NeoShadows here at last! And here to deliver the long awaited Epilogue of the very first original Arc for A Certain Influx of Time Traveling Mishaps.

Apologies for not uploading during the weekend as I promised. Found myself busy with work and too tired to complete the finals edits, responses. Not today though! It's time to close this chapter for good! After all, we still have much more to go.

Stick around at the end though for a little section I call; Author's Writing Corner! It's a little section detailing facts and other interesting bits about the current arc to those who are interested. And who knows? You might just catching something after all that too.

Reviews come first though, so let's wrap this up!

Guest #1: New Children? Ain't that an interesting question? Wouldn't that mean the future can be changed, but not completely veered from its tragic ending? As for other children not belonging to Touma; the answer is yes.

DNWorks: The final battle was a favorite of mine, for sure. I was actually nervous since it ended coming out as such a big chapter. I know some people ain't exactly fans of wordy chapters. I think I'm overfeeding people with my content at times. For your questions, I think most of them will be answered in this chapter. And yeah, I noticed my mistakes with both the Billion Espers, and Yomikawa. My bad. Oh, the fact that there are actually more than 7 Level 5s will come up in the future in fun ways! Just you wait. But not all those children that were shown to resist the effects of Level Eater were Espers. One was actually a Magician, and not related at all to Gunha. Though their interactions are far from over. And one is a special case that can't be defined by either Magic or Science. And the reason I left out Accelerator's effects as Mila absorbed the AIM of all the students, is because she was still trying to absorb them at the moment. Her mind had actually broken down when she absorbed not one, but 2 Number 1 Level 5s. Also, Kakine didn't have a child.

BlueJack22: I actually had Face My Fears playing during that grand final battle. I do love me some Zebrahead though! Touma didn't gain an upgrade to Imagine Breaker though; I guess he did gain some resilience with it though. But I can't not say that some weird and new ways for that mysterious power won't be discovered.

ArmoredCoreNineBall: You have no idea how long I have been planning Mila's rampage for. Since the very beginning of when I began thinking of writing my own fanfic with ToAru! But not all those kids we've seen during that lull of activity at the birth of A City of Wisps, were Level 5s; not even Espers! Ah, I see you've begun to catch an inkling of what I got going with those two, eh? Ooohh, wait until you see what I've done with the Sister's Arc! Shit's going to get crazy!

Guest #2: I won't say~! But she is a daughter of one of two famous Teleporters! And yeah, I know I messed up with the billion vs. million bit concerning Espers. In my defense, the B key and M key are very close, and I get the two numerals confused.

Fyr Rednight: Ya like the Zeroes War/Level Eater Arc, huh? Boy, than you're going to go crazy once I release the Sisters/Family Arc to come later on! You got a good eye on ya there with your guesses, but they were pretty obvious in my opinion. Good luck guessing the others though! It'll be some time until ya can connect them dots.

Anti-Mage29: I'm sure you'll get who their mothers are as we go on. You are right with that girl being either Musugime's or Kuroko's though. And boy, are Touma's misfortunes only just beginning. That kind of despair though, will create cracks.

All done with those! This is the end of our original Arc! Once we're back, it's onto a completely new canon.

I'm just so excited to see that one at its end! So, get scrolling already!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to A Certain Magical Index. All rights are reserved to Kazuma Kamachi.

You know what's truly the worst part of being a writer? It's the fact that you're constantly coming up with ideas that you know you just don't have the time to write. There's my original content that I'm constantly trying to finish; there's my fanfiction, with much including crossovers I really want to do; and than there's my smut.

. . .What? Ya, uh, didn't know I wrote smut? Pfft, some people, I guess, haven't taken a peek at my Arc Works story; Chapter 3.

You know there's a reason why I exclusively write M rated content, right? Because I have no shame, and lost my dictionary that would allow me to learn what decency means. Whatever it is, it sounds sexy.

Chapter 10:

Epilogue: A Bittersweet Ending is still Sweet.

Clench_Your_Fist.

"Today marks the second day after the infamous District wide attacks by an unknown homeland terrorist group. Casualties of the mass chaos event can only be attributed to those who resided in District 10; a district that's seen a decline in activity with students and teachers alike due to the many controversial facilities found within, along with it being home to many gangs. Of all the districts to have been hit the hardest, it was District 10 that had suffered the most damage. It is believed that the unknown attacker of the mass attacks was a large group of Level 0s associated with Skill-Out after several thugs had been taken into custody earlier last night. Further investigations will continue as the story develops further within the next few days. Rumors are being speculated that Academy City's own Board Chairman himself, Aleister wi-"

All over the streets of District after District, news of the attack on all of Academy City's streets could be seen playing over the screens of the city's tall buildings. From their TV to their blimps and even online news feed, the events of the past 48 hours and all the questions of WHY, were being witnessed by the citizens of the great city of science. It had been a city wide event, so it was only obvious that everyone would be up in the air with questions of the destruction they had all survived.

A War Between Zeroes. A Mass Hijacking of Machines. The Level Eater Network. An Out of Control Esper That Nearly Wiped Out an Entire District. A New World Born Out of Despair. A Demon Girl.

Of those events that had taken place, only two were publicly known.

It was said that District 10 had been involved in a gang war over territorial control, to usurp the unofficial leader of all of Skill-Out; Komaba Ritoku, and gain the title of leader of all of the factions that carried the Skill-Out name. It was also said that the entire war on the streets had been a form of riots against the unfair benefits that Academy City had bestowed those who were labeled as Level 0. There had been a lot of things to unpack from what was the cause of those fights between Level 0s as it seemed that every few faction that had played a major role in the destruction of District 10 had something different to say about why they were fighting.

Much of what had caused the war was being investigated. All that could truly be said was that many lives had been lost in the gang war.

As for the other districts that had been occupied with their own problems involving the rise of machines that's sole purpose were to better the life of all those who resided in Academy City; it was believed to be a hijacking.

An unknown organization or person had somehow been able to hijack the autonomous machines that bettered the lives of those students and adults. With the control of an army of machines, that unknown hijacker had wrecked havoc like a child who had just discovered he had command of battalion of newly bought toys. The streets had been consumed by utter havoc that seemed to have served no purpose other than wrecking whatever they could and attacking whoever they could.

No casualties had been found, unlike District 10. Of those who had been harmed by the hijacked army of machines, there had been reports of only five fatally injured. Those five had recovered in thanks to Academy City's greatest frog faced doctor. Other than the damage done to the city's structure, there had been no major losses.

It was said that the hijacker had been taken down by a special task force belonging to Academy City. It was said they had taken their own life. It was said that it had been a glitch to Academy City's own programming. It was said that it had all been because of some unknown Esper who had lost control of their own ability to manipulate machines.

No one said that either incidents involving the whole of Academy City, and the gang war of District 10, were connected in the slightest.

All that mattered at the moment was that everything in the great city of science had settled and returned to their everyday normalcy. All unaware of the dark shadows that lurked beneath their feet.

Yes, that was the normal for Academy City. A blissful world that shined and lurked with darkness. A city you could find anywhere else in that regard.

The world that they called their home had nearly come to an end. But they continued to continue living, unaware of death's eager hands having been so close to reaping their lives.

The fact that they could all go back to their normal lives and routines was all that mattered to them. The deep details and cold truths were the least of their worries right now.

"Don't you think any of that seemed a little too. . .suspicious? I mean, both of those events happened parallel to another, and yet no one seems to bother thinking about connecting the dots? It just seems odd."

But while a majority of the city had grown to ignore the news coverage of the terrorist attack to go back to their normal lives, there were still a few groups who continued to eye the unraveling story. And others who were able to question the truth of the matter. Even if it was simply out of a sense of curiosity and nothing more.

The middle school girl in who asked the question of linking the two events sipped her chilled premium green tea with her brown eyes eyeing the news playing on the the large TV screen outside the expensive cafe that was commonly frequented by a certain class of girls. The girl had short chestnut brown hair and wore the standard Tokiwadai uniform with the only thing standing out of the picture perfect Ojou being the shorts underneath her skirt and her baggy socks.

That girl was known as the Number 3 Level 5, Misaka Mikoto; The Railgun. The third strongest Esper in all of Academy City.

She was not alone. She sat alongside three other girls inside the booth. One was another ojou from Tokiwadai; a red pigtailed girl with ribbons and reddish eyes that stared at Misaka with nothing short of adoration. Or obsession. Across from the two rich girls were two dark haired girls wearing a common sailors school uniform. On the right sat a girl with long raven locks, green eyes that spoke of a youthful mischief, and a flower clip on her hair. Next to her was a girl with shorter cut dark hair, brown eyes, and a floral band on her hair that helped to make her stand out with her average appearance.

They were the Railgun gang. It was a funny little nickname for their group, created by one Saten Ruiko. They were a group of friends that was compromised of one Level 5, one Level 4, one Level 1, and one Level 0. Despite their Levels and abilities, or lack of for one girl, they had grown to see each other as close friends.

The question rose a curious brow from the girl with straight black hair and a flower clip on her hair; Saten Ruiko. The girl who adored urban legends and mysteries tapped away on her phone with a hum as she looked back to Misaka.

"Well, you're not the only one who thinks that. I've been reading a lot of rumors on the online message boards about the two attacks that happened two days. A lot people are saying that they were both just distractions and that a much bigger conspiracy is at work. But that's just the usual conspiracy theorists making up exciting stories. Like the time someone had said they saw a dragon of all things fighting some random student."

A Dragon? In Academy City? This was a place of science, not fantasy.

Still, it had been fun to read the made up conspiracy theory of some heroic Esper fighting to protect two girls against a beast of literal fantasy. It was those kind of conspiracies that Saten loved to read.

Even now, she was reading over the many theories and rumors born from the attack on District 10 and the rest of the city. All of which couldn't be true. Or could they? Saten couldn't help but grow giddy at the thought of another urban legend she could hunt down in her spare time.

It would be even better now that she had a new friend to help investigate the legends with.

Misaka couldn't help but think there was more to those rumors than believed. She after all knew of what had happened to everyone in the city after all the chaos created by those hijacked machines settled.

A mass loss of consciousness. The entire city had fallen under some sort of. . .spell that put them to sleep. She had witnessed it as she had been out helping to take out the hijacked machines as the third strongest Esper. As she had begun talking with some Anti-Skill members about what she had seen, everyone around her had been knocked out. Their minds had shut down. At first, she believed it had been the work of another Level 5; one who could control the minds of humans with remotes for her petty reasons, but realized it had been much more than just a random attack close to her.

Everyone in the city of Academy City had their minds shut down like a computer that was saving energy. Misaka had been the only one who had been unaffected. At least, that was what she believed.

The city wide mass of lost consciousness had only lasted for three minutes. When everyone had awoke, they felt refreshed in body, but found their minds sore. As if they had just awoken from an all night cram session for an upcoming exam. Other than some headaches, no one was hurt.

It had been explained that the cause for the loss of consciousness was due to the mysterious hacker. Someone had stopped the culprit and saved everyone from whatever plan had been planned.

Of course there were many who questioned what had happened. But nothing bad had been done to them. They had all just taken a three minute nap and awoke with headaches. There was nothing to worry about, they said.

Misaka didn't believe it. Something had happened. But this seemed like a much bigger event than herself. She didn't like it, but she couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't any of her business. There was little to no need to poke at the beehive when it had just calmed down.

Suspicion aside, she returned to cooled green tea with a sigh.

It wouldn't do to worry about any of it. Not if she wanted wrinkles.

"At least everything is returning to normal here. Can't say the same for District 10." Misaka frowned with a sip of her tea.

With her fingers ever furiously tapping away at her laptop, Uiharu Kazari looked up with an equally sad tinged frown.

"I heard that about sixty casualties have been confirmed by Anti-Skill as they worked to deal with anymore of the gangs who want to continue with causing trouble. To think an actual gang war had been happening during all the commotion two days ago. It's no wonder no one had been able to notice with all of Anti-Skill and Judgment occupied with the hijacker."

Kuroko Shirai had stopped her ever loving ogling of her onee-sama to add in her two cents.

"Of course none of us had noticed. All our communication feeds were flooded with requests for back up and plans of how to deal with the machines. I mean, we had to deal with unmanned Powered Suits for crying out loud!" Kuroko groaned in exasperation as she rubbed her forehead that was bandaged. As a member of Judgment, she was of course out in the streets to deal with the mayhem. It had been easy enough to deal with the cleaning bots, but when the lumbering form of a Powered Suit had shown up, things had become difficult.

"I just wish I had known who the hijacker was. No one messes with my private time with onee-sama's bed!"

"I thought I caught a hint of your stink on my pillows! And why the hell was it wet?!"

A spark had zipped to that perverted pig tailed Teleporter's shoulder and sent her falling out of the booth with electricity frying her body. Something Kuroko was more than use to. As the Railgun's number one fan, she had built a heavy tolerance to such power.

Ignoring the happily giggling mess that was a finely charred Kuroko, Uiharu happily went on as she read an article of the after math of District 10's destruction.

"At least Academy City is planning on fixing up the district. A representative explained that they've been ignoring the district that's home to many Level 0s for far too long. That they have only themselves to blame for those students believing that they failed them. They even say that they're willing to speak with the leader of Skill-Out to better move along with the repairs, seeing as they say that District 10's Level 0s are led by some kind of boss in charge of their actions."

"Skill-Out has an actual leader?" Misaka remarked in surprise. The only kind of leader they had seen from that organization had been Konori's old friend who ran his own faction of Skill-Out; Big Spider. She never knew that Skill-Out as a whole had an actual leader who oversaw everything. The leader must have been the king of delinquents.

"That's all just talk though. Who knows what will happen? From what rumors I've read, the leader is this big, muscled bound, gorilla like man who always has a stern expression." Saten added in as she stuck her spoon into the large fruit decorated parfait next to a certain flower girl's laptop. She happily munched down on the delicacy, ignoring the pouting glare from her best friend as she continued, "Skill-Out as a whole doesn't have any actual leadership. They have this thing called Top Dogs; leader's of Skill-Out's factions that control a piece of District 10. They all share the name of the organization, but don't actually follow under anyone but themselves. But some do say that there is this unofficial leader beneath the hierarchy that controls how they act. Maybe that's who they're talking about?"

Who knew? District 10 was largely ignored by Academy City. It was a district home to unsavory laboratories and thugs. No one big really cared to understand how things worked there.

Things were back to normal. That was all that mattered to anyone. Questions and mysteries could be answered later. Right now, they were all much more focused on continuing with their lives without any worries.

Stealing one last spoonful of Uiharu's delicious parfait, Saten rose up from her seat with a stretch of her arms above her head. She grinned at everyone as she shut her phone.

"Well, as fun and relaxing as this is to catch up with you guys is, I gotta go! I promised my friend that I would be going along with her to plan out her next visit to her friend's hospital room. She said something about needed help with cheering him up, or something. And I can't exactly ignore a request from my senpai."

Moving out of the way to let Saten leave, Uiharu along with the other girls of the Railgun gang, grew curious at the mention of a new friend.

"You're meeting a friend?" Uiharu asked uncertainly before her eyes lit up in recognition, "Oh! You mean Toka-chan, right!"

"Toka-chan?" Misaka had never heard that name before.

Saten nodded happily, more than eager to explain.

"She's this older girl I got to meet a few days ago while on one of my urban legend hunts. She actually saved me from these back alley goons. And I've been hanging out with her every chance that I have. She actually likes to hear about all the urban legends too! Especially that really famous one about a certain Esper who can negate abilities!"

Feeling a buzz in her hand, Saten opened her cell back up to notice a text. Looks like her friend was outside waiting. She shut it with a smile and turned her eyes to the glass window, bringing attention to all the girl's to the older girl outside as Saten ran off with a bye on her lips.

The Railgun gang found a girl in high school who wore a A Certain High School's uniform. She had unruly long dark hair and a few bandages of her own on her person. Appearance wise, she appeared rather average and could probably blend in with any crowd in the streets. And it looked like that average high school girl had also been caught up in the chaos of the past 48 hours.

But to Misaka's eyes, she appeared more than that.

Those dark blue eyes, carefree and kind, reminded her far too much of a certain boy with spiky dark hair she met this year. It kinda took her by surprise.

'She kinda looks like that spiky haired idiot.'

Weird.

"Same as yesterday then?"

A frog faced doctor only known by Heaven Canceler sighed after receiving a stiff nod from the female nurse walking beside him down the halls of A Certain Hospital. In his hand he held several charts detailing the health of his favorite old patient who had once again arrived a bloody mess. Honestly, the boy must have had a masochistic fetish to explain all the injuries he was commonly found with. Note to self, Heaven Cancelar mused with a few flips of the medical charts on hand. Bring the boy a few copies of Garter Belt Nurses. Not only would it cheer him up, but then he would finally have someone to share his love of nurses with.

"Doctor, your nose."

Heaven Canceler coughed into his fist, discretely cleaning off the small trickle of red down his nose. Unfortunately that didn't go unnoticed from the suspicious glare from his colleague.

Back to the main subject then, "Well, despite the multiple lacerations over a large majority of his body, the twelve out of twenty-three broken bones in his right arm, internal bleeding, sprains on his ankles, bruises, fractures, and gun shot like wounds by some piercing force, second degree burns on a good half of his body, and a fractured jaw, and the critical pints of blood lost, our dear Kamijou Touma is fine."

". . . .What part of any of what you said is fine!?"

Heaven Canceler shrugged at the outburst from the lovely nurse, "Believe it or not, I find this state of wear rather common. I've dealt with a cracked skull that needed to be put back together like a jigsaw, piercing blows from a pile bunker, a severed arm, bites from what appeared to be some giant beast of all things, and utter memory loss. As one of the many nurses who oversees that boy's health, you shouldn't be all too surprised by the condition Kamijou-san stumbles in. It would be far more concerning to see him here for something as simple as only one broken bone." he said far too lax for a man speaking of a treasured patient's medical history.

The nurse in question, wearing the typical hospital uniform you would find in any typical hospital, remained with a frown despite agreeing with the infamous doctor of Academy City.

Nurses and doctors alike who were part of the staff of A Certain Hospital were all too familiar with one particular patient who had frequented their ER far too many times to be called healthy. In fact, one would question the health and sanity of that particular boy when they got even a peek at the long medical history belonging to Kamijou Touma. This nurse could still remember the first time she had met the unfortunate boy known as Kamijou Touma.

It was the first time she believed she would bear witness to a child dying. Safe to say, it wasn't the most pleasant of memories for her to hold onto.

What was it? Four? Five years? That was when she had first been brought in as an OR nurse and been tasked with helping the frog faced doctor with a young boy's life on the line.

Red was stained the entire left side of the spiky middle school boy's body, having suffered from some kind of unknown crushing force. From what she had heard about the incident, he had been on a class trip to visit District 6; a district famously known for its recreational facilities and amusement park.

Such a school trip should have been filled with bright smiles, laughs, and cherished memories for those young children. Terror had greeted those young flowers though in the form of death sweeping its scythe for those school children.

A college student Esper had gone wild with his ability earlier that day, apparently due to some unknown Esper amplifying drug, and had been on the run from both Judgment and Anti-Skill. The man had a Level 4 Ability that revolved around gravity fields. They had called his ability, Meteor Down. Why?

Because whatever he focused his sights on would come plummeting down to the earth with the destructive force of a falling meteor with the proper calculations of his Personal Reality.

It just so happened that the members of Academy City's protective force had cornered him in District 6, catching him as he had tried to blend in with the many other students and tourists in the amusement park. The moment the panicked student had been spotted, he had let his ability go wild again in an attempt to escape in the chaos.

The details weren't well known to the nurse, but she had learned that many of those in the attraction rides that relied on physics and suspension were heavily affected. Many had been hurt. But in the end, that out of control Esper had been stopped. No one really knows how as all those who had been tasked with taking the user of Meteor Down had been knocked out by a crushing field of gravity that stamped them to the ground.

All they had to go on was that the Level 4 Esper had been laid out by a blow to the face. Which explained the single tooth that was dislodged from his mouth.

Out of all those injured in the chaos created by one Esper, the man known as Heaven Canceler had made it his top priority to tend to one boy above all others. She wasn't sure, why until she herself saw his condition.

It was as if someone had thrown down an invisible anvil onto that little spiky haired boy's body. His left shoulder had been broken, his legs had suffered fractures, and his skull had been cracked. The condition he came in should have been enough to tell them all it would be pointless to save him. He was barely breathing as blood had begun to fill his lungs. He would have been lucky to come out with a physical disability.

Thanks to Heaven Canceler's astounding skills, the boy she would come to know as Kamijou Touma had been saved. The little Level 0 had spent a few days in what they all would eventually call the Kamijou Ward with a depressed aura over his little frame. Seeing as Touma had been her first patient, she had decided to stop by and visit the boy in the guise of checking his condition. She simply wanted to know more about the boy she had helped to save. What she had heard from that innocent little boy still broke her heart to this day.

'It's my fault. Everyone's fun day was ruined because of me and my misfortune. People were hurt because of my rotten aura infecting everyone. Nothing's changed. I'm. . .still a curse; a God of Pestilence.'

Those eyes that should have been brimming with light were dull and sullen. No tears ran down the child's face despite the pain he was no doubt enduring. The chaos and pain everyone who had been caught up in the rampage of a hysteric Esper, were all solely blamed and accepted by a child who had no right to ever think such guilty thoughts.

She had found a truly miserable child that day.

Time went on, and the nurse would come to find that little boy with an aura of misfortune back in their care again. And again. And again. And again. And again.

Each time she had seen that boy, her heart had cracked. No child should have frequented a hospital's OR more than once in her opinion. No child should have suffered that many broken bones. No child should have seen that much red soaking their clothing. No child should have ever felt the agony of a gunshot, a knife stab, a crowbar, or destructive psychic ability.

No child should have accepted such suffering as if they deserved it for simply existing.

Thankfully that gloomy, depressing, miserable air that hung over the spiky boy's head had lessened. He had come to find some normalcy in his hectic life. Though he would continue to wind up in their care time and time again, she would find Touma's lips lifting ever so sightly upon every visit.

Until one daym she had come to visit the boy, and found a bright smile on his bandaged face. She couldn't help herself and asked why he was smiling.

'Hmm? I don't know really. I just feel. . .that I've changed someones rotten luck for once. It makes me kinda happy to know that they no longer have to suffer such misery again. After all, I'm the only who deserves to be cursed with misfortune.'

Wrong. The words leaving that bed ridden boy were just wrong. As if he deserved to be the only one to suffer any kind of misfortune. Of all the people she had treated in the following years, that spiky haired boy was the most deserving of happiness and fortune.

The nurse couldn't help but sigh tiredly with a growing ache in her head. What a problem child Kamijou Touma was. Such a reckless boy. She wasn't a woman of faith, she was a resident of Academy City after all; a godless world of pure science; but she couldn't help but pray that she could go one measly month without seeing the unfortunate boy in their care again.

Once again, Kamijou Touma was in their care for grievous wounds he would no doubt recover from. Give him at least two days without any disturbances in his usual hospital room, and he would be as good as new.

At least, that was what she would have liked to believe.

Heaven Canceler noticed that his colleague had stopped walking. Curious, he glanced back to see the nurse, a woman with dark raven haired that fell in two long bangs over both her shoulders to her busty breasts, and pearly pink eyes, lightly tanned skin, stare down at the pristine white tiled floor with a tremble on her lips.

"It's different this time, sir. Kamijou-kun's wounds may have been treated, we may have reduced the chance of scarring, and he should see a full recovery in week's time, but. . .he's still in pain. It's like. . .like that miserable little boy has returned."

Ah, that then?

Heaving a weary sigh, Heaven Canceler wasn't sure what to say back in response.

A broken spirit wasn't something modern or advance science could ever strive to fix. The heart was the same.

"Mila-san?"

". . .Touma?"

CRACK!

That delicate, trembling, soft hand in Touma's own had rigged streaks run along the skin. Cracks grew from the point of contact of that spiky boy's right hand; the hand that destroyed the supernatural. An audible strain of glass put under incredible strain echoed in their ears as those crack lines grew to travel over every inch of Mila's paling skin to the point Touma could see the horrid lines reach her quivering lips.

A disgusting, sick, disturbing lump grew in Touma's throat. The tears gathering in Mila's own confused and terrified eyes were reflected on his own as he tried to speak. His voice trembled.

"Mila-san, wha-"

Shattering glass interrupted him.

The lonely girl who's cries had been ignored for so long, only to be pulled up by her feet by a caring hand, completely broke apart in Touma's eyes. Eyes of horror and despair were all that he had seen before the girl known as Mila was destroyed in a burst of shimmering shards that vanished as they blew past his face like fading pecks.

Like an illusion.

Imagine Breaker did what it did best.

It killed the supernatural.

"Aahhh. . .ahhahhhh. . .AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Touma awoke with a scream of terror that tore his throat. It felt like he was bleeding from his vocal chords.

Sweat slid down the spiky haired boy's bandaged face profusely, soaking his hospital gown in cold sweat that stuck the blue material to his bandaged chest. His entire body was trembling from the nightmare he had woken from as he sat up with panting heavily with wild eyes. Though he had various bandages patching up the numerous wounds from his visit to District 10, the greatest and most wrenching that engulfed him, was the once centered in his quaking chest. Everything else felt numb compared to what crushed his heart.

It was just a nightmare. Just a horrible, twisted, cruel nightmare of his own illusions.

". . . . .M-Mila."

Sadly, that illusion was broken to bits. Not even the most blissful, kind, warm of illusions were safe from that boy's touch.

Body wracking sobs hit Touma's body as he covered his face with his hand. His body fell back against the bed as tears continued to roll down his bandaged cheeks to mix with the sweat.

Once again, Touma had found himself waking up in a hospital bed. Only this time, he wasn't blessed with the gift of memory loss. No, he recalled every cruel detail of the aftermath of his fight with the lonely star known as Mila Etoille.

Upon being touched by Imagine Breaker, she had shattered to pieces and disappeared right before his eyes. He hadn't known it, but her entire body, even though it had been cut off from The Level Eater Network, was now entirely composed of AIM Diffusion Fields. She had no longer been human. She had become a supernatural being born of science.

In other words, he had killed that lonely girl he had fought so hard to save with his own hand.

Imagine Breaker had made him a killer. A murderer. A life had been ended because he had simply reached his hand out to someone in need.

Realizing that it was said right hand on his face, Touma retched the offending limb with a teary snarl.

Illusion Killer.

It was only now that Touma understood the second moniker to this. . .this cursed right hand.

Why? Why couldn't he have been born with a normal right hand?! Why did it have to be him who had to wield such a cruel, cold, deadly hand, that could only bring him misfortune? What the hell was the purpose of such a power that could only break whatever good fortune he could grasp pathetically with his beaten hands?!

Shattered to fading pieces. The life of a lonely girl who was ready to turn over to a brighter note in her life was destroyed by someone who hadn't been able to do anymore than paint his knuckles with her blood.

Who's fault was it that Mila could no longer step into the same light as normal students?

No doubt, that blame was solely on a certain Kamijou Touma's quivering shoulders and tears.

After about five minutes of sobbing at the crushing ache in his chest born by the death of one girl, Touma could only stare above at the blank white ceiling of his hospital room. His eyes were vacant, red and puffy, with dark circles growing below his eyelids. He could feel his stomach grumble, speaking up about the lack of a proper meal in the last few days. Idly, his eyes glanced at the tray of food left behind by the hospital staff that was no doubt dry and cold.

How many days had it been since Touma had a real meal? How long ago was it that he had found himself accidentally dropped off into a District famously known as a gang territory? How long ago had it been since he had run through the gang war torn streets in search of his friends, only to tumble into a far greater threat to the city?

How long had it been since he met a lonely foreign girl, and killed her so cruelly?

Again, that sullen Level 0s stomach barked, this time more viciously. Hunger pains brought a wince to Touma's face and forced his weak hands to pull that tray of old food closer. He found two slices of toast that clinked like porcelain plates devoid of warmth, scrambled eggs that felt like cool rubber, bacon strips that broke apart like dry wood, and lukewarm orange juice alongside a specially bought pudding topped with a melon, an old favorite that Touma had come to enjoy whenever he got the chance.

Touma grimaced, his teeth gritting as his body trembled at the little cutesy drawn note beside the expensive pudding.

'Get better soon, Touma! We miss you!'

Two nuns, one with raven hair, one with white silver hair, were what greeted that boy along with a calico cat. For a fourteen year old girl, Index still drew like she was ten.

Other than two pieces of cold toast, Touma ignored everything else on the tray while only taking a few sips of the warm juice. It was hardly much, but it was just enough to bring the barking from his stomach to a whimper. He could deal with that just fine.

The pain he was experiencing all over was what a killer like him deserved.

'It's all your fault. Scum like you deserves nothing but suffering in isolation. A failure like you. . .deserves nothing more than misfortune.'

Part of Touma knew that to be true. He was a failure, a killer, the worst kind of human who could only contribute ill fortune to the world.

'You could have done better. You could have fought harder. You could have used Imagine Breaker better! If you had just fought with your head, if you had just acted on logic instead of emotion, if you had just learned to use other tools than your own, if you had just learned to resolve things without swinging your fist; you could have saved her!'

Bandaged, beaten, broken, fingers gripped at Touma's head in response to his inner demons. The voices of regret, of anger, of hate, of grief, were all centered to place the rightful blame onto him. On the failure of a certain Level 0.

'If it had been That Level 0, she would have been saved. A husk could never hope to achieve the original's strength. In all honestly, you were better off never born in his shadow.'

Kamijou Touma, the REAL Kamijou Touma; would he have been able to do what this failure of a Level 0 couldn't? Would that common high school boy been able to reach out to that girl's hand without killing her with the thought of a brighter tomorrow?

If this Kamijou Touma had never been born that fateful summer day, would the girl known as Mila Etoile still be alive?

"I. . .I. . ."

Quivering, shaken, uncertain, weak and miserable lips struggled to speak in response to that thought beginning to form. To speak of that wish he was never sure he could ever say out loud.

The wish regarding the boy's who borrowed heart he could never hope to ever call his own.

"Touma. . ."

Outside that lonely, grief stricken spiky haired boy's hospital room, a silver haired nun in a golden embroiled white habit, could only stand in front of the locked room with a sullen sigh.

Trying to open the door wouldn't do much. It was locked by that boy who wanted only one thing right now. Isolation. After everything Touma had done for her, someone who had once been a stranger who caught him up in the flames of magicians, and never asked for anything in return, Index could only comply. If she had really wanted to, she was sure she could break open the door with some help.

But she didn't. Out of respect for her hero and best friend.

In the aftermath of the The Level Eater, Index had found herself being woken up by Angela. Her body was sore, but thanks to a last minute defensive spell from the older raven haired nun, Index and everyone else had survived the collapse of the secret research facility. All but one person had been protected by the protection of god.

Once they had all recovered from the aches and sores plaguing them from surviving tons of debris threatening to crush them to death, the group consisting of four Level 0s and two nuns had made their way out of the nuclear facility. Thanks to a team of Skill-Out lead by one of Komaba's right hands, they had escaped District 10 after so long of being trapped in the gang war. With the chaos now over with, Anti-Skill was able to act once again and promptly stopped the hijacked vans that belonged to them.

Index didn't remember much of what happened next, other than going into a high sped chase to escape the officers that would no doubt arrest Komaba and Hamazura despite them helping to put an end to the chaos. They were lucky to have lost them.

With no idea where to go since Touma was no doubt gone and responsible for the end of The Level Eater's carnage, Index, Angela, and Toka had been dropped off near the student dorms of District 7 to await him when he eventually came back to their home as he always did.

Several hours had passed. A head of spiky black hair had not walked back as they had hoped. Instead, their dorm received a heart wrenching phone call from A Certain Hospital.

Touma had just come out of the ER after hours of surgery. He was lucky to be alive.

Two days had gone by since then. And Index, nor Angela or Toka, had been able to see Touma since he came to.

No one was allowed to enter. Through the locked door of his room, Touma had begged, pleaded, in a shaken voice to be left alone. Something had happened, something terrible. For some reason, he had blamed himself and called himself pathetic. A failure.

A killer who would only shatter the happy illusions they cherished so much.

Index couldn't bring herself to selfishly break in and force the suffering boy she owed her life to explain everything to her. Not when his wounds were still very much fresh. Even Angela had said it would be better if Touma was left alone. For just a bit.

That bit turned into two days and going on three. Every time Index gathered the strength to knock on that door and ask if she could come in, she would hear the agonized cries of her hero who didn't have the strength to even lie to her.

Again, Index stood in front of the door, wishing she could just reach the handle and come in. All she wanted to do was comfort him, as he always did to her. To bring a smile to his face. To drag him out of his own hell as he did to her

Her hand slowly came to grasp the locked handle. She froze, hearing the sound of flesh smacking against the wall inside with a furious, grief stricken roar. Against her best wishes, she retreated and could only stare down at the well polished tiled floor with a bit lip.

A tear of her own fell. It pained her greatly to know that her best friend was hurting so much. And she couldn't even be brave enough to do a damn thing about it. So much for being a follower of god's teachings.

"Index, you shouldn't feel so guilty. I don't think Kamijou-san would be happy to know he's the reason you're crying."

From the other end of the hall, Index drew her head up to find Angela walking back with an armful of plastic bags. The older holy sister had gone for a run to a nearby convenience store for treats they could shower Touma with once he opened up and let them in. Even though Index would normally eat whatever goodies they had, she had reeled back her ever present hunger and hadn't taken a single nibble out of any of Touma's tasty treats.

Sniffling, Index returned to her chair against the wall facing the door to Touma's hospital room. Angela quickly sat next to her with a weary sigh, setting down the bags with soft frown on her features.

"I guess he still hasn't unlocked the door."

Index shook her head negatively.

"Do you know if he's eaten any of the food the nurses have left him?"

She did not. But from the dejected, sad expression on the nurse who came by three hours earlier, he hadn't even touched his dinner from the night before. It wouldn't surprise the silver sister if Touma hadn't even noticed his cold breakfast.

"Has Heaven Canceler stopped by yet? Does he have any news of Kamijou-san's condition?"

No, the funny amphibian faced doctor hadn't shown his face since yesterday. Out of everyone in this city, only he and the nurses had seen or interacted with Touma. A special privilege not even Index had been given.

"Has he. . .stopped crying?"

Index's own hiccup answered all she ever could with words. A dead silence made the impact of those tears hitting the sterilized hospital floor echo.

And Angela couldn't take it anymore.

The seat next to the misty eyed little holy Sister fell to the side with a rough bang. Index was startled, blinking tears away as she looked to her friend for the sudden loud action.

That's when she saw it, the furious glare full of rolling tears on Angela's own miserable face.

"A-Angela?"

"No more."

The older, more mature raven haired nun's voice was heavy with the same pain of not being able to do a thing to stop that precious person from crying. Index could see that Angela's fists were balled up tightly at her side, shaking as her chest trembled with every word.

"Kamijou-san, of all people, doesn't deserve to suffer by himself. He doesn't deserve to believe that he's some bad luck charm; that he's a failurel that he's responsible for saving everyone; that he's better off alone, OR THAT HE'S SOME FUCKING GOD OF PESTILENCE!"

Those tear fueled, brokenhearted, anguished words came from a different place.

Of a future where Angela had seen that man who was no greater hero to anyone else than to her, reduced to walking his path alone because of his apparent curse.

A World of Smiles. That was the reason Kamijou Touma would one day abandon those who held nothing but love and respect for him. Because he believed that he would one day, without doubt, shatter the happy lives of those he cherished to illusions.

It was happening right here. The man she would happily call Father was returning. And he would leave her once again because of his ever present misfortune.

Long ago, Angela had been too young to do a thing to stop that man from walking the road of isolation. Her small, weak, little fingers failed to grasp onto his hand as he turned his back to her and her mother.

In truth, Angela had another purpose for traveling to the past. It wasn't to just help her father grow stronger to protect their future.

It was to stop the birth of the God of Pestilence from once again being awakened.

Index had been stunned by the pained shout from Angela. She was further surprised to see that delicate girl's right hand fly up with a balled fist.

"Wait, ANGELA!"

All it had taken was a single punch for that locked door to break open.

Touma had grown stiff, his bloody right hand pausing in its bashing against the wall beside him. Drips of red seeped from his bandages onto the floor, a guilty clue to what he had been doing while he had been at his lowest.

He hated it. Honestly, he despised the right hand he was cursed to forever live his life with. A hand he apparently couldn't even cut off after it had somehow attached itself during The Level Eater mess. For as long as he breathed, it would forever follow him to present him with ill fortune.

There was nothing he wished for more than to get it the fuck off.

Anger and hate fueled him to mercilessly punish Imagine Breaker. Over and over again, he smacked his already broken arm against the wall. If his right hand could feel pain, than it deserved it. A killer deserved nothing but being beaten into a bloody mess.

The door being broken open by a punch from Angela had stopped him just he was beginning to feel a terrifying numbness crawl over his entire arm.

Shame caused Touma to quickly retreat his now blood stained, bandaged hand, below his blanket. But the smear of blood on the cracked wall was evident enough of his self harm.

He sighed tiredly, too drained to even stare back at Angela and Index as he looked away at the window.

"Angela, Index, I thought I tol-"

"Shut up! For once, you're going to be the one shutting the fuck up, and listening!"

Touma flinched. Okay, that was a first, enough to even break him out of his own self loathing. A holy Sister of all people had swore. He couldn't help but gulp and sink further back into his bed as Angela' s suddenly intimidating figure loomed over him. Was this. . .was this divine punishment for causing a nun to saying a word as vulgar as 'fuck'?

"U-Um, Angela-chan? T-There's n-no need to harm this p-pathetic, miserable, failure of a Kamijou Touma any further!" Touma begged with a weak smile as he sweated bullets beneath the shadow of a Saint.

"Stop it, please. Just. . .stop."

Touma was taken back, his pleas dying in his throat at the soft, trembling voice. His eyes grew wide at what he was seeing.

Those green eyes far too similar to Index's own were overflowing with tears that seem to have been contained for who knows how long. Tear after tear drop fell from Angela's pained expression that spoke of a deep seated sadness and loss he had never caught until now.

That face that seemed to have suffered a world of heartbreak and grief had struck Touma's heart far too close for reasons he couldn't ever hope to understand.

"Angela. . ."

"I don't know what happened to you, I don't know why you think you're a killer, and I don't know just how deep your pain is, but I know that it's not your fault!"

Not his fault? A bitter smile grew on Touma's lips. Wasn't that further from the truth? If she knew, if Index knew, of what he had done in trying to save someone; would they still look at him the say way as they did days before? Would they not see a murderer?

"You don't understand, Angela-san. It was, without a shred of a doubt, my fault. It's. . .it's always my fault, right?" he said lowly with resentment.

All manner of miserable events were drawn naturally to one without any luck. Incident after incident would rear its head to Touma. He would always see the darkness of the world at ever corner. Because that was just his luck.

Beneath the red stained covers, the wounded right hand seeping with blood cracked.

"Because of my right hand, I've always fated to ruin other peoples normal lives. My own misfortune constantly drags other people into my own problems. Isn't that why you and Index found yourselves stuck in the middle of a gang war? Two girls like you had no place in the midst of all that violence. I even dragged Komaba-san along with Fremea-chan. People were hurt because of this lousy right hand that seems to only attract the worst in the world."

A part of Touma felt. . .almost nostalgic to be blaming all the worlds misfortune on himself. As if the old Kamijou Touma had done the same. A part of that old high school boy seemed to understand that he could only ever cause trouble by being himself. That even others had agreed that he was the sole reason for all the wrongs of their little world.

An ache grew on the back of Touma's back, centered on an old scar from a past he could no longer recall.

"Even after trying so hard; after all the blood I paid; after facing opponents that were far beyond my level; I was doomed to fail! I couldn't even protect one girl! Everything I had done to save her was wasted because of this fucking right hand! Why? Why couldn't it have been someone else who had saved her?! Why was I the one who bothered to reach out his hand to her even though it would kill her?! Why the hell is it that I can only ever resolve things with violence and bloody knuckles?! WHY CAN I ONLY EVER BRING MISFORTUNE ONTO OTHERS?!"

Knowing that all he could do was spread his rotten luck to those close to him, wasn't it obvious what would be better for them all? A disease like him, one that wrought chaos and violence wasn't meant to get close to others. His right hand would surely kill their smiles. No blessings would ever fall upon them. That treasured dream of a peaceful life, filled with joy, innocent smiles, and bright laughs, would never be more than an illusion if he were to stay at their sides. Wouldn't it be better. . .if he just-

SMACK!

A bright red open faced hand print marred Touma's stunned face from the slap to his face. The hand that had smacked him had done it with such force that it had knocked the owner's white habit headdress from her head, leaving her flowing raven locks to fall freely. Angela's face was twisted with anger and hot tears as she reared her hand back again.

SMACK!

It was less powerful this time.

"Stop blaming the world's misfortune on yourself! Didn't you say it yourself?! You're just a normal high school boy! It's not your job to place the worlds troubles on your shoulder! It's not your role in this world to take all the sin of humanity and play scapegoat for all the misfortune wrought by others! You're not some holy shield created to endure the worlds evils! Something as unfair as that isn't your responsibility to hold!"

SMACK.

It felt duller yet stung all the same.

"You fought to protect something precious, didn't you?! When all others had ignored what was happening right in front of their eyes, you refused to turn a blind eye to someones tears! When on others could hear, or care, cries; you did what no other bothered to do, and held your hand out! Even if it would only further bring you to the brink of despair, you fought your hardest to save them! Are you really telling me that you regret offering your hand, your voice, your kindness to even a stranger?!"

Smack.

It couldn't even be called a slap, it felt more like a forceful pat to the cheek.

"Don't you dare think it would be better if you just left us; that our lives would be filled with fortune and pure smiles if you just kept your distance! That it would be just as good to stand outside our own worlds, and stay content with the occasional visit. That the only true World of Smiles you could ever create would be through your absence!"

That soft hand that had begun to throb and sting fell in for another slap, only to lose its strength and land on the spiky haired boy's chest. Angela's other hand joined in gripping Touma's damp hospital gown. At some point, the teenage raven haired nun had found herself on top of the bed, her body leaning over the still stunned wielder of Imagine Breaker. He couldn't find it in himself to say a word as those tears now trickled down to hit his face.

What could he even say? Everything that Angela had said seemed to strike some chord in him. A lot of what she said didn't make sense to him though. She talked as if he was some kind of hero that wandered the world with the sole purpose of fighting all the wrongs of this world. Like some savior from the bible. A World of Smiles? That phrase alone caused an uncomfortable tingle to arise from his already bashed up right hand.

Without knowing much, and only really knowing him for about a few days; perhaps a week; Angela had guessed that shameful thought of leaving the two nuns lives for their own good. Somehow that strange nun could see right through him.

"Please, don't make the same mistakes my father made."

That begging plea through tears brought a confused frown to Touma's face.

"Your. . .father?"

Angela bit her lip, seeming to realized she said too much. She took a deep breath, realizing she couldn't take back what she said. As if explaining herself would do much better than keeping it locked away.

"My father was a lot like you, Kamijou-san." Angela said slowly, sitting up as her teary green eyes seemed to stare at someone who was no longer in front of her. Almost as if she was seeing a mirage overlapping with Touma's own, "He was a man who couldn't stand seeing others suffer. If he could so much as lend a hand, even at the risk of his own well being, he wouldn't dare as think twice to act. He was a chivalrous man, a true hero, who only ever wished for the best of others. But that was his biggest flaw, the one that lead to his death."

That flaw was born of an event Angela had no knowledge of. Only a very select few knew of it; a golden period in time where their father had been at his happiest. Of what caused Kamijou Touma to abandon staying beside his friends for thier own good. To face the world's evils on his lonesome with his back kept to the blessed worlds he believed were better off without him.

"He placed everyone above himself. That someone who had no skill other than resolving whatever he didn't agree with, with fighting, was lower than even those who were responsible for whatever cruelty he was faced with. Like you, he also seemed to be cursed with bad luck, and believed that he was nothing more than a burden who infected others with his troubles. It's why he left my mother and I, because he honestly believed he could only ever do us any good by keeping a distance. I grew up with a beloved father who was in and out of my life consistently, never sticking around for more than a week at best for a holiday or birthday, because he thought he was nothing more than a plague upon our everyday lives!"

Touma gulped, finding himself listening to that strange nun who appeared out of nowhere after his battle against Aureolus Izzard. Again, everything she was saying hit a chord. Someone who wanted to protect others at the cost to himself? One who believed that they could only ensure the smiles of those they truly treasured by keeping themselves out of said lives? Because of those actions he could only call selfish and idiotic, the kind and nurturing raven nun had grown up without a proper family that all children deserved.

Angela seemed to already see where Touma's thoughts were turning to. She smiled softly, her tears pausing as she spoke to the very man who was responsible for the very life that had been absent of a proper father like so many of her siblings.

"Tell me, if you had ever met my father, if some event had forced the two of you to clash fists to fists, knowing that he refused to return to the ever large family that can only plead for him to stay; what would you say to that stubborn man?"

What would he say? To that bastard that was responsible for Angela's tears? Who thought he was better off being as far apart from his own loving family because of something as stupid as bad luck? Who put his life on the line without ever thinking about the people he would abandon if her were to die because of his heroics, and something as idiotic as responsibility?

That bloody, broken, smashed right hand; the Illusion Killer that had cut the life of a brilliant star short; a hand that could only break illusions through an action as barbaric as punching; curled tightly.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!

Touma knew what she was doing! But. . .but it wasn't the same! That heroic father wasn't cursed with a literal bad luck charm that would always, undoubtedly, ruin whatever peaceful atmosphere he could grasp. Everyday would be another series of unfortunate events, Touma knew that since he awoke with no recollection of anything. Unlike Angela's father, it really would be better if Touma left for their safety.

Right?

Wasn't that the right thing to do? Wouldn't that, in the long run, make them happy?

Hot tears formed in Touma's troubled eyes as he fought with was right for them, and what was right for him. He couldn't answer Angela honestly, not without betraying that borrowed heart that wished to stay, and the selfish desires of a husk who couldn't decide if he had any right to argue with that heart that was not his own.

"I-I-I. . ."

His shaken resolved matched his voice, so weak and low it like a whisper in the wind.

"Touma."

That already shaken resolve began to break once he heard her voice. The voice who had given this useless, pathetic, lonely husk, purpose to live.

Finally stepping into the dark hospital room, Index walked up to the bed of her caretaker and best friend. She couldn't stand back any longer, not after everything she had heard from the broken boy's weak voice. From the way he was speaking, it almost sounded as if he didn't think he had any right to stay by their side anymore.

Something had happened when they had been knocked out from The Level Eater's surprise attack. Touma had run off to face the girl known as Mila by himself. A fight had broken out that no one would ever know the details of. And the end result had brought that courageous normal boy's heart to shatter.

Touma blamed himself for a great sorrow and loss. One Index wasn't sure he would ever speak of to her or anyone else. And that was fine, he was still hurting. One day, one day for sure, she hoped that he would have the strength to speak of it with her. About the death of a girl Index had only seen as a demon born of loneliness.

For now though, she couldn't stand to allow that boy to beat himself up. She wouldn't allow that simple boy to disappear from her world. Not again, she had already been put through that scare after he had saved her that cool July night.

Once upon a time, a spiky haired high school boy had reached out his hand to a pious nun in a white habit in a world devoid of god. Two worlds had been intertwined that day. A bond that she cherished above all others had been born to save her from a cruel fate.

And that incredibly beautiful, warm, loved bond was breaking.

Just as that so called normal, average, Level 0 high school boy had done that summer morning, that pious Sister of the holy church would reach her hand out to prevent that most beloved bond from disappearing.

Green eyes lingered to Touma's lap, noticing the splotches of red staining the sheets from his hand. Her hand moved and brought the bandaged arm out, causing an uneasy expression to paint the spiky haired boy's face as Index gingerly grasped the infamous hand that negated magic.

By holding that cursed hand, didn't that mean the divine protection from God was denied? Didn't that mean she was relenting to the ill fortune that plagued his life?

"I-Index, please-"

"Don't go."

Her hand held onto that bane of the supernatural desperately, afraid that if she slacked so much as a little, it would leave her grasp. Her voice was soft as a feather, and innocent of any form of cruelty.

What Touma saw next caused that already shattered heart of his to break further.

That smile, the same smile that had greeted him upon his birth as Kamijou Touma, pictured with watery emerald eyes, a pure smile full of heartbreak and loss, came back. It was a sight he never wished to see again and fought regularly to prevent.

And he had caused it to come back.

"Please, I don't know what's hurting you, I don't know how to heal the hurt on your heart, but please, don't go. Stop blaming yourself for whatever tragedy you've faced. Stop thinking that you should have never bothered to save others with that right hand of yours. Because this Index-san can't stand to see you so miserable. I just want to go back home, to our dorm, and continue living right beside you, Angela, and Sphinx as we've always done."

A wish. A simple, honest, pure wish that just about anyone on the street could grant.

What right did Touma have to deny the wish of a crying girl? To refuse that desire, wouldn't he be like the countless adults who had crushed the heart of one lonely star he had fought so hard to save?

Call him a bastard, a killer, a failure, a no good replacement of someone far superior, but he'd be damned if he sunk any further than to break that girl's heart again! Ever so slowly, that great sorrow that devoured him began to melt away.

A heavy burdened sigh fell out of Touma's lips as his shoulder's slacked.

That pain that relentlessly stabbed at his core was still there. He wasn't sure it would ever go away. If it did leave, his heart would be scarred deeply by his failure to save one girl. That kind of pain would forever follow him to the end of his miserable days. And no one could ever convince him to forgive himself for what he did.

But he would just have to learn to live with it. Live with the fact that he couldn't save a single girl. That even his well meaning intentions could cause someone to suffer. This lesson was one he would learn to make him do things better. In the end he. . .

"I-. . .I'm not going anywhere, Index, Angela. I promise."

Wouldn't run away from this world he loved.

As cursed, ill ridden, and miserable that right hand was, Touma clenched his bloody fingers in response to that little nun's plea. His smile wasn't so bright, it had grown dim, but it was still the same smile belonging to Kamijou Touma none the less.

And that was all that those two nuns needed.

With bright smiles of their own, Index and Angela jumped the bed ridden spiky haired boy with shouts of cheer. And per his misfortune, hugged that beloved high school boy with all their might. They could feel it, Touma's pain was still present. It wouldn't give away so easily. But for now, at this moment, it was good enough. Spiky black hair tickled their noses as they brought his head to their chests, giggling happily to Touma's sounds of displeasure.

"GYAAAAAHHHH! BE GENTLE, BE GENTLE! THIS KAMIJOU-SAN IS STILL HEAVILY WOUNDED! AFFECTION LIKE THIS COULD SPELL DEAAAAATTTHHH!"

For all his groans and shouts of agony as his body prickled from the strain, he couldn't deny the guilty pleasure of having two holy sister's embrace his head between heavenly flesh pillows. But of course he couldn't enjoy it due to the sharp crack originating from somewhere on his person.

The door to the once dim hospital room creaked, or at least it would have if a certain nun Saint hadn't taken it down with one punch, signaling the arrival of a certain frog faced doctor. His dark eyes simply gave the heavily dented door frame on the floor a quirk of the brow. Alright, so there was a knuckle indent on the center from someone with monstrous strength. And there was no one else but the two nuns here who could have caused such an unbelievable blow. So, one of the two sweet nuns was responsible for the property damage.

Just another bill under the usual Kamijou account.

Heaven Canceler sighed before a small smile came to his face at the loud antics now taking over the gloomy room belonging to his most frequent of patients. He didn't feel like interrupting the two nuns who showered the human black cat that was Kamijou Touma.

This wouldn't be the first time Heaven Canceler would be seeing this scene play out before him. It wouldn't be the last time he treated that spiky haired boy in either the ER or OR. The chances of not seeing that boy in his care for a month was a bet that even the luckiest or most fortune blessed individual would undoubtedly lose. It was the unfortunate fate for that boy who was born with a hand that rejected even god's ever loving blessings.

And yet, the frog faced doctor knew that despite everything that boy would endure through the Magic and Science halves of the world, he knew that Kamijou Touma would get back on his feet after ever tragedy he walked away from.

The Power to Destroy the False Illusions of The World.

In time, you will be known by many names. None you have ever wished to be addressed by. For you are just your average high school boy. It is not your responsibility to seek the darkness of the world and shatter the illusions born of misery.

For now, until the day you come face to face with the reality of your own cursed fate; enjoy these peaceful days full of strife and violence. For you have yet to taste true despair.

You have yet to kill the most happiest, cherished, illusion of them all.

And so, there we have it! The first real arc of the story has come to a close. The war between those who were born without Power has come to end, even if that end is bittersweet. Man, was that an ending that slapped at my heart.

All in all, it was a fun arc to write. I'm happy to have started off with making up my own story before we actually get to canon. I really felt that it would have been better to stave off of the main events which have a lot more impact. Not that this arc won't be. Trust me, you'll see a lot of what's happened during this day come up in surprising ways in the future.

Now that we're done with this part of the story, which to my surprise has reached over 200K+ words; holy shit; it's time for me to go on break. Not a long one, mind you! I'll explain. I have been ignoring my other works for far too long, and I really must go back to uploading on my RWBY sect of things again. Plus, I need to complete more chapters for this story before I begin uploading the next arc, which is the Sisters Arc; a very important one at that. I'm going to need time to get the ball rolling, patching up things, making sure everything is as I want it, and all that jazz. So, I'll be leaving this story alone for two months.

But I will be uploading something special that isn't part of an arc.

It's known as SS: Just Your Average Hospital Visits! Consider it a part of the main story, a bit of an omake. I should release it in a month with news of how things are going, and to let you all know when I'll be uploading again.

So, I only ask that you guys and gals be patient. And if you're a fan of my RWBY stories, I'm sure you'll be happy.

Right now though, let's get the Author's Writing Corner!

Did you know; Chapter's 1&2 are considered the Prologue for A Certain Influx of Time Traveling Mishaps? The Zeroes War/Level Eater Arc didn't start officially until Chapter 3; with that chapter acting as the prologue. Your dear Author-san hadn't bothered to mention this due to lack of sleep, and wanting to upload without thinking.

Did You Know; A Certain Blue Haired Boy with Piercings was suppose to be involved with this Arc? Aogami was originally planned to be part of the action, having stumbled onto Touma in his fights before joining him to fight off various Skill-Out thugs. Author-san had to scrap the idea due to clashing plots and believing that Aogami would be better off introduced to the story at another time. Which sucks because Author-san loved the idea of those two fighting side by side.

Did You Know; That each new OC introduced in the arc have special names that helped to symbolize them in this arc? Believe it or not, but they aren't random names Author-san came up with out of random.

Cobra symbolized what his name suggests; a deadly hooded snake with toxic fangs that strikes quickly. One who threatens with words and his delinquent appearance as a hood.

Orochi Tatsumi means 'Eight Headed Snake of the Southeast'; at least to my crappy knowledge of making up names. When you think about it, he has several different faces. The Father, The Scientist, The Level 0, The Sinner, The Savior, etc. Plus he originates from the southeast of Japan's cities.

Warui; the leader of Vile Dogs, is basically a Bad guy. Original, I know.

Dangan Chishi means Lethal Bullet. A boy who resolves matters with deadly shells. I admit, he was a last minute addition, with me having to completely scrap the first half to have him fit in.

Mila Etoile translates to Purple Star in French. Despite her platinum blond hair, Author-san felt like giving her a name that fit her. She was daughter to a noble like family with ambitions to become something great. Purple represents Royalty, Wealth, and Ambition. And when it turns dark, it represents Gloom, Sadness, and Frustration. She was also a Star that only wanted to shine brightly, but ended up collapsing.

Did You Know; That Level Eater wasn't always designed as the Final Boss? Originally, the hidden objective that Mila was searching for had different forms in mind. At first it was a Five_Over with the abilities of Meltdowner; than it was an Anti-Art-Attachment that was heavily influenced by fire arms; And than it was designed as an AIM Burst that rampaged in the streets. The Level Eater itself was a by product of granting Mila the power to cross over from a human to a being that is alike to a certain spectacle Angel. Actually, the very original idea once Level Eater was born, was to have Touma dragged along to the machine as Mila attacked the city, and relied on the aid of several Espers to take her down.

Did You Know; Touma was originally going to be the one to save Index, Angela, and Toka from Hana? The idea had been for Touma to come running in as he was searching for the girls, come upon Hana in his attempts to kill the girls, and do the old Kamijou Touma Face Punch! But it seemed far too easy, and Author-san really didn't want him to met the girls that soon. Not to mention it would have involved getting rid of introducing Fremea to the scene too.

Did You Know; Toka was planned to fight Hana, and fight other opponents, with a certain Original Grimoire that contained everybody's favorite living female Tarot? Mina Mathers was going to be introduced really, really, early to the story as an aid to even the playing field for our female Level 0. She was going to work as a living computer that would suggest ways to evade, analyze spells and abilities, and offer buffs. The idea was scrapped though. Author-san believed it would be better for Toka to fight without any kind of tricks and for her to take after her mother. Which was sad, because Author-san really wanted Mina to flirt with Touma.

Did You Know; The first person to read Chapter 1 of a Certain Influx of Time Traveling Mishaps was ArmoredCoreNineBall? After talking to him over PMs, Author-san thought to get an opinion on the story he was messing around with. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have thought to actually write for ToAru at all! Thanks to his words of encouragement, I was confident enough to release this story for the public eyes.

Did You Know; Mugino was originally planned to be introduced in this arc? From the first idea of the Final Boss, Author-san had created a machine designed after a Five_Over; Named Five_Snatcher; which would capture a Level 5 to power its destructive abilities and utilize them in new ways without the setback of being a human with limits. Mugino was going to be the battery for Mila to abuse in her quest for revenge, until to be stopped by Touma. This would have made it possible for them to meet each other sooner than planned, and create a connection.

And that's all the time we have today! If you enjoyed this little corner of interesting facts, than you'll be hapy to know that at the end of every arc, we'll have one of these to spill out some more facts of what went on during the creation of the story.

This really was a fun arc to write and begin with. I don't think I abuse a character like Touma this much before. Maybe. I did have both my characters lose their arms, and get them back. I really should get back to RWBY, the fans are probably ready to torch my sorry ass by now.

I hope you all enjoyed this arc too. Tell me; how did I do? Other than the mistakes I made here and there. Jesus, I can't believe I had Hana's name backwards several times. What did you like? What were the most memorable moments that you read? What was your favorite fight and quote? And what do you think is next in the future of our dear Kamijou?

Read and Review! It's common courtesy.

NeoShadows, fading in and out.

. . . .After this.

?

Normalcy returned to that world of Science that rejected the faith and belief of the other half of the world. Academy City truly was a wonder to behold, be it Past or Future. And Arden could appreciate the little changes to the city that would one day open its doors to the world instead of barring itself from their prying eyes. Though the worlds of Magic and Faith would still be divided, it wasn't as bad as now. All in thanks to a certain Number 1 Esper that would take the throne.

The skies above that city of fact and discovery were clear with only a few stray clouds as Arden sat on the very edge of the border of Academy City. Doing such would be cause for concern since the Head Chairman would activate any security measures to rid the nuisance. Arden hadn't bothered to deal with whatever would attack him, be it some kind of machine or spell. Not when he had a certain someone to watch his back.

"I suppose you're business in Academy City is complete, Arden."

Something burst from behind Arden's back, like an uprooting vine that broke through pure concrete. For a girl with no real emotions to show for, she could be rather flashy with her entrance. Now was that from their beloved father or her mother. . .or father. Boy, wasn't that confusing to think about!

Arden grunted lowly as he stood back on his feet to address the spectacle white haired secretary that greeted him. The well dressed blond magician scratched his chin. What was her name again? It was something ridiculously long and full with both religious and scientific references.

"Yes it is, uhhhhhh. . ." For a boy who could manipulate a whole district into a war and create a beast like The Level Eater, he didn't sound so intelligent.

The silver haired daughter of the Silver Star rolled her eyes at the young boy. Despite being a rather large threat to the whole of both halves of the world, he was still Kamijou Touma's son. In short, he was an idiot.

"Maria, Arden; My name is Maria. Don't forget it again, or I will be forced to punish you like the insolent brat you are." she spoke coldly.

Arden nodded absently, not paying the threat from the girl much attention.

"Yes, yes, you devilish spawn of a Demon Woman and Illusion Killer." Arden responded dully as a frosty glare now fell on him, "I had never planned on staying in this city anyways. It just so happened that the spell that brought the Kamijou litter to the past had dumped me here of all places. And while I was here, I thought why not begin preparations for my own plan on dealing with that so called Magic God of Ruin, and help to develop our father's Experience. After all, not all of us who journeyed here came with the same intentions of resolving our future." he shrugged as he rested his hands in his pockets. His gaze drifted past the marvel that was Academy City, focused intently on a world and its people in search of something that brought a wistful smile to his youthful face.

"Those woeful ignorant brothers and sisters rely far too much on the past to be of any help. And all but a few understand what is needed to secure their future for themselves. This current generation has failed to protect the world, and will most likely repeat their failures. They do not know what power is needed to save their presents, nor their past or future. And those who've never saved the world, can never hope to protect it with childish dreams and stubborn wills alone."

Out in that ever wide world full of countless interesting individuals, stood Arden's master. The man who had taught that young innocent faced boy what was needed to save the world they cherished. As did Arden's mother who was no doubt up to no good in her own well meaning intentions, and his loving aunt who had raised him in the place of both his parents.

That world and its beloved people were gone in the flashfires of hell spurned by a being that stood on a plane above humanity. As the world crumbled, Arden had experienced what would be needed to save all that he loved. At what ever means it would take.

"My experiment with The Level Eater failed. I was hoping to create a new card to add to my deck to counter those beings known as Magic Gods, using the culmination of the fears and wishes of Espers to bear a crystallized ability with a Joker nature. Though I am of the Magic side, I wished to attain an ability from the Science side in the likes of Imagine Breaker and World Rejector. Sadly, those plans had crumbled before my eyes. As expected when Kamijou Touma finds himself stumbling to the scene. And a certain back stabbing blond mentalist." Arden said with a bitter yet happy smile.

He should have known his his father's luck had rubbed off on him; Also that his father's kind nature would rub off on a certain blond mentalist. Arden's plan had failed to provide any results, other than aiding in developing his father's skill. Though he had witnessed the creation of his own Angel. So, that was something. Poor sweet, trusting, lonely Mila. Arden felt a bitter tug at his heart in memory of that girl who had been shattered to pieces. If he was correct, than Hachiman had meddled in his plans at the last minute, and used his Mental Over ability to suppress the french girl's born fear of Imagine Breaker once she had returned to the world from her Phase. If her primal fear of the right hand was still active, than she would have never dared to touch it.

Sighing at his failure, Arden was not deterred in the slightest for his future plans. There was still much to do to secure that bright future. His hand was still full with possible moves and his deck was still brimming with tricks. He had his fun with Academy City for the moment, got to met with some of his siblings and made connections for his future ventures, and even got to speak with his beloved father for the first time in years. His time in this cold world of technology was well spent.

"I do thank you for protecting me from Crowley's threats in the mean time, Onee-chan. I'll be sure to repay the favor in time. But I'm afraid our sibling bonding has to come to an end. My next plan requires me to venture out into the world in preparation for what is to come. I'm sure that you will not get in the way of those plans even if they do clash with your own." he said with a knowing smirk on his lips.

Maria sighed with an adjustment of her lenses. She didn't like his way of doing things. He was a child who come to ruin this present with his own selfish wants in mind. If any of her siblings knew what Arden was up to, they would no doubt fight to stop him. But Maria herself wasn't one for conflict. It just wasn't in her nature.

"Do what thy will, will be the will of the world."

It was a practiced saying, one that had been passed down by her mother, and lived by her father. Meaning that she wouldn't go as far as to stop her little brother's questionable plans.

That cool faced silver girl's lips twitched. A devious smile split her face apart.

Which meant that what she was doing next was the will of the world and could not be denied. After all, it wasn't in her nature.

Arden made a noise of surprise as the border wall he stood atop of rumbled. He felt something inside the obsidian material move before bursting out of the walls with a roar.

The blond haired boy sighed as he casually moved his body to the left. Something stabbed the space he had stood with a javelin made out of some wriggling material. It resembled a mass of hair. As did the being that attacked him.

Circling above the golden haired magician were three angelic beings made out of raven locks that had sprung out of the border wall. Each angel held in their hands cruel spears along with wings that resembled more of a raven's than an angel. They were known as Aethyr Avatars, heavenly creations that had once been used by a Great Demon of the Abyss. Each one was made out of a devil's hair that's tangles originated from the mass of hair that had grown from Maria's hair to stab through the surface of the wall she stood on. Which brought up the change to the girl's body.

Gone was the neutral expressionless face she wore. As her silver hair had been dyed a pitch black like oil, her face lost its creamy pigment and grown tan, her green eyes became an deep blue, and a bewitching smile grew on her face. Her teenage body that was close to resembling your average adult secretary had hit a growth spurt, enlarging her perky chest into a buxom chest, widening her hips, and perfecting her thighs as she became the picture of seductiveness.

The child of the Silver Star had stepped out of the scene. In her place, the daughter of the Great Demon had taken over for the time.

"Ara, ara, ara~! Leaving so soon, Arden-otouto-chan? Mmm, how sad." the raven haired girl pouted while crossing her now busty chest with a tease.

Despite her alluring nature, those Aethyr Avatar's only aimed their spears intently onto the blond boy's position with red sparks forming along the tip. Her oil pitch black hair that seemed to continually stream her locks into the border wall wavered, revealing something odd in her sea of darkness.

A crimson expression grinned cruelly from her screen of darkness. An old saying came back to Arden as he gazed at the girl's hair.

It was said that the devil resided in a woman's hair. And it looked to be a vengeful one at that.

That pout grew into a sickly sweet smile that sent warning bells of in Arden's hair.

"I haven't yet repaid your for bringing harm to my dear, sweet, beloved Tou-kun!"

Those demonic spears made of a devil's hair sparked, flashing as they unleashed blinding flames as pure as the great ball of flames at the center of their solar system.

"The Sixth Call: thy name is RZIONR, fire of fire! Obey the words that rule the tablet of the same color and reveal thy pure power before me!"

A pure fire, untainted by any other of the worlds elements was fired from the tips of those false angel's born of a demonic woman's locks of hair. They devoured that blond boy in a bonfire of twisting flames that raged like a demonic beast, tearing apart the top of the border wall and reducing all that it touched to nothing, not even ash.

In the glow of pure flames, the demonic possessed Maria pouted childishly.

Those great blossoming flames grew still. As powerful as they were, the flames found themselves rejected from its target and banished into harmless small embers that resembled lightning bugs.

Arden stood rooted to the spot, never having moved as he was devoured by the demon's Enochiana Magic that left him in a scoured crater. The youthful faced blond smiled pleasantly at the possessed Maria with only a few singes on his body. All in thanks to his own magic.

From the blond boy's left shoulder, an ethereal hand born of golden light stretched out to repeal the Sixth Call. The golden hand could only be described as beautiful, without imperfection, with decorated jeweled rings on each finger. It was an ethereal hand devoid of any taint, a signal of purity, of light, that all men fell for due to its beauty.

It was a hand of Rebellion. That which made a liar and murderer of even god loving men. A pure and perfect calling that instilled impurity and violence.

That youthful blond boy without any imperfection on his face, who appeared innocent and kind, and wielded a gentle aura, commanded that left ethereal hand to back off as its palm began to gather an intense light to counter the demonic girl.

"So, the demon show's its self at last? I was wondering when the succubus would show its teasing fangs and snap. The moment our dear father was harmed in my schemes, I knew the taboo imp would eventually come to take my head." Arden smiled innocently while moving his beautiful golden left arm of light to back the avatars off.

The busty raven haired demon possessed woman tapped her lips with a devious twinkle in her deadly blue eyes. For the moment, her false angels backed off. As much as she wanted to rage a bloody rampage against that flesh wad of a human, she knew better to do so in broad daylight. It was only thanks to several wards that no one in the city had noticed the little squabble.

"Oh, dear Otouto-chan! It's not nice to bat away your Onee-chan's advances! Don't be like Tou-kun. Pushing back only makes me want you more!" she giggled.

She wanted him alright. Wanted to rip him to bloody bits and dance around the smoldering bits. Anyone who dared to so much as scratch her beloved was deserving of an ugly fate.

Things would only escalate further if Arden stuck around any longer. He knew when it was the right time to back off. His time in Academy City was over.

For now.

The beautiful golden light hand stretching from Arden's left shoulder moved to hover over his body, shadowing him from the world as he waved his hand at the raven haired girl possessed by a being of sin.

"I suppose I've overstayed my welcome! I'll be one my way, and leave you and the rest of our siblings in Academy City to their own devices in the meantime. Just try not to be a bother to our father, will you? Or seduce him, drag him into a dark alley, drug him with aphrodisiacs, or anything incestuous." he commented blandly with a flat stare at the deadly giggling woman.

"No promises~! After all, this isn't my body or blood~!"

Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Arden knew there was niche for that kind of kink, but knowing that some demon was basically borrowing one of his older sister's body to do the nasty deed with their own father, truly went to show how unlucky Kamijou Touma had it.

A basking light rained over Arden's body from the palm of his ethereal hand as he could only pinch his brow at the antics of the seductive demon. He had half a mind to just stay and prevent the possessor from causing any more problems to their father. But it was time to leave and prepare.

After all, World War III would be on the horizon.

With nothing left to say, Arden vanished from the world of science known as Academy City. With a promise to himself to come back at some point before the world escalated to war.

In truth, he had lied. That was his nature.

The Event scripted by his own hands had yielded some seeds. Of which had been planted and would need time to grow before he would pluck them for himself. Dear Mila's death hadn't been for nothing after all. In time, he would make sure her tribute would be well used for the betterment of the future of the world.

Everything he did, good or evil, was for that precious world he adored. And like his father, he would resort to violence to achieve his goals.

It was a world devoid of color other than black and white. The empty streets of the fake Academy City lingered with odd blood red embers that carried strange object within as if they were jewels. In that world devoid of any life, it had continued to breath without its creator to sustain it.

In that clash between Level 0s, a new Phase of reality had been born onto the many layers that separated the Pure World from this world. Its purpose was unknown. It was simply a City of Wisps.

But in the devoid phase floated a single object. That trapezoid made of a mesh of hues was badly damaged, cracked and broken as it remained in that black and white city with no purpose.

Slowly, at a snail's pace, the cracks, broken bits, began to heal itself.