FINALLY! I am able to update the new chap for this story. Well since I don't have anything to say, I will only say please enjoy and review. Oh and thank you for all the review, I am really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: Ane and Brs aren't mine.
The sound of water streaming down can be heard echoing around the hall near where the public bathroom located in the abandoned building which located in the True Cross Academy. A steam can be seen filled the room which supposed to be the bathroom for girls as the water which comes from one of the taps inside the room, keeps pouring water. Stood under the tap which still pouring water is a girl with long black hair which now is pretty wet, considering she had stood in the same place for ten or fiveteen minutes and only let the warm water hit her bare body as her mind still thinking about the earlier event. Her blue eyes only focuses on the wall in front of her as she recall the moment when she met that red haired man, the man that able to break her cannon in half with only his physical strength alone and able to inflict some injuries to her effortlessly.
"Is only that what you can do? Honestly I have a higher exception, but look like what I thought was wrong"
Black Rock Shooter's blue eyes instantly narrowing itself as she clench both her hands when her mind recall what he said to her, what he said to her by said using a disappointed tone, there is no doubt that the sentence which directed to her is an insult, a sign which tell her that the man is far better than her and she annoyed by knowing the fact that it is true. That red haired man, the 'King of Fire' is far more powerful than her and she know this. Even with her full power she doubts she can make him fighting seriously. He is, after all, the fourth strongest Demon in the whole Gehenna. Black Rock Shooter only let out a silent sigh before she raises her hand in order to shut down the tap since she thinks she already stood here for quite long and she also still needs to give her body a rest.
Still even though she knows that thinking about how powerful Iblis is a pointless thing to do, she also still wondering if the other 'King of Demon' under Iblis also as powerful as him. She has no doubts about it, besides, they are called Kings for a reason and that reason must be because how powerful they are. Back then when she still in Otherworld and never aware of the existence of Demon, she always believes in her abilities and think that she can defeat anyone with her abilities, but after arriving in Assiah, she starts to realize that there is someone who is far more powerful than herself and even if she uses her full power, there is no doubt that she won't win and it greatly annoys her.
She just dislikes knowing that there is someone who is more powerful than herself and she stand no chance against them... She just can't seem to accept that kind of fact. She just... Dislikes to admit that someone is more powerful than her, that someone can beat her without any chance for her to win. She knows that she has a weakness and she shows it quite often when she fights, but despite her weakness, Black Rock Shooter always found a way to win and it was her nature to hate to lose. But as for now, she needs to start to admit that there is indeed someone who is far more powerful than herself. After drying herself with a white towel which her human-counterpart gave her a few days after her arrival in Assiah, Black Rock Shooter starts to wear her original outfit (minus the coat, sleeves, and gloves) before finally leaving the bathroom for girls and start to walk toward the room she shared with Death Master.
Now if she thinks about it, doesn't her new human-counterpart, Rin Okumura, also can be categorized as someone who is more powerful than herself? She knows it and even though she bothered by this fact at first, now she seems to not care too much about it, but she wonders why? And those feelings, why she felt really worried when Rin facing Iblis earlier. She knows that he is powerful and ever face Iblis before, even both Yukio and Shura stated that Iblis need to be in his full power in order to defeat the current 'Paladin' or in other words, Rin Okumura himself. She can't think of any logical reason since this is the first time she ever feels worried about someone else safety, she even never worried about her own safety. So, it just strange for herself to feel something like that all of sudden. What's more, she even never worried about her true human-counterpart, Mato Kuroi, despite admitting that she is the most important person for her, but Rin? Is it because of that's fact?
Is it because he is her new human-counterpart now which makes her start to worry about his safety?
"Mato?" Black Rock Shooter quickly lift up her head which had been looking at the ground the entire time she walking, and now her blue eyes meet the blue eyes of the boy that have bugged her mind since earlier, her own human-counterpart, Rin Okumura. She shifts her blue eyes from his face which wear a surprised expression to the outfit he wears right now which consist, a long sleeved black t-shirt, a black trouser, a pair of red sneakers and his usual red scabbard which contains Kurikara on his back. He also brings his new white hoodie with blue lining since his old hoodie already burned after the battle between them with the mysterious bird humanoid being. From the way he dressed and the direction he seems to be heading, Black Rock Shooter can easily guess that he is about to go out, but to where?
"Don't know that you are still awake" Rin commented before looking at the window which located beside him to see that the moon already shine brightly in the sky and judging from the sky plus the fact that his brother and Death Master already asleep (in different room), he can guess that it already midnight or at least past midnight which only make him become confused, considering that all this time his Other self, Black Rock Shooter, usually will asleep before midnight or a few minutes after midnight and it was rather surprising to see her still awake despite the time already this late. But he quickly dismisses the thought since it isn't exactly his business about when Black Rock Shooter going to sleep. Besides, he isn't her caretaker or something like that.
"Going somewhere?" Black Rock Shooter questioned while slightly tilting her head which somehow able to make a smile appears on the face of the strongest Exorcist in Assiah. Rin closes both his eyes for a moment before nod his head and open his eyes again while placing one of his hands inside the pocket of his black trousers with his other hands still holds his new hoodie which he plans to wear later.
"Well, I think a night stroll will be a good thing to clear my mind from something that bugging me. Besides, the moon look nice tonight... Since you also awake, wanna come with me?" Rin replied before nod his head toward the window which makes Black Rock Shooter turns her head toward the window and just like what Rin says, the moon indeed looks nice tonight. Should she accept his offer? But if she considers it for a moment, the wisest choice obviously is refusing her offer and going to sleep, since she is quite tired after today mission and she needs to rest it if she wants her body to function properly tomorrow. But, part of herself also predicted about the worried feeling that she had been felt earlier will come back because to her knowledge, worried is a feeling that triggered when she bothered by something that might happen or already happen and she knows if this feeling appears again, she won't able to sleep well thus make herself not able to rest properly.
So, after debating with herself for a few more seconds, Black Rock Shooter finally nods her head as a sign that tell him she is accepting his offer. Her answer also somehow makes the smile on the face of the 'Paladin' turning into a grin before he nod his head and then toss his white hoodie toward her which Black Rock Shooter able to catch with ease considering the distance between them isn't too far. After catching Rin Okumura's new hoodie, she only looking at the white hoodie in confusion before she lifts her head to stare at her human-counterpart (which still grinning) and tilt her head slightly as a way to tell him about why he toss his new hoodie and look like the 'Paladin' able to understand what her gesture means as he starts to chuckle a little.
"Do you expect me to let you walk around with only a bikini covering your torso? Besides, with such little clothing, you won't survive the cold of the night, so wear my hoodie to solve the problem I mentioned" Rin explained before chuckling again which only make the black haired Other self narrows her blue eyes, but she knows that she can't disagree with what he just says since he has a point. Walking around the town or wherever Rin going to go with her original outfit plus without the coat will surely attracts too much unwanted attention and perhaps a misunderstanding about something trivial and he is right, she still not getting used to the cold of the night since the feeling hot and cold doesn't exactly exist in the Otherworld.
So, after letting out a silent sigh, Black Rock Shooter quickly wears the new hoodie of her human-counterpart which unsurprisingly still too big for her, but it was understandable considering the different between her size with Rin's size, but at least, like his old hoodie and his blue coat, this hoodie still feels warm and she now believe that perhaps, it was true that all of his clothes is really this warm.
Seeing the usually stoic expression of his Other self soften a bit after wearing his new hoodie somehow able to turn the grin on the 'Paladin' face into a smile again. Okay, he did have another intention when he said that Black Rock Shooter needs to wear his new hoodie and what was his intention? Simple, he just want to sees Black Rock Shooter wearing his hoodie for fun, because like his old hoodie, his new hoodie also clearly too big for her and he needs to hold his chuckle when his blue eyes sees how cute she is when wearing his hoodie, but at least it will solve the problem he mentioned earlier. And after able to make sure that no chuckle will escape his mouth, Rin's smile turns into a grin again before he put both his hands inside the pocket of his black trouser.
"Let's go"
To say that tonight is very calm is probably the right thing to say. Black Rock Shooter can see that it was indeed a calm night judging from her surroundings which lack of any signs of people walking around which usually easy to find in the day. As far as her blue eyes can see, there is only the two of them walking on the deserted street with only the moon and street lamp as the source of light. She at some point will expect her human-counterpart, Rin Okumura, to make a conversation or at least trying to get her talking about something (which usually will be fruitless considering the topic of the conversation doesn't catch her attention at all which also mean there is no need for her to join the conversation that not really require her opinion), but since they leave the abandoned building which become her house for these past few weeks, Rin hadn't said anything at all, in fact, what he did was only staring at the path they are going and sometimes staring up the sky.
Even though she still can't know what he feels at the moment because of his Demon side making their connection doesn't work properly, she doesn't need that's to know that something is clearly bothering the 'Paladin'. But she decides that if he doesn't ask for assistance for solving whatever he has in his mind right now, then there is no reason for her to offer her assistance as well, besides, she doubts herself can be any help for the 'Paladin', considering whatever bothering him probably concerning an Exorcist stuff or something trivial that he probably thinks too much. After all, Rin ever announce their problem concerning the lack of food in the fridge like he was announcing that the world is on the war right now. So, if he chooses to just stay silent, Black Rock Shooter wouldn't even bother to try to get him to speak since she doesn't have any right to do that considering she is the most silent of the two of them.
Instead of observe her human-counterpart and trying to figure out what's wrong with him, Black Rock Shooter chooses to just observe her surroundings since her intention to coming with him is to prevent the worried feeling to come back and start to bother her again, not to figuring out what was bothering her human-counterpart since there is hundred things which can be the thing that bothered Rin Okumura. Besides, his intention is to take a stroll to clear his mind from something that bothering him and that clearly what he is doing right now, walking around and try to clear his mind. She can see a Demon which she believe called Coal Tar in numerous spot as they keep walking, but those Demon doesn't seem to be bothering them nor even have intention to get closer to them, so she decides that it was safe to assume that those Demon won't attack them and even if they do, she has an assumption that she won't even able to summon her weapons before the battle over. The 'Paladin' doesn't seem that he will appreciate any interruption.
After some minutes walking in silence, they finally reach what Black Rock Shooter assumes as their destination. A convenience store that open for 24 hours. Rin's face which only wore a neutral expression since earlier now already begin to change back to his usual happy expression with a big grin on his face. Black Rock Shooter only can wonders about how being in front of a convenience store that open for 24 hours can instantly change the mood of the 'Paladin', she even able to feel a faint feeling of happiness coming from the young man beside her and this of course confuse herself, maybe it also connected to the fact that the convenience store also sold food?
"Let's get inside, I want to buy a coffee and you free to buy something else too, my treat" Rin said before gesturing to the double door which made from glass and judging from the appearance of the door, it seems that the door is automatic. Black Rock Shooter ponders about Rin's offer a little and decide that getting something for filling her stomach will be a good choice compared to waiting outside in the cold. After receive a nod from his Other self, Rin starts to walk toward the door of the store along with the pale skinned girl next to him and the door instantly opens itself when the distance between them and the door only a few feet and both teens quickly uses this chance to enter the store.
Upon entering the store, Rin instantly says to Black Rock Shooter that he will get this coffee and after she also done in getting whatever she wants, meet him at the cashier. He doesn't waiting for any response because he knows that she won't response him and true to what his thought, a moment Rin starts to walk toward where he can get a coffee, the black haired girl instantly walking toward the opposite direction, trying to find anything that catches her interest. She explore aisle to aisle and try to find at least something that suitable for a night like this, perhaps a beverage will be a good choice. Black Rock Shooter instantly stops walking when her blue eyes see something that finally catches her attention and without a second thought Black Rock Shooter quickly approach the shelf which contains the stuff that catches her attention.
Juice...
For some reasons, the taste of this sweet and a bit sour liquid capable of catching her interest. In her opinion the taste of this beverage is very unusual and likeable since Death Master also seems to be enjoying drinking this kind of beverage. There is so much of taste for this beverage, but both Black Rock Shooter and Death Master have their own favorite taste. Death Master seems to be fond of apple juice while Black Rock Shooter found that orange juice is the one she really likes among the other taste. So without any doubt, her hand quickly grabs one box of orange juice before observe the other product in the shelf which perhaps will catch her interest. When she found none, Black Rock Shooter starts to walk toward where the cashier of this shop located and she also knows that she won't lose her direction considering this shop isn't too big and she also already memorized the way toward the cashier.
She only needs some seconds to reach the cashier, but when her blue eyes see no sight of her human-counterpart, she assumes that he still not finish yet in getting his coffee and this cause Black Rock Shooter to look around in order to find something that maybe can entertain her until Rin arrives. After looking around for a bit, her blue eyes finally spot something that instantly catch her attention. It was a box with decorative light and the sign on top of it is written 'Claw Crane' and she instantly remembers about this machine from Mato Kuroi memory.
She knows from Mato Kuroi memory that this machine used to frustrate the young girl a lot since it was very difficult to get the plush toys which become the prize of this game. Black Rock Shooter approach the machine and when she close enough, she found that it wasn't plush toys which stored inside the machine, but it was numerous colored balls which seem can be opened.
"Claw crane, huh? Been a while since I last tried it" a masculine voice which coming from behind her making Black Rock Shooter turning around to see Rin Okumura already stood there with a brown plastic cup in his hand which undoubtedly is filled with a brown liquid known as coffee which also seem to be one of Rin's favorite beverage since he always drank it in the morning. After watching the claw crane in front of him, Rin can feels a nostalgia feeling coming toward him as his mind starts to recall his memory when he trying to win something from this machine. Yes, he still remembers how frustrate him when he always fails in trying to get anything from this machine... To the point that he almost destroys it. Rin slowly starts to approach the machine when he notice that instead of the usual plush toys which stored inside the machine, it was something else...
"Capsuled toys, huh? Even better, let's give it a try" Rin said before putting his free hand to his trouser back pocket and pull out a single silver coin before he toss it in the air once and quickly catches it before even the gravity has a chance to pull it down. His blue eyes start to observe all the colorful balls which stored inside the machine, he can't quite decide which one he wants to get since he actually doesn't really interested in the prize, he just enjoy the feeling of win against this stupid machine which able to take down numerous players. Now if he thinks about it, why not try what his mind just suggesting him to do?
"Hey Mato, pick any ball you want, I will get it for you" And Rin's statement making Black Rock Shooter turns her head toward the 'Paladin' who already grinning at her direction before he nod toward the numerous colorful balls inside the machine called 'Claw Crane'. Black Rock Shooter ponders about his offer again for a bit before she turns her head toward the machine and observes all the balls which stored inside it.
To be honest, she doesn't really interested in getting one of those colorful balls, she only interest in this machine because of Mato Kuroi memory, but part of her also curious, why was her true human-counterpart really eager in getting one of the items in that machine? All of the items inside that machine she predicted won't be any use for her and she doesn't really need anything right now, but again maybe she will understand about why Mato Kuroi always so eager in getting those items if she receives it herself.
"The light blue one" Black Rock Shooter spoke, finally deciding that perhaps the light blue ball will be something that at least able to catch her interest since from her observation there is only one light blue ball inside that machine since the other balls have the same color with each others. After looking for the ball which his Other self wants, Rin give her a nod as a reassurance that he will get the ball. After entering his silver coin into the machine, Rin handed his coffee to the shorter girl next to him before put one of his hands above the yellow button while his other hands already gripping the control stick. With a grin of determination on his face, the 'Paladin' is ready to face this enemy!
"Man! Who knows that I need to fail twice in order to get that ball" Rin muttered before sipping the brown liquid inside the brown plastic cup in his hand before letting out a silent sigh after feeling the warm liquid known as coffee already warms his body from the inside and he prefers to keeping his body warm this way instead of using his own power, because like this he also can enjoy the taste of the coffee which in his opinion is quite good. From the corner of his eyes he can see Black Rock Shooter eyeing the light blue ball in her hand which also the prize he manages to win from that damn 'Claw Crane' machine after sacrificing two coins of his. The way she eyeing the small ball with that beautiful and odd eyes with her lips sipped her orange juice box via that short straw making the 'Paladin' thinking about how this girl almost look like a normal teenager, especially with how normal she look right now since she wears her magic bracelet and because of the fact that he wears his hoodie also doesn't help, but make him think so.
"Why not open it to see what inside?" Rin suddenly asks after only seeing his Other self observe the ball which make Black Rock Shooter blinks her eyes a few times and from the way that she staring at the light blue ball with a confused expression on her face, Rin already able to assume that she never know that it supposed to be opened to see what prize they get. He let out a chuckle after seeing the confused expression of Black Rock Shooter before he takes the ball from her hand and quickly open it by only using one hand. The 'Paladin' raises one of his eyebrows after watching what the ball actually contain before his smile come back at his face and he quickly show what the light blue ball contain toward the girl next to him who also raising one of her eyebrows after seeing the item in his hand... A hairpin with blue flower motif.
From the way she quickly look away from the hairpin, it was clear to Rin that his Other self does not interested in the hairpin at all, but a small grin appear on the face of the 'Paladin' when his mind making up a plan that maybe can make Black Rock Shooter become a little interested in this hairpin. He wraps his black tail around his coffee cup and let his tail hold the brown plastic cup, so now both his hands are free. He waiting for a few seconds and when he thinks the timing is right, Rin quickly stood in front of Black Rock Shooter before using his left hand to swipe the girl's long bangs to the left and keep it in place by using the hairpin in his right hand. Rin takes a few steps back to observe his works with a small grin on his face before he nod to himself when he thinks the result satisfies him.
"Well, aren't you look nice with that hairpin?" Rin commented before gesturing to the window of the closed store beside them. Black Rock Shooter obeys his gesture and finally sees something that she assumes caused the small grin to appear on the 'Paladin' face. Right now her long bangs is swiped to the left side of her face and the earlier hairpin already keeping her bangs from returning to its original place. To be honest, Black Rock Shooter doesn't know what to thinks about it, part of herself just wants to remove that hairpin from her hair, but... Another part of herself also wants to keep it there for some reason, she wonder why? But before she even can think more about it, her human-counterpart already grab her hand and start to drag her toward the nearest door before he took something from the pocket of his black trouser.
"Now, let me show you my favorite place when I can't sleep" the 'Paladin' said with a grin after taking out a golden key from his pocket and insert it toward the hole key of the random door he found and open the door before leading Black Rock Shooter to stepping into the door. The first thing which greet Black Rock Shooter is a cold breeze which instantly blowing through herself and even though the hoodie of Rin Okumura able keeping her warm, she still can feel the cold reaching her skin, especially her bare legs.
Black Rock Shooter instinctively wraps her hands around her body in an attempt to keeping her body warm, but suddenly, she can feel someone wrap an arm around her shoulder and pull her closer to the owner of this arm and cause the juice box in her hand to fall onto the floor. She look up at her human-counterpart to see him already staring at the sky with a smile on his face, but his smile isn't his usual cheerful smile or his amused smile, it was the first time she ever see that kind of smile on his face and from the expression on his face, she doesn't sure whether she needs to interrupt him and asks the explanation about why he wraps his arm around her shoulder or not.
But then she realizes one thing, the cold she felt earlier instantly disappear and now replaced by a great amount of warmness to the point that she will call the temperature that surrounds her now as comfortable. She now understand about his intention in wrapping his arms around her shoulder and this also caused her tiredness from earlier coming back to her and starts to affect her more than before and it starts to make her eyes closed on their own, but Black Rock Shooter quickly shook her head in order to drive away her sleepiness, she can't fall asleep here. And why Rin Okumura brings her to this place? As that question coming to her mind, she lifts up her head once again to see that the 'Paladin' already staring at her with an amused smile on his face and this make Black Rock Shooter narrow her eyes.
"*Chuckle* Sorry. Anyway, thank you" Rin said before staring ahead with that unknown smile already coming back to his face and his statement also making Black Rock Shooter tilt her head in confusion. Why he thanked her? She doesn't exactly do anything that will make her earn such word, it is because she accompany him? No, that isn't the reason, if not that then what? And she also sure that Rin already feels her confusion, but he made no attempt to speak or even any sign that he is actually paying attention to anything, so she decide to stop thinking and seeing what actually her human-counterpart see by turns her head and... The sight in front of her really surprises her a little.
"Beautiful, right?" Black Rock Shooter only can nod her head a little after hearing the question of the young man next to her (which still held her too) since what he said is a fact that can't be denied. The sight in front of them is really beautiful and this also make Black Rock Shooter realizes why the air around here is colder and where they both standing right now. They are currently standing at the top of one of the tallest tower in True Cross Academy, she ever see this tower before from below, but she never even thought that the sight from up here will be this beautiful with all the light which coming from all the building in this big town and plus the stars that scattered around the black sky, Black Rock Shooter only can say that this place is the most suited place for seeing a beautiful sight like this, even though this place is a bit cold.
"You know Mato, you are the first person who I ever show this place. No one, not even Yukio, knows that I like to be here when I can't sleep (which not happen so often). Since I figure out you are sharing your soul with me, so why not sharing my favorite place with you too? After all, I already trust you enough" And his explanation is enough to make Black Rock Shooter's blue eyes leave the beautiful sight in front of her and staring at the face of the 'Paladin' who already staring at her with his signature grin already present on his face. This make Black Rock Shooter wonder what the point of him saying something like that. Noticing the confusion look on her face and the confusion feeling he get from their connection, Rin only let out a chuckle before he uses his other hand (he still hold his coffee using his tail) to ruffle the black hair of Black Rock Shooter carefully (to not ruin the hairpin that still there) which make the shorter girl give him a glare that say 'Don't you dare to do that' though she made no movement to slap away his hand which make Rin's grin widen a bit.
"Anyway Mato, when you fought Iblis earlier, did he say something to you?" Rin suddenly asks after removing his hand from her hair and his question also makes Black Rock Shooter looking down at the floor. She doesn't want to remember about that and only want to forget about that memory and recalling it does not listed as how to achieve that purpose. But from how serious the 'Paladin' asking her and the faint feeling of seriousness she receives from their connection making Black Rock Shooter thinks that perhaps a trivial information like this is related to something important. She knows that Rin is stupid, but he is not a total idiot and he should know that remembering this causing a discomfort to her, but he made no attempt to pull back his request which means it is indeed related to something important.
"He said I wasn't like what he expected, I don't really sure what he meant, but the only logical meaning I could think is my abilities wasn't like what he expected" Black Rock Shooter answered quietly before tighten her grip on the hoodie sleeve as she tried to erase the image of that bastard smug expression from her mind. Suddenly her grip on the hoodie sleeve loosened when she feel that hand of her human-counterpart that remain idle on her shoulder since earlier, now starting to move up and down.
Black Rock Shooter recognize this gesture, she has seen it from movie and Mato Kuroi memory, it was a gesture for calming someone. Does he notices her tension? He must be, their connection also will help him noticing it. In that moment, Black Rock Shooter can feel the simple gesture like that can calming her a little before she notices the warmness around her also increasing and it make her become more sleepy. Before her eyes closed itself, she notices the 'Paladin' hand that still caressing her arms is glowing in blue before she finally loses to her sleepiness and unconsciously let her head leaned against Rin Okumura's shoulder.
The smile on the 'Paladin' face widen when he can feels the girl beside him put her head on his shoulder and notice that her breath has become calmer than before and with this, he knows that she finally asleep. So, in fast motion, he able to swept her up effortlessly into bridal-style position in his arms. She must be pretty tired because even that motion does not wake her up as she only snuggle his shoulder in her sleep and this cause Rin to blink a few times with a small part of his cheeks turning red before a big grin replace his shocked expression. Slowly, Rin starts to approach the end of the ledge he standing on before throwing the now empty cup of coffee in his tail. He lifts head to stare at the numerous stars on the sky while his mind starts recall 'his' words once again. He then shifts his head to see the sleeping face of his Other self and see that even though her face still looks mature, she still looks peaceful.
'Maybe I think about it too much. But I know about one thing though, I need to talk about this with Mephisto'
And after debating with his mind for a second, Rin Okumura signature grin already appear on his face before in an instant, Rin jump off from the top of the tallest tower in True Cross Academy with Black Rock Shooter (who still sleeping) in his arms. Maybe a little action will be able to take his mind off from his problem long enough before the time where he discuss it with Mephisto come. And with that in his mind, the 'Paladin' starts to descend toward the ground in very fast speed before in the right timing, he kicked the wall behind him and launches himself forward with a big grin on his face.