Disclaimer: I do not own Black Rock Shooter, if I did the story will be all about yuri loving.

A/N: I thank Black Rock Shooter Wiki for the description information, without it, I'll probably be stuck with nowhere else to go. Also I would like to thank dan heron, Black Diamond Breaker and sara haruko takenouchi kamiya (I hope I got that right) for reviewing my story, it makes me cry in happiness knowing there are some people who like my story. I hope this chapter is satisfactory and part of it is about their human self and another part is about their other self. I don't know why but I like showing their love in a sadistic manner. Anyway read and review people.

Obsidian Heart

Chapter 3: Pain and Love

Mato and Yomi exited the Overture cafe, both of them took a long time to decide who was going to pay and in the end Yomi won. She insisted that she'll pay everything though Mato strongly protest and thought she should pay for herself. But in the end, she can't beat Yomi's persuasion.

"Phew, I'm stuff." Mato said as she stretched herself.

Yomi nodded in agreement, "The food is rather delicious. We should eat her sometime."

"Yup and this time I'll pay." Mato grinned.

"Hai, hai." Yomi said as she walked down the pavement towards the train station.

"Yomi I'm serious. I'll pay next time promise?" Mato ran along side her looking rather serious.

Yomi sighed, "Alright promise."

Mato smiled back and went to her usual carefree manner.

The walked back to the station was silent and both of them didn't know what to talk about. Mato started to wonder her other self, Black Rock Shooter. When Yomi was taken by the darkness, Black Rock Shooter came to her and offered help. Who was Black Rock Shooter? Why had she help Mato? Was it because she was also apart of Mato? Were they one and the same? Their appearances were almost identical and Mato bet that she will look like Black Rock Shooter in a few years to come except that her skin won't be as pale as her.

Mato glanced sideways to Yomi, she wonders if Yomi had ever thought about her other self. Unlike Mato, Yomi's other self was sadistic and brutal. Was that part of Yomi's personality or was it just the side effect of being engulfed in her own darkness. Mato wouldn't know about it, in fact she was too afraid to talk about their other self.

"Mato, are you alright?" Yomi asked.

Mato realized she was staring at Yomi and quickly shook her head. "I-It's nothing, I was just thinking about something."

"Oh, alright." Yomi still looking worried but didn't persuade the topic more.

They arrived at the station and went inside the first train that arrived. There weren't a lot of people inside since it was already late afternoon. Most of them must've already gone home to their warm comforts. The door slide closed and the train started to move. Yomi took out her cell phone, the star phone charm dangling below. Mato didn't know why but she felt relief whenever she saw the star strap still there.

"What are you doing Yomi?" Mato asked.

"I'm just sending my parent a message." Yomi chuckled. "Sometimes their a bit paranoid when I'm not home after school."

Mato smiled sadly, "It's…understandable, since you disappear the last time."

"Yeah…" Yomi slipped her phone into her pocket and looked away.

Mato felt like she wanted to slap herself. Why did she say that of all things? Mato opened her mouth but no words came out. She didn't know what to say in this kind of situation, except for one thing.

"Yomi…" Mato murmured.

"Hmm?" Yomi turned but she felt Mato's soft and warm hand clasped gently at her. Mato gazed out of the train, refusing to look at Yomi's eyes.

"I'll walk you home." Mato finished.

"Mato… thank you." Yomi smiled happily as she too looked out at the scenery.

It was just a short walked from the train station to Yomi's house. Her house was like any other house at the residential area except there was garden at the backyard. Yomi opened the metal gate and entered.

"Would you like to go inside Mato?"

Mato hesitated then shook her head. "I better go home. My mom is probably wondering where I am."

Disappointment flashed in Yomi's eyes for a second and was replaced with a warm smile, "Some other time then. See you tomorrow Mato." Yomi closed the small gate and walked to her front door. She glanced back at Mato who stared back at her. It was just for a few seconds but they caught a glimpse of longing for each other. It was almost painful to look away. The front door to Yomi's house opened and a woman with long wavy black hair came into view.

"Yomi, you're back. We were worried about you." The woman said.

Yomi looked back at her mother, "I'm sorry. I was with Mato at the new cafe down town."

Her mother smiled, "Well if it's with Mato then its fine. Come inside and help with dinner."

"Okay." Yomi stepped into the house. She glanced outside but Mato was nowhere to be seen. Yomi reluctantly closed the door, she wished Mato would stay with her much longer.

At the same time, the sound of running footsteps echo throughout the quiet resident. The streetlights were already on and petite glimmering stars already divulge itself on the night sky. Mato panted heavily but she kept running away from Yomi's house. A sharp pain hit her over the head and Mato staggered a few steps, clutching her aching head. She closed her eyes, hoping the pain would go away but when she opened it back, she was shocked to find half of the sidewalk was decorated with check board patterns.

"W-What…"

Mato shook her head, trying to dispel the illusion. She continued to walk towards the direction of her house, fighting against the pain along the way. Few minutes later she arrived at her house safe and sound. Mato sighed in relief as she opened the door. No on greeted her as she expected, her mother was probably at the kitchen fixing dinner while Hiro must be in his room.

"I'm…home." Mato said weakly.

"Welcome home Mato." Her mother peek out from the kitchen, she blinked a few times when she saw Mato flop down on the couch with a tired looked on her face.

"Oh my, tired of basketball practice?"

Mato shook her head, she forcefully sat up and smiled. "Yeah… something like that mom. Emm what's for dinner?"

"Roasted chicken and salmon egg, you better go wash up first dear." She

"Mom… I think I'll pass for the night."

Her mother looked surprise, "Are you sure? It's your favorite."

Mato nodded weakly, "Yeah… I'll just go up to my room and rest."

"Mato, are you sure your alright? Are you sick or anything?" she went to sit beside her daughter and placed a hand on her forehead.

"I'm fine mom. Don't worry about it." Mato stood up and gave the woman a forced smile. She hated lying to her mom like this. "I'll be in my room. Good night."

Mato dragged herself up the stairs and as soon as she heard her mother's footsteps faded back into the kitchen, she gasped. It hurts but she didn't know why. Quietly she passed Hiro's room and entered her own. As soon as Mato closed the door, she fell down on the floor hard. She couldn't move her body, nor could she lift a finger. Her visions began to blur but slowly it changes. The pain slowly disappears and the room disintegrated into the familiar other world.

Black Rock Shooter rose up to her feet. The wind blew furiously against her, making her jacket soared wildly behind her. She turned around and wasn't surprise to see the barren landscape around her. She narrowed her eyes and began to walk away. The placed was just the same, nothing more then scrapped and rusted metals lying around, shattered glasses here and there, dry mountainous landscapes over the horizon and strange looking ruins that could collapse at any time. Why does this place exist? This place known as the other world, in fact how did she know its name?

She went up the steep landscape and passed through random size crosses. The place looks like an unkempt cemetery. So far she only knew Dead Master and herself exist in this world. There were probably more other selves out there wondering what they were and why were they doing here. Maybe she could look for them, but then what. They'll probably attack her in the same way Dead Master did, since their instinct wants them to fight.

The sound of familiar snickered snapped her from her train of thoughts. Black Rock Shooter was so busy thinking about things that she haven't notice another presence was there with her. She scanned the area and saw the familiar figure sitting on one of the large crosses.

Dead Master looked down, her legs cross one another and her arms kept her from falling back. Her two head skeleton hovering above her, green light glowing out from their eye sockets and mouths. Dead Master smirked as she leapt up and landed at Black Rock Shooter left side. Blue flame shoot out of Black Rock Shooter's left eye as she ran to follow Dead Master. The thick dust blowing furiously around them blurs her vision and Dead Master took the opportunity to attack her prey. She dug her right hand into the barren ground and took out her dead scythe. With a smirked she leap up and saw Black Rock Shooter, who was searching frantically for her opponent.

The sound of slicing air caught her attention and Black Rock Shooter dodge the strike by jumping back. The dust was force away as the scythe strike the ground. Dead Master proceeded to attack relentlessly and Black Rock Shooter managed to avoid every strike with ease. Dead Master aim for her abdomen but she avoided it by flipping back and landed on one of the large crosses. Wind started to pick up once again and the area soon was enveloped by dust. There were sounds of running footsteps at her side and Black Rock Shooter flinched as she barely dodged the scythe, grazing her jacket. She leaned back and fall down to the ground at her two feet while Dead Master went passed her and hide herself in the heavy dust once again.

Black Rock Shooter clinched her glove fist, she held her right hand high and punched the ground below her. The blow created a large crack and dust swept away once again, clearing the area in seconds. She looked up just in time to see Dead Master running towards her with the scythe held high. She leap backwards just in time to avoid the down slashed, but the dead scythe dug deeper into the crack ground. Dead Master silently ordered her two head skulls to attack the still airborne Black Rock Shooter.

The first skull charged at her but Black Rock Shooter press her hands on its forehead and hop above it. The second skull opened its jaws and green glow of light flashed brightly. She covered her eyes with her arm, the flashed of light blinding her temporarily but it was enough to distract her. The second skull tackled her, sending her dive to the ground. The sound of collision erupted and dust spread out from the spot. Black Rock Shooter slowly stood up, her uneven face still shows no expression. Her bored blue eyes looked to her side to see Dead Master walking leisurely towards her and stopped a good distance away.

The pain being inflicted on her doesn't hurt at all. She didn't know why, and most of all, why was she holding back? Was it because she didn't want to hurt Dead Master, or Yomi? But were they one and the same from the beginning, Dead Master and Yomi?

Black Rock Shooter fully turned to look at Dead Master. The sadistic smirked plastered on Dead Master's face was still there. Black Rock Shooter blinked then walked towards her without a second thought. Dead Master snickered as she sent her two skulls charging towards her again. The first one charge head on but instead of dodging it, she pushed it back with her own hands. She was powerful and strong, she could lift any heavy things fairly easily even though her body looked frail and thin. She grabbed the skull by its eye socket with her left hand and punched it with her right. The skull cracked opened and disintegrate. The second skull attacked her from the above, but it didn't manage to crush her. Black Rock Shooter held it with both her hands as if lifting it up, but the ground below her beginning to crack.

The cracked spread apart and the ground began to crumble. Everything fell down and within seconds, landed on hard cold tile floor. Black Rock Shooter grunted as she stood up but an unexpected blow hit her, sending her flying to one of the crosses. She tried to steady herself but Dead Master pushed her back roughly. Black Rock Shooter soon found herself face to face with Dead Master, both slide down the tile floor.

Blue flames died down and Black Rock Shooter sighed as she leaned back on the cross, she folded her right leg up and rested her right elbow on top of her knee while Dead Master was in between her legs, resting against her front. The light of the moon illuminate the area and the few crosses and scrap metals glimmer beautifully. What were they doing? Weren't they fighting? But now… it's so peaceful. She felt Dead Master shifted, a sharp metallic finger soon touched her cheek down to her neck, the action was repeated with sluggish movement. Black Rock Shooter didn't mind the little pain as she stared blankly at the moon.

A figure stood still, watching them from afar. It was a girl, her arms made up of two huge mechanical arms, a robotic tail with a vertebrae-like design move freely behind her and her feet are metal stilts. She has a black hood with white flames on it and white ribbons at the base of her tail and knee highs. Her hair and eyes were white like snow in contrast with her tanned skin.

Strength looked below her, eyes narrowed slightly at the two figures resting peacefully. It was time…