AN: Ok I'd like to start this chapter with a big thanks to everyone who has commented so far. I'm really glad you're all enjoying this and I'm glad to know quite a few of you are excited about this little sequel. So, without further notice, here is chapter two!
Enjoy!
This was possibly the worst idea in the history of all known life. This little plan would most likely end in someone's death, and it would almost certainly be my own. I could not say no, though. Black was certain that everything would be alright, but of course that was only because she was blindly sure that she could protect me and our… guests. After she got herself killed, we would be next, most likely.
I glanced back at Mato and Yomi, who stared about them, excitedly. I did not blame them. The Other World had grown to be quite a beautiful sanctuary. Though all of the buildings were still crumbling away and the land was still scarred, life was beginning again in this place. The endless landscape was gently bathed in light from the flowers growing all around. The moon high overhead cast deep shadows, but none of that could hide the beauty coming back to this place.
Now Black, who had been walking a few feet ahead of everyone else, stopped. Before us stood a massive cliff-face and a castle carved into the side of it. At the top were two magnificent towers glowing with a haunting, ever-changing light that whispered soft melodies of peace and protection. At the base of the cliff where the entrance to this structure had been carved in, hundreds of stone soldiers stood at attention. Their rigid forms stood without movement, but if one were to try and enter, all would fall on him faster than any trespasser could escape.
Standing in front of the rows of soldiers was a very frustrated blonde angrily shouting at them. I could not help but grin as I approached, tapping the semi-robotic girl on the shoulder.
"What do you want, Dead Master?" Chariot spat at me. But then her eyes fell on Mato and Yomi and she grinned. "Oh this is too good! Knowing that even I can't get in you're still going to try and smuggle a pair of humans?"
Irritably I pushed the girl aside and moved to walk past. A stone sword fell in front of me and the soldier in possession of it slowly turned its head to me. A collective monotone sounded for all of them, voicing the one question they demanded of all visitors to this grand castle.
"What are you?"
"I've been telling them for twenty minutes and they won't budge. If I can't get in, you certainly won't." Chariot persisted.
"Senior DM-308 Dead Master reporting." I stated. "I have business here."
After a moment the stoned blade moved away. "DM-308 confirmed."
I waved for Yomi to follow, but they would not let her pass. I was about to protest when Black stepped forward. Instantly half of the guards moved into a fighting stance. Again the question was asked. Black stood in silence for a moment before sighing and pulling off one of her gloves to reveal a black star etched into the back of her hand.
"Senior BRS-201 confirmed." the voice stated. With that all of the soldiers bowed. "Welcome home, Black Rock Shooter."
I had the pleasure of seeing the life drain from Chariot's face as we walked by without a single hint of movement from any of the statues. Mato and Yomi stood in the middle with Black taking the lead and me taking the rear.
"What is this place?" Mato asked.
"That battle awoke the Origins." I explained, casually. "They are the oldest of all the Other Selves. This is their domain. Here they can see everything in this world and in your world. Here they can watch over all the girls they have been charged to protect."
Black paused for a moment in front of a pair of massive doors and bowed. She pushed them open and walked inside. I followed, a familiar chill running down my spine as I entered the room once again.
"What brings our little Black Rock Shooter to this place again?" a voice called from the shadows.
"What questions have you now, Dead Master?" another inquired.
Reluctantly I stepped into the beam of light in the center of the room, dragging Yomi and Mato behind me. "By some sort of mistake these two humans were pulled into our world. We simply ask that you return them home."
A chuckle sounded, "It was no accident that these girls you know so well happened to stumble upon this place."
"We brought them here." the second voice explained.
Black stepped up next to me, looking oddly stunned. "Why?" she asked in that quiet voice. "Why are you dragging them into this?"
"Kuroi Mato, Takanashi Yomi," The two stepped forward a bit uncertainly. "Tell me. Have you not been curious as to why your classmates and your teachers no longer bring up these children? Have you not wondered why their names were not leaked to the media after the battle?"
Mato and Yomi exchanged glances, as did I and Black.
"You… erased their memories?" Mato asked.
"Indeed." the second voice replied. "From your world we took back all knowledge having to do with either of these girls so that, if the time came, they could sneak through the cracks of your society."
"Black Rock Shooter, a great evil is falling upon the humans. If they are destroyed, we will be next." the first voice explained. "We ask that you return to that realm one last time. We will not force you, but we ask you consider our request."
"I'll do it." Black stated. Again the life fled from her gaze as she turned to leave.
"Black," the first voice called again, "You know why we do not force you, yes? Surely, if she really does have something to do with it, this will be a very painful struggle."
Black hesitated and I wondered what was wrong. There was an air of pain about her that I had not encountered in quite some time and, while I hated admitting any form of weakness, it worried me. But when I moved to be by her side she simply walked away.
"Dead Master, seeing that you will no doubt follow Black Rock Shooter into that world with or without our permission, we ask you go with her." the voice called after me. "This voyage to that land will not be like the other. That child will encounter an agony she has long since forgotten and she will need you to be able to fight through it."
"Look after her, Dead Master. You have no idea how much I would give to be in your place." the second voice called.
I walked out, dragging Yomi and Mato behind me. "How are we going to get home?" Yomi asked.
"The same way we got there last time." I replied.
Fang was in her usual hideout, skipping through the gothic halls of the church we had first met in. Her red hair reminded me a bit of Black Gold Saw, but the child lacked the older girl's discrete behavior.
"Nee-chan, these humans look strange." Fang called out in her usual blunt manner. "Why don't you just let the green one eat them? I mean, I get this one," She pointed to Mato. "But this one looks like her!"
Mato blinked, not certain what to say. "Why am I any different than Yomi?" she asked, hurt. "Is it just because I was linked to Black?"
"You look like her!" Fang called, falling back into one of the pews. "No matter how opposite they are, Black still loves White."
I grabbed Fang, not wanting to delve into that subject at the moment. "Look, the Origins want us to take the humans home. Just open the bloody portal, alright?"
She slipped through my fingers, sticking her tongue out at me. "If it weren't for Nee-chan, I would make the trip just as rough as last time!" she shouted, the symbols lighting up beneath our feet once more.
In a matter of seconds, we were standing in that same park from two years ago. Mato and Yomi were expressing their excitement and already collaborating on a tale to explain to their parents how Black and I came to be here. I, on the other hand, put all my concerns on the blue-eyed girl. She had been completely silent, as usual, but something was wrong.
Ah, her hands were shaking.
I reached out and took one of those hands. Black jumped, looking at me as if she had just noticed my presence. She tried to hide it with a bit of a smile, but I could see that familiar flicker of pain behind her eyes. That look triggered something in me and I pulled the girl into my arms, hugging her tightly. No words were necessary, as it often was with us now. This one gesture was enough to convey my feelings. It was enough to shake the black fighter out of her daze as her arms came around my waist.
"Sorry…" she whispered.
We pulled apart just as Mato and Yomi turned to us. Concern lit their faces.
"What?" I asked.
"Well we're first years in high school now…" Yomi mumbled. "Our classmates are more perceptive than they were in middle school."
"They might get suspicious if we claim we're living together and we both have twins." Mato added. "Some of our classmates have dropped off things at our house before. They would notice. We could pass off one of you as a relative, but not the other."
"It's fine…" Black said in that quiet voice of hers. "I have an idea."
AN: Sorry! I just noticed that this chapter hadn't actually been posted yet. I'll make it up to you though.