Axel: I can't believe I continue this, even though this story have the fewest review, but I want to thank Windraider, 3therflux, SlyTrinity, and three guests for the reviews, I'll try to slow down the story, and try to improve my grammar, but no promises since english is my second language.
Anyway, on to the story!
XXX
"What do you think? Pretty hip huh?" Raidou Kuzonoha asks.
Minato looks at himself in the mirror, Minato id wearing a blue hakama with black obi and a dark blue scarf. "Do I really need to wear this?" His headset in the usual place.
"Of course! These represent the tradition of the Kuzunoha family." Raidou said, nodding to himself.
Minato sighed, knowing if he goes against his grandpa the old man will go on a rampage and the house will be very messy, and he's not in the mood to clean the house in high scale.
"Now then, go and ask Mato-chan if he wants to go together or something." Raidou said, pushing his grandson out of the house. "Ah, before I forgot, take these bananas and give it to the Kuroi family will you?"
Before Minato had the chance to complain, Raidou pushes him out of the door, throws the bananas to him, and closes the door. Minato can hear a 'click' sound, signaling the door has been locked.
Minato sighs and resigns himself to his fate, walking toward his neighbour house. At least he still can bring his headsets.
*Ding Dong* *Ding Dong*
Minato could make out 'Coming' from behind the door. A minute later, the door opens and Mato's mother greets him. "Ah! Minato-kun, good morning."
"Good morning."
Mato's mother then notices Minato's attire. "Oh my, looking good with that hakama there Minato-kun, come in, Mato-chan will be ready soon." She said, beckoning the young boy to come in.
"Sorry to interupt." Minato said as he steps into the house.
"Now, wait here, when I give you the signal please enter the living room." Mato's mother said, dashing to the living room.
Signal? What is this, black ops operation?
"Come on here, Minato-kun!" Mato's mother called as Minato drags his feet to the living room.
The sight of one Kuroi Mato in a blue kimono with red gold fish pattern greeted his eyes, Minato looks at her, surprised.
"H-how do I look Minato-kun?" Mato asks, blushing a little.
"Ugly." Her little brother answers.
"No one asked you, you brat!" Mato shouts back.
"You look cute." Minato answers bluntly with a straight face.
"Gah!?" Mato said, blushing for being called cute. "Don't say that so suddenly!"
"But you ask me of my opinion..."
"Minato-nii, you need to wash your eyes because-" Before he can finish, Mato takes a nearby weapon – which is a couch pillow – and throws it at her little brother, who retaliates by throwing back the pillow.
Minato watches the fight in amusement.
"Now now, don't fight kids!" Their mother said, stepping in suddenly to halt the small scale war.
Minato then remembers about the bananas "Ah, I have something for the family." Minato said showing them the bananas.
"Oh my, thank you Minato-kun." Mato's mother said, accepting the bananas, not asking why he gives them bananas. "Anyway, you and Mato should just head out to the shrine."
Both the teens nod. "Let's go Minato-kun."
Minato nods and follow after Mato.
"Those two are so cute together!" Mato's mother squealed.
XXX
"Nice Hakama by the way." Mato said, walking toward the shrine, accompanied by the blue-haired teen.
"Thanks."
"Oh and, Minato-kun." Minato look at her. "I'm meeting up with Takanashi-san at the shrine entrance, want to join us?"
"I guess so." Minato shrugs.
"What do you mean you 'guess so'?" Mato asks, with a frown.
Minato shrugs again, earning a puff cheek from the black hair girl.
"Mou... Minato-kun is a meanie."
Minato scratches his head. "Fine... But are you sure I won't disturb both of you?"
Mato beams him a smile, then she shook her head still smiling. "Of course not! We're friends! You and Takanashi-san can also become friend!"
"Friend..." That word again... Unknown to Mato, Minato faintly smiles.
XXX
"Are you sure she'll be here?" Minato asks his friend.
Right now the both of them are waiting for the arrival of one Takanashi Yomi in the shrine entrance.
"Of course she will!" Mato says with confident.
Minato silently sighs. They've been standing for 30 minutes, but he guesses its still too early to determine. "I'm gonna get us some food." Minato said entering the shrine.
"Oh, okay." Mato says watching the blue-haired boy climbing up the shrine stair.
"Whom do I spy? Kuroi-san?" Mato looked to her right and saw the girls from her class, the one who asked her to join them to the festival. "I thought you didn't want to come."
"Y-yeah, I reconsidered." Mato said, in a kinda awkward way.
"Who did you come with?"
"I..." Before Mato can answer, Minato walked towards her, two takoyaki in his hand.
"I'm back." Minato said, then he noticed the girls beside Mato, they were the girls from his class. "Good morning."
"A-ah... Good morning..." The girl in the front said while the other behind her look shocked upon the revelation that Mato has gone to the festival with Arisato Minato, one of the mysterious and handsome student from their class that is quite popular "T-then see you Kuroi-san." The front girl said again, walking as swift as possible to the festival, followed by the other girls.
Minato watched the girls leaving, then turned to Mato. "Here's your takoyaki." Minato said giving Mato one of the hot takoyaki.
"Ah, thank you Minato-kun." She said as she took the takoyaki. Then she got an idea. "Let's have an eating contest!" Mato suggested, but before Minato can give any comment Mato cut him off. "Start!"
Mato tried to eat the takoyaki quickly, but the heat makes it difficult. She looked at Minato and noticed him eating very fast! "Doesn't he feel the heat in his tongue?" she thought, but before she can answer, in a matter of second Minato ate all of his Takoyaki.
"That's cheating!" Mato said. "Tell me the secret!"
Minato smirked at her. "No."
"Minato-kuuuun!" Mato whined.
XXX
Without both of them noticing, it was already night time, and there's still no sign of Takanashi. Mato stayed in place, with Minato getting them both drinks and food. Mato tried to argue as she wanted to be the one who buy food and drink next, but Minato said that Takanashi may arrive when she's not in place, and there's a high chance Minato will miss her with him dozing-off-and-lost-in-his-mind habit.
And so, Minato went to the festival and bought them foods and drinks. He sometimes go to the festival and bring Mato stuffs, like a red gold fish, a water baloon, and a giant bird plushie, all of which he won at the stand. From then on, all the prize stands watch out for the blue-haired hakama-wearing person.
The both of them are sitting on the stair of the shrine, Mato's prizes beside her.
"Has she replied?" Minato asked, in his head is a white fox mask he bought from one of the stand.
"..." Mato stayed silent, then a 'ping' was heard from her cell as she quickly opened it.
From: Takanashi
Sub: (No title)
I'm sorry.
Mato's face went into a shock at the message, but then the explosion of the firework distract her.
"I got three messages from Takanashi-san..." Mato begins, gaining Minato's attention. "All of them said, 'I'm sorry.'" When Mato's finished, tears start to roll from her eyes, which is still staring intently at the fireworks as the people around her cheered and clapped their hands.
Minato didn't say anything, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know what to say to comfort her.
After the firework had finished, the both of them head home in silent.
"It hurts..." Mato whispered, carrying her prizes from Minato. She then thought about what Saya-sensei told her, about someone else enduring her pain for her, that even if she's hurt or in pain, the one who endure it isn't her. "You liar..." Mato whispered, taking off her sandal.
Minato then noticed her swollen feet. "Mato-san." Minato called, stopping her. "Here." Minato crouched in front of her and offers her a piggyback ride "Get on."
"Eh!? N-no! I'm fine! Really!"
"Get on." Minato said firmly to her.
Mato stayed silent for a minute, before she slowly hugged on to his back. Minato gripped her tightly and stood back up.
XXX
"Mom! There's a man carrying a girl on his back." A random kid said before being shushed by his mother.
Minato and Mato ignored the kid's comment. As Minato carried Mato home, Mato's prizes of water ball and goldfish are tied on her sash, and the big plushie are tied with a rope that Minato produced out of nowhere on her back.
"Mato-san." Minato called the girl. "Its not nice to hold the pain by yourself."
"Huh?"
"You have a good family where you can share your pain, and you have us... your friends." Minato said to the girl. "That's why, don't hold it all inside."
Mato is surprised at the usually silent boy just as tears start to fall from her eyes as she cried on his back. Minato let his friend cry, ignoring the tear-soaked hakama.
XXX
'Fool' He grips his chest, looking at the green sky. The pain of his other self, the pain of watching his precious friend in pain, he also sensed it. Black Rock Shooter is in trouble, he must save her, for his other self's happiness. 'Fool' he murmured, as he summoned the velvet door once again. He hooks his harp to his back and steps into the door.
In another place, Black Rock Shooter is chained up by the scythe-carrying black-clothed girl. The girl steps on Black Rock Shooter's head.
"Help me..." A voice whispered.
She grabbed the chain around the black shooter, black blood start seeping out.
"Help me..."
She then pulled her chain as Black Rock is thrown into the air. In retaliation, Black Rock pulled on to the chain as the chain wrapped itself on to the girl's hand. She then used the chain to knock the gothic girl off balance and throw her off.
"Help me..."
Black Rock Shooter then notice a red heart-shaped object sewn in her chest. Black Rock Shooter let the chain go while dozens of black spider bugs start to gather around and lift the gothic girl away. Black Rock Shooter quickly chase after her, but the bugs are too fast and she's getting further and further away.
"Help me..."
"Ah!" Mato snapped awake. She quickly sat up and pant as she is covered in sweats. "Help...?" Kuro whispered.
XXX
"Hey Arisato-san, is it true?" One of the guys ask the changing blue-head.
Minato just look at him in confusion. Right now, his class are changing into sport clothing for PE, and of course boys change in the boys changing room.
"Oh you know what I mean! There's a rumor that you and Kuroi-san going out!" He exclaimed, now this gained almost all the boys attention. "Is it true?"
"What?" Minato finally ask.
"Dont pretend to don't know! Some of the girls from out class saw you with Kuroi-san, and Shu there saw you bringing her gifts and stuff." He point at one of the guys. "She's cute, even though she lack in the body department."
"Come on Yamada, that's low." One of the other random guy said.
"... No, we're not going out." Minato answer with a monotone voice.
"Whaaaat? Really?"
"Hey." A voice said gaining their attention. "Now let's not bother Arisato-san like that, if he say no then that means true, beside we have five minutes left to change." A grey bowl hair guy said, he is by all taller then most of the boys, including Minato.
"Oh yeah! Lets hurry!" Yamada and the rest of the boys quickly change into their sport uniform.
"I'll be going first." Minato state leaving the rest of the guys.
On the way to the sport field, he see Mato running his way. "Mato-sa-"Before he can finish Mato run past him, her eyes held sadness on them. "..." Minato stay silent, not knowing to either follow his fiend or heads to the sport field. On one hand, if he go to the field right now, there's a chance Mato will be sad again and it'll be a pain to fix it, however, if he follows there's a chance he can find out what making her sad, and end the trouble already, though he will get in trouble with the sport teacher... Probably.
After a minute of debating, he sigh and head to where Mato is going, he know he'll get in trouble for it, but if its for his friend then its worth it.
After tracing his friend, he ends up in the counseling room. Minato thought again if he should follow his friend, after pacing around the room for two minutes, Minato finally grip the door handle and slide it open.
"Excuse me." Minato said in his usual voice.
"Ah, Arisato-kun, welcome." Saya greet the silent boy. "Do you want some coffee?"
Minato look to the room couch and find Mato and Yuu, so he finally manage to find her, but before Minato can answer Saya, Mato quickly stood up and grab Minato shirt. "Minato-kun! I'll need your help!"
"... What?" Already? At least let him have some coffee damn it!
XXX
Minato look at the two-story house in front of him. "Are you sure its wise to bring me here?" He ask, he look at the crimson sky wondering if he should be here at all.
Mato nod. "Yeah, Takahasi need more friends, not just me." She take a deep breath and ring the front door.
No respond, Mato thought about ringing it once more but the sound of a scream from inside the house cut her off.
"Takanashi-san!" Mato calls. "Takanashi-san! What's wrong?"
Minato preparing himself to break down the door, but a voice cut him off. "Oh, its you, and who is this young man?" They look behind and see a black hair women with grocery, she look at the two in worried and confusion.
XXX
"Luckily, she only twisted her wrist." Takanashi mother said. "Kagari parents are coming here soon as well, you should go home."
Right now, they are at a hospital after the girl named Kagari purposedly fall down the staircase, there's isn't many visitors, and Minato only see few doctors and nurses passing by.
"I'm going home with Yomi-san." Mato said.
Minato sigh, knowing he'll be staying here accompanying Mato. Damn him and his self counciesness!
Yomi mother look down sadly. "Ah, Yomi have to stay wth Kagari-chan."
"She has to?" Mato ask. "She's staying at the hospital because she twisted her wrist?"
Minato raise an eyebrow, Mato has a point, a twisted wrist doesnt demand a person to stay at the hospital, its odd.
"Thats what Kagari-chan wants." Yomi mother answer.
"But why?" Minato ask loud enough to be heard. "Does Takahasi-san have a debt to Kagari-san?"
Yomi mother smile bitterly. "Kagari-chan always loved her since they were little, we had to live abroad for a few years because of my husband job. When we heads off to the airport, Kagari-chan came running after Yomi, and then..."
XXX
Fool open his eyes, looking at the eerie green sky and yellow moon. There'll be a battle, he can feels it. Black Rock Shooter are moving, toward a dangerous area, he must protect her, for his other side.
Fool stood up, he then look at the white flower on the ground, the only thing that emits life in his domain. Fool walk toward the edge of his large tower as a door appear, Fool opens it, he take a last glance at the flower, then he enter the door, ready to protect the black gunner.
XXX
"... So that's what happened..." Matou said looking down, feeling kinda bad.
Minato deep in thought. "Accident huh?"
"They couldn't find anything wrong with her legs, no matter how many times they examine them." She explain.
Both Minato and Matou look at her in surprise.
"It wasn't her legs, but her heart. She can't live without Yomi."
"But that's weird!" Matou said standing up. "Why does Yomi have to sacrifice herself for that?"
"I know..." Yomi's mother look away. "But Kagari-chan's so pitiful..."
"Then what about Yomi?"
Yomi's mother look surprise. "Kuroi-san..."
Minato stay silent, this is his first time seeing Matou angry like this.
Matou girth her teeth, then she quickly take her bag and sprint to Kagari's room. Minato quickly follow, knowing where this is going.
XXX
"Takanashi-san! Please open up Takanashi-san!" Mato said trying to open the locked door of Kagari's room.
"Kuroi-san! Please go home!" Takanashi voice was heard behind the door.
"I dont want to!" Mato said. "I'm leaving only with you! Only with you Yomi!"
Minato sigh, knowing this will happened, after all, the time he spent with her, he knows Mato can be a stuborn person, especialy when provoked.
"SHUT UP!" Kagari's loud voice was heard behind the door. "Get lost you bitch! Yomi is... Yomi is mine! Even though she did this to me... Even though she did this to me!"
XXX
Fool look as Black Rock Shooter jump into a house, its been a few minutes since he followed the black gunner. Truth to be told, he don't really like this world, it got a creepy vibe. Though he's one to talk since he's domain was also creepy in its own way.
He is taken out of his train of thought when the sound of crash was heard, and that creepy doll girl had crash into Black Rock Shooter with her scorpion doll-like vehicle. Though Black Rock Shooter manage to hand into the head like doll on the vehicle, she is thrown by a rapid shots of what appear to be... macaroons. Well, its time to get to work. Fool grip his harp and jump off the building he was standing to rescue the black shooter.
XXX
Both Minato and Mato heard the sound of yelling, and the sound of a person falling down. "Yomi! Yomi!" Mato tries to call her friend.
But the sound of Kagari's screaming answer her. "Shut up! You fat pig!"
"Open up!" Mato demand.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Kagari's scream. There seems to be more screaming inside.
XXX
Black Rocks Shooter use one of the macaroons as a glider, she look at her enemy with her cold blue eyes as the macaroons hit the wall, she jump off to the floor and summon her giant rock cannon and aim it at the incoming girl. Her cannon glow bright blue then she fires at the incoming macaroons. The blond girl, knowing her attack useless, she open her vehicle mouth and shot a lots, and I mean a lots of macaroons stream at Black Rock Shooter.
Black Rock Shooter change her weapon as it began to change form into what seem to be a minigun, ready to rain bullets to its enemy. But before she can fire, Fool jump in front of her, readying his harp and start to play it, the song of his beautiful melody echoed through the area as a force field of some sort appear bouncing all the macaroons all of over the place.
When the stream of macaroons stop, Black Rock Shooter take this chance to walk forward and start to fire the minigun right at the doll-like vehicle face, the gun unleash thousand of bullets. After being hit by the rain of bullets the vehicles finally exploded, but it's not over as the blond driver use the explosion to jump toward both Black Rock Shooter and Fool carrying what seem to be a sword and a giant round shield, what most noticible is her pair of legs being all mechanical with wheels, she moves like using a roller skate, headin toward both Fool and Black Rock Shooter.
Unknown to the three of them, Yomi other side, who is traped by chains on a stone like heart above her, the heart start to shake as Yomi guilt start to crumble.
XXX
"Its my fault that something terrible happened to Kagari." There's a pause. "Its my fault she's so pitiful, but I want to be your friend! Tell me what should I do? Kuro-Mato!"
"Don't pity her!" Mato answer. "She only pitiful because you pity her! Its a slippery slope! You're ridiculing her!"
"Don't you dare talk about this!" Kagari yell from the inside. And there's a pause, its look like Yomi are speaking to Kagari in a hush tone.
XXX
On the other world, a two on one battle are comensing. Where the driver are trying to beat both Fool and Black Rock Shooter, something that seems to be hard, very hard. With the gunner shooting at her, and Fool blocking her way to the gunner, clashing his harp to her sword. The blond girl having an advantage of being in her domain, a place that made her more powerful, and her mobility that surprass both of them. The girl slam Fool with her shield, throwing him away, then charge toward Black Rock Shooter who change her weapon into a black katana and they clash their swords.
But when the blond girl felt something on her shoulder, she look up, letting her guard down, Black Rock Shooter take this chance and cut her shield hand, and her heavy shield crash into her legs, destroying it.
Before anyone can do anything else, a blinding light from the sky take their full attention. Yami other side, she break herself free out of the chain and the stone heart, and the sky shatter, the ground shake and a pillar of toys start to raise from the ground as a black hole appear sucking the world up.
Kagari other side hold on to the ground as she and her world are suck in, while the three other look at her, waiting for the decision of her real self. Whether she accept or not, the choice is hers, and her other self will follow it complete obedience.
But then, a black red jigsaw like sword appear and stab itself on the black hole, stopping it. All three of them look toward the source, and find a black hair girl with a pair of horns, wearing a long sleeve black jacket with dark red strip, a pair of biker shorts, and a large metal boots. She carries an identical sword like the one who stop the sucking hole, she grin and slash the air around as a red shock waves appear and run straight between the three of them, with Yomi other side and Fool falling down to the hole the shock waves made.
The mysterious girl smirk at Kagari's other side, who glare at her. While Black Rock Shooter ready her katana, but then she notice that only the mysterious girl sword remained, Black Rock Shooter quickly look around. Kagari's other side, jump from one of the tower behind Black Rock Shooter to stab her, but before she can be in range, a flash of silver seen by her eyes, and her head fall off from her body. Black Rock Shooter look behind her and see Fool floating in his 'Thanatos' form, his coffins chained at his back floating like she remember, and the large sword he is carrying.
The sound of Kagari realf self screaming echoed through the area as her domain shattered.
XXX
"-NNNOOOOOOO!" Both Minato and Mato snap at the sound of screaming.
"Kagari? Kagari! Whats wrong?" Yomi panic voice is heard. "Kagari, are you okay? Kagari no!"
"Yomi! What's wrong?!" Mato ask also panicking.
Minato quickly kick the door open, he may be small, but his strength are nothing to scoff at. The sight of Yomi crying and Kagari's sitting on the bed, she look at the two guests with a gentle smile. While the other look at her in confusion, the frantic broken girl now calm and gives them a smile? What the heck going on is what run on Minato's mind.
To Be Continue