Let me take a moment to say "Thank You!" All of you have been so supportive of this fic and me. To everyone who read, faved, and/or reviewed, this last chapter is for you!
Disclaimer – I don't own. If only...
Within the new world, there was white. The air was dry, and everything looked as if it had been put through the wash with bleach. A new domain had been birthed, and for the other selves, it was more than just the merging of their worlds. It was a fresh blank canvas for them to start anew.
To build a world in which they could all coincide together.
Mato groaned as she came too, her body held tight in Black Rock Shooter's arms. Her head was pounding and the white all around hurt her eyes. So she focused instead on the cerulean frost eyes that coddled her close.
("Can you stand?") Rock asked tenderly.
Mato jumped a little in surprise coming out of her swooned state, a slight blush painting her cheeks. She promptly exited Rock's arms.
"Uh yeah, I'm f-fine-"
"-Mato!"
"Y-Yomi…!" Mato was nearly knocked over as Yomi practically leaped into her arms.
Mato eyed Yomi for a moment, worried when she saw the girl was dressed in Dead Master's clothes, which were torn in several places. She relaxed when she saw no cuts or bruises.
Mato looked down at herself and was surprised to see she too was dress in Black Rock Shooter regalia, and her clothes were quite the torn sight too, but no injuries.
They held each other for a moment before Rock tapped their shoulders; she stuck out a finger and pointed. Just off a ways lay Yuu and STRength, both nearly unconscious and STRength barely even able to lift her head.
"Yuu!" Mato exclaimed running toward her dying friend, Yomi followed after her.
They knelt down next to STRength's bare body, with tears threatening to fall.
"Yuu!" Mato called, distressed and worried.
STRength smiled at the tears floating at the brim of her friend's eyes.
"Say my real name…" She whispered.
Mato tensed a little. "Yuu- uh… STRength-"
"-STRength!"
Yuu sobbed taking STRength's hand in hers. "No, please! Don't die! I can't do it; I can't go back to reality! I can't handle it, it's too frightening!"
"You'll be fine, Yuu." STRength murmured.
She turned her gaze to the distance where the other selves stood silently observing. All of them watched with empathetic eyes; Dead Master, Black Gold Saw, her seedlings, Chariot… and Black Rock Shooter.
"Look Yuu, their worlds have merged. People's hearts can merge like that too… So don't worry, you won't be alone. Saya is there, Mato and Yomi will be there too… You'll have lots of friends."
STRength turned to her friends with a smile looking for their approval; they nodded to her in their silent agreement to watch over her human counterpart.
Yuu was not convinced.
"But… But I just can't! I really can't! No one will like me!"
STRength put a hand to Yuu's cheek, wiping away her tears.
"Yuu… I am your soul. I fight unfeeling, only for your sake…" She smiled.
"But there's more to it than that. Though we only act on instinct, it's precisely that reason that we could never truly fight for anyone we hate. We love you… so very much. Yomi… Mato… the same for you too."
That had Yomi's attention, as she recalled Dead Master's words from earlier.
[("You think I of all beings, doesn't understand how you suffer? Why do you think I keep taking you away from that world in the first place?")]
'Protecting me? …All this time, she was only trying to protect me?' Yomi casted a weary glance Dead Master's way, confused. Dead Master crossed her arms and smirked.
Mato hunched her shoulders a little, as another blush grew on her cheeks. She couldn't find the means to look Black Rock Shooter in the eye. 'Rock… loves me?'
"We want to protect you. We don't enjoy seeing you hurt and in pain, emotionally or otherwise… We love you. That's why we fight so hard for you."
Mato finally found the courage to look Rock in the face and gasped at the emotion she saw there. There was such warmth in her eyes it nearly made Mato's tears over flow.
Yuu continued to sob as STRength stroked her cheeks. "I wouldn't lie to someone I love. The real world can truly be something wonderful. Trust in me…"
STRength's hand slowly left Yuu's cheek as the fractures on her body grew worse, and she began to shatter away. Yuu grabbed her hand, desperate for her to hang on.
"STRENGTH!" Yuu pleaded in vain.
STRength turned to Mato and Yomi and smiled. "I want to thank you guys so much. It was you two that taught me how wonderful the real world could be. Watching you two living… and loving, I admit made me jealous.. I knew I could never have anything like that. But still it was so nice…"
Yomi broke out into full sobs, regretful of the way she had treated her friend all this time. STRength's vision began to blur and her body slowly went numb. 'Not much longer…'
"Mato, you especially showed me what it means to live. The joy of walking home together, of sharing popsicles… of admiring the sunset with someone you care for. The beauty of all these moments is something I'll always keep…"
Mato let hear tears fall, as she watched her friend breathe her last breath. "Yuu!"
STRength's eyes closed. "Mato… We'll always be friends right?"
Mato let out a harsh sob. "Of course we will! I'll never forget, I swear!"
STRength gave her friends' one last smile… before finally letting go.
Yomi gasped her eyes broadening, and Mato felt her heart drop.
"STRength!" Yuu screamed as STRength's hand shattered in her grasp.
STRength departed in a twinkle of color, and Mato felt her sorrow peak.
"YUUUUUUUU!" Mato cried hard throwing her head to the sky, and Yomi grasped her tightly bringing Mato into her arms.
The colors glimmered as they floated to the sky, painting it an array of colors. They touched the heavens, spotting like paint on paper; pink with blue and red. Green, with purple, and orange and gold, until the sky was alight with variegation. A testament to each girl who dwelt within this new world…
Yuu stared at the sky as her stolen body was spirited away, and she too began to disappear. Her eyes stayed locked on the colorful heaven above her.
"STRength…" She murmured as she faded off, departing for reality…
Yomi held tight to a sobbing Mato rubbing her back, when she heard the distinct click of high heels. She turned around and suddenly became fearful. Dead Master stood right behind her, grinning.
("You have over stayed your welcome!") She snooted, pointing her nose in the air.
Dead Master lifted Yomi up onto her feet, and Mato yelped falling to the ground, her warm embrace stolen away. She moved her face in dangerously close to Yomi's, not leaving her eyes for a moment.
("Come back here again, and next time… I'll keep you!")
"Wha-H-HEY!" Yomi protested as her body was enveloped in darkness. It whirled about her and she vanished with the dark right before Mato's eyes. Mato began to panic.
"YOMI!" She cried reaching out into empty air.
Dead Master waked away dusting her hands, and Rock put a hand to Mato's shoulder, comforting her worries.
("Dead Master has sent her home.") She murmured with a slight nod.
Mato calmed a little at that knowledge, and stood up to meet Rock's gaze. She felt nervousness set in, and couldn't quite find the right words to say. They gazed at each other for a long moment, neither blinking nor turning away.
"Uh.. I-" Rock put a finger to Mato's lips, quieting her.
Rock covered Mato's eyes, shielding her view. She took a breath and leaned down, closing her eyes. Silently… she stole a kiss from the girl's lips. Warmth flowed into Rock's body and it lit a flame in her chest that flared like a tiny heartbeat. Mato stood silent in shock.
Rock pulled away removing her hands, and allowed Mato to see her smile just this once.
She opened her mouth and spoke.
"Thank you…"
'For what?' Mato had wanted to ask but didn't know how.
All too quickly, Black Rock Shooter and the otherworld began to fade away; or perhaps she was the one who was fading, Mato wasn't sure. She was still stunned from the lip lock Rock had given her.
The ripped clothes of Black Rock Shooter left her body, and Mato watched Rock grow farther and farther away until there was nothing in her vision but white light…
Yuu awoke to a dark room.
It was small yet brightly decorated, adorned with bright pastel colors. The room was small as it served as a kitchen, and living room in one, and Yuu felt nothing but disappointment.
She was a part of real world again.
Yuu turned to Saya with a somber look on her face, and the grown woman felt tears well up.
Saya was certain. The quite angst hidden just below the surface, and the deep contemplative expression, as if the girl were lost her own thoughts.. This girl was the real Koutari Yuu, not just STRength. It had been so long since Saya had seen her old friend, and she couldn't contain her joy.
She held Yuu in a tight embrace and wept over her body. Yuu refused to say a word, and quickly sat up and looked around. As if she was expecting to see something, or someone.
There was no one there, but Saya…
"STRength…" She muttered silently.
…
Yomi's eyes opened, and she groaned in frustration. That's twice now, she'd awoken on the hard ground in a puddle of drool!
At least this was a place she was familiar with. Yomi stood up on wobbly legs and clung to the railing on the hilltop trying to regain her balance. She looked to the full moon above her head, admiring the soft glow it added to the beautiful scenery.
No longer dressed in Dead Master's clothing but the green dress she'd left in, she felt a sort of peace overcome her heart, and smiled.
Yomi inhaled fresh air as she looked over Mato's beloved town, now her beloved town. Her eyes widened when she realized Mato was not there with her. Where was she? Was she still on the other side?
Yomi made a scramble down the stairs of the hill, and ran to the corner of the street. She stood there barefooted and confused. Where was she to even start looking? Which way should she go?
There was whisper in the wind. ("Wait there… she'll come.")
Yomi's eyes widened. The voice hadn't been Dead Master; she would never speak so gently.
"…Black Rock Shooter?"
…
Mato steps were slow, as she made her way home. She felt as if she'd been walking for hours now.
Mato had come all the way from the river bank, and the change in her pocket had been barely enough to get her a train ride home. Dressed in her gym uniform, she made her way through the usual side ally home; tired, yet somehow fulfilled. There was a new understanding in her heart, and the revelation of it somehow made the stars above her head twinkle a little brighter.
Coming to her street she vaguely wondered if her own little star was up the somewhere, shining with all the others.
Mato rounded the corner and headed for the hilltop, not too anxious to go straight home after being missing for who knew how long. Her mother was going to have a fit, she just knew it. Might as well enjoy the fresh air while she could. She was certain when she got home, her mother would ground her for life… or longer.
Mato's eyes widened when she came upon a familiar face in a green dress.
Yomi sat in a crouch on the ground, worried and anxious to move. She hated always being the one to sit still and be rescued. It had been over an hour now, how much longer-
"-Yomi!"
Yomi lifted her head to the familiar voice and gasped when she saw Mato headed her way. Mato ran like there was fire under her heels and she sprang into Yomi's embrace.
"M-Mato..?"
She sobbed harshly into Yomi's dress, overcome with happiness and regret all at once. Yomi was left stunned for a moment before holding her girlfriend close.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY!" Mato cried, her body shaking. Yomi laughed as tears made tracks down her own eyes as well.
"Silly girl, why are you always apologizing?"
Mato wept harder. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry if you were in pain! I won't let you suffer alone anymore! I promise we can be in pain together!"
This made Yomi laugh even harder. "What?!"
"Please!" Mato pleaded.
Yomi couldn't make up her mind on whether to laugh or cry; doing both was becoming tiring.
"What are you talking about? Mato… You've been the only one to acknowledge my pain. That's why I love you…"
She let Mato sob into her shirt, gently rubbing her head. Yomi didn't rush her, comfortable have the girl to herself for a few moments longer.
"You're like a little kid sometimes, you know?" Yomi muttered with a smile.
"Sorry!"
"Stop apologizing!"
After a moment, when Mato's sobs managed to die down to hiccups, she felt well enough to leave Yomi's embrace. She sucked in a breath and lifted her head; Yomi had to purse her lips to hold her breath.
Mato was such a sight! Her big blue eyes were red, her cheeks had a blush all over them, and her nose was completely clogged.
"Pffffft-Hahahahahah!" Yomi let lose her laugher.
Mato stood confused. "What so funny?"
Yomi let out a snort. "Your face!" Yomi couldn't control herself anymore as she doubled over in joy.
"M-My face? How can you make fun of me? I'm trying to share with you here!"
The heiress paid her no heed.
"What about you? You've been crying too!" Mato scolded puffing her cheeks, her own tears quickly drying up.
"Tears of joy, I assure you!" Yomi giggled, rubbing her eyes.
Despite being teased, Mato could find it in her to be mad at her girlfriend. Mato smiled and let out a giggle. It soon escalated to full on laughter and before long, both girls were hanging onto each other for support.
"Hahahah! M-maybe we should get home now?" Yomi suggested wiping away stray tears.
Mato's smiled dropped, and she pouted. "Aww, way to ruin a moment Yomi!"
"Sorry, i'm just ready to feel my own bed again. Walk me home?"
"Hmm!"
Mato didn't hesitate to take Yomi's hand as they walked the distance to the girl's residence.
"Your mom's gonna kill me when we get there." Mato muttered.
"Hm? Why do you say that?"
"Your mom came up to the school when you went missing, demanding I give you back…" Mato trailed off.
"Oh god.. she didn't!" Yomi cringed and slapped a hand to her forehead.
Mato giggled. "Don't worry! She was just worried about you… I was.. worried too."
There was as pause in the air as they reached Yomi's front gate.
"Yomi-"
"Mato-"
Both stopped and stared into each other's eyes. There were so many things that could have been said at that moment… but both girls settled for a chaste kiss instead. A slow meeting of lips that ended much too quickly.
'I'll never leave you again...'
'I'll never let you go again...'
Both smiled, a blush painting their faces. They leaned in close for another kiss, but were quickly jarred out of their trance at the sound of the Takanashi's front door opening.
"Y-Yomi…?" A timid voice called.
It was Kagari, dressed in her white ruffled nightgown, her golden her let loose to fall about her shoulders. She looked to be in quite disarray. Her face was red, as if she'd been crying for hours on end. The image was reminiscent of her wheelchair days, minus the wheelchair…
"Kagari?"
"YOMIIIII!"
Kagari ran barefooted out the front gate straight into Yomi's arms.
"WAAAAAAAHHHH! I'M SORRY YOMI! I'M SORRY!"
"Huh?" Yomi stood baffled once again, not understanding the cause of Kagari's actions.
"I'M THE WORST FRIEND EVER! I promise, you can date whoever you want! JUST DON'T LEAVE ME ALL ALOOOOONE!"
Kagari cried big crocodile tears, and held Yomi in a squeezing hug. Yomi smiled as she struggled to break free of Kagari's suffocating grip.
"Ugh, Kagari too tight! I won't leave you, really! It's okay, calm down!"
Kagari sniffled and stared at Yomi. "You mean it?"
Yomi nodded. "Really."
"Ehh… uh.." Mato stuttered trying to make sense of Kagari's sudden change in attitude.
Kagari turned to Mato her eyes widening, finally seeing her standing there.
"KUROI-KUN!" She exclaimed forcing her hug onto Mato next.
"AHH!" Mato practically jumped out of her own skin as Kagari wrapped herself around Mato, pulling her in close.
"I'M SORRY KUROI-KUN! I'M SORRY!"
Mato nearly suffocated as she tried to wiggle herself loose from Kagari.
"UGH! I forgive you! I forgive you! Just let me breath!" Mato exclaimed her face nearly turning blue. Kagari held her tighter, and Yomi's laughter took root in her stomach once more...
["You know… This world is filled with color isn't it?"]
Mato awoke with the sun bright and early, a smile spread on her face. She flung open her curtains to let the daylight shine through.
["Bright colors, warm colors, sparkling colors,"]
Mato leaped from her bed and took her Colorful Bird book in hand. Leaving her room, she passed by her little brother in the hall.
"Here!" She said, simply shoving the book into his arms.
"Lose it, shred it, burn it for all I care. Just take it AWAY!" Mato exclaimed.
She walked off to the kitchen to make toast, and to help her mother cook breakfast. Hiro gave his sister a double take, not understanding the reason for her generosity.
He stared at the book and shrugged as he turned back to his room to put the book away on his shelf.
["As well as dirty, sad, and lonely colors too."]
A few blocks up the street from the Kuroi's, morning was beginning for the Takanashi residence as well. Yomi, Kagari, and Mr. and Mrs. Takanashi gathered together at the family table for breakfast.
"Ne Yomi? Want to go see a movie on saturday? We can bring Mato too." Kagari asked digging into her eggs and toast.
Mr. Takanashi put down his newspaper. "You can go Kagari, Yomi is grounded… again."
"Not again! Come on da-"
"-No chance. Oh and I'm taking the payment for your new cell phone out of your allowance." He replied.
"What?!"
Mr. Takanashi grinned. "Yep, it shouldn't cost no more than… oh say, a years' worth."
"A yea-what's the phone made of, SOLID GOLD?"
Yomi's father held his butter knife high into the air. "The king has spoken!" He proclaimed.
Yomi pushed her breakfast plate away, and threw up her hands in defeat.
"You're not eating?" Her mother asked.
"I've completely lost my appetite!" She said with an exaggerated "hmmp!" throwing her nose to the air.
["The colors aren't all wonderful to look at,"]
Her father just smirked, not buying her ploy. "Starving yourself won't change my mind Yomi. Now eat."
Kagari laughed as Yomi ignored her father, staying as she was. Mr. Takanashi shrugged and grabbed Yomi's breakfast. He quickly went about scraping her food onto his own plate.
"Wha-HEY!" Yomi exclaimed demanding an explanation.
"Well no reason this wonderful breakfast your mother made should go to waste, now should it?" Was his reasoning.
Both Kagari and Mrs. Takanashi laughed as Yomi grew indignant with her father and snatched her pilfered toast right out of his hand. She tore into savagely glaring at him.
Mr. Takanashi just smirked and held up a small ceramic dish.
"Care for some butter?"
["But they're all a part of this world, and this world is beautiful!"]
Mato took off running out the house, her bag in hand. She raced to the usual corrner where Kagari and Yomi were waiting.
"Morning Kagari!" Mato greeted, completely bypassing the blonde to wrap her arms around Yomi's waist.
"Uhh.. G-G-Good morning…" Kagari stuttered with a blush, as Mato kissed Yomi good morning right in front of her.
["There are friends who laugh with you, and cry with you."]
The girls stepped off the train and ran to school. Entering the gate Mato giggled as she passed by a very happy, very red Arata, hand in hand with her new boyfriend Taku…
["And then, there are those that won't."]
Yomi sat at her desk, unpacking her books. The class was in chatter, mostly about her. After being missing nearly a week (twice now), she had expected it. Two girls in particular, who often conversed behind her back, were especially chatty that morning…
Yomi paid them all no mind. There would always be gossip and rumors, but Yomi knew the truth. She would not let it bother her.
The teacher walked in with a smile and wrote a name on the chalk board. Turning away from it, she ushered her new student to enter the class. A young girl with short, Peru-colored hair and honey brown eyes walked in. She hung her head low, deeply saddened and melancholic.
Yomi's eyes widened when realized who it was.
Koutari, Yuu.
Yuu kept her head low unable to look up and meet the class's gaze. When she refused to introduce herself, the teacher simply decided to spare the girl and assigned her a seat. Two rows over, and three seats down.
Right next to Yomi.
Yuu began to sweat bullets. This was just what she needed, a seat next to one of the girls she'd beaten up.
Yuu tried to make herself look small and quickly took her seat. Shifting her legs under her desk, she gave a nervous glance to the girl next to her. She jumped slightly; surprised to see there was a bright smile on Yomi's face.
Yuu shrank down into her seat with a deep blush, incredibly nervous.
She tried to manage a smile anyhow.
["Regardless, we accept our colors,"]
When break time kicked in, Mato was the first one out the door of her class, with a very nosey Kagari in tow.
"This is supposed to be a romantic rendezvous, you can't tag along!"
"Hmmp! As far as I'm concerned you basically stole Yomi out from under my nose any how, so you can at least let me watch!" Kagari complained puffing her cheeks.
Mato sweat dropped. 'And people call me a pervert!'
The two argued as they let themselves into Yomi's class. Mato was left in surprise at what she saw. Not only was Yuu ("the real one" she reminded herself) there at school, but Yomi was chatting away with her.
Mato immediately imposed herself into their conversation, Kagari still following after.
["And we remember that we each make only one part of the rainbow."]
With Yomi and Mato's favorite bench out in the court yard occupied by Taku and Arata, all four girls settled for having lunch in the guidance counselor's office. Mato especially had insisted upon it.
The moment Saya let them and offered them coffee, Mato had her hands on the collar of Saya's sweater tugging her down, fervently demanding apologies for playing them like puppets.
Saya held up her hands nervously in surrender as she tried to explain. Yuu attempted to hold Mato back, by wrapping her arms around Mato's waist. Mato refused to relent.
Yomi sighed and face-palmed. Kagari just stood there, confused but giggling.
["Together we complete the pallet, and the world becomes our canvas."]
Ignoring her punishment of being grounded, Yomi and the other girls took to browsing around town after school. They stopped into a familiar jewelry shop and Mato grinned when she spotted the cellphone charms rack in the corner.
When the shopping was over, Mato opened a small paper bag and presented Kagari with a pink phone strap that had a small heart dangling from the end. Kagari was all too happy to accept it, and wasted no time in looping it to her phone.
Noticing Yuu's envious look, Mato reached into the bag and held up and orange charm with a small monarch butterfly attached to it. Yuu pointed to the charm, asking if it was for her, Mato nodded with glee.
Yuu's face lit with joy and she took the charm in hand. It was her very first gift from a friend, she made sure to hold it tight. Yomi became panicked slightly when she remembered she had dropped her phone stap, Mato just laughed and held up her own phone.
It had two star charms hanging from it.
Yomi hugged Mato tight, snuggling into the girl's black hair, grateful the strap had been found. Mato detached Yomi's charm from her phone, and bargained it back for a kiss.
Yomi complied whole heartedly…
["We'll grow up in this world, and paint it with color in our hearts."]
The girls laughed as they walked home, their gifts in hand. Slowly the sun began to set over the horizon casting the earth in an orange glow.
Yuu had been the first to notice it, and held her charm up to the fading sunlight. The other girls followed after, Kagari and her heart, Yomi and her star. The charms caught the light, and glittered radiantly.
Mato held up held up two, her own charm… and an extra she had purchased from the shop. Yomi took notice of the extra and asked who it was for. Mato's reply was concise if not confusing.
"This? Oh just… someone." She grinned wide…
["…Together, we'll create a masterpiece."]
Blue frost eyes watched the world from her high peak.
She gazed out at the vastness of it all, as it slowly changed and transformed with color. The others who now resided there, were already painting parts of the land to suit their tastes.
Off into the distant white mist, there was a splatter of pink; a world filled with children's broken dreams.
Brimmed with chipped alphabet blocks, and decayed doll limbs. A world of rusted carousel rides, and a large Ferris wheel left askew, detached from its hinges. A dilapidated, doll house floated high above it all, and dry rot silk ribbons were strung about like misbegotten garlands. Deep within lived a master who loved intensely with all she had, even when that love was unrequited.
To the right of that world, lied a place of high pillars.
Much more sophisticated than the world of pink, but still in no less a rotted condition. It's columns were tall and thick, some of them in pieces, and despite its master's love of the color red, the world stayed pure white. Recapturing untainted innocence; like its master, who was desperate for repentance and forgiveness for the wrongs she'd committed in the past.
Far from them, just behind the high peak that overlooked it all, laid a crater; painted in dark hellish green.
Extending deep into the crust, it's broken and twisting stairway spiraled downward, drenched in dead black flowers. Deep within its center sat an old crumbling chapel, elaborately decorated with broken stained glass, and a tall, clocked steeple. The god who settled within, was one to be feared. Jealousy and pride were abundant in that world like its master, who loved to the point of complete obsession.
Black Rock Shooter watched all these places with curious eyes, her once quiet realm of blue, now a flat for every despairing soul that Mato had encountered.
('…I don't believe I asked for roommates.') Rock thought, narrowing her eyebrows.
If she could build a new world of blue for Mato, what would look like? Did such a thing really matter? Her old world of blue and white clouds had been empty before anyhow.
Rock had never taken to rooting in one place for long. She had always been on the move, and more than likely she always would be. The five of them had merged their worlds into one, but there were still many more domains out there, buried deep into the heart of infinity, and many more wayward souls to fight.
Rock's work would never be finished. But perhaps, there should be one place she could always return too. The high cliff she sat upon was certainly nice…
Rock closed her eyes and placed her hand on the peaking rock structure beneath her body. A blue star painted itself onto the cliff as Rock claimed it her own. She nodded, accepting this. That one blue star was more than enough to mark her territory.
Rock stood up, and admired the colorful sky above her head. At its center sat Mato's white shining star. Though somewhat overshadowed by the many variegations surrounding it, it still twinkled on, never ending.
Just like its master…
"Ne, Rock?"
Rock jumped in surprise at the familiar voice.
("…Mato?")
"Here, take this."
Rock squinted as a small spark flashed before her eyes. Mato opened their gate and slipped a small trinket through the portal. Rock became concerned at this; Mato had caught on much too quickly on how to contact the other world from her side.
When the light ebbed away, a small charm floated into Rock's hands. She held it up looked it over precariously. It was completely white, with round beads strung about. A small, pearl-ish star dangled from the end. Rock looked at it with confusion.
("Why?")
Rock could practically feel Mato's giggle vibrate through her entire frame.
"A gift… So you can call on me if you ever need my help…"
Rock's eyes widened in shock, how exactly was she supposed to interpret that? Was Mato serious? Did she really want to keep their link open that badly? Would she really be willing to venture into hell again with Rock, if asked?
Rock was so engrossed in thought, she didn't hear the click of high heels behind her. A black boned hand reached out and the charm was snatched out of her grasp. She turned just in time to see Dead Master run off with her stolen treasure. Rock lit the flame in her eye, and took off, hot on her heels.
("Aww! Yomi never gives me anything this cute! Maybe I'll keep it! It'll look pretty hanging from one of my horns don't you think?") Dead Master teased with a grin.
("Do it, and I'll slice both your horns off!") Rock growled summoning her rock cannon.
Rock fired into the air, her neon blasts radiating blue on the white landscape. Dead Master jumped and flipped dodging them without a care.
She threw her hand in Rock's direction and sent a black chain flying her way, but Rock skidded to the side and let the chain bypass her.
She held up her cannon, and fired again.
…
Gently fondling the cheeks of her seedlings, Black Gold Saw lost her smile as the ground beneath her feet shook. There was a rumble off into the distance and a blast of neon blue. Gold Saw shook her head.
("Haven't those fools heard of break periods?")
Within the world of pink, Chariot sat high atop her broken Ferris wheel. Her wheeled legs dangled as she let them swing about, watching the battle ensue from far away.
There was a flash of blue that exploded like fireworks, and it wobbled the ground.
("Pretty…") She muttered, nibbling on a dirty colored macaroon…
…
Dead Master groaned as a lucky hit from Rock's cannon struck her in the back, painting greenish-black blood onto the white landscape and sent her tumbling to the ground. She opted to stay there a moment and let her pain subside, but was grasped tightly by one of her horns and hauled to her feet.
Dead Master clawed at Black Rock Shooter's stomach with her free hand making deep gash marks, tearing the skin off and drawing out blue-ish-black blood. Rock paid no mind to the pain.
("RAAHHH! LET GO!")
Rock morphed her cannon into her sword and held it to Dead Master's neck as a warning.
("You let go first.")
Dead Master hissed bearing her fangs like a viper, and threw the pilfered charm into the air. Rock was forced to let her go to catch the charm, and Dead Master retreated off back to her pit.
Nearing her green she turned and pointed, sending out a threat to her long standing rival.
("This isn't over!") Dead Master screeched diving backwards into her world completely unabashed.
Rock just shook her head. ("It never is…")
Rock eyed her gift, checking it to see if had been damaged in the skirmish. She relaxed when found it was in perfect condition, and quickly lopped it onto the black choker around her neck, letting the white strap double as a necklace.
Rock glanced at the colorful heavens once more before putting her sword away, happy to return to the high place she'd been before.
Her thumb began absentmindedly rubbing the little star on her neck...
…
Orange yellow eyes opened to the world.
Born a new, the girl stood tall despite her short stature, two large metal arms and a black hood adorning her person. She looked about in confusion, not quite sure how she'd gotten there, to this world of white.
She remembered... Wasn't she supposed to be dead?
Some memories were blured, but she still remembered the important things. Like the name, Koutari Yuu. It resonated deep into her core, as did her own name.
STRength... Koutari Yuu's, STRength.
And this world too. She remembered this new world, with its odd and colorful inhabitants.
And one in particular… a girl of blue, with long uneven twin tails.
STRength looked left and right, in search of something… Was she alone?
("I…") she murmured.
("I won't stop fighting in this reality.")
STRength tensed and whipped around to the source of the voice, but relaxed and lowered her guard when she caught sight of who it was.
All though there was much to be feared in this reality, STRength did not fear this. She did not fear this person who wore the guise of someone STRength held dear. This woman, who served as the persona… of a much loved friend.
STRength smiled as Black Rock Shooter fluffed her coat and stood tall.
("I will continue getting hurt, and bearing the pain.")
The wind picked up, and Rock set her eyes for a new horizon.
("I won't… stop fighting in this reality!")
Fin.
AN- OMG, MY FEELINGS! *bawls like an idiot* that scene where STRength dies gets me every time! And the only thing sadder than her death was her reset! I realized the animators were trying to make it a happy ending for everyone, but it still had me crying. Or maybe I'm just a sappy idiot… I kinda cry at everything, Disney movies included.
I changed Mato's "end monologue" a little to stretch it longer and make it suit my own tastes. I also traded friendship braclets for the cellphone charms, since that was the running thing in the OVA.
The otherworld girls have basically moved their junk into Rock's place, and the Love/Hate thing BRS and DM have going lives stronger than ever!
So, I've decided! I'm gonna make a sequel even if it kills me! I already wrote the first chapter, and I'm slowly making a map of how the story will proceed towards the end. Besides, the girls might have survived all that, but you know they're still carrying around baggage!
Yuu's still defensive in dealing with life.
Kagari still harbors hidden feelings for Yomi.
Yomi might have gotten DM off her back but she's still spineless in asking for what she wants for her life, especially when her father starts interfering.
Mato basically said she's ready to become and angsty teenager like the rest of her friends. (I'm gonna have fun with that one!)
And Saya… Well, Saya will always be Saya I guess. *sweat drop*
Oh! And let's not forget our otherworld friends… Their problems are only just beginning! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Second season is not coming until June! But I'll post a teaser for you guys later…
For now, hit that REVIEW button my eternally loyal subjects! Doku-sama, I'm expecting yours to be extra long for this one.