Hey! Tainted here. This started and resulted as I wanted to write something, but I didn't know what to do today. I had stuff planned, but waking up, my mojo just wasn't flowing the same way. I will see about adding a new chapter to UP later, too, but this was more of a preemptive return to my fanfiction writing again. Just something quick. :)
The first in a long list of Yandere one-shots to be added. K-sha adds fuel to both the Neptune and Noire dominant fires, really. The -Shas are kinda' cute, but I do admit, the whole Megadimension Steamax and -Sha relationships with the Goddesses/Candidates was a bit eh. Cute, but not pleasant, per-say. Steamax and Uni seems so easily done, as did Uni and Brave, that I'm a little annoyed - keep your likable male characters out of my game, even if they are giant robots. Or at least, away from the main girl cast. :(
Anyway, my ranting about plot choices aside. Let's just see if I still have it!
You know, ever since we stumbled across K-sha, things have been progressively different. Like, weirdly different. I keep sensing the feeling that people are watching me - not just one, but multiple people, and it really sort of freaks me out. I sigh, running a hand through my hair absentmindedly as I drum my pen softly on the the table, my eyes running over the newest documents for the Lastation 5 console, and I bite my lip. It's relatively late at night, and I still have the strange foreboding sense that I'm being watched right now, and frankly… it worries me. I originally wanted to write it off as Neptune or Uni, but maybe that's wishful thinking…
As I think this, the door to my office opens as Uni appears, smiling tiredly at me whilst bowing her head in greeting, carrying a tray laden with tea and some small pastry snacks. She started making those with Steamax recently, which… is kind of strange in of itself, and I could tell that Nepgear was genuinely bothered by his existence, but I'm not going to tread into Uni's business. She is responsible enough to make her own choices. I believe.
"Thank you, Uni. I appreciate this," I say as she sets the tray down on the edge of the desk, nodding as she fetches a chair to settle down beside me after pouring some tea for both of us. "Is Steamax over, again, then?"
Her eyes shift to me suddenly, a little cloudy, and I blink in surprise. That expression comes whenever I ask, and it's a bit… unsettling. "No, I've learned quite well, dear sister. I'm confident enough to bake for you that I don't need his help nowadays."
"...Ah, okay. Well," I pause, trying to carefully choose my words while remaining calm, noticing her scooting closer, "have you visited Planeptune recently? Nepgear has been really worried, I'm pretty sure."
She frowns, her eyes clearing up an ounce, and she drums a hand on her thigh. "Uh… no, I haven't, but I've been busy. Really busy."
"...What with, if you don't mind me prying?" I ask, setting the pen down after crossing out some procedures for assembly and instead writing other viable methods for the inner hardware. Shifting in my seat to face her, she immediately hands me a cup of tea on a small plate, and I smile at her softly, nodding. "Thank you, again."
"Of course, dear sister," she says contentedly, smiling. We sip our tea in silence as time stretches on, and it occurs to me that she completely disregarded my inquiry. The feeling of eyes watching me is still there, too. I'm getting a little scared, now, actually. "...Sister, I have a question."
"...Eh? Ah! Uh, yes? What's up, Uni?" I respond, jumping slightly. I didn't expect her to break the silence, actually. She straightens her posture somewhat, narrowing her eyes while taking a breath, sighing. She's hesitating. "Is… something wrong? Just talk to me, alright?"
"I'm… trying. I'm a little unnerved in asking in front of whoever's been watching us, though." My eyes must widen in concern as she quickly sets her tea down, resting a hand reassuringly on my leg. "I've been… trying to keep them at bay, but I think I want to know a question that's been rolling around in my head for awhile, dear sister."
"...Yeah, Uni? What's up? And who are they, then?" I ask slowly, a chill running up my spine. This is dangerous - this entire scenario, this entire night; the omen of something dark is looming in my mind. If I transform, I might be able to put fear in all parties and still protect Uni, but…
"...Sister, I wanted to know what you think of me."
"...Hm? Uni, you're my… my dearest little sister, and I l-love you. You're… like one of my closest friends," I respond, shifting my attention to her. That question felt pointed, and I'm starting to approximate a guess as to why, but if that's the answer… Simply put, I'm fucked, aren't I? "...Or are you asking in a different manner, Uni?"
"...No, I'm… I think I understand," her voice is a little shaky, and her eyes suddenly grew dark. Consciously, I will my body to begin engaging HDD as she raises her head in surprise, looking at me. "What are you…?"
Allowing the transformation to engulf me, I feel my body, personality and strength shift - power and determination fill me, a sense of invincibility and an indomitable will overtake me as I stand up, the light surrounding me fading as I glance down at Uni. I'm more confident and outspoken in this form, and I will utilize that to my best abilities. "Uni."
"Y-yes? Sister…?"
"I'm not really sure how you view me, but you are one of the two most precious people in the world to me. However, I recommend you talk to Nepgear tomorrow - it might be in your best interest. I'll be back - I have some guests I need to find," I say with disdain, shifting my eyes to the window behind me. Lifting it, I hop over the ledge and leave Uni by herself, knowing that there seems to be a very wrong signal between us that I need to correct at a later time. I'm not sure if I could ever see my sister as anything but my sister, and I'm not entirely sure I'd want to. Though, the Lastation and the Ita are made for compatibility-No, that's kind of gross, Noire. Stop that.
Rousing myself from my thoughts, I scan over the horizon as I materialize my sword. This stalking ends tonight. For all of them. I can estimate a guess that one of the two parties out here is likely K-sha, but the other… Could it be Neptune? She also became somewhat strange after K-sha's appearance, but I was so busy with how K-sha and Uni interacted that I had little time to pay her heed. Running my hand through my flowing snow-colored hair, I sigh and narrow my eyes, raising my voice.
"If you two do not come out from the shadows or stop this agitating habit, I will hunt you down and exterminate you. I have tired of this game, and you have irritated me for the last time. You also inconvenienced my little sister, and for that, I will not be kind. Come out, cowards," I proclaim with ease, still scanning the scene. There is the forest up ahead, or the roof above and behind me. I can only go for one or the other, and the other party would probably escape. Forest, roof, forest, roof… A squeak on the roof comes before the patter of feet rushing to depart in a hurry, leaving me with the sense now instead that the other intruder is in the forest. They haven't moved nor did they seem alarmed, meaning that they aren't afraid of a Goddess. Unless I pissed off Blanc, Vert, or Uzume, I'm pretty sure I know who's over there, and actually… that scares me more than anything else.
Out of all of the people I have faced… She is my worst enemy. Is she currently in her HDD form? Or is she human at the moment? This simple fact makes all of the difference in how I approach. Taking a breath, I steady my beating heart, shoving away unnecessary thoughts - if she means harm, I will disarm and apprehend her, and then give her a firm scolding. If it's… something else, and I will away the blush on my cheeks, then I will… deal with that if it is. Yeah. I can't keep ignoring everything going on around me, anymore.
"You have not come out, so I shall come to you. En garde, Neptune!" I shout, engaging my flight systems as I soar toward her, zooming across the small plain of grass toward the treeline as I raise my blade in preparation. To block or to strike…? I'll take an offensive stance.
Noting a sudden shimmer behind one of the trees, I narrow my eyes and gulp silently. It's been engaged, then? I'm not even sure I can beat Purple Heart in a fair one on one. Shaking my head, I hesitate for only an instant before lashing out at the tree, slicing through it as she leaps back, the moonlight falling upon her immediately. Black-and-purple bodysuit, floating slightly, buxom figure that probably - by my own opinion - ranks as second to only mine, with long, flowing violet hair, and blue eyes… thick with cloudy, lustful hunger. Oh, holy crap - there's a facial expression I only dream-thought may have existed in my deepest nightmares. Yeah.
"That is no way to greet your best friend, Noire,~" she says softly, smiling as she draws her blade. "I could've been hurt, you know?~"
"...Then you ought to have come out, Neptune. I'm done with being watched every night to the point of being utterly paranoid. It's unsettling," I say, crossing my arms while still holding firm to my blade. Every sense in my body is on fire with caution and fear, right now. "And… K-sha is the other one consistently keeping tabs on me, I'm going to assume?"
Her eyes narrow, and she frowns in dismay. "Unfortunately, that is not incorrect, however, you have also had Nep Jr.'s attention for unwittingly stealing Uni's focus."
"An issue that I have no control over, and intend to address at a later time."
"Oh, do not worry - while we are out here, Nep Jr. has already entered your Basilicom to find and console her after your conversation."
"...And how would you know about said conversation? You also have a really smug expression, and it's kind of creepy. Stop it," I remark, taking a step closer to her as she makes her way into the moonlight, but not very far away from the treeline. Does she intend to flee?
"Uni may have tapped your room, and… decided to give me a spare earpiece while excluding K-sha."
"...Neptune, did you force my little sister to help you?" I inquire with anger, ignoring the really disturbing fact that was just bared clean. "I'm getting very displeased now."
"Noire, Noire.~ There's no need to be so unhappy - I didn't lay a hand on your sister. She wanted to settle who is the most precious person to you with me personally. It was an agreement between girls, you know?"
"...And why not K-sha?"
"Please don't say such absurd things. If, by a slim chance that she somehow caught your eye… she'd just simply disappear.~" She beams eerily, her face genuinely free of guilt and concern. Okay, raise the 'holy crap' level to 'holy shit', I'm talking to a wholesome Yandere Purple Heart-infused Neptune right now. Time to begin considering escape routes. "What's wrong, Noire?~ Your face is so pale. Do you need me to take care of you?" The normal me would probably be weak in the legs and squeak into submission by this point, but I can feel it - even the essence of my HDD is telling me to run. "You wouldn't… intend to leave me like this, would you?"
The pain crossing her expression stops my planning cold. I pause, breathing slowly, feeling a hard pang in my heart. There's so much going on, I'm starting to feel a little lightheaded. Neptune cares? So does Uni? Nepgear is currently likely assaulting Uni in the same way, right now? Yanderes? It's a little surreal. Actually, a lot surreal. I should've just finished the stupid Lastation 5 and went to bed. "...Neptune, I'm not sure what I intend to do, right now, but I…"
"Noire, we're… we're best friends, aren't we?" she cuts in, and I freeze up. "Aren't we close? I matter to you, don't I…?"
"...N-Neptune, look, it's… uh… not that I don't care, but…" Damn it, I've been swept up in her pace. I need to talk my way out of this and then…
"Then why aren't you planning to stay? Why are you looking for a way to run away? You matter to me, but are you saying I don't matter to you?" She takes a step forward, toward me, and I take a step back instinctively. This is bad, my thoughts and heart are beginning to blur…
"Neptune, N-Neptune, I'm… I need some time to soak all of this in… Just, step back so I can…"
"Noire… of course… I do love you." Snap. My eyes widen, and I feel my legs give out as I stare at her, dumbfounded and simply defeated. My heart… it won't stop. It hurts. "Noire… Noire, Noire, Noire,~" she sings my name softly, and I gaze up at her as she approaches where I sit, pressing down on me as she pins me, smirking. "I'll take care of you, don't worry.~ I'll give you all of the time in the world.~ Anything you will ever want.~ Just. Don't. Leave. Me. Okay?~" she whispers into my ear, and I whimper. "There's a good girl.~ Don't worry, I'll always protect you.~"
Everything fades besides her face, and I watch as I am effortlessly lifted up into her arms as she carries me off. My mind's melting, and all I see is her face, her words ringing endlessly in my ears. One last coherent thought comes to me as I accept my fate, my body and heart refusing to work with my haphazard mind.
Well, I guess I'm literally fucked, now.
I think I have pretty good handles on Noire's various personality styles now. Next one will probably be from a (mostly) serious Neptune PoV. These mostly serve as musings and returns to my Neptunia styles for other stories now, so they'll still update frequently as I play with new methods. I think Noire being more subservient and soft in her human form, and then more stubborn and straightlaced in her HDD fits. Or maybe, UP is just infecting me. Who cares?
L-l-l-lewd!
Anyway, I don't have too much to add right now, actually. This was a brief musing to slap on there and let you all know I'm not dead - I've just been busy finishing some exams and doing some real life stuff. I'm back for a bit, again, everybody. (heart)
And with that, Tainted out.~