Toaru Majutsu no Index Painted prison chronicles

(MEANWHILE)

Hokaze Junko was transported into hospital, accompanied by the the very messy-looking and tired Shokuhou Misaki. Although the girl was heavily bandaged, there was no threat to her life and she was expected to make a rather quick recovery.

Out of 3 Gokusai sisters, Rikuri was in the best shape, with only minor scratches and torn clothes. However, she was the most stressed out about the state of other members of her family. Amazora, even with emergency treatmen, was very weakened, the major blow she received from Daido rendering her unconscious till the rest of the day and not helping her case. Kaibi was conscious, but could not properly walk. Her cheek bone was struck, however it managed not to break. Her leg appeared to be sprained, and it was adjusted back after the action took place.

Kaibi, as well as Kongou Mitsuko, Hanatsuyu Youen, and Kamijou Touma, left the hideout as the last people. Youen reunited with Kaai, and later disappeared. In normal mood, Touma would wonder what the twins were up to.

But he wasn't in the normal mood. He kept looking at the sky, in hope that he would see a lone silhouette of a girl. This was in vain.

Surely, he was happy that everyone else was safe. But the price was too high.

When Hasako found him and asked about Maidono, he could not help but shiver.

He almost cried when tears appeared in Hasako's eyes, but he forced them down and simply hugged her.

Even though only Kaibi, Amazora, Junko, and Touma required medical attention, Kongou was also given permission to rest in the hospital. And thus, everyone who could be found was brought to safety and the case was seemingly closed.

Yet there remained some things needed to be touched upon...

(ELSEWHERE)

"Those Kyozetsu fuckers. Check. Their boss locked up. Check. Everything seems to be as right as it can..." Accelerator mused, switching between cameras and viewing the locations of various parties involved in the action.

He smirked, looking at the massive where the hideout once was

"Being in charge has its perks. I can authorize the ride on those bastards that I deem necessary and non-threatening without having to lick anyone's boots. Heh, sucks to be the one stuck with the paperwork and complaints to why is there a damn hole in the city. Yeah, sucks to be them~"

(AT THE SAME TIME...)

"ATCHOO!" Yomikawa Aiho sneezed loudly. The gigantic tower of papers, documents, and boxes on and near her wobbled and collapsed right onto the screaming Tsukuyomi Komoe, who visited Yomikawa before going to dinner.

For tall woman such as Yomikawa, the mountain of documents would only bury her up to the chest, but for 135 cm Komoe, it was a lethal threat.

Digging frantically, the Anti-Skill officer finally managed to get the pinkette from below the papers

"That wasn't funny! I could really suffocate!"

"Tsukuyomi, I said I'm sorry, that was really sudden"

"..."

"Imagine the headline '35 year old woman killed by office documents'... pfft.."

"You are laughing! Your best friend almost died and you are laughing!"

(BACK WITH ACCELERATOR)

"Still... is what you told me accurate?" the pale boy addressed the the medusa-like demon floating next to him.

"Correct, master. I saw it with my very eyes. The presence of Imagine Breaker's host... it was truly horrific sight"

Accelerator shifted, and clasped his hands together.

"If you are, then... what the hell was what happened to you in the end, hero? No... was that even you?"

(IN HEAVEN CANCELLER'S HOSPITAL)

Kamijou Touma awoke to a stir in the bed.

He slept for a few hours, it was now the middle of the night.

He instantly knew he wasn't alone in his bed. He also recognized the silver-white locks and brown skin clashing with white sheets.

"Neph... Nephthy..."

The goddess snuggled into him, her chest pressing into him.

"Kamijou-san... the desert is hot when the sun is up..."

Her breath tickled the skin on his neck, when she muttered sleepily

"But it is cold at night... which one would you like? Which me would you like?"

She smelled like dry wind and exotic incease.

Kamijou had to wake her up, but felt like every action was slowed down. He could not muster any cognitive functions, being that close to her. He didn't know if he should open or close his eyes. During fomer, he was getting lost in contemplating Nephthys' perfectly symmetrical face, the way her hair reflected the moonlight. The latter made his imagination run wild, and felt every milimetter of the places in which their bodies were touching.

When he opened his eyes again, the goddess was awake, her two-coloured irises twinkling with mischief.

"Hi"

"You... you were awake the entire time, right?"

"Yes and no. I did get some sleep..." Nephthys made a rather cute yawn at the statement" but I just had to watch this adorable struggle of yours before speaking to you. You took your time~. Or maybe all the blood from the body went down there, so you couldn't-"

"STOP! Not another word!"

"I don't mind it. I am flattered, really"

" Nephthys-san, I-I would be lying if I said that I don't appreciate that you are here..."

"Yes, I felt it~" the goddess giggled.

"Please don't elaborate... but why are you here?"

Nephthys' smile fell slowly and she shifted in bed.

"This is... complicated. You see, remember that me and Niang-Niang got here for a certain reason? Well, about 6 hours ago I encountered that problem. And we fought"

Only now did Kamijou notice that Nephthys had some cuts on her otherwise flawless skin.

"Who did this to you?!"

"You. Or shall I say, the possessed you"

She laid side by side with the shocked Touma. It seemed she did not want to leave the bed for the serious explanation.

What she did next was simply flick Touma's forehead with her finger.

And suddenly...

He saw his own body approaching Daido. But something was wrong.

His eyes were red and there was a sort of presence that made Touma shiver. Even if, as he already understood, it was just a memory.

"Your fault. It's all your fault..."

That wasn't his voice. Rather, it was a choir of voices, both masculine and feminine, being spoken through his lips.

The not-Touma raised his hand, which burst into ethereal, orange fire. As he touched Daido, the skin around the touched place appeared to crumble. The man tried to extinguish the flame but only made it spread more.

The terrifying presence, with blood and miasma emanating from what once was right arm, prepared to strike again.

"That's enough!"

A powerful current of water swept across the fallen Daido, extinguishing the flames.

Nephthys was standing there, wrapped in water, facing the terrifying entity.

"I must stop you from going any further. Left unsupervised, you can destroy reality itself. As a Magic God, I would not like that."

"You have no power over us, Lady of Mourning" not-Touma grinned evilly" The secrets of our prison are older than time and space, than gods and mortals, second only to the One"

"That maybe so" Nephthys shone with bright light as she raised her palm" But I still have to try. Tas! Bind!"

Few thick chains of water, gleaming with golden light wrapped around not-Touma.

"I am Nebet-Het, ancient and awoken, lady of Sesheshet, born from death, the goddess of tears and mourning. I invoke the magic of Atum and Ra. Within khet, I bind your sah,..."

The entity roared, shattering the spell and Nephthys cried in pain. However, she resumed her battle stance.

She and the possessed Touma charged at each other and the vision disappeared.

Touma trembled slightly.

"Why didn't others see it? I have no recollection of this"

"I skipped that bit of time from everyone else's perspective, or erased it, if you will. That battle was rather unpleasant to reminisce. In the end" Nephthys sighed in tired tone" I managed to bind him within you using my true name. It's one of the strongest pacts of my native magic. This way, I am also connected to you now so I will know if there will be any problem in the future"

"So... that thing is within me?!"

"Yes, this is the problem we are about to face. Basically, your Imagine Breaker... no, what's beyond it, is in the state of war. I don't know why and who exactly caused it, but there are many beings trapped within you, mortal. Not all of them are happy about it. They can even influence other beings to act against your ideals in the pursuit of freedom. Remember those red and orange flames? That was the power of one of your dragons. Those flames burn the life energy of other beings and can't be extinguished unless they are revoked or overpowered by stronger magic. Luckily for that thug, my water magic is quite a perfect countermeasure"

"Wait... my dragons are involved in this?"

"Again, yes. They themselves are not a problem... but someone else within you is messing with them, tries to lure them into his trap and cause them to rebel against you. Listen, Kamijou. From now on, be mindful of your anger. This time, your focus during the fight with the precognition user, combined with your hidden wrath from seeing others suffer weakened the seal. If forces of Imagine Breaker go berserk, this will threaten reality as a whole, which is bad for everyone, even Magic Gods. But fear not. Long story short, I sealed your dark sah, spiritual self, within you khet, physical body, by attaching my ren, name of names, to your ka, vital essence. Basically, I regulated the balance between parts of your soul. Ren is the name containing everything ever connected with certain being, its past, present, future, and beyond. It's the essence and true self of a being. And for a time being, I linked mine with your life."

"So... isn't it magical equivalent of the proposal?" Touma asked, not getting much of a magical talk.

Maybe he was crazy, and it was almost impossible to see in darkness (and on darker skin too) but he could swore that Nephthys blushed faintly.

"It's the strongest type of Egyptian name-magic seal. My magic power will suffice for some time and keep it under control. The only downside is, well, that if you die before I lift it, my essence will die too. So, that only motivates me to work hard"

"T-That's like a major drawback! Are you really okay with this?"

"The danger was great, so I had to think fast. I also have... other reasons"

"I KNEW IT!"

Suddenly, light was switched on and furious Othinus, who was secretly listening from the nightstand, pounced on Nephthys

"That's it, you toilet paper dispenser! I knew you wanted to put your lecherous hands on him. If anyone should be bound with him, it was supposed to be me, his Understander!"

"Oh, and enlighten me, from where would you get the magic to power the spell, goddess of toothpicks?"

"I may be small, but at least my brain matter didn't go to my breasts! Hey human, do you want to know something about Ms. Walk Like An Egyptian? Her skin lacks pigmentation exactly on the-"

"YOU LITTLE-... how do you even know that?! I am so flushing you in the toilet for this!"

"Ohohohoho, try me, tispa! I will grab your toilet paper and put you where you belong"

It seemed that two women lost it for some reason. And as Kamijou expected, he suddenly felt Niang-Niang jumping on his back.

"Ka-mi-jou! Missed me?!"

"Niang-Niang... how are we going to go about this problem of mine?"

"Well, duh, obviously we are going to speak to your dragons..."

"HUH?!"

(LATER)

Touma did not know in which point the quarreling of the goddesses made him fall asleep again.

Kamijou awoke feeling a hand touching his. He opened his eyes to see red and flustered Kongou Mitsuko slowly trying to intertwine his hand with hers.

"Kongou-san?"

The girl jumped back as if burned and quickly assumed 'I did nothing' pose.

"Oh, darling! You are awake! I-I was trying to check your stimulus response ratio. That's completely why I touched you before."

"Kongou-san..." Touma interrupted her" thank you for visiting. Without you I would not be able to win today."

The girl straightened up proudly.

"You were more phenomenal. Besides, other's did a fair share as well."

"I plan to thank them when I see them"

"Well, at the very least, they should know they fell from the hand of Kongou Mitsuko and those she cherishes"

"Doubt they will ever forget, given how many times you introduced yourself in battle"

"D-Darling!"

They both laughed. After a while, Kongou looked at Touma and coughed slightly.

"Misaka-san... said that you are hospitalized very often"

"Yeah. As unfortunate as that is, I even have a private room"

"Then... as it is natural that the esteemed esper like me should protect commoner like you..." the girl said, trying to cover her rising blush, but failing miserably" I will do my utmost to ensure you will not have to suffer like this. What do you think?"

Touma smiled at this declaration.

"With my misfortune, it may be hazardous. But thank you. But I will only accept if you allow me to watch your back in return."

"F-Fine. Also... can we... see each other again soon?"

"If you need me, I will-"

"That's not what I meant. Let's do something when there is no death threats in the air. Promise?" she put out her pinky, to which Touma smiled, hooking it with his own and shaking hands few times.

"Promise"

(LATER)

It turned out that Amazora woke up. Joined with her sisters, sisters and Touma had much needed celebration.

Amazora and Touma called for cellbratory oysters, which were de facto on Rikuri. The happiness of youngest Gokusai when she received special treatment from Touma who offered to feed her. She not once left his lap, clearly basking in her pampering moment of glory.

Kaibi and Touma talked a lot about what happened. Kaibi decided not to voice her worries about the strange thing she saw after the end of battle. This could wait for the better moment. Right now, Kaibi was simply glad they were all okay.

Same sentiment was clearly shared by Rikuri, who also had more than a few tears flowing down her face. Her warm smile caused to Touma to ask for the reason behind it.

"I am just... happy you appeared in our life, Kamijou-san. You might not think much about it, but thank you for everything you did for our small family. I mean it. If there is any way to repay you..."

"Rikuri nee-chan, why are you saying this while reaching to your dress's side zipper?"

"I don't know what are you talking about. My hand just happened to rest close by."

"Amazora, don't copy her! For the love of-"

"But Riku nee-chan was the one who copied me! I was the one who started thigh flashing sedu-"

"Amazora!"

"My cute little sister may have a point. Let's go with something more elaborate. Boy, choose a costume for me. We are hospital, so maybe nurse? No, I am more of an academic type, so perhaps a teacher?"

" YES PLEASE-" Touma began enthusiastically, only to be struck in the head by Kaibi.

"Kaibi onee-chan wants to go with a naked plan" Amazora beamed.

"There is no naked plan!"

"Well, this all won't matter anyway since our time with Kamijou-san will be leaving us soon"

Amazora looked at Touma with sorrowful eyes and buried her face into his chest.

Rikuri tried to look unbothered, but her trembling lip and glossy eyes indicated that she is a step from bursting into tears.

Touma looked at Kaibi who sighed and smiled, taking out a paper.

"Is this..." Rikuri blinked, as her lips formed an unsure smile.

"Onii-chan is..." Amazora also found hope sparking within her heart.

"Well... if you want... we would like to..." Kaibi muttered, suddenly finding it difficult to maintain eye contact with the boy"... offer you the opportunity to... extend your stay with us. S-So... what would you say to that?"

Touma took the paper and eyed if carefully.

"I don't know... I know someone who would love to have me thrown away..."

"Oh, mooou! Don't act like that when we already decided on it!" Kaibi pouted at Touma, who laughed at her flushed face" You are such an insufferable moron!"

And thus, the agreement was signed by two parties, extending both of their stays at the apartment.

In time, Touma would need to go back. The conversation with Index also awaited him in the future. But that could wait for now.

The overjoyed Rikuri took a fancy-looking phone from the pocket of her hospital gown.

"Let's immortalize this moment! Everyone, smile!"

The photo, which depicted winking Rikuri embracing everyone else, Kaibi being squashed into Touma with an annoyed face, Touma being surprised and flustered from sudden contact with both Kaibi's cheek and Rikuri's breasts, as well as grinning Amazora still on Kamijou's lap, later found its way to the living room table of the apartment.

But back at the present moment, it was interrupted by the very out of breath and emotional Kankyougami Hasako.

"Sh-She..."

"Hasako? What is wrong? And why do you look as if you saw a ghost?"

"She... She is back! I can't believe it, but she is alive!"

There could only be one 'she' Hasako could be referring to after today's incident.

Ignoring pain and numbness of his body, Kamijou Touma frantically ran behind Hasako, followed shortly by Gokusai sisters.

(5 MINUTES LATER)

"Maidonoooooooooh!"

"God damn it, Hasacchi. my bandages will get wet if you keep crying like that!"

Touma could not believe it. Bandaged, slightly burned, but very alive Maidono Hoshimi was sitting on the bed in front of him.

In the next moment, Touma tackled the girl who cried out

"Oi, I-I have some burns on me. Aiii! They are not dangerous or lasting, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt like hell! And stop hitting my head!"

"Don't ever do that again! Weren't you dark side mercenary for hire?! Since when are you doing such selfless and beautiful things, you stupid girl?" Touma yelled out.

"I am not sure if you are insulting or praising me, but..." Maidono let out a relaxing sigh, resting her head on his shoulder" It's damn good to be back..."

"How did you manage to survive that? You were closest to explosion and we never saw you return to earth." Rikuri asked.

"Did sensei used her super telekinetic power to defend herself?!" Amazora tried to guess.

"No, not really. If I was on my own, I would have died. I was out of power, explosion was closing in, and I was falling towards the earth. And just when I thought it was over..."

(FLASHBACK)

Just when heat and light was about to envelop Maidono Hoshimi.

She felt some presence in front of her

"Stop"

As if those words were order to world itself, the heat and light stopped.

"What..."

She wasn't falling anymore. She was suspended in mid-air.

Around her, there was a barrier of unknown colour. As much as she wanted, she could not put a name on it.

"You were wounded. Keep calm and I shall take you to safety" came the voice from the blinding light in front of her.

"What did you do?" she managed to whisper" Who... are you?"

"Oh? I infused atmosphere with my power and ordered it to be elastic, to suspend you here. I also made a shield for the blast to evade us"

"That's... unrealistic..."

"Luckily for me, rules of my dark matter are not those of regular reality"

The light dimmed out, forming a boy, whose silhouette was formed from a strange substance. Neither solid, gas, or liquid, it shone with strange light.

"I was summoned here. By a small girl named Fremea who desired my help. I was late for the main event, but your actions drew my attention. Esper who can fly is even more rare that level 5s themselves"

"Level 5s..."

A level 5 who could fly... who looked out of this world... could influence the rules beyond this reality...

"You must be..."

Six seraphim wings formed behind boys back as he floated towards her.

"I once was a different man, but got reborn through myself. I am known as Kakine Teitoku, Dark Matter of Academy City"

(END OF FLASHBACK)

"Kakine? Did you say Kakine?" Kaibi's eyes flashed with pink light, as she grabbed Maidono by hospital gown "where is he now?!"

"I have no idea!" Maidono shouted, wobbeled back and forth" he dropped me before the hospital and disappeared"

"And you didn't stop him?! Why did you-"

"Kaibi-san, that's enough" Touma tried to grab the girl, but she dashed out from the room before he could actually do it.

"What is the deal with Kaibi-san and Kakine guy?" Maidono asked, massaging sore places by which she was grabbed.

"The two of them were rather close in the past." Rikuri explained, looking towards the exit with melancholy" And although both of them moved on, that connection remained and was not properly talked about. I think Kaibi desires to meet up with him to talk about that connection and whatever should become of it. Some things need proper closure"

Outside, Kaibi frowned, watching the lights of Academy City through the window.

'Kakine...'

(3 DAYS LATER)

Life went on.

And Touma became painfully aware of it as he noticed trail of smoke on the horizon.

"Yeah, you are not getting out of this one, boss" Hamazura sighed, looking amused at Kamijou's phone.

Message: Kamijou! Where the fuck are you?! I demand meeting at once! Either you show up, made me that otherworldly salmon bento, or else #4 on the loose will wreck shit out until hero shows up to stop her

Message 2: I am not patient! If not for the fact that you wouldn't make any of those bentos anymore, I would fry your arms for making me mad. I await you in front of Dianoid. We will have best fucking fun ever, so don't be late.

Message 3: So that's how we are going to play? Fine, keep your damn distance, I don't give a shit. Oh, did I mention I have my best dress on? Hamazura told me about your preferences, so don't pretend you did not want to stare. You can go and look all the damn time, just show the hell up. With fucking salmon too!'

"Does she realize I am still on recovery?" Touma facepalmed.

"Boss, this is Mugino we are talking about. She is always set on getting what she wants. And now, for whatever reason, she wants time with you. My condolenc... I mean, congratulations."

"I knew sending this bento was a bad idea!" Touma wailed.

Two days ago, he asked hospital staff for the ingredients to make a salmon bento to fulfil his promise to Mugino Shizuri. He preformed the best he could given circumstances he was in, and then mailed it using Academy City's drone system.

"That was actually kind of hilarious" Hamazura remarked" When Mugino learned what that was, she dropped everything and rushed to eat it. You know, she is formerly an ojou-sama. She has very exquisite taste. But when she took one bite... heh... she became completely paralyzed. She then started crying, which, given how she usually is, was actually quite terrifying. And then she started to eat it with such expressions that it would really fit on some dirty magazine. Also, you know how bunnies or dogs thump their back leg when they are petted? That almost happened too. Yeah, there is no way out boss."

A phone rang. And when Touma hesitantly picked up...

"KAMIJOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Touma did not know if the roar came from the phone or was so loud that it carried through the city and open hospital window.

"Either you answer her or she will continue to cause problems. Until she is apprehended, and trying to do this without major, MAJOR backup is a suicide, or some hero with convenient right hand shows up to stop her."

"Such misfortune..."

(LATER)

"What do you mean Youen and Kaai moved in next to Maidono and us?!" Touma screamed into the phone.

"It's like I said. Apparently, their lab was flooded and they decided living here was a best option." Kaibi tried to elaborate but-

"Isn't that exciting?!" squealed Rikuri" I will be in the same building as my scientific idols... all the time!"

"Onii-chan! Why are you betraying your cute Amazora for this kindergartner with sacks of meat attached?!"

"Everyone, calm down, please!"

Othinus sighed, leaning on Kamijou's neck and smiling into the distance.

"There is never a dull moment in your life. Isn't there, human..."

There were many problems and dilemmas up ahead.

Something was stirring in the darkness within Kamijou's Imagine Breaker.

Mitsuari Ayu was still out there, needing salvation.

Gokusai sister's past still reached out to extinguish their beauty and light.

But for now, peace was regained anew.