Kira: Surprise, surprise, eh? Yes, I am in fact writing chapter 2 of this story already. It's actually quite shocking to me to say the least that I'm writing this so early after writing and posting the first chapter. Anyway, I lied just a teensy bit in my A/N at the end of chapter 1. Rom and Ram will be mentioned in this story. I'm still not sure if they'll truly appear in this story, but they'll be noted. Anyway, need I say more? Let's continue.
One month later...
Noire sat silently within the confines of the Basilicom, scribbling away on the paper in front of her. Surrounding her were stacks, mountains even, of similarly typed of papers, some with minute differences within the print, and others drastically different. Her pen whisked rapidly across the sheet, her eyes trained, yet lost, staring down at the black pieces in front of her.
A knock on the door interrupted her peaceful silence. Noire blinked for a moment, her fingers ceasing their fluid movements. Another knock on the door slipped into her hearing and she glanced up instictually.
Noire cleared her throat, "Come in." She answered in a solemn, yet pronouncing voice. It was a moment before the visitor responded, before the door creaked open slowly, the noise reminding Noire that she would neet to get the hinges oiled soon again. A short statured, black haired girl person slipped into the room, holding a somewhat decent size stack of papers, obscuring Noire's vision of who it was.
"I finished the report about increased trade sis. Where do you want this?" A petite, feminine voice questioned as her frame fully entered the room, closing the door with her elbow.
The CPU glanced around the room for a moment, "Just place it on my desk Uni. I'll sort through it when I'm done with this." Noire answered quickly without much thought, before returning back to the papers in front of her, this time scanning through the print. Uni hummed in approval before stepping towards the older girl's desk, careful not to trip and drop the papers. Once at her destination, the young girl set the papers down next to one of the smaller stacks that consumed the top of Noire's work space.
She shuffled over to the front of the table, directly facing Noire, "Are you sure you don't want me to take some of this for you sis?" Uni questioned with slight worry as she eyed a stack of papers that was roughly her height.
The older sister paused her scanning, "There's no need. I can do this all before the day is out by myself." Noire kept a calm, demanding tone in her voice, before resuming her twice interrupted work. Uni glanced at the large window in front of her, and with where the sun was placed, it was already past noon.
"But, you've been working since you woke up this morning. Don't you think you should take a break and let me do some of this for you?" Uni worriedly asked.
Noire kept her eyes focused on the print in front of her, "Uni, I said already that I was fine. Now, just go and see if there's some work you can do for Ganache." Her voice was already sparked with slight irritation, yet Noire was still able to keep her composure.
Uni gulped slightly, as if she was bracing for something, "Sis, I really don't think you should be overworking yourself this much. If you do-" Uni couldn't finish her statement, Noire didn't let her. The CPU stood abruptly, slamming her hands on the table with such force that half of the papers contained on her desk were swept around her immediate area. Her left hand crumbled the documents she held, almost ripping off a portion of the side. Uni stumbled back, barely able to keep her ground as she stood, captivated and slightly frightened by her angered sister.
A low growl emanated from Noire, "I told you to just shut up and let me work Uni!" Noire curled her right hand into a fist and slammed it against the table again, pressing the pen she kept held against palm, sending multiple, small outings of shock through her hand. The room was left in silence as Uni's fingers started trembling, but before any words could be outed, a small ringing could be heard throughout the building.
"Lady Noire, there is someone who wishes to see you." Another noise intruded the room breaking the small silence between the two sisters.
"I-I'll go see who it is." Uni managed to whisper the broken sentence out, before running out of the room.
After the door slammed shut, Noire's body flinched, a cold shiver going up her spine. She bit her bottom lip before letting out a sad sigh. The CPU slammed back into her chair, feeling as though the added weight of her heart dropping pushed her back into the seat. Norie spun the chair absentmindedly to face the window, her left hand still holding the crumbled documents and her right clutching the pen, no doubt creating an indent in her skin. Her frustration wouldn't settle, so Noire threw the pen with extreme force towards the window, hoping to shatter her anger like the window.
Instead, the pen only bounced harmlessly off the glass and fell to the floor in a heap, jumping for a moment before finally resting.
"Dammit..." Noire managed to mumble out, despite her vocal cords not wishing to function right now, and she slapped her hands to her head, letting the ruined documents scatter aimlessly across the floor with their brothers.
At the entrace to the Basilicom...
Uni quickly stepped to the door of the entrance of the Basilicom, her heart still jetting painfully. She shook her head, took a deep breath, and opened the door into the entrance room, glancing around curiously to see who awaited her. Her eyes widened and sparkled slightly as her red obrs landed on a floating book.
"Histoire!" Uni shouted and sprinted towards the woman. The tome blinked and turned around, before smiling as she saw Uni running up to her.
"Why hello Uni. I am happy to see you again." Histoire spoke cheerfully with a nod.
Uni nodded back, adding a polite bow, "It's great to see you again as well. How are things going in Planeptune?" The younger sister asked with curiosity. Histoire put on an obvious frown, before offering a meek shrug.
"They are as good as they can be. Nepgear has been working really hard as of late." A dry chuckle escaped Histoire, "I swear, sometimes I need to force that girl to stop working..." She paused for a moment again.
"Unlike..." The silence slammed forcefully down upon the building, Uni feeling as if a giant weight were thrusted down upon her. The young girl noticed the downtrodden mask appear over the tome's face, and her own frown graced her lips.
"Let's go outside Histoire. It's a very nice day I heard." Uni offered just. Histoire nodded solemnly before following the CPU candidate into the outside world of Lastation.
Once the sky had settled against their skin, Uni brought the two to a bench and they sat. Well, Uni sat, Histoire chose to stay floating on her book.
"How's Gear been holding up?" The young girl questioned with worry. After a few days had passed with no sign of Neptune, Histoire had offered that she would be the one to break it to the CPU's younger sister, Nepgear. Suffice to say, the girl didn't take it well. Almost immediately after having been told, Nepgear had fell to her knees and bawled, similar to Compa... But worse... Very worse... Four days straight Nepgear wished to see no one, locking herself in her room. She didn't want to believe that Neptune was gone. To be fair, no one wanted to believe she was gone. All Histoire could do was listened to her pained cries whenever she floated past Nepgear's room.
"She is still holding out, waiting, hoping..." The tome mumbled sadly, staring into the sky.
Uni sighed, "I mean, to be fair... Isn't everyone?" She questioned the obvious, "No one wants Neptune gone. Even with a month already passed, I'm sure everyone's still holding to her promise."
Histoire pushed out a small chuckle, "You are quite right on that one Uni. Speaking of which, how is Noire doing?"
Behind Nepgear, IF, and Compa, everyone knew that the next person affected the most was easily Noire. Despite the woman's cold exterior, it was very easily seen that she had a soft spot of her own for the CPU of Planeptune. As the days went by with no sign of Neptune, Uni would easily see through Noire, and, instead of seeing a woman attempting to work hard for the sake of her country, Lastation, she saw a girl who was attempting to drown her feelings and emotions by overworking. Noire didn't want to burden anyone with her worry, her sadness, or any of her bubbling emotions, so she thought engrossing herself with her work would help stop it. Uni knew, however, that it wasn't going to last much longer.
"She's been doing better..." Uni said somberly with a sigh, "I made her yell at me again, though." She let out a moment later, rubbing the back of her head in shame.
Histoire tapped her chin for a moment, "I am sure she does not mean it Uni. It is just the stress that is starting to catch up to her." She floated over and patted the black haired girl on the back as best as she could.
Uni nodded slightly, "I know you're right Histoire, it's just, well... It hurts seeing her like this all the time." She mumbled out, clasping her hands together at her lap. Dread fell upon the two this time along with the accompanying, yet not wanted, silence.
Uni managed to throw the weight before it crushed her, "What are you doing in Lastation anyway Histoire?"
"I wanted to go around the other landmasses and see how everyone was doing."
Uni scratched the back of her head again, a frown adorning her face, "Well... I guess you already have your answer about Noire, huh...?" Uni answered with regret. Histoire gave a slight nod also teemed with regret. The two sat in silence for the next few minutes, unable to conjure any redeeming words, before finally Uni was able to speak up.
"I guess I shouldn't keep you waiting, should I?" The candidate stood up, patting the collecting dust off her skirt, "Besides, I need to go finish up my work for today anyway."
Histoire started floating back into the air, locking solemn eyes with the younger sister, "It will get better soon Uni." She let a smile break onto her face, "Just stay by Lady Noire's side like the good sister you are. She will not turn you away, I know it." Uni breathed a small smile as well at Histoire's thankful words.
"Thank you Histoire," Uni bowed again, "I wish you well on your journey." The tome nodded and departed, glancing back to just see Uni re-enter the Basilicom, the door closing gently behind her.
In Lowee...
Blanc and Vert sat silently in the center of the vast room surrounding them, their silence only broken for quiet moments of drinking.
"I assume you invited me here because you know about Histoire visiting?" Vert questioned quietly, glazing over Blanc as she took a sip of her drink.
The CPU of Lowee nodded, "Yes. I need you to help me convice her that Neptune will not return." Vert didn't look at all surprised about the sudden request, as she had been told a similar tale over video chat.
The busty CPU did however sigh as she placed her drink down and shook her head, "Why do you refuse to believe Neptune's promise to us?" The blonde questioned, her calm tone still holding its place.
Blanc, however, gave a little snort in response, "I still want to know why all of you believe that she'll keep that weightless promise?"
"Blanc, I-" Vert was interrupted by the brunette.
"You've seen the decline in the Shares of Planeptune Vert." Blanc calmly explained.
Vert leaned over the table, her head against her hands and her elbows on the table, "That means nothing Blanc. The only weightless thing around here are your stats. Stats mean nothing Blanc, and you know that." The blonde had raised her voice slightly with each sentence, yet still keeping the calm atmposhere surrounding them.
Blanc felt anger starting to boil up inside, "I do wish to not start a fight with you, Vert. I only want you to see that it's already been a month and she has yet to show any sign of a return."
"Then why bring up the statistics?"
Blanc raised an eyebrow, "Pardon me?"
Vert sighed, "If you changed the subject to 'her showing no signs of having returned,' why did you bring up the statistics in the first place then?" It was obvious that the calm, serene atmosphere was starting to fault. Vert knew it was only a matter of time before one of the two would begin shouting. She placed her money on Blanc.
"Because the declines of Planeptune's Shares tie with her showing any indications of returning. If Neptune had returned by this point, there would have been increase from the dip that's been occuring over the past month."
"You know how Neptune has always dealt with her Shares Blanc. She's rarely ever dealt with paperwork, and she's rarely ever dealt with politics. All Neptune had cared was making people happy... Not just hers..." Vert's tone became softer towards the end of her rant, memories of Neptune's happy-go-lucky attitude skyrocketing Planeptune's Shares to new heights. Blanc was unable to retort, seemingly caught up within memories as well. As the brunette was about to make a statement, the door opened, and Histoire floated in. Blanc turned around and waved to Histoire, motioning that she was allowed in. The tome hummed and flew over to Blanc, only to be surprised to see that Vert was here as well.
"Hello Lady Blanc. Oh, Lady Vert, I did not expect you to be here as well." Histoire said with surprise, blinking a few moments later.
Vert waved it off with a small smile, "Oh it's quite alright. I didn't expect to be here as well." The busty blonde commented offhandedly, receiving a glare from Blanc a moment later.
Histoire blinked again, before shrugging, "Well, anyway, what brings you all the way to Lowee?" Before Vert could respond, Blanc had quickly beat her to the punch.
"I had wished to discuss a possible trade agreement with Vert, and wished to speak with her in person about it." The CPU of Lowee spoke calmly, as if the last few minutes hadn't taken place. Vert raised an eyebrow as she silently glanced at Blanc, who just shook her head in response.
Histoire's eyes widened a moment, "Oh, well, pardon my intrustion then. I hope I was not intruding on anything then."
Vert shook her head, "Don't worry. We were getting close to finish up anyway. What is it you need Histoire?" The blonde realized that Blanc wanted to keep their conversation silent, as not wanting to anger Histoire she assumed.
The tome nodded, "I was coming to ask how you two were doing?"
Blanc sipped her drink, "In what context?"
Histoire's face went south, "Well... It has been a month so..." She was already not feeling well again, especially after what she heard talked with Uni about Noire.
Vert and Blanc were probably the least affected by Neptune's month long absence. The two girls nary had as special of a connection to her compared to IF, Compa, Noire, and especially Nepgear, obviously. However both, Vert mainly, thought well enough of Neptune that they were considered friends. Blanc and Vert thought Neptune's actions admirable throughout their adventure to stop Arfoire, even if the girl was a bit ditzy the majority of the time.
"Well, I've been holding up well enough my sake. I do still wish for her safe return, if anything for Nepgear and Noire's sake." Vert spoke with a sad smile adorning her face, albeit with a cute giggle.
"I've been doing fine Histoire, thank you. I hope she'll return sooner rather than later." Blanc said with her normal, calm demeanor, finishing the last of her drink. A small smile broke out on Histoire's face in response, happy to hear that the two are doing well.
The tome's attention was then shifted solely to Blanc, "What of Rom and Ram? How are they doing?"
Blanc gave a small sigh, "They're feeling better compared to a few weeks ago."
Vert chimed in, "I'm still a little surprised they cared so much about someone they know so little about. It's not that I mind though, I find it nice to see so much care going around." An angelic smile rooted itself onto the Leanbox's CPU's face for a moment.
"I'm sure it's mainly because they like Nepgear a lot, if I had to guess. They're probably more worried about her well being rather than Neptune's." Blanc shrugged absentmindedly.
"It matters not. Whether they care more for Neptune or Nepgear, they still show worrying emotions for someone they deem an ally and a friend. If they care that much for Nepgear, I am quite sure they care for Neptune a lot as well, even if it is not as much." Histoire spoke fluently. Blanc and Vert paused for a moment, before the latter broke out in a giggle again.
"Maybe you are right Histoire. Thank you." Blanc said with admiration, nodding her head in approval.
Histoire nodded with Blanc, "It is no problem Lady Blanc. I guess I will be taking my leave back to Planeptune now." As she started floating towards the exit, she turned around, facing Lowee's CPU again, "And, Lady Blanc, could you please inform Rom and Ram that Nepgear is feeling much better now?"
Blanc nodded, keeping the note in the back of her head, "I would be glad to Histoire. I hope you have a safe trip home." Vert waved goodbye as well, and Histoire departed, closing the door gently behind her. Blanc turned around again and found herself under the unrelenting gaze of Vert.
"Why didn't you...?" The busty blonde raised an eyebrow, finishing her drink finally as well.
Blanc gave a silent sigh, "I realized that I may have been too quick in my judgement about Neptune." Vert stayed silent, raising an eyebrow slightly as her only response.
"Statstics aren't everything, you're correct about that. Also, if Rom and Ram, my own younger sisters, still believe that Neptune will keep her promise, I have no reason to disbelieve Neptune myself." The brunette explained with regret, clasping her hands against her tea cup.
Vert's face was once again blessed with a smile, "That's very admirable of you Blanc. Maybe you should put that is your next novel?" A giggle permeated the room, it's previously somber atmosphere now replaced with a more cheerful one.
Blanc growled and destroyed her cup with ease, her eyes glowering with anger, "Wanna say that again Thunder Tits?"
Vert only giggled, "Better to have an ample chest than no chest Flatty."
The room was soon erupt with explosions.
In Planeptune...
Nepgear yawned and stretched, sighing in relief as she heard the kinks everywhere in her body disappear.
"Oh, thank goodness I'm done." She exhaled happily, dropping her pen down on the table in front of her. Nepgear glanced down at her desk, a smile adorning her face as she glanced at all of the papers that had plagued her earlier now read, re-read, signed, and, in general, finished.
"Now I can finally get some rest." The CPU candidate swung her chair backwards and jutted forwards, landing on her feet elegantly. Nepgear, now filled with relief and exhaustion, strolled forwards, exiting her work room towards her, well, room. On the way towards her room, she spotted Histoire floating towards her. The two waved to each other as they met up.
"Hello Histoire, it's nice to see you again." Nepgear bowed in a similar fashion like Uni.
"Hello there Nepgear. How are you doing?" Histoire asked as she had a few times today.
Nepgear let off a smile, "I'm feeling pretty exhausted. I just finished my work for today so I was going to go take a nap for a few hours before dinner."
Histoire nodded, "Alright, well I will not delay you any longer. Before you go though, do you know by any chance where Compa and IF are?" Nepgear scratched her head, pursing her lips.
"Oh, I think they're at Compa's house right now." The candidate suggested.
"Thank you Nepgear. I hope you enjoy your rest." Histoire said as she retreated back out of the Basilicom, heading towards Compa's house.
Upon reaching the nurse in training's house, she spotted Compa just exiting her house.
"Hello there, Compa." Histoire greeted as she reached the pink-ish haired girl.
"Oh, hi Histy." Compa greeted with a wave, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you and IF were doing."
"Oh, I'm doing fine, thank you for asking." Compa complied with a small smile.
Histoire just noticed the luncbox that the nurse in training was carrying, "I see you have a lunchbox. Are you going out to eat or something?"
Compa nodded, "Yeah, Iffy and I were going to have a picnic where I first found Nep-Nep." A sad, yet brilliant smile washed over Compa's face.
Histoire gave her own smile, "Do you still believe that she will return?" The tome questioned, hoping Compa wouldn't take her words as antagonizing.
Thankfully, Compa didn't see the words as mean, "From the bottom of my heart, yes." For emphasis, she rested her hand over her beating heart, "I know Nep-Nep will keep her promise." After Compa reiterated her own promise, IF jogged up to Compa's house, slightly out of breath.
The brunette sucked in a semi-deep breath, "Hey Compa, I'm sorry I'm late..." She noticed Histoire floating nearby, "Oh, Histoire, I didn't see you there. How's it going?"
"I am doing fine IF, thank you for asking. I heard you and Compa were going on a picnic together where she first met Neptune."
IF scratched her head, "Yeah. Compa said we should go to Virtua Forest and have a picnic there every month." IF shrugged, "I had no complaints."
"That is very nice. I wish I could join you, But unfortunately I am needed back at the Basilicom." Histoire said with a small frown.
IF and Compa frowned slightly as well, "It's alright Histy, we understand your situation." Compa waved it off with a smile nod soon after.
"Thank you, Compa, IF. I hope you both enjoy your picnic."
IF gave a thumbs up, "Don't worry Histoire, we will. And you, hopefully, as well." Historie giggled at IF's attempt to make her feel better and nodded, floating off back towards the Basilicom.
IF turned back towards her friend, "Shall we go Compa?" The brunette offered, outstretching her arm. Compa couldn't help but giggle in response, skipping forward.
"Thank you Iffy." The pink haired girl couldn't help but stick out her tongue in response. The trip to their destination was more or less silent, the two girls just enjoying the atmosphere and the serene, clear sky above them. It didn't take them long until they reached Virtua Forest. Compa gave out a loud, deep sigh as she brought in the view before her.
"Geez, it honestly feels like yesterday that I was bringing Nep-Nep back to her point of landing and slaying Dogoo's again..." She gave a sad sigh as the memory popped in her mind, clutching the lunch box tighter. IF patted Compa's shoulder before holding her hand there, a small sigh breathing into the air.
"Hey, when she returns, why don't we come back here and kill some Dogoo's just like the old days?" IF offered with pride and joy.
Compa couldn't help but giggle, "You're making it sound like we're 50 years older than we are Iffy."
IF shrugged with embarrassment, "Hey, it was worth a shot." The two laughed together as they came by a nearby group of tables surrounded by a wooden fence. IF and Compa took their seats across from each other and Compa opened the lunchbox out, handing IF a sandwich and taking another for herself. They dug into their food, IF's eyes immediately going wide.
"Wow Compa, this tastes really good." It took all of IF's willpower to not run rampant through the rest of the food, instead choosing to savor every bite.
Compa giggled, a small blush forming on her face, "Thanks Iffy. I just tried it a week ago and wanted to see what you thought."
"Well... It's really, really good." IF basically reiterated, not that she minded though. As the brunette finished up her food, she leant back and stretched, her stomach growling in approval.
"I should ask for your homemade food more often."
Compa scratched her cheek, "It's just a sandwich Iffy. I'm sure you could make it just as simply."
"I don't know Compa, you sure-" IF paused mid sentence, blinking as she looked behind her friend.
Compa raised an eyebrow, "What is it Iffy?"
IF stood up and started walking forward, her eyes glued on what was nearby, "You stay here Compa, I'll be back in a moment." She jogged out of the gate, running towards the entrance of the forest, her eyes glued on what looked like a moving cloak. Compa turned around, confused for a moment, before her eyes locked on what IF was heading towards as well. When she was within 20 feet, IF slowed her jog to a walking pace, her weapon at the ready.
"Hello?" IF asked semi-loudly, trying to catch the attention of whatever was under that cloak. There was no response. Instead, IF saw a hand appear from the bottom of the cloak, pressing against the ground as if whoever was under it was trying to keep themselves up.
"Hello? Are you okay?" IF tried again, tightening her grip on her weapon slightly. Compa watched from the table in worry, her eyes focused on the person who was hiding under the cowl. When almost 10 feet away, IF paused and squinted, trying to focus her vision on the hand that was sticking out from the poncho. She faintly noticed the hand shake for a moment as the person was trying to move forward, before collapsing, their arm sprawled in front of them, the hand having stopped shaking. IF's eyes widened as she gasped, before sprinting the last few feet towards the person, sliding to her knees.
IF rested her hands on poncho, pressing until she felt the form of the person, most likely their back.
IF shook the person a little, "Hey, hey! Are you okay!?" She reiterated in a more panicked tone. After getting no response, IF shook the body roughly this time. No response again.
"Shit... Shit... Shit..." IF muttered, biting her lip.
"Oh, right, I should look for a pulse." IF managed to mumble through her unnerved state. She pulled her knees back to create some distance and turned the body over gently, hoping to not hurt the person. She she moved her fingers against the person's neck to check for a pulse, her eyes widened as she finally glazed over the person's face.
"Oh my god..." Her breath was taken away, her heart pounding, "Compa! Call an ambulance, quick!" Compa, having been frozen in place for a minute, jumped in surprise by IF's sudden shout. She fumbled around in her pocket for a moment before finally remembering she could speak again.
"W-what!? Why!?" Compa yelled in response, her fingers fumbling with her phone.
"I-it's Nep!"
Kira: Cliffhanger again. :P Hey, don't hate me, hate me wanting to write at 12:00 a.m. all the way until 6:00 a.m... Oh, wait, that is a reason you should blame me. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this story. I'll most likely start writing chapter 3 soon, but don't expect it really soon, like how chapter two was. :P Again, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. :D
