A Certain Mysterious Stranger- Arc 1

Mikoto could only watch as the scruffy boy was savagely beaten. And still, after countless blows he was still standing. She looked around. Her power could be inconvenient with other people around. Had she been alone she'd have dealt with them all in a single blast. But with Ryo and Yui around she risked hurting them too.

One at a time it was, then.

A surge of electricity, like a lightning bolt crackled, striking one of the delinquents and dropping him to the floor in a singed heap.

"She's an Esper!" The ring leader spat. "Take her down!" The gang converged on her like a pack of hyenas. One by one she shot them down like flies. When the last of them had fallen she turned to Guy.

"Really. Before you try being a hero, make sure you can handle the situation first."

The sound of a gun cocking made her blood freeze. She looked up at the ring leader to find herself staring down the barrel of a gun. Blind terror and panic seized Mikoto's body and all she could do is stare.

***

Touko gasped, throwing up her hand and there was a sound like shattering glass as the stone hit her outstretched palm.

It fell to the floor, still smoking but harmless.

"Really. Before you try being a hero, make sure you can handle the situation first."

Guy laughed, rising unsteadily. The sound of the gun galvanised him into action and he leapt in front of Mikoto, shielding her with his body. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight while he turned his back to the gunman.

His expression was empty as he waited for the gunshot.

But it didn't come.

"Onee-sama!" Kuroko cried. Guy looked back to see the gunman lying on the floor. A number of small metal stakes pinned him to the ground by his clothing. He was still struggling.

The petite girl hurried over to Mikoto as Guy released her from his grip, immediately fussing over her Senpai.

"Are you alright? I was so scared..." She clung to Mikoto like a needy child.

***

The shock was written large on Kenji's face.

"Impossible." He choked out. "IMPOSSIBLE!" He reached into his pocket and began swinging his arms in wild arcs, booming projectiles flinging from his fingers one after another. No one survived his Kinetic Drive. No one! He would deal with this little girl even if he had to turn her into a smear.

Mikoto closed her eyes tight as she waited for the shot. The feeling of someone grabbing her caused them to shoot open again and she stared up at the boy in disbelief.

What? She thought. What is he doing? She looked up at him, eyes wide with frantic confusion and fearful anticipation. This idiot... what does he think he's doing, risking his life like this?

Kuroko's voice snapped Mikoto back to reality.

"Onee-sama. Are you... blushing?" Kuroko asked, noticing the pink tinge to the other girl's cheeks. Mikoto took a moment to respond.

"What? No!" She snapped furiously, her blush fading.

Kuroko's eyes levelled on Guy now, widening with recognition.

"You!" She pointed accusatorially. "Onee-sama! Are you and this..." She stuttered, trying to come up with an insult dire enough for the boy. An alarmed Mikoto was quick to correct her friend.

"Of course not!" She folded her arms with a frown. "He just got in my way." She glared at Guy.

***

Touko ducked under the second strike. She stepped forward, swiping aside each stone as they shot towards her. The pebbles clattered noisily against the floor as she gained ground on Kenji. Closer and closer until finally she was in range...

Her fist shot out. All of her strength was concentrated behind that one punch.

Kenji could only watch as Touko's fist sailed towards him, his eyes widening up until the moment her knuckles shattered his nose. His face seemed to crumple inwards as she followed through with the strike and his legs swung out from underneath him even as his head remained stationary. He spun to the floor and lay there, unmoving.


***

A short while later and Guy sat in the hospital waiting room. The doctor, a strange, frog faced man with a jovial attitude, had insisted that he stay and get checked for his wounds. He looked up at the clock on the wall, then down at his watch.

At this rate I'll be lucky to get out of here before dawn. He lamented, sinking into his seat with a weary groan.

Mikoto sat down beside him, sipping a canned drink.

"I don't know what you were thinking." She shook her head. "You're lucky you got off with a few cuts and bruises." She looked sidelong at him. "But then again, an idiot like you wouldn't know any better, I suppose." She grumbled.

***

Touko meanwhile stood outside Ryo's room. She knocked lightly on the door as she stepped inside.

"Hey. I hope I didn't interrupt anything." She smiled warmly.

Guy didn't respond, letting his head hang over the back of the chair as he stretched out. He continued to stare blankly at the ceiling in a fit of boredom. His stomach growled and he realised with a sinking feeling that he still hadn't eaten. In fact the only thing that had passed his lips had been the drink Tsukuyomi had bought him earlier that day.

***

Ryo and Yui beamed back at her joyfully. Even with his bandages and dirtied clothes Ryo seemed happy.

"Not at all." He gestured for her to come closer. "I was hoping you'd drop by actually." His smile softened. "I wanted to thank you for everything. If it hadn't been for you..." He looked down at Yui, cradling her head in his arms. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"Thank you. From the bottom of my heart."

"At least pay attention when someone's talking to you!" Mikoto stood up abruptly, fists clenched by her sides. She glared at him angrily. "Honestly. Who could mistake you for a hero?" She continued to yell at him. Though looking at him it was hard to be mad at the boy. He looked rather pitiful, covered in cuts and dirt from the fight.

"Look at you, you can't even take care of yourself. What kind of teacher walks around looking like that?" She crossed her arms, looking away for an instant. "At least cut your hair and have a shower!" She didn't wait for his response, dragging the boy to the bathroom. She pushed him inside.

"The nurses said it's OK to use these." She explained.

***

Touko laughed the comment off.

"Really, it's nothing." She looked rather embarassed to be at the centre of such sincere praise. "But if you want to repay me..." She looked Ryo in the eye. "Don't leave her again." She ruffled Yui's hair. "She needs her brother. No matter what else happens."

Guy tried to protest when the girl pushed him into the shower room.

"Well, I may as well make the most of it." He shrugged. A short while later he emerged from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist the only thing protecting his modesty. He was lean, without an ounce of fat on him. His back was marked with bruises and nicks. His long, shaggy hair hung in front of his eyes as he dried it.

Warm water filled the basin and Guy splashed it over his face before reaching for a pair of scissors. He made short work of his unruly hair, cutting it back to a more manageable length. Next was the razor. He brought the blade to his skin carefully.

***

Ryo nodded silently, his voice choked with emotion and he hugged Yui tighter than ever.

Mikoto tapped her foot impatiently. How long could one person take anyway? She knocked on the door loudly. When there was no response she pressed open the door, stepping inside. He was hunched over the basin. Mikoto sighed, handing him a towel.

"You're supposed to be an adult, right? You should take more care of yourself." She looked at his back, with its angry, painful looking wounds.

He dropped the razor into the sink basin and splashed his face with water once more before reaching for the towel. He turned to face Mikoto and now clean shaven he looked considerably younger. He had soft, handsome features framed by dark hair that gave him a boyish appearance. His deep blue eyes were heavy from weariness. He dried his face.

"OK." His voice was soft.

Mikoto blushed, tensing up at the sight of his face. She turned away, realising he was half dressed and she tossed his clothes at him.

"Jeez! Get dressed or something." She spoke hurriedly as she made for the door. She leant against the wall outside. What was that about? She wondered to herself.

At that moment Touko passed her. She stopped, noticing Mikoto.

"Hey. What are you still doing here?" She asked.

"It's your fault I'm at the hospital in the middle of the night." Mikoto glared at Touko. Her hair sparked.

Touko flinched, jumping back defensively.

"Hey! You're the one who followed me!" Touko backed away slowly.

"Every time we cross paths you bring me nothing but bad luck!" Mikoto growled like an angry cat. A bolt of lightning shot from her forehead towards Touko, who deflected it with her hand as she ran for the door. Mikoto gave chase.

Kenji sat motionless in the darkened room. The young boy was slouched over, head hung low. His face was blank, his eyes empty. His shoulders rose slowly with the even rhythm of his breaths. Slow, meditative breaths through cracked teeth and bloodied nose.

He had been this way since arriving at Anti-Skill headquarters. Throughout his questioning, the boy, Kenji had sat with an unnerving stillness, almost catatonic save for the deliberate clenching and unclenching of his fists. The handcuffs bit painfully into his wrists, not that he seemed to notice. The fresh trickle of blood dripping down his wrists had pooled on the table in front of him.

The door to the interview room opened suddenly, bathing the interior of the room in a harsh, blinding light. Kenji didn't even lift his head to look as someone stepped inside.

"Kenji-kun. Long time no see." The person spoke in a deep and rumbling baritone. "Tell me, my boy. What seems to be the problem?"

Kenji's head rose slowly, his face twisted in a grotesque grin.

"Kamijou Touko." He spoke that name like a curse.