Chapter 54

[Kotomi]

Makoto and I really wanted to investigate the sound that we heard but Makoto said that I had to focus on the task at hand and Shizuki would handle what happened there. He took me back to Hikan's house, which I kinda made my own while he's gone. I am so glad that I got a key from him.

I went to bed early and woke up early, I went up to the Basilicom to see Nepgear about the idea that Makoto came up with. I walked into the room when the elevator door opened and saw Nepgear sitting on the couch with a depressed expression. I walked up and sat down next to her. "What's wrong Nepgear?"

She glanced at me, "Oh… hey Kotomi, I've just been thinking about things."

"Like what? You can tell me."

"Well… it's worse then we thought." she said, "Did you hear that loud noise that happened last night?"

"Yeah."

"Well… I was going to go investigate it, but when I used my CPU form to go. I lost it just as fast. I don't have the shares to use it as much anymore." Nepgear said, "And… I can't take this…"

"Nepgear it's alright. We'll figure this out. I know we will."

"I wish Hikan was still here… when I'm with him I just feel overjoyed." She said, in my eyes I saw a faint pink glow from her. So that's what's going on.

"You love him huh?" I pointed out and she looked at me with a blushed face, "I can see how. He's kind, funny, reliable. He would make the perfect boyfriend…" I continued, "but do you think he wants you to just sit here and do nothing?"

"N-No."

"Then hear me out; when we went to Leanbox the other day to see if we can find Hikan, the satellite couldn't find him, Makoto then got an idea: with everyone else trying to catch up on the work, he said that I should go and round up all of you Candidates and find the mascots of the nations. Meanwhile I can try to find those memory orbs and get my memory back." I explained Nepgear looked at the ground for a couple seconds before raising her head and nodding.

"Histoire did mention those earlier when IF and Ozaki were here. You're right. I can't just sit here, Hikan did all he could to make sure that I got this far. I won't let it be in vain!"

"That's the spirit, come on. I'll ask Histoire where the mascot is and we'll head out. It'll be a little while to get there."

"Right."

I stood up from the couch and went up the stairs, going through the rooms until I could find Histy but I met her and IF in the hallway. "Histy! IF!"

Both of them looked over at me, "Kotomi are you alright?" IF quickly asked.

"I'm fine, Histy I need to ask you something."

"It's related to what IF is going to do isn't it? You're going to seek the Mascots for help?"

"Yeah actually. How do you know?"

"Makoto contacted me saying you wanted to help." Histy smiled at me, "Thank you so much for taking the time to do this."

"Ahahah, Well… Hikan was special to all of the others so…" I said and rubbed the back of my head.

"Whatever your reason, I'm glad that you're willing to help." she said and floated towards me, the three of us now going down the hallway. "The Mascot is in the deeper part of the Virtua Forest, but the monsters have been getting more restless with each day that passes. Something is causing them to agitate."

"We don't know what it is yet, but there will definitely be monsters that will attack us." IF pointed out.

"Like that'll scare me." I replied, "If these Mascots really will help us then I'll find them." I said and the three of us walked out to the living room, Nepgear was standing at the window looking outside. "Nepgear! It's time to go."

She turned back to us and nodded, "I'm ready."

"Good luck you three. I'll be hoping for your safe return." Histy concluded, we all smiled at her.

"Right."


The three of us left the Basilicom and started on our way, IF had Nepgear on her bike while I was driving beside them on Shizuki's bike. IF was against me driving at first but I insisted that I would, I can drive fine!

I looked over at her, "IF? Where did Ozaki go too?" I asked while driving next to her.

She glanced over for a second, "Hey! Keep your eyes in front of you!" she shouted and I looked in front of me again. Narrowly avoided going off the road. "He said he was going back to Lowee to spy on ASIC there. I told him to contact me once he gets there and he agreed to do so. I haven't gotten anything yet though."

"We'll make sure to find him when we get to Lowee. Right now we need to focus on ahead- woah!" I moved out of the way from a rock.

"Just focus on what's in front of you…" IF told me and we continued forward.

We stopped just outside the forest before going in on foot. IF led the way while Nepgear and I walked at her shoulders. We looked around the area and saw no monsters, we continued going until I felt a sharp pinch in my leg, I looked down and saw a Dogoo biting my leg, except this one looked a little weird: It was mainly black and had white eyes, but had more the same features as a normal one.

"Let go." I stated and shook my leg, but it was refusing to let go. "Come on, knock it off."

IF grabbed it from it's tail and yanked on it, pulling it off my leg and tossing it aside. "That's a new one… I haven't seen one like that before.

"Could this be what Histoire meant by the agitated monsters?" Nepgear questioned, I walked up to the Dogoo and watched it growl at me.

"When I usually see these guys they're so happy…" I muttered and saw a white outline form around it. I could feel the fear coming from it… it's just scared. "Don't worry little guy, we're not going to hurt you. We came here to seek out the mascot is all."

The Dogoo didn't look away from us, it still kept it's brave face and I saw the white outline die down a little. Then it hopped away from us, I looked back at IF and Nepgear to see them smiling.

"Kotomi. I'm glad that you're able to read emotions." Nepgear said, I walked back towards them.

"Yeah, it helps out a good bit." I replied, "Let's keep going." before we could take another step, we heard something behind us, we turned and saw a large monster lumbering towards us. It had the head of a piranha with razor sharp teeth and the body of man, it's bones were showing on its skin and it's entire body was pitch black. It had a red flashing outline, in other words, it's pissed. "Guys. This one is going to be a problem."

We turned our bodies towards it and the monster roared, Black ooze shot out of its mouth towards me. IF dashed towards the right and ran towards it, her Qatar's shooting out of her sleeves, Nepgear summoned her saber and went to the left while I jumped over the ooze, summoned one of my daggers and threw it at the monster, nailing it in the eye.

It roared in pain and stumbled back, IF came up beside it and slashed at its leg. Dropping it down to one knee, then Nepgear ran up towards it and sliced at its head. It fell back and landed with a thud, all of us regrouped with each other.

"Was that really it?" IF asked, as if waiting for that line, the monster slowly stood back up.

"Nope."

The monster stomped its foot on the ground and tentacles sprung from the ground. I quickly reacted and slashed at them, slicing each of them in half. I ran out towards the monster and dodged a swing from its arm and rolled out of the way. IF swung at its arm, blood squirting out of its wound and Nepgear slashed from the side, hitting the monster in the side and then I jumped up for it's head. I sunk my dagger in it's eye, making it swing it's head up and sending me for a ride. I held on with all my strength and summoned another dagger and stabbed its head. Making it roar even more, it reached up and grabbed the back of my jacket and tried to pull me off. But IF ran up to it and slashed at it's stomach and Nepgear slashed at both it's legs. Knocking it off balance.

I jumped off and backflipped in the air before throwing another dagger at it, nailing it's other eye. Then we all regrouped once again and I summoned one more dagger. "Let's go!"

We all dashed towards the monster and, all at once, swiped at it once again. The monster let out one more yelp before falling to the ground and vanishing into little clusters. I let out a deep breath before looking at IF and Nepgear. "Let's get farther in before anything else shows up."

We kept walking making sure to avoid any other monsters. The Virtua Forest had little monsters besides that giant one earlier. They're all felt afraid though… was it the monster? Or something else even bigger?

We were so deep in the forest that the scenery change: The air was more purple now instead of its usual green and the trees had gotten larger in size. There were also platforms with bridges that went towards each of the trees. If you were to look below you would see a drop into more trees. I never thought there was something like this in here.

Nepgear walked in front of us this time and looked to her right. "Is that the mascot?" She asked, IF and I turned and looked in her direction. What we saw was some type of rock that would glow purple and then fade. There seemed to be a person next to it too… and they were hitting the rock with some sort of metal rod. "Excuse me… what the goodness?! Please stop!"

The person stopped and look back at us, she had green hair with, what appeared to be, a mouse hoodie with the hood over her head having the nose and ears of a mouse, the entire front of her body was exposed showing off her pale skin, the only thing that she covered was her chest, not like there was much there anyway, she had baggy pants on and black boots.

"Huh? Who the hell are you kids? You'd better not get in my way." She warned us before looking back at the glowing rock.

"What are you doing to the Mascot?" I questioned and she looked back at us again.

"Uh, destroying it. What else does it look like I'm doing?" She blurted out, "this thing is a nuisance to ASIC."

"ASIC? You work for them?" IF them questioned.

"Like I have to explain myself to you, But… alright, listen up." The girl said and smirked. "I'm one of the many members in ASIC's front-line infantry. And don't ever forget it."

"Front-line infantry… doesn't that make you one of their underlings…?" IF asked, I bit my cheek but I couldn't hold back my laughter.

"Ahahahaha! That's priceless! An nnderling like you thinks they can tell us what to do." I said on the brink of tears, I had to lean on Nepgear's shoulder to prevent myself from falling over.

"Definitely an underling." Nepgear agreed.

"What?! Where the hell do you get off calling me an underling, huh?" Underling barked, I'm calling her Underling no matter what from now on.

"Underling's the only name you need, Underling, now beat it." IF warned, even she agrees with the name Underling!

"You…!" Underling muttered and stomped her foot on the ground, "Now you really pissed me off! You'll regret calling me that!"

Without any hesitation, Underling ran out towards us quick. Swinging the metal rod she had at Nepgear and hitting her in the side, she gasped in pain before sliding back, then she swung at me and I blocked the attack with my dagger but I slid back as well.

IF sliced her Qatar's at Underling, but Underling moved so fast that she was able to move around IF and smack her back with the metal rod, sending IF tumbling towards me. I quickly caught her before she hit the ground.

"No way… how is she this strong…" IF questioned as I helped her to her feet.

"You don't think it's because of the shares do you?" I replied and looked towards Underling again.

"Heh, serves you right for getting in my way." She said and looked towards Nepgear, "I'll take you out first."

"Nepgear!"

"No!" Nepgear looked up and saw Underling dash forward, but wasn't able to summon any weapons to block. I gritted my teeth and felt adrenaline rush through me, I ran towards her as fast as my legs could carry me. "Nepgear!"

I pushed her out of the way and felt the blunt hit from the metal rod hit me on the head. I felt my hearing go out as I fell on one knee. I felt something sticky on my head run down my cheek. I looked up at Underling before I dove towards her, I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to the ground. Then balled up my fist and repeatedly punched her face, Underling pushed me off and stood back up before looking down at me again. My hearing slowly started to come back, "You want to die first? Fine."

The pain quickly came back as I felt my head throbbing, I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Nepgear advance towards Underling, but she still couldn't summon a weapon. Underling just kicked her back before looking down at me again, she held the rod up again. I had no strength left and the pain I felt was unbearable… I can't even move anymore.

As I closed my eyes to await my death, I felt no other pain anywhere. I opened my eyes again and looked up. A pair of legs stood in front of me holding the rod back. Whoever was in front of me pulled the metal rod from Underlings hands and threw it aside. Underling backed up a couple steps before eyeing the rod and then whoever was in front of me.

She ran for the rod but the pair of legs left me and dashed for her, I could see a black cloak and then some hair along with a metal arm shoot out for her. But Underling was able to grab the metal rod and run towards the rock again. She hit it one last time and it shattered in an instant leaving us all in surprise.

"One down, on to Lastation's mascot!" she said and ran, how in the world is that girl so fast?

The man looked back at me with an emotionless expression from what I could see of his face anyway. He walked up to me and held his hand out, I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet then he pulled a hankerchief out and wiped the blood off my cheek and head. IF and Nepgear reunited with me as well. We all watched the man as he stared at each of us. His expression not changing in the slightest… I couldn't even read his emotions.

"We appreciate you helping us." IF stated, "Who are you?"