an angel descending. She looked dignified and like any angel, it scared the shit out of Kuroko.

The swordswoman eyes never strayed from her, her hand never away from the handle of her blade. Kuroko expected an attack, or maybe some threatening on her part, but she never expected to see the Saintess let her guard down.

Kanzaki let go of her hold from her blade, and instead looked down on Kuroko.

The words had started to escape from her mouth. Suddenly every other noise tuned out from the world, all just to focus on the soft timbre of her voice.

"Can you really help her?"

She asked, not as the cold perpetrator from yesterday, but as a person that has too much history tied with the girl she's trying to protect.

Kuroko nodded wordlessly.

The girl strayed her gaze for a moment, deep in contemplation. It was directed at her, but somehow she got a feeling that she was looking through her.

Did it send shivers down Kuroko's spine? Absolutely. Even with fear encapsulating her body, Kuroko took the offered outreached hand.

To others it might not be much, but to Kuroko it was the first sign that she trusts her.

Her knees we're still shaking but at least it's not from fear. It was from how giddy she was with the situation.

Afterall, she had always thought she would need to punch someone to get her point across.

Hah! Take that Kamijou!

"Tell me how." She says with desperate hope clinging to her cold voice, "I want to help Index."


It was awkward.

Kuroko thought, taking a slow sip from a black coffee that Kanzaki bought for her. In normal circumstances Kuroko would have offered but she was broke, like flat broke. There's no penny left in her wallet, just lints and receipts that she had collected from over time.

(Free stuff was free stuff!)

They found themselves seated in one of those family diner style chains, It's called Josephs… well she thinks it was? Kuroko stroked her chin. She really was more interested in what lie she can come up with on the spot than the place she was in.

"Miss Shirai." Said Kanzaki across from her, her blade sat beside her untouched, but oh so menacing even in its latent state. "Why do you know so much about her?"

Why? She can count a variety of reasons for it, but predominantly it was because of that walking—floating?—migraine that calls himself Kamijou Touma.

"My informant told me." Was her quick, intentionally vague response.

(It was technically true after all; Kamijou had said it himself to call him something akin to that. But it made her unconsciously massage her forehead just thinking about him, for someone who calls himself the keeper of information he was unfairly privy with it.)

Kanzaki furrowed her brows, she doesn't seem to be the type to appreciate Kuroko's promptness.

"These grimoires are not a secret easily known, only the head of our organization and a select few know of this confidential fact. How is it that you, a person of science, know of such a thing?" Kanzaki, for a person with such a cold front, was surprisingly intrusive.

Ah, where is Kamijou when you need him?

"Is it really esoteric when I know the extent of this classified secret that you're talking about?" She aimed the question back, if this continues on they're gonna play twenty one questions.

(Kuroko feels like she's going to lose if it will lead to that end. She wasn't that much of a talker, and she's afraid that she might say something controversial, which would have her neck facing the end of Kanzaki's blade.)

"Are you insinuating that there might be a mole in our church?" Kanzaki uttered in disbelief, behind the cup Kuroko was hiding her own confusion and just nodded along.

'Maybe, If I started nodding and smiling she would make her own conclusion.' Kuroko pondered in her mind, watching the Saintess' expression morph to dissatisfaction.

She sighed audibly.

"I'm neither confirming nor denying these conjectures." She says suddenly, watching Kanzaki's forehead add another troubled crease. "You seem like the type to jump to conclusions. I'm saying this right now to prevent you from disgracing yourself." Kuroko crossed her arms aiming a piercing gaze at her.

Kuroko didn't want to get blamed for these misaimed guesses Kanzaki was making. Kuroko really didn't want to think about the consequences she'll have in the future for being the one that's responsible for planting that seed in Kanzaki's mind.

A chillsome feeling passed down through her spine, Yeah let's not think more of it. She decides.

Kuroko managed to nurse her face to something more neutral when Kanzaki made this difficult expression at her.

"We're getting awfully sidetracked here." Kuroko voiced a hint of impatience in her tone. A show that Kanzaki would hopefully notice, and that will make her drop this subject.

(Any more of it and Kuroko would start a web of lies that she cannot turn back into.)

Thankfully Kanzaki nodded and Kuroko forced herself not to sigh inadvertently. Instead she graced a small smile.

"Index can be saved. That I'm sure."

"Why do you think you can save her? You heard what Magnus had said yesterday, we've tried." Helplessly, the woman said, she didn't know if it was a habit of her to play with her fingers. She clasped her hands tightly together, like a desperate plea to her God, maybe.

"What Magnus said was the truth, all of our tries had been for naught. Every year her memories would be wiped to keep her alive. Trying to make her remember who we are has been nothing but an awful experience to relive over and over again." Kanzaki explained, the pain of the experience ever more evident in her voice. Kuroko listened, trying not to be sucked into it too much, but wanting to make an attempt to understand.

"Have you considered the pain of seeing her clueless every year with the same expression that knows nothing of the world she had previously shared with us?" Kanzaki could not help but ask.

But Kuroko took issue with it.

"So you made her think that you're her enemy instead of her guardians?" Kuroko tried not to sound baffled. But how can she not when they've done something so extreme. Have words failed them this much to constitute such actions?

Did rationality escape from their minds or something?

"You don't understand."

"I clearly don't." Her words came out harsh and seething. Kuroko was surprised that she could still manage to maintain even a modicum of calmish tone. "You made her go through so much. If what you want is to make her believe that you are after her life, then congrats, you have successfully made her believe that you are worth avoiding." Kuroko knew she was scowling; making such an angry face to a Saint is probably stupid but Kuroko was too furious to care.

"You made her think that you are after her for a purpose. You made her distrust you so badly that she probably thinks that every magician is after her, and you made her run away from you of all people, the one that's supposed to be her guardians, that's supposed to be the one that's doing the protecting." Kuroko took a breath, the astonishment of the whole thing bursting from her in a barely controlled ramble.

"Do you think that this is the most suitable resolution?" Kuroko snorts derisively, regardless of how the powerful Saint would have reacted.

"It's the best solution." Kanzaki's voice was solemn, but staring at those stormy eyes, Kuroko can see her will shake in each admission of words. "Do you think this was a decision we wanted? I was against this. I never wanted this. Index… she's my precious friend, and for her to look at me as an enemy cuts deep."

Kanzaki paused again, her features hardening.

"But it is far more acceptable than having to keep mourning a friend that's still alive."

She said that as if this fate has been set in stone. Like there was no escape to this, when in reality there's still a chance for change, just maybe if they tried hard enough…

No, that's not it. Kuroko was pretty sure she would do the same without a doubt. They didn't know anything, they were lied to, feeding them with false symptoms for the nun's existence and a 'cure'.

Kuroko feels so infuriated by all of this.

Kanzaki and that priest were lied to, taken advantage of. They clearly don't know what was happening, yet they think the decision they made was for the best.

When it's clearly not. Everything about this situation is messed up, and why are they so satisfied with this bleak ending in the first place?

It grates her nerves to no end.

'Why do you sound resigned when she's still alive?' Kuroko wanted to say, but she kept the ball of anger caged inside, the words bouncing around inside her skull instead.

Kuroko took a deep breath. She wanted to be calm, logical… to be the perfect lady as the sole heiress of the White Spring Holdings—

'Ah fuck it! This is just so annoying to hear!'

Kuroko suddenly slammed her head on the table with a resounding wallop, both shocking the Saintess in front of her and the diners around her.

Image be damned! Kuroko felt so, so frustrated. Kanzaki looks so forlorn, like the future was so grim when it was so bright and full of possibilities.

Her outburst startled the girl in front of her, of course. She didn't grip on her blade but she did look concerned.

Kuroko feels the stinging ache on and in her forehead, and she knows there was a red swollen bruise forming in her head. But she doesn't care at the moment. She turned to look at Kanzaki with a sour look.

"You are so irritatingly moronic, both you and that hot wheels emo priest!" She yelled trying her best not to slam her head when she saw the confused look of Kanzaki.

"Shirai–!"

"The solution is so clear yet you guys went down that path!" Kuroko yelled at her as she was close to grabbing her collar and shaking her. "Have you considered how lucky you are that Index is still alive, that Index still wakes up feeling safe rather than terrified that she has no-one to support her?!" Kuroko trembled as the anger coursed through her.

"You guys probably made her feel safe when you were around her, before all of this blew up. Then you start chasing her like a cat playing its prey?!"

Kanzaki flinched at the angry, cutting words, but could not stop herself from retorting.

"That's unjust, you're judging me for something we can't control—"

"I'm not talking about the annual mind erasure! I'm not unreasonable just to blame you for that when all of you had been a victim!" Kuroko's vision blurred slightly, standing up to her feet and slamming her hands on the table.

"Why are you so angry about this?" Kanzaki argued, and it took all of Kuroko's self control not to implode. "You're not the one that lost a friend countless times!"

"Because I'm frustrated!" Kuroko admits. "I'm frustrated that Index has to do this, to run and run until she has her mind erased again and again! I'm frustrated that you and that stupid priest easily gave up on hope and decided that tormenting her would be easier than explaining what was happening to her! I'm so frustrated that I started to sympathize with you! That I know how you feel! And I'm so frustrated that I'll do the same!"

She screamed the last part. Breathing hard with every word she says. She felt sweat drop her chin, continuously pouring, she tried to wipe it using the back of her hand.

But it was useless as it continued flowing free like a broken faucet.

Dammit.

"You're crying…?" Kanzaki silently pondered.

Was it surprising to see Kuroko cry? She was just a person, she had feelings.

She's just a human like everyone else.

"So what If I am." Kuroko sniffed. "Of course I'll cry, I'm upset!"

Maybe she wasn't the socially inept one when Kanzaki would look at her as if she had said something so mind breaking.

A chortle escaped her lips that turned into a slow hysterical laughter. This is just so stupid, everything is so stupid, nothing makes any sense anymore. Why can't things just make sense?

The woman didn't speak and just stared marveling at the mess that is Shirai Kuroko. Kuroko would have done a full blown villain laugh if not for the staff asking them to immediately leave.

"You're disturbing other customers." Is what they reasoned, which was true because everyone was looking at them with prying or awkward eyes.

(Kuroko really needs to stop having private conversations in these kinds of places.)

The next moment they were outside some store, Kuroko sniveling like a child trying to quiet her sobs but failing so miserably because her shoulder simply can't calm down.

All while having the awkward yet formidable Saintess by her side.

"Ugh…" In the end Kuroko felt too mortified to continue their conversation.

Why did she just have to lose it? Now she can't even look up to Kanzaki without feeling the hot burning shame creeping in.

Kanzaki, finally using the title appropriately, had mutely handed her a pack of tissues.

Kuroko accepted it graciously, she took the pack and blew her nose on it. Feeling slightly better but still embarrassed since Kanzaki's eyes never left her.

"Why do you care so much about Index?" She asked with a quiet tone. "You've only met her yesterday. How come you are willing to throw everything away for her..?"

The answer was really simple.

"Because I made a promise to her." She huffs.

Kanzaki let out a quiet hum. "So this solution of yours… are you certain it would work?"

"Yes." No.

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then.."For the time being, Kuroko gave Kanzaki a small smile. "We'll just have to make a new one."


Kuroko and Kanzaki had parted ways after that, the discussion had been a disaster - that she was sure of. Kuroko had walked away with the fresh reminder that she had lost her cool, but ultimately avoided answering a solution that she —Kamijou proposed— in the first place.

Before leaving, Kuroko had asked about that annoying mage as to where he was at. Kanzaki took a while to answer but all of it ended with a blank look.

Kanzaki admitted that she herself did not know.

Apparently that man has a world of his own being ignorant and things, which Kuroko heavily assumed until Kanzaki mentioned that he may be familiarizing himself with this place. She also asked Kanzaki for some change; that earned her a raised brow. She still gave her some pennies nonetheless.

Kuroko sighs deeply inside the phone booth, her hand hovers over the buttons, pushing a pattern of numbers that her body has long memorized.

The line was quiet on the other end. She heard the monotone, repetitive pitch of their company Jingle, for a bit she stayed listening to that noise. Until, —Thank God— someone had finally picked up the phone.

Kuroko hid her grimace when she heard an enthusiastic voice from the other line.

"Hi Dad…" She started, nervously wetting her dry lips. "Can I ask you a favor?"


Authors note: So this was supposed to be a action orientated chapter but I decided to go against with it and have her settle with some normal stuff before going back to the insanity thats supposed to be the Toaru plot. I'm sorry for those who are expecting actions! although its brewing in the background!

Onilink500: It would be the case but the retrograde amnesia really can be such a bitch and If Misaki did appear Touma would just keep forgetting about her every other time he looks away from her.

Which would make Kuroko just lose her shit because what is up with him?

Also if he does materialize it would entirely on his own like the dragons, he's those type of Deus ex machina that would only appear if the situation is so dire.

One can only hope for big brother Kamijou to be canon in this verse, but nah like a ghost he can't touch any physical things (unless its with his right hand.) but yes, he'll be such a cheat to have for Kuroko in her arsenal!

BlueJack122: Just like what you've said they are a perfect pair! mostly with how undying they are to their respective so called partners! and I think their dynamic are fun to explore since it can go in a lot of ways!

As usual reviews and follows are much appreciated! it gives me a lot of motivation to know that someone haf read my stuff!