...

Silence filled the deserted, isolated land. The trees that once grew green and free…now lay in their grave of ash. Buildings that once stood proud and tall were now crumbles of rock and concrete waiting to be crushed to bits. The sky was filled with smoke as flames that spread across the land burned with rage, destroying what remained…and all who remained? A paled skinned girl stood at the top of a steel pole… the pole in which had once been her home, her birthplace, were all life had begun. The remains of her once peaceful life shattered.

"…so this is what going to happen," the girl whispered. She opened her eyes and stared at the mass of death and chaos. The air alone was thick of ash and decay. She knew very well. Whatever that happened in her world well reflect in the next. The flame that resides in her left eye flickered on as she remembered that girls voice…

"Who are you..."

"…."

"Who…"

"…"

"Black Rock Shooter"

She closed her eyes as the flashback ended. "When the time comes... that girl will call…but will she have the power to stop this from happening" she thought as she opened her eyes slightly. She looked once more at the remains of what use to be a peaceful town, the last building that had thought to have survived the impact crumbling away…*CRASH*


*crash*

"Ow,"

"Mato you're going to be late for school if u don't get up now," a voice called from downstairs.

A young girl sat up from the hard tiled floor. "HAI Mom" Mato Kuroi replied.

"Owww" she said standing up, rubbing her butt which had been the main target of the impact.

She gazed at the blue cell phone that laid on the table. She picked it up, holding it up into the air as she stared at the cell phone strap. The star shaped crystal glittered as the rays of light from the window shined through its sharp corners as it slowly rocked side to side, the crystal star that symbolized her friendship. Her eyes weakened as she recalled the past. So much had happened in the last week. Yomi disappearance which had not only shocked her but scared her to the point of tears... but if it wasn't for her she wouldn't had been able to get her back. She placed the cell phone against her chest. "…Black…Rock…Shooter," she whispered, as the name filled the silent room. Though she wanted to believe that it would probably be the last time she would see her but deep within her burning soul she felt that she would definitely see her, maybe even need her power again. Mato turned her head to the clock that sat quietly on the table. Her eyes widened.

"AHHHH I'm going to be late," she shouted suddenly as she ran out of the room to the washroom, closing the door behind her.

Mato ran to the front door, kneeling down to put on her black shoes. "You better hurry Mato or you're going to miss the train," her mother said smiling. "Hai, Mom. See you later," Mato said as she opened the door, sprinting out.

"Oh no I made Yomi wait for me again argh. I need to learn how to get up earlier," Mato scolded herself as she ran around the corner up the hill.

Ever since the incident, Mato and Yomi decided that they would meet at their favorite spot. The place where the town that she loved could be seen from afar, its beauty shining brightly during both day and night. Through winter and spring, summer and fall its beauty never changed but grew and that why she loved that place so much. Mato finally reached the top of the hill reaching her destination. As she stopped to catch her breath something caught her attention. A tall girl with black hair stood meters away from her. The girl green eyes met Mato's.

"Good morning Mato," Yomi Takanasi said softly as a smile formed on her lips.

"Yomi! I'm so sorry I'm late," Mato apologies running up to the girl, hugging her. Yomi laughed slightly.

"It's okay. We better hurry or were going to miss the train," Yomi pointed out as she quickly glanced at her cell phone.

Mato nodded, her eyes glancing at Yomi cell phone. She smiled at the sight of the crystal star cell phone strap that hung gently from Yomi black and green phone. Mato didn't want to lose Yomi again so she would have to make sure she doesn't make the same mistake twice. She'd make sure that the crystal star cell phone strap that bonded them together, their symbol of friendship would continue to dangle from Yomi phone.

The train ride to school was pleasant as Mato talked about what Yomi had missed when she had disappeared. It felt nice to be able to be around Yomi again. When she was gone it felt that something irreplaceable had vanished from her life. The train ride that use to be dull and lonely when Yomi was gone, as other classmates talked with friends about club activities and hangout dates was now replaced with happiness and joy as Mato had her friend back who she could talk anything with and know that she would make Yomi smile either way.

"Hahahaha, honestly you should have seen her face when I took the ball from her," Mato replied.

"Hehehe to bad I missed it," Yomi replied. They turned the corner, the white school building coming into clear view.

"Hmm" Mato said as she noticed a small, light haired girl coming from the opposite direction.

"Yuu…" Mato thought to herself as she stared at the small girl who walked passed the school gates. Mato wondered what she was going to do. She didn't want to lose Yomi again but she didn't want to lose Yuu friendship either. Maybe Yuu wouldn't mind Mato hanging around Yomi more often? Since they hung out all the time during first year and Yuu didn't mind. Plus, she would see Yuu during basket ball practice and in class. Mato smiled weakly. "Ya…Yuu won't mind…right?" she questioned.

"Mato?" she heard Yomi voice call out to her. She snapped out of her deep thinking and turned her head till her eyes met Yomi green ones.

"You okay? You suddenly went silent?" Yomi pointed out, her face showing a small sign of worry. Mato laughed nervously.

"Haha I was just thinking about the home….AHHHHH I didn't do the homework!" Mato shouted as she realized her mistake.

Yomi burst out laughing. "Don't worry you can copy mine just this once, kay?" Yomi reassured the overacting Mato. I big smile appeared on Mato face, stars forming in her eyes.

"Ah Yomi I LOVE YOU!" Mato shouted Hugging her. Yomi laughed gently and laid her hand on Mato head, petting her. "Yes, yes I know. C'mon we better hurry to the classroom so u can copy fast before the bell rings,"

"Kay, hehe" Mato replied.

The both of them jogged towards the school doors turning to go up the stairs, laughing. Yuu stared at the two silently as she closed the door to her locker. Her eyes looked somewhat distant, as if her mind was far away from reality.


"Thanks you, Yomi. I'll see u at lunch time Kay," Mato said smiling as she waved at Yomi from the doorway.

"Yup, see u at lunch," Yomi replied with a gently smile on her face. Mato smiled back, and then left to her classroom. She walked in to see Yuu sitting in her desk quietly.

"GOODMORNING YUU!," Mato shouted patting the girl on the head. Yuu eyes widened at the sudden noise as if she snapped back into reality.

"Uh, Mato….Morning," she replied in a low voice. "Ah…What wrong Yuu," Mato asked pouting.

"Uh…well…" Yuu tried to explain but was cut off.

"Ah I forgot to give this back to Yomi, She going need it for second period. I'll be right back Yuu," Mato announced as quickly left the room. Yuu eyes weakened as she stared into the distance.

"Yomi, Yomi, Yomi….That's all she ever cares about," Yuu whispered.

*Lunch time*

Yomi left her classroom, closing the door behind her. She then walked towards 2-B. Before she reached the door, Mato and Yuu both exited the room. "Ah Yomi, I can't eat lunch with you today," Mato said sadly, cute, teary puppy dog eyes forming on her face. "Oh…uh why?" Yomi questioned not out of disappointment but out of curiosity.

Mato was about to reply but Yuu interrupted.

"Since Mato missed a lot of basket ball practices and meeting she needs to catch up since the basket ball playoffs are coming up so I need to inform her of everything she missed. I may need her afterschool as well so…"Yuu said smiling.

"Afterschool… but…" Mato said, turning to Yomi.

"I promised I'd watch Yomi volleyball game today. Yuu I'll stay as long as u want for lunch but can I go to the game. PLLEEAAASEEEEE," Mato pleaded waving her hands back and forth in the sky as the twirled around Yuu and Yomi.

Yuu sighed. "Okay, but you better be able to remember ALL the information I give you. We better go now or I'm not going to finish in time," Yuu said as she started to walk toward the stairs.

"HAI. Yomi I'll talk to you later hehe, See you at the game," Mato shouted as she ran after Yuu. Yomi smiled in reply but in seconds it faded away as she stared at the two.

Yuu glanced over her shoulder and for a second to stare at Yomi tall figure. Yomi eyes widened as she felt a shiver go down her spine. She almost felt as if Yuu had just glared at her. For some strange reason, Yomi felt that there was a weird presence surrounding Yuu. A presence that was very similar and familiar…yet she couldn't get her finger around what it was. She sighed and turned around, returning to the classroom. If Yuu think she let go of Mato a second time she had another thing coming her way. She didn't want to lose Mato... not again….


"That was amazing Yomi!," Mato cheered as she waved her hands in the air. "The way you jumped so high and slammed the ball like it was balloon. I never knew you were soo good at volleyball," Mato said grinning with excitement.

"It wasn't that great. I just got in on time that's all," Yomi replied with a big smile on her face as she watched the hyped black haired girl run around imitating Yomi jumps and bumps from the game. Yuu walked a few steps away from the two. "Wasn't she awesome Yuu? C'mon, you can't say that Yomi an armature anymore right?" Mato asked, as she went up close to Yuu.

Yuu blushed at the sudden closeness between the two. "Uh…Ya, it was really cool" Yuu said smiling. "Hehehehe" Mato laughed in agreement as she ran a bit ahead leaving Yuu and Yomi walking next to one another.

"Yuu um…do u not like me?" Yomi asked sudden her voice almost as soft as a whisper. She needed to know what Yuu was thinking.

"No…of course not," she said innocently smiling up at Yomi. "Why?" she asked with a confused face.

"Ah…Just wondering," Yomi replied looking away.

"Yomi! Yuu! C'mon" Mato shouted as she stopped to wait for the two of them to catch up.

"Coming," Yomi said as she picked up the pace. Yuu stared at the ground "….It's not that I don't like you….it's that I hate you," she whispered under her breath.

Yomi eyes widened as she heard the last sentence, she stopped in her tracks and turned around. "What?" she asked in a clarifying voice. "Hmm?" Yuu questioned back.

The two of them stared at one another, as the silence grew. Mato raised an eyebrow as she watched the two just stare at one another. She walked back to where they were both standing. "What wrong you too?" Mato asked with a smile, yet her eyes showed both confusion and worry.

"It's nothing Mato, Let go to our special place," Yomi replied, holding Mato hand. "Well Yuu, you go this way right. We'll see you tomorrow," Yomi said as she started walking, still holding Mato hand.

"Huh… OH ya, Okay, Bye Yuu see u tomorrow in class…Ahhh Yomi your going too fast," Mato replied as she tried to wave back but almost tripped.

"C'mon I want to get there before sunset," Yomi replied as she started jogging. "Hehehehe Okay," Mato replied running after her.

"huff huff huff…Yomi…huff…did we have to run that fast? The sun only started going down" Mato asked as she put her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

"….," Yomi didn't reply but stared at the orange yellow sky. Mato stood up straight and walked up next to her. They both stared at the Sun as it said goodbye to the world as it slowly slipped down the horizon, the sky illuminating the colors of the rainbow, which was soon covered with the dominant navy blue color. As Mato watch the stars as they slowly started to appear one by one she remembered her. This was the same place where she met Black Rock Shooter. She wondered if there was any way to see her again…

"Mato?" Yomi called softly as she continued to stare into the distance. "huh…Uh yes Yomi?" Mato replied as she turned to look at Yomi.

"Promise me something…" Yomi whispered as she turned to face Mato.

Their eyes locked as Mato waited for Yomi to continue. "Promise…that…you'll never let anyone break us…break our friendship," she whispered as she pulled out her cell phone, the crystal star shaped strap swaying back and forth.

Mato blinked slightly confused at the sudden topic. "Of course Yomi…were best friends after all," Mato said a huge smile forming on her lips as she pulled out her cell phone. "Promise," Yomi whispered.

"Promise," Mato replied, as her crystal star gently tapped Yomi, making a small chime noise.*Ding…*

They both smiled at one another.


*Ding…*

Black Rock shooter stared at the girl standing in front of her

Black hair with straight bangs…the black Lolita dress to the black legging and pumps... the white bow that positioned itself on the girls waist. Her neon eyes met with hers. Dead Master stared at Black Rock Shooter, as the moon glow seemed to be darkened by a cloud passing by. Dead master slowly walked towards her. Black Rock Shooter frowned as she moved her hand towards her katana which was positioned on her left side of her waist. She didn't want to fight her. Dead Master was soon inches away from her. Black Rock shooter analyzed her facial expression. "Wasn't she going to fight her?"

Black Rock shooter eyes widened at Dead Master sudden move. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, tightly embracing her. Dead Master eyes closed as she held Black Rock Shooter. "I'm sorry…." A silent apology in which Black Rock Shooter understood clearly as her blue eyes weakened, the flame that reside in her left eye dimming and in seconds vanished as she closed her eyes and returned the embrace.

Friendship didn't always need words to make it work. It was the feelings and emotions of longing and trust that made it last.