DISCLAIMER: I do not own Black Rock Shooter nor any concepts related to Black Rock Shooter. All rights, permissions, and characters are reserved and owned by Huke, Ryo and Ordet.
In a world of black and white, a hero is born...
Let us return to the beginning! These are the chronicles of Black Rock Shooter!
Black Rock Shooter Chronicles, Act Nine: Antagonism
"Thirty four... Thirty five... Thirty six..."
Counted the girl as she walked past the row of houses.
She was looking for a particular one, where she awaited her. She just had to be wary of the signs.
The girl had knee-length long black hair with a straight-cut fringe. She was tall and her eyes almost seemed to burn red in the setting sun. She also bore a white parasol, which she twirled around leisurely.
The street was entirely empty save for this girl. Not a car was in sight, nor were there any chirping of birds or crying of crickets. There was only a heavy silence which seemed to bear down on everything. After all, something was clearly wrong.
For the street looked like it was in grayscale, and the girl's eyes weren't reflecting the sunlight either. No... They were just red.
Slowly, she progressed along the street, still counting. Who was she looking for?
Suddenly, the girl came to an abrupt stop in front of unit number fifty seven. It was a house of a very squarish design, which gave it a far more modern feel than the surrounding ones.
The girl's eyes were focused intently on one of the third floor windows, for she knew that the person she was looking for lay inside.
Satisfied, the girl gave a small smile before she continued on her way down the street.
"Black Rock Shooter..." She mouthed, before vanishing into thin air.
Mato's phone vibrated on its ledge. It went on for almost half a minute before a lazy hand emerged from beneath the bed covers and grabbed it.
Sounds of clicking came from under the sheets, followed by a cry of horror. The blanket got thrown off and from within emerged a rather dazed looking Mato.
She was late.
This, however, was nothing new for her. With astonishing speed, Mato had rushed downstairs, popped a piece of bread into the toaster, brushed up, ran back upstairs, got changed, ran back downstairs, grabbed the piece of toast the moment it had sprung out of the toaster, ran down another flight of stairs to the genkan, put on her shoes, and sprinted out the door.
Thus began a typical morning for Kuroi Mato. She ran up the small hill to the street corner where she knew Yomi would surely be waiting for her. True enough, as Mato approached her destination, Yomi was there, looking at her wrist-watch.
"Yomi!" Mato cried out, startling Yomi but gaining her attention nonetheless. As Mato came to a halt, she paused to catch her breath.
"Sorry I'm late!" She apologized profusely for what would probably have been the hundredth time. Yomi only smiled kindly as she always did.
"It's alright, I just got here." Yomi replied, though Mato knew that it was a white lie. She gave a sheepish grin which Yomi returned and soon the two were off for the train station, as they always did.
It had been a week since Yomi had miraculously appeared in school, despite all the rumours of her being kidnapped.
Nobody knew what had happened to her, for Yomi herself bore no recollection of the events whatsoever.
Mato had tried to coax something out of Yomi but to no avail. She had let the matter rest though, for Mato herself had a strange lapse in memory too.
She clearly remembered having rushed to their special place to look for Yomi. Then there was a bright flash of light... And the next moment she had woken up in bed. That very morning, Yomi had come back to school as well.
Mato absent-mindedly put a hand into her pocket and felt for her phone-strap. She had been so sure it was not a dream. Yet... Why was it she could not remember anything?
"Yomi..." Mato began, wanting to ask once again whether she remembered anything.
"Hm..?" Came the reply.
"Hey... Do you..." Mato started, but then decided against it. Yomi had already said she couldn't recall anything. There was no point in bringing up the past.
"... Nah, it's nothing" Finished Mato lamely with a grin. Yomi looked absolutely puzzled.
Soon, they had arrived at the school gates. It was then that Mato spotted Yuu a small distance ahead of them.
"Yuu! Hey Yuu!" Mato called out to her. However, Yuu made no response and continued walking. Mato then ran ahead and literally pounced on top of the tiny girl.
"Yuu!" Mato shouted. This time she got the response she desired.
"Ah, Mato!" Yuu stammered, breaking out of her daze. Mato put on a worried expression.
"Yuu... You've been spacing out a lot more than usual this past week. Are you ok?" Mato asked with concern. Yuu looked at the ground and didn't say a word for a while.
"I think it must be overwork, with club and exams round the corner and all." Yuu finally answered, though Mato was unconvinced.
"That's not like you Yuu. You're usually so full of energy!" Mato retorted. Yomi had finally caught up to her.
"Hello Yomi!" Yuu greeted. Yomi replied with a cheerful good morning. Mato pouted.
"Yuu! Don't try to divert my attention. I know there's something wrong with you." Mato exclaimed. Yuu smiled but then her face fell slightly.
"Mato... I don't know. These few days I haven't been feeling so good. I keep having bad dreams and I keep spacing out." She admitted fretfully.
"You should go see a doctor. I know of a good one nearby." Yomi voiced out. Yuu shook her head.
"No, no. I haven't seen the doctor in years. Don't want to ruin the record! I'll be fine. I just need to take a long nap. Haven't done that in ages!" She replied, her enthusiasm seemingly returned.
With that, the three of them walked to class together. Nobody, however, noticed the girl who was looking at them from across the street the entire time...
Yuu was sitting at her seat in class, looking at the black board and trying to concentrate. The teacher was teaching them mathematics, Yuu's favourite subject. Yet, somehow, the teacher's words seemed as if they were being put through a filter.
Yuu slapped her own face, wondering just what was happening to her. It didn't help.
"I'll close my eyes and count to three." Yuu decided, after which she shut her eyes tight.
"One... Two..." She counted softly to herself, hoping that when she opened them again she would feel more awake.
"Three!"
Yuu opened her eyes, but the moment she did so, she realized that something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Where was everybody?
The classroom had become empty and everything had lost its colour. She looked at her own hands. They were gray. Yuu began to panic. What was happening to her?
She ran out of the classroom but the moment she did so, she realized that she had not run into the corridor but back into the classroom again. A nightmare? Was she having a nightmare?
Yuu tried again, but to no avail. No matter how many times she attempted it, Yuu ended up back in the classroom again.
"Happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts and it'll be ok!" She thought positively, after which she began to think about the basketball club and Mato and Yomi. The world around her did not change.
Yuu's face fell. This was too real to be a dream. Then... What was it? She pinched herself. It stung.
Everything was too quiet. She was terrified. How could she get help?
Without warning, there came a massive crash and the ceiling caved in. Yuu screamed in terror as dust and rubble came cascading down upon her. She braced herself for impact, terrified at the prospect of being buried alive...
... But the impact never came. Yuu opened her eyes slowly, and what she saw was more bizarre than anything in that grayscale classroom.
In front of her stood a girl who looked exactly like her, yet her hair was snowy white. She wore a vest, which had a hood that obscured part of her face. Yet, what probably scared Yuu the most were her arms, if they could even be called arms.
Instead of hands, the girl had two massive, mechanical claws, almost as large as herself. How she managed to lug them around Yuu could not comprehend. However, though worried, Yuu was also relieved that she was not alone any longer. Carefully, she approached the stranger.
"Hi, hi! My name is Yuu! Er... Who are you? Where are we?" Yuu greeted cheerfully, hoping to make a good first impression. The girl didn't budge. Yuu then noticed that there was no rubble nor hole in the ceiling. Had she imagined the ceiling coming down upon her?
The girl continued to stare at Yuu with blank eyes. Yuu began to tremble. If only Mato were here. Mato would know what to do.
Suddenly, the girl moved. Yuu backed away, startled, and tripped over a desk. She promptly fell flat on her back.
"Ow..." Yuu moaned, rubbing her butt. She then realized that the girl's face was inches away from her own. Yuu's eyes widened.
"Who... Who are you?" She stuttered. Finally, the girl spoke.
"Hello Yuu. My name is Strength, but you knew that didn't you..?" Came the reply. Yuu realized that the girl sounded exactly like her, yet... Robotic. She screwed up her face in concentration, attempting to recall where she had met this strange girl before.
"I... Can't remember. I doubt I'd ever forget having met you. You look... Unique... After all." Yuu admitted. Strength's expression remained stoned.
"Ah. Of course. I'm sorry. This must be the first time we've really met since the connection is at its strongest now isn't it?" Strength recalled. Yuu did not know how to reply.
"Well... Once again my name is Strength. Sorry if I startled you with these things, but I'm really just you in another form." Strength apologized while waving her mechanical arms around. Yuu's mouth opened as if to say something but closed it almost immediately after.
Strength proceeded to unlock the mechanism which held her mechanical arms in place. With a huge crash, the arms fell to the ground, cracking the floor. Yet, no sooner had the cracks formed did they vanish. Relieved of her burden, Strength proceeded to one of the tables in the classroom and sat on it. Yuu was now more confused that ever.
"I.. I'm sorry, did you say that you are me..?" Yuu clarified, unsure if she had heard right. Strength merely gave a small nod.
"How... How come I've never known there were two of me..?" Yuu asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. Did she have a twin sister she was separated from at birth..?
"No, no. I'm nothing like that." Strength replied. Yuu realized that Strength had read her thoughts perfectly.
"How did you do that?" Yuu asked incredulously. Strength just shrugged.
"There's nothing you think that I don't know of. I already said... I am you." She answered matter-of-factly. Yuu could not feel her legs any longer. A long silence passed.
"Well. Let's skip the introductions and proceed on to the reason that I am here, which I'm sure is what you really want to know, right?" Strength asked. Yuu did not bother replying for she knew Strength was already reading her mind.
"Good. Well... Er... I'm not sure about the details but... I am from another world! Yes, that should be right. However, that world is gone now so I am stuck here inside you, the only place I can survive in on this side." She said a little sadly. Yuu felt bad for her.
"So... Your world was destroyed?" Yuu asked, concerned. Strength made no movement.
"Well, yes, but it was all part of her plan, so I guess it's ok." Strength replied nonchalantly.
"Who's her..?" Yuu responded immediately.
"Can't tell. Not that you need to know anyway." Came the indifferent answer. Another long silence.
"So... Mind telling me why I'm in this classroom and can't get out..?" Yuu asked again. Strength thought for a moment.
"Ah... I'm really not good with the details ya know. Ok I'll try to think of a good answer." She said. Yuu waited for it.
"Well... Let's just say that this is where I confine you when I take control of your body on the outside." She answered. Yuu's jaw dropped as everything suddenly became clear.
"What? So... So that's why Mato says I've been spacing out. So that's why I've been feeling so down! It was you!" Yuu accused fiercely. Strength looked slightly taken aback.
"Well... I never said I wanted to but I have no choice. There are things that I need to get done ya know." Strength defended.
"Like?" Yuu shouted. She did not know why she felt so angry but somehow letting it out made her feel better.
"Hm... Like killing Black Rock Shooter of course!" Came the reply. Yuu was stunned.
"Wait... Did you say kill? Kill this... Black Rock Shooter person? What kind of a name is that anyway?" Yuu replied fearfully. Somehow she doubted that Strength could not kill, with those huge mechanical arms and all.
"Yes. Kill. Though it's not as easy as you think ya know. There are so many problems! Ah, I should quickly tell you before my time runs out." Strength replied, a little flustered.
"Go on then. I've got no time either. I want to get out!" Yuu said, exasperated. Strength sighed quietly.
"Ahem. Well. Ok. Firstly, I have no idea when I gain control of your body. It just happens randomly and so I have to get the things I need to get done during the time I have control. Yet, most of the time it's only for a few minutes so there's really no point. I haven't managed to do much so far. Secondly, when you gain control, I'm the one stuck in this boring place so I don't see what you have to shout about. Thirdly, as much as I say I have to kill Black Rock Shooter, I have positively no idea how to do so. My master hasn't contacted me in ages and I'm pretty lost. Lastly... Hm..."
Strength paused for a while.
"... This must be the longest I've had control over you and I've had to waste it explaining all this to you too!" She finished.
"Well sorry about that but it's my body we're talking about here." Yuu chided. Strength scratched her head absent-mindedly.
"Yeah. Well, it's ok. This is the first time I've really met you too so... I hope we know each other better. After all..." Strength got up from her table and put her mechanical arms back on again. A metallic click echoed across the room.
"... When we really become one, you will be me and I will be you."
Strength then used her weapon to pummel the ground and it cracked. A huge hole formed and Strength fell through it. Yuu caught a last glimpse of Strength's face before she heard someone calling her name.
"Yuu! Yuuuuu!"
Yuu's eyes opened slowly.
"Yuu!" Came Mato's voice, laced with worry.
"Are you ok, Yuu..?" Came another voice which she recognized as Yomi's.
Yuu felt heavy and groggy. Yet, she remembered everything that had happened as clear as day. She then realized she was lying in the sick bay.
"What... Happened..?"
Mato had been worried sick when Yuu collapsed during class. She had immediately went to call upon Yomi and the two had brought her to the sick bay together.
Yuu had been out for a good half an hour and Mato was relieved when she finally came to. Yomi had bought an apple and was peeling it.
"What... Happened..?" Came Yuu's question, her voice weak. Mato smiled cheerfully.
"I'm glad you're ok! You just collapsed in class! The nurse doesn't know why but she said it's probably lack of rest." Mato answered.
"Have some apple." Yomi offered, holding out a piece for Yuu. Yuu took it thankfully and began munching. She appeared deep in thought.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Asked Yomi when she observed Yuu brooding. Yuu looked up from her apple and appeared hesitant to answer.
"You... Won't laugh at me will you?" Yuu replied timidly. Mato and Yomi exchanged looks.
"Yeah of course not! Why would we?" Mato assured her. Yomi nodded in agreement. Yuu sighed in relief and proceeded to tell them everything that had happened to her while she was out.
"... So... I don't think it was a dream..." Yuu concluded. Mato and Yomi looked at her, at a loss for words.
"... You both think I'm crazy don't you." Yuu pouted, folding her arms. Mato and Yomi looked at each other.
"... Actually Yuu... No. We don't. In fact..." Yomi began.
"... In fact somehow what you've told us sounds eeriely familiar." Mato finished the sentence. Yuu's eyes widened.
"Really..?" She replied, not knowing whether to be happy or worried.
"Yeah... But now... I think you should get more rest. Don't think too much about it!" Mato suggested. Yuu decided that it was for the best and pursued the issue no further. Mato and Yomi then got up to leave.
Soon, Mato and Yomi were walking home together, and neither could find anything to say. Somehow what Yuu had told them had struck a nerve, and both felt that something was out of place.
"Yomi." Mato finally said. Yomi made no response but Mato knew she was listening.
"What Yuu said... Seems like something that happened when you disappeared..." Mato voiced out. Yomi gave a small nod.
"Now that you mention it... Yes... It seems like some distant memory. A world of black and white. Someone who looked like myself..." Yomi echoed.
They got lost in their thoughts once more. Soon, they parted ways, and as Mato waved goodbye to Yomi, something in her gut told her that something was going to happen again. Something bad.
Mato continued on her own way back home and before long it came into view. She decided to think about happy things, like what her mother would cook for dinner that night.
"No point fretting! It might have just been a coincidence! Sometimes really good friends dream of the same things after all." She assured herself cheerfully, before opening her house door to let herself in. The door did not budge.
"Wha..?"
No sooner had that happened did a voice from inside her psyche shout out to her.
"DODGE IT!"
By pure reflex and not knowing what the heck was happening, Mato felt her feet spring into action and she leapt sideways just as a spear pierced the spot where she had been a split second ago. Mato felt a chilling sensation down her spine as she saw the spear stuck deeply into the pavement where her feet had been. What the heck was going on?
"RUN!" Came the same voice again. Mato had no choice but to obey. The voice had saved her once already. She wasn't about to let it down.
With her usual athleticism, Mato ran for dear life. She sensed something behind gaining upon her fast but she wasn't about to find out who or what it was. She knew not where she was running to either.
Before long, Mato realized that what was following her wasn't there any longer. She slowed her pace down and came to a halt, only realizing then that she was breathing far too heavily.
Mato went to the nearest wall she could find and leaned upon it. What was that? A spear? Somebody was trying to kill her!
As she caught her breath, Mato looked up, and what she saw stopped her in her tracks.
It was her house.
Mato felt incredulous. She was sure that she had run away from it! How did she end up back at her house? Where was the spear that was stuck in the pavement?
As the adrenaline died down, Mato realized faster and faster that things were clearly wrong. Everything was too quiet. Everything had no colour! What was this, and why did it feel so horribly familiar? Then the voice came again.
"She's here."
Mato spun around and down the street a distance away, stood a girl. Every cell in Mato's body screamed for her to run.
The girl stared with gleaming yellow eyes, like a cat's. Her mouth bore a wicked grin and her skin was pearly white. Her equally white hair was short and messy. She was dressed in what appeared to be a school uniform and from her back sprouted two bat-like wings.
In her hand, the girl bore the same spear which had almost pierced Mato through moments ago. Upon closer observation, Mato realized it was more like a harpoon than anything.
"Good evening! Are you Kuroi Mato?" She asked gracefully. Mato knew better though. Behind that visage was a brutal killer.
"Who are you?" Was the only thing Mato could think of to say.
"Moi? Is that important?" The girl teased.
Mato glanced to her left and right. She planned a route of escape in case the girl came in for the kill again. The whole situation was outrageous but Mato knew better than to think of it as a dream. If she got killed here, it would really be over.
"Somebody save me from this!" Mato thought desperately. The girl merely continued standing there, observing Mato as though she were a particularly juicy piece of meat.
"You know... You can't escape. We who come from the Other World can only occupy small sections of reality for our battles at any one time. Running away just gets you back to the start." She explained casually. Mato was not amused.
"Other World? Battles? What are you talking about?" Mato shouted desperately to prolong her own death. The girl yawned impatiently.
"Oh don't play dumb with me Kuroi Mato. You know full well what I'm..." The girl paused mid-sentence.
"Ah." She finished candidly, before readying her spear in an offensive stance.
"I see now. You... Really have no idea what's going on do you?"
Mato knew that her end was coming soon.
"That's what I said didn't I? I don't know anything! So why do you want to kill me?" Mato asked, terrified beyond belief. The girl laughed in a high pitched voice that seemed to pierce the very air.
"So... Thus ends the great Black Rock Shooter! Just like that! Some vessel you chose to occupy eh, Black Rock Shooter?" She mocked. Mato got ready to make a break for it.
"DIE!" Came the cry and the girl vanished, only to appear a second later right behind Mato. Mato turned around and saw her life flash before her eyes. The spear came in for the kill. Mato squeezed her eyes shut and she felt tears form.
"Save me..."
KLANG!
A loud sound of metal clashing resounded. Mato did not feel the spear reach her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and gasped at the scene before her.
Three other girls stood in front of her. One wielded a massive axe. Another had a blade as long as herself. The last bore two curved daggers. The one with the axe had blocked the spear's path.
"Hmph. Here I was thinking you three were dead, too." The girl with the spear lamented, before she took a great leap away from them.
Mato was stunned. More of them? Yet these three did not seem like they were here to finish her off. At least, that was until the girl with the two curved daggers gave her a slap.
"OW!" Mato cried out.
"Black Rock Shooter! What are you waiting for! Get out here and fight!" The girl ordered. Mato did not know what was going on, but no sooner had she said that did the voice from within resound once more.
"Sister..?"
This time though, Mato realized that it was her own mouth that had said the word. What was going on?
"I'm sorry... I've been unable to establish a connection with Mato this entire time. Her willpower is stronger than that of most." Mato heard herself say. Mato tried to speak but then no words came out. Someone else was controlling her!
"Mato... I apologize. Let me take over for a bit. This is Black Rock Shooter but it seems you've forgotten..." The voice spoke for Mato again. It was only then that everything came back to her.
"Black Rock Shooter..?" Mato found herself thinking. Yes it was all coming back to her now. Black Rock Shooter. The one who had saved Yomi. Black Rock Shooter. Her other ego. Herself.
"Sorry I took so long to get to you again... Mato..." Black Rock Shooter said softly. Mato shook her head.
"You've been bearing great burdens on your own all the while haven't you..?" Mato thought. Black Rock Shooter remained quiet. Mato smiled.
"Let's do it."
Mato erupted into a great, azure fireball. The eyes of the girl with the spear widened. She licked her lips. Finally! She was finally coming out!
The fire engulfed them all, but did not burn them. Everyone shut their eyes from the brightness and finally, when the flames died out, Mato was no more. Yet, when the figure spoke, it was not one voice, but two which answered.
"Sorry for making you wait." Mato and Black Rock Shooter echoed in unison.
I'm so glad for the number of reviews on Chapter 8! Amazing! Well, I am glad to have finished Chapter 9 to whet your appetites so once again...
Please review this FanFic! Arigato!
(P.S. Can we get this to 100 reviews? I think we can!)
