Aaaaand we're back! Second episode up!

Let me just say Thanks a bunch for all the reviews, you guys are awsome! I'm soooo glad to not just be writting this for my health. In fact I'm so happy I've prepared a treat. I've come off my 7 months Art hiatus to make you guys my own personal fanart, based off the fanfic itself! Go to my profile for the link!

Disclaimer – I don't own Black Rock Shooter. She's the property of Huke, and Studio Ordet.


Mato held her breath and did her best to stand straight as her mother tightened the obi sash of her yukata.

"Ughh, too tight, my lunch is coming up!"

Mato's mother gave the obi another good yank, tightening it further. "You move around a lot, it'll slip down unless it's put on securely."

"Sis, don't call out to me if you see me at the festival. It's uncool." Hiro said, observing the scene from the comfort of the family couch.

"Ugh! I feel the same!" Mato picked up her shirt and threw it at her little brother.

He pulled it off his head and growled. "Y-You lookin' for trouble?"

"Are you?" Mato answered back.

"Both of you knock it off! Mato, stand still! Hiro don't provoke her!"

Mato turned back to the mirror she was facing, with a triumphant "Hmmp!"

As Mato gazed at her yukata-clad self, she began to lay out her plan for the evening.

'Tonight, I'll make sure Yomi's so happy her tears will dry up permanently! And I won't run away this time. Tonight, I'll confess everything. I want to be with her, and that blonde girl will not get in my way.'

Ms. Kuroi patted the bowed obi and stood up. "There! All done little princess!"

Mato gave her thanks and slipped into her vinyl zori sandals. 'Together. We will be together this night, or my name's not Kuroi Mato!'

'Yomi… I will protect you this time. Count on it!'


This endless battle was beginning to become too much, she simply couldn't win a fight that was two against one.

Black Rock Shooter was tossed to the ground for the countless time that day, as Chariot's carriage barreled her into the dirt. Rock rolled on the ground for a moment and then took off running, the carriage in hot pursuit. It was a futile effort, her two legs versus its six. It caught up to her all too quickly, and Rock found herself on the receiving end of the carriage's fire.

The head of Chariot's carriage opened its mouth and blasted macarons so large they were Rock's size, and though she did her best to dodge them, she was pummeled from behind by a large blue one. It left her leaping for dear life over the edge of a cliff.

Rock managed to grab a scrap of fabric hanging in the air in the nick of time as she went over the edge, Chariot's carriage was not so lucky. I couldn't stop in time and ended up driving over the cliff. The carriage landed smoothly on a pillar but was too heavy. The pillar gave way to the weight, and Chariot went tumbling further.

Rock held her grip steady but the dry-rot fabric she'd been hanging from ripped from her heaviness. She went tumbling after Chariot. Seeing this as her chance, Rock summoned her rock cannon and aimed straight for the falling carriage. She was blocked however, as a chain wrapped itself around her neck, holding her back.

Chariot managed to land in one piece and drove off. Black Rock Shooter found herself in the all too familiar position of being chained in thin air by Dead Master.

("So.. You're on her side now? And here I thought you were above being bullied into something.") Rock said silently staring into Dead Master's eyes.

Dead Master looked down on Rock with her nose in the air.

("…You could never escape me anyhow.")


Yomi admired herself in her vanity mirror as she finished tying off the blue obi sash to her red yukata by herself. She nodded to herself satisfied with her handy work. Yomi put a hand to her heart and breathed deep to calm it. Why was she so nervous? This wasn't the first time she and Mato had gone to a festival together.

Yomi grasped at one of her curls as she recalled Mato's words from the previous day.

["Let's go and be us again. Let's experience our friendship all over again!"]

'Mato really knows how to inspire, doesn't she?' Yomi thought with a smile. She nodded to herself and stood up to put on her zori sandals. When her ensemble was complete, Yomi grabbed for her money pouch and prepared to leave.

Her mother stopped her half way down the stairs.

"Yomi dear, I'm afraid I have bad news. I know I said it would be okay for you to go to the festival, but something has come up at my job, and I need to hurry there. Kagari said she isn't feeling well, so I need you to stay here and take care of her, alright?"

"Why? Kagari was just fine thirty minutes ago!"

"Yomi please, you know Kagari isn't well. She needs you here."

"But, I was so looking forward to this!"

"Yomi, I don't ask much of you, do I? Just please be here to take of Kagari. There will be other festivals. Now I have to get going, dinner's already on the stove. And, do make sure Kagari comfortable."

Yomi squeezed the hand rail of the stairwell as her mother walked past her and out the front door. She waited a moment and took a deep breath. Perhaps she could make a run for it?

She turned to go-

"-Don't even think about it." Came a voice from the top of the stairs.

Yomi looked up to a glaring Kagari, clutching her doll.

"You…" Yomi growled in anger.

Kagari held up Mary and moved her arms about. "You were stupid for trying to take off in the first place. Don't you know Kagari needs you here?"

Yomi ignored Kagari and continued down the stair well. "You won't stop me this time. I'm going."

"Your parents don't love you Yomi."

That stopped Yomi dead in her tracks. She slowly turned to Kagari, shock breaking out on her face.

"Wh-what did you say?"

"They don't love you, I'm there favorite child now. If you take off, all I have to do is tell them and you'll never get to go outside again. Your dad went easy on you the last time; I'll make sure he isn't so lenient next time. So, take off if you want, but don't go thinking you'll be welcomed when you come back."

With that, Kagari wheeled herself away from the top of the stairs back into the parlor from where she'd come. Yomi sat at the bottom of the stair well. She was one step away from going out the door, and one step away from going back up stairs.

'What should I do…?'

Yomi held herself as her body began to shake slightly. Truly, she had wanted this to happen; she had wanted to go to the festival. Now what was she to do? How would she tell Mato she couldn't go?

The cell Yomi had hidden in her yukata buzzed to life as she received a text.

From Mato: 'Yomi, where R U? I'm already here.'

Yomi let out a sob, as she read the message. She calmed herself and prepared to type her decline.

'I'm sorry. I can't go. Kagari's not well. Mom wants me here with her.'

She waited a moment.

Buuzzz Buuzzzz

'Then I'll come to U!'

Yomi's eyes widen. Mato was willing to throw the festival away for her sake? No! She would not subject Mato to Kagari's wrath again.

'Don't Mato! U enjoy the festival, I'll stay here.'

'Won't be any fun without you there :('

'I'm sorry.'

"Yomi! Make us some tea!"

Yomi clutched her phone tight as Kagari gave her an order. With her face streaking with tears, Yomi somberly walked back up the stairs to prepare a pot of tea.


Mato stared at her phone, visibly disappointed. 'No! This was not the way this night was supposed to go!'

Mato kicked at the dirt with her zori, and sighed. She looked up the steps to the temple and admired all the booths within. 'How could Yomi ever think I'd have fun without her here? What should I do?'

"Hah, is that Mato I spy?"

Mato turned and looked to the voice that called to her. "Oh, Yuu! You're here too?"

"I'd never miss a festival! Why are you just waiting around here? Isn't Yomi with you?"

Mato looked down and frowned. "She can't make it."

"Oh, that's too bad. This year's festival looks like it has some really good booths open."

Mato just nodded her head still held down. Yuu put her hand on Mato's shoulder.

"Well there's no one saying you can't hang out with me. How about it? We'll even pick out something to bring Yomi later. Okay?"

Mato thought for a moment. 'Yomi had said to go without her right? But how can I…?' She sighed.

"Alright, I'll go with you."

Yuu beamed. "That's the spirit! Come on we'll have fun." She said walking up the temple steps.

Mato looked up to the sky still disappointed.

"Blue…" She murmured to know one in particular.

The evening proceeded onward, and the sun began to set. Yuu spent her time trying every bit of food the festival had to offer. Mato spent her time just watching Yuu have fun. She did her best to put on a smile for Yuu's sake.

She looked up to the sky again as it began to change colors.

"Orange…"

"Ne Mato, here take these!" Yuu exclaimed as she handed a styrofoam bento box to Mato.

"What's this?" Mato asked curiously.

"It's takoyaki, there's enough there for you and Yomi to share. I figured, even if Yomi couldn't come, there's no reason why we can't bring the festival to her right?"

Mato smiled sadly. "Yeah, bring the festiv…"

Mato eyes widened with inspiration. Truly Yuu could be brilliant at times!

"Yuu! You're a genius!" Mato exclaimed.

"Heheh, tell me something I don't already know!" Yuu grinned.

"Even if Yomi can't come, there's no reason I can't just take the festival to where she is! I'll just gather up some stuff and take it to her. Thanks so much for your advice Yuu!"

With her new plan made, Mato took off running deeper into the festival. Yuu was left standing there still blushing and gushing over the compliment she had received.

"Heh, I wouldn't say genius, but yeah I am pretty smart, eh Mato? Mato? Where'd you go?!"

Mato went running about the festival admiring anything and everything she could bring with her to take to Yomi.

From a booth that made grilled unagi, Mato bought two orders. Off to the side she spied a man giving away several bunny shaped balloons in different colors; she took three and tied them to her wrist. At another booth, a vender was selling candy apples, from him she bought two.

Mato continued to roam around looking for anything she could use or buy. To the back, near the shrine she took three streamers that had fallen off their hooks. Last, Mato roamed the booths until she found one that sold sparklers. Once she'd bought a pack, she took moment to survey her growing inventory.

'Let's see; takoyaki, unagi, balloons, candy apples, streamers, sparklers... what else am I missing?'

Mato found herself teetering slightly as she worked to carry everything. She looked up to the sky once more, and had it really gotten so late so quickly? The heavens were changing color again as the last bit of sun disappeared.

"Purple…"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOOM!

Mato's eyes widened as the fireworks were launched. They were so beautiful they brought a small tear to her eye.

"Yomi…"

Everything seemed to be about Yomi (or lack thereof) these days. Ever since the discovery of the other world, everything in Mato's life felt like it was slowly spilling onto the floor. And Yomi, even if by accident, had been the one to knock the table over.

There had to be some way to fix this, to fix everything that had gone so wrong not too long ago. That was about to go wrong again. She looked down at the things in her hand and sighed. Throwing Yomi her own private, little festival was hardly a real fix to her problems, but it was a start at least.

Mato walked from the shrine, and took the usual back alley that led to her neighborhood. She continued to struggle with her heavy burden, as Saya's words rang in her mind.

"Even if you feel you've lost all your courage, it doesn't actually leave you. There exists another you that can take your hurt, your pain, and in return she can make you brave again."

Yet as Mato traveled the distance further and further toward Yomi's house, she found herself believing those words less and less.

"I'm still scared… Black Rock Shooter can't help me this time."

Mato stopped mid-stride, and slipped her sore and red feet out of her zori sandals. With her mini festival still in her arms, she knelt down and picked them up, then proceeded onward.

"I'm scared… Of things I really don't understand. Of things I'm not sure I want to understand."

Across the street, a little boy blabbed to his mother about a girl with no sandals on. But, it was an afterthought for both the boy's mother and Mato as they walked on into the night.


Kagari's laughter echoed throughout the Takanashi parlor as she observed on the television, a white wolf being devoured by deadly black ants.

"HAHAHAH! Look the ants are eating him! HAHAH! So lame! Eww his guts!"

Yomi sat next to her, still dressed in her yukata, silent and brooding as she tried to concentrate on the novel she was reading for school. She felt her eyebrows twitch as Kagari became louder and louder, purposely trying to pull her out of her mope.

"Yomi? Why won't you talk to me?" Kagari asked, her laughter finally dying down.

Yomi continued to ignore her, and Kagari became frustrated. She snatched the book from Yomi's hand and tossed it over the couch without care.

"You can read that later, talk to me. I'm bored."

"...Why won't you even let me send a text message?" The heiress asked in a whispered voice.

"What for? You already told her you couldn't go, didn't you? Besides, why would she be waiting for you anyway?"

Kagari picked up a pink macaroon from a plate she had sitting on the table and held it to Yomi's mouth.

"I don't want it..." The heiress muttered.

"Eat it." Kagari commanded as she continuously rubbed the macaroon at the corner of Yomi's mouth. When at last her mouth spread open Kagari became joyful. Yomi was finally beginning to accept things as she wanted-

"-Why did you stop me?"

Kagari's smile vanished. "…What?"

"I wanted to go to the festival, why did you stop me? Why are you constantly getting in my way?" Yomi asked balling her fist, temper rising.

"How dumb can you be?" Kagari threw the macaroon back onto the plate she'd picked it from. "You know perfectly well you belong to me now, and if I can't go, you can't go."

A spark of something twitched behind Yomi's eyes and they began to water. She gritted her teeth and balled her hands tighter. Her nails dug into her palms, turning them red.

"You are so…" Yomi couldn't quite find the words.

Kagari just stared, slightly miffed.

"Hmm? Have something to say, Yomi? Don't bother."

Yomi's shadow grew dark and stretched about the floor twisting into something that was no longer Yomi's. It went unnoticed by Kagari.

"You should just accept things as I want them."

The shadow grew horns and most a sinister, green smile broke out where the face would be. Still Kagari continued to talk on.

"We'll both be a lot happier if you do."

Yomi stood, as something other than herself possessed her body. She let it.

Kagari was about to add more, but noticed the vast look in Yomi's eyes. "Yomi? What's the matter with you?"

Yomi let out an "hmmp" and lunged for Kagari her hands wrapping around her neck, squeezing. Kagari made a choking noise as she tried to pry Yomi's hands off. A smile broke out onto Yomi's face as she squeezed tighter. Her eyes flicked in between dark and light as she watched Kagari writhe beneath her in pain, the way she herself had a few nights ago.

Using the last of her fading strength, Kagari reached for Mary. With a shaky hand; she pulled out a needle hidden within the doll's bonnet. She jabbed the needle into Yomi's hand effectively forcing her to let go. Yomi grabbed her arm in pain, and Kagari held her neck as she coughed.

Yomi snapped out of her possession and surveyed what she'd just done. She stood up in shock as realization dawned. Yomi looked down to her shadow and gasped, the horns were fading away.

What had she just done?!

Kagari glared from her seat on the couch. "YOMI! JUST WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Y-YOU MONSTER!"

Yomi took off barefooted, down the steps and out the front door in fear. Her other self had gotten out! She'd actually tried to kill Kagari just now! Yomi ran as tears clouded her vision. The night air was brisk and the only light outside were from dimly lit street lights, still she ran on.

Her bare feet stumbled on a crack in the ground and she fell to the ground. She stayed there and curled herself into a bowing position as she continued to cry.

'Oh God, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to let her out.' Yomi let out an anguished sob as she wrapped her arms around her body.

"Mato… Mato help me…I can't."

...

...

...

"YOMI! YOMIIIII!"

Yomi looked up in surprise. Just ahead, Mato was running toward her, also bare footed and still in a yukata. Yomi thanked who ever in the heavens heard her prayer and ran toward her. "MATO!"

Mato enveloped her in a tight hug as Yomi clutched her and sobbed on her shoulder. "Yomi, what happed? Are you okay?"

Yomi continued to sob in anguish, as she held the only person in the world with the power to keep the beast within her, caged up.


Mato and Yomi walked the distance to the hill top, hand in hand. Mato had wiped Yomi's tears, and gave her, her zori sandals to put on her bare feet. Yomi still hadn't explained to her what was wrong but decided not to push it.

"Ah, you know? I had a lot of fun looking at the festival today. It was.. really pretty."

Yomi was unresponsive.

"Um, I bought you a few things from the festival."

Yomi just nodded, still unresponsive.

As they neared the steps to the hill, Mato grabbed Yomi in another tight hug. "Yomi, I don't know what's wrong but, it's okay. You don't have to be afraid, I'm right here. I'll always be right here."

Yomi immediately broke down again.

"I hurt Kagari! It got out! I don't know how, but it did and then-"

"Wait, slow down. What do you mean you hurt Kagari?"

Yomi took a breath. "That monster, the other me, she got loose! I remember Kagari made me really angry, and before I knew it I heard her voice asking me if I wanted Kagari "quiet". The next thing I knew my hands were around her neck…"

Yomi sobbed into her hands as she continued. "Kagari's okay, but now I'm afraid to go home. She's going to tell my parents I just know it. They'll never give me moment's peace again!"

Mato held Yomi and patted her back as she absorbed all this new information. Yomi had managed to channel the other her? And she attacked someone? Had this been what Black Rock Shooter meant when she said "Yomi needs help"?

"Don't cry Yomi, everything will be alright. I promise. You know? I've been hearing Black Rock Shooter's voice a lot too. She told me you needed me. So don't worry. No matter what happens, my other self and I will protect you."

Mato waited for Yomi to calm down a little before she led her by the hand up the hill top steps. What Yomi saw there made her tears dry.

Strung around the railing were streamers, and balloons from the festival. In the middle of the flat hill, lay Mato's picnic blanket and what looked like food from the festival. Yomi's eyes widened in happiness.

"Do you like it?" Mato asked, studying Yomi's expression.

"You did this?"

"Yep, You wouldn't believe the trouble I had getting it all here in one piece!"

"Why..?" Yomi asked. "Why'd you do all this?"

"Well, I figured since you couldn't go to the festival. I'd just bring it to you instead. I thought it might cheer you up. I was coming to get you, when I found you on the ground."

Yomi sobbed again and hugged Mato close. "Oh Mato!"

"So, you like it?"

"Yes! It's perfect! I don't know how I'm going to repay you." Yomi said into Mato's shoulder.

"Don't be silly. I love y- to make you happy. You don't need to repay me." Mato muttered with a blush.

Yomi wiped her tears for the third time that night and Mato led them to the picnic blanket. They sat hip to hip, and Mato handed Yomi the takoyaki bento to munch on. Yomi smiled graciously and devoured one.

"The takoyaki is actually from Yuu, she thought you might like them. I also brought some unagi, there's enough for both of us, oh! And candy apples too! And look, later when can light some sparklers I bought!" Mato exclaimed excitedly holding up everything she had procured from the festival.

"Mato... Just how much money did you spend on all this?" Yomi asked worriedly.

"Not as much as you think. Like I said, Yuu bought the takoyaki, the unagi was pretty cheap, and the streamers and balloons were taken from the festival."

"You stole them?" Yomi asked quirking en eyebrow.

"Well.. They were just gonna get thrown away when the festival was over! Beside I only stole the streamers! Someone at the festival gave the balloons away for free." Mato defended with a pout.

Yomi found herself laughing so hard tears weld up again.

"Thanks… for everything." She said with more meaning behind her words than Mato would ever realize.

Mato smiled and munched on her helping of the grilled unagi. The girls continued with their little private festival, and Mato began to talk about topics that would distract Yomi from her home troubles.

"Ne, Yomi? How about we do every festival like this? We go to the fair, pick up a bunch of stuff and just have fun here!" Mato asked as she bit into her candy apple.

"That sounds nice. I'd like that." Yomi mumbled quietly her mind clearly off on another topic.

"Are you okay?" It felt like Mato had been asking her that question a lot lately…

"I'm not sure. What will I do when I go home? My parents are going to be so mad. And then there's Kagari…"

Mato thought for a moment. She eyed the pack of sparklers off to the side and picked them up.

"Here, let's light these!" Mato declared, opening the pack and handing two off to Yomi. She took out a small pack of matches and lit them as well as her own.

"Mato, where'd you get those matches?"

"Oh, from home, same place I got the picnic blanket. Don't tell my mom, I kinda took them without asking. I have to have these back before she notices."

Yomi laughed as the sparklers in her hand glowed and sizzled. They emitted colors only seen in a real to life rainbow.

Mato's gaze shifted from her sparkler to Yomi. The sparks set off a glow that framed her face in just the right way. Mato blushed as her feelings began to overflow.

"Ah… Yomi? There's something I… uh.."

Yomi looked up to Mato's nervous, blushing cheeks. Unsure as to why, Yomi began to blush as well.

"Mato…"

"Uh, the thing is… well you know you're my best friend. I really care about you."

Yomi smiled and Mato's admission. "I really care about you too."

"Ah… I just. Hmm.."

'Why was this so hard?' Mato thought, biting her lip. 'It's just three little words. I love you! See? It's easy! Just say it!'

"Yomi-"

"Mato-"

The tension around them began to mount and their faces became redder by the moment. Without warning Yomi kissed Mato square on the lips. It had been a very short one, no more than a peck. Yet, it held so much meaning.

"Uh.. Consider it my thanks to you.." Yomi mumbled looking away bashfully.

Mato continued to stare ahead in shock, her mouth was agape, and her mind went completely blank. Yomi had kissed her! They had shared kisses before, on the cheek or the forehead, but never had they shared a kiss that came so close to being… Intimate? Romantic?

"Um… The sparklers burned out."

"Oh!" Mato looked down to see the flaming sticks she held were indeed dead, but it was still an afterthought to kiss Yomi had just given her. "Uh we can light more if you want…" She suggested, not quite able to look Yomi in the eye.

"No that's okay. I'm actually getting kinda tired." Yomi covered her mouth as she yawned and laid herself down on the blanket.

"If you're tired, maybe I should take you home?" Mato ask leaning over Yomi's quickly dozing form.

"No! Not just yet…" Yomi linked her fingers with Mato and pulled her down to lay on the blanket with her. "Let's just stay a little longer." She murmured, her eyes closing.

It was nearing midnight, and there was still a mess to be cleaned up, yet it went unnoticed as Mato clutched Yomi's hand and watched her drift off to sleep.

"Yomi… I love you."

Yomi was already too far gone to hear these words.

"…And, I'm sorry for being such a coward."

Mato's eyes began to close as well.


A/N – Oi… this chapter wasn't nearly as romantic as I wanted it to be, but I can only go so far with these two before it becomes borderline lemon. Oh well…

I realize some of you were probably looking forward to the heart being carved on Yomi's chest and all, and that's still coming in the next chapter.

I like to believe that OVA Yomi would not be so willing to simply strip at Kagari's command as ANIME Yomi. It would have to be forced. After all OVA Yomi didn't raise Kagari like the anime one had. At least I assume she did..

Which, brings up the subject of what to do about "episode four."I'm pretty sure OVA Yomi's not gonna care much if Kagari decides to forget her. But, that will come later…

We'll be right back after these commercial messages. Stay tuned!