Hello everyone! Chapter three is here! Ok this may not be just as long as Ch.2, but a lot of thinking went into this chapter so it kinda makes up for it. Now, since I don't own BRS, I am not an expert with it. The anime's storyline is not very clear, so people are very biased with their opinions on it. I may have changed some things around that had not been very clear to me when watching the anime. But I haven't changed anything so severely that it stands out really badly.

Again, thanks to Knight25 for your review. Haha yes, I admit it, the end of that chapter was a bit cliffy. I do like cliff-hangers, I find that it keeps everyone in suspension really well. Thanks again!

I do hope you enjoy this chapter and I will see you in the next chapter! Remember: Any feedback is welcomed.

BRS is love, BRS is life.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

We're living on a set time

How could she have not seen it coming? She knew that Yuu eventually would bring up the subject of the Otherworld, but she hadn't exactly been looking foward to it. And what's more, Yuu wanted to talk her about.. Her. Black Rock Shooter.

"Please don't look so worried. I suspect that your thoughts drift back to her from time to time. How could they not?" Yuu said with a serious tone in her voice. Her face softened a bit. "There's something you need to know."

Mato stared at her friend. She seemed so calm. The subject didn't seem to bother her. Wait.. What did she need to know?

Yuu's face broke into a smile. "Mato.. Strength's alive."

Mato gasped. She's.. Alive? A sudden bloom of happiness overcame her. "What the hell Yuu, that's brilliant! Oh my God, I can't believe it! That's the best news ever!" She squealed and hugged her small petite friend. She couldn't even imagine how happy Yuu must be.

Yuu sighed and closed her eyes. "She's actually been alive nearly since we left the Otherworld. I'm not really sure how, but that doesn't really matter to me now. I'm just so, so happy she's alive." A tear ran down the side of her face, and she brushed it away. "I have only known this since about a month ago; it took our connections a while to regain back their full power in order for us to communicate. I had been asleep one night, and when I woke up.. I wasn't in my room. I instantly reconised were I was.. How could I not? The Otherworld is the same since we left it. Maybe a bit beaten up, but still the same. I was confused. Why would I be there if my Otherself was dead? I heard my name being called, and I turned around. And then to my complete amazement, there she stood. Strength." Yuu glanced at Mato who was taking all of this new information in.

"I must have looked a bit shocked, because she smiled and hugged me. And then well.. I cried.. Like, who doesn't cry when they see a loved one they thought they had lost? I asked her if I was seeing things, and she laughed and said no. She explained to me that even though a Otherself may die, some are.. How did she put it? Ah yes, some are made to stay. One simply may not be able to actually function without their Otherself, and I am one of them." She paused. Then, "We talked a lot after that. She asked me how I was, did I like the real world? And I told her that she was right; the world is a beautiful place. And really, it is." She nodded towards the scenery in front of them. "She asked how you were doing, I told her that, well, you're the greatest friend anyone could ask for. Not being sarcastic. Cause seriously, you are." She smiled warmly at Mato, and Mato felt a warm buzz go through her.

Then Yuu turned serious again. "Now, I want you to listen carefully, Mato. Over the past month, Strength has been giving me a lot of information. To talk to her, I don't even need to be asleep. But she has told me stuff about the other Otherselves. They are all still the same, in fact, many more have appeared in the Otherworld. But the Otherselves you and I know of; Dead Master, Chariot and Black Gold Saw have gained emotion. They are not the same old emotionless idiots we knew. And they are smart. Very smart. And extremely powerful. But, this doesn't mean they take advantage of their power and fight like idiots. They're.. Kinda on speaking terms. And their domains are reforming again. It won't be long before their connections with their counterparts are at their full peak again. I don't know when, but I know it's something to keep up to date with. Now.." She shuffled slightly over to Mato so that she was directly in front of her. Mato could tell what was coming next.

"About Black Rock Shooter.."

Mato swallowed . She thought of those cold blue eyes, yet to feel emotion other than hatred. She thought of how hard it must be to shoulder ones pain that isn't even theirs. Her pearly white skin, hard but pretty face, hair that seemed flawless and soft constantly, the elegance of a ballerina and deadly swiftness of a killer. That girl was her Otherself. And Mato turned her into a monster. She squeezed her eyes shut and balled her hands into fists as a wave of guilt came over her.

"Mato.."

She opened her eyes and glanced up at Yuu. Yuu gently placed her hand on Mato's arm.

"You think it's your fault she turned insane, don't you?"

Her raven hair friend nodded.

"Don't. It isn't your fault. You were just overcome by emotions, it got a little heavy for Black Rock Shooter and she just lost it a bit. And...Me kinda fighting against her didn't make any things better. Battles and fights wind anyone up, so it was only natural she got a little out of control in the state she was in. But listen to me, she loves you. She loves you so much and she doesn't want to see you getting hurt. That's why she fought and killed, it's a way to let of the steam. I know I'm not really explaining myself very well, but please try to understand. And whatever you do.. Don't fear her."

Mato was silent, and it worried the petite brunette.

"You don't fear her.. Do you?"

Mato stared at her shoes. She loves me? she thought. How could anyone love someone after they caused them to feel a lot of pain. It didn't seem natural. But then the bigger question dawned on her. Do I fear her?

When she fought against Black Rock Shooter in her insane state, Mato had been a lot weaker than her. All Mato wanted was to feel was her own pain, and not push it all onto Black Rock Shooter. But the beatings she received were brutal, and she eventually had to fight back. In a battle of shooting rounds upon rounds of bullets at each other, the domains of the Otherworld, the colors, started to blend together and formed a massive Rock Cannon. It was after pulling the trigger of the cannon that Insane Black Rock Shooter was blown away and was no more.

But that was how she had met Black Rock Shooter, that's how she knew her. A brutal killing machine, and she couldn't help but be afraid of her. She didn't know if that was actually the way she was, or if that was just her insane state. But didn't Yuu say that Black Rock Shooter loved her? Why should she worry? What if I could speak to her again? She thought. Clear things up?

"Mato."

Mato turned to her friend. Yuu smiled evenly at her.

"Mato, your connection with Black Rock Shooter is nearly at it's full strength. Anytime now your connection barrier will be open and you can speak to her."

Any time now? Mato thought through what Yuu said. I could speak to her..

Yuu looked serious, but a moment later a look of understanding came across her face, like she could read Mato's thoughts.

"You could speak to her, and in your case, make things right."