[DISCLAIMER: These are all Hololive characters that I've used in this fantastical little tale that has nothing to do with the real people who play these characters.

Enter a new character and a bit more revelation of what's going on. More Ina, AmeSame, Botan, Nene, Enma, Korone and all the gang. I hope you all are enjoying all their streams as much as I do.

Amazingly, this has become the most popular fanfic on this site. I will still be adding to OkaKoro is Love… and Hololive Doom, but this one was crying out for attention because reviews make me write; reviews tell me there are those who want to find out what happens next, and so I will write to get the story moving along.

Thank you all for reading and I hope I don't disappoint as this story moves toward the climactic and bittersweet ending. Cthulhu, Cthulhu, Cthulhu…

Chapter 9 – A World of Beauty, A World of Pain

Ina's past was always blocked by a dark shroud of purples and dark greys to black. She wanted to relax and love life.

She stood at the back of her suite, looking out to the world of this island. There was a floor to ceiling window, and she stood watching the greens and blues of the world outside, the ocean below. This island was so bucolic and calm, only sounds of gentle wildlife and the ocean in the distance.

She closed her eyes, dreaming of her time back in the world of humans. Amelia Watson and Gawr Gura, her friends. Those were truly her friends and she simply left them.

She glanced over at the tome beside her bed and for the briefest moment had an inkling to toss it in the lava of the volcano that sat to the back of this island. What would it hurt?

Pain shot through her heart, cramping across her entire torso and she tucked into herself, as she stood by the window, her palm hitting the glass. The pain, it was inescapable.

Her tentacles spread out wildly, slapping at the floor, and a glaze fell across her view and again she saw the visions of the world burning. It had to be stopped at any cost.

Once the vision was over, she was down on her haunches, the world outside behind the glass, always veiled from her view.

Outside that glass was a world only meant for mortals.

And then a knock came at her door.

She turned, and then walked over to open. It was the inn owner, Enma, smiling, her eyes a shade or ruby red, shining, and bright like gems, lashes long.

For some reason, there was something familiar in her eyes. Ina smiled and asked, "can I help you?"

"I hope I can help you," Enma bowed her head slightly, "Kami-sama."

The black-haired woman, her red tinges of coloring at the edges, seemed to burn brightly when she smiled stating, "I have waited for your return, my queen."

########################################################################

Dr. Watson walked into the police building and was met by Detective Shishiro Botan immediately.

"Follow me. Oddly, that perp was asking for 'the blonde'."

"Asking for me?"

"That's all he's said. When is the blonde coming? It could be another blonde."

"Weird." Watson giggled.

"He's… extremely weird." Botan rolled her eyes, and they continued down the hall, both snickering.

The detective handed her a visitor pass and then they walked back to the interrogation room. They went to the room behind the glass to watch the interrogation. The two detectives kept asking questions, but he wasn't talking.

They looked to the two-way glass and Botan, over the speaker said, "You two can leave."

They walked out of the room, leaving the perp alone, who snapped his head instantly to turn to the two-way glass, smiling, grinning largely as he stared directly at Watson, as if he could see behind the glass.

"Who is he?" Watson asked, looking away from his creepy smile. "Got an ID?"

"He had no identification and isn't talking. They can't get him to say anything other than he wants to talk to the blonde."

"Then we should give him what he wants."

Botan snickered, "Okay, so in this country we don't beat up those we're interrogating."

"What? I don't beat up perps – I'm a law-abiding visitor."

"You weren't nicknamed 'Saltson' for no reason, doctor."

They both laughed, while leaving to enter the interrogation room. When the gentleman handcuffed to the table looked over at Watson he laughed, "Oy, blondie, been waitin for ya." He had a very distinguishably cockney accent. "How's your shark friend?"

"She's well. Can't say the same for you."

"I'm going to sue. She hit me quite hard - might have brain damage."

"Can't be blamed for pre-existing conditions." Watson sat down across from the perp, and then leaned back. "Where you from? Accent sounds like possibly outside Liverpool. We had a murder around there last year and if I find you were in that location, well might have to take you back. Of course, in this country they can keep you locked up for a long time with some very unfriendly types… or maybe," she leaned on the table, grinning, "or, maybe you're into those unfriendly types."

He didn't answer, only staring at her in such a creepy manner, Watson looked away. His eyes were dark, and he had circles like he'd had little sleep. He also had a strange odor, like a mix of bad seafood left out on a counter and body fluids.

Someone walked in handing a folder to Botan and she took it, looked inside, her brow furrowing. They couldn't identify and he didn't have fingerprints. He had done something to his fingers so that he wouldn't be identified. She handed the folder to Watson, stating, "check it out."

Watson considered the fact he had gone through the trouble of removing his fingerprints. Why? So, she faked it, laying on the British accent, "Ah, looks like you're just a little two-bit punk from Toxteth, eh?" Watson laughed and then stood. "Not worth my time."

"Time – yes. You're lying," he stated coldly. "You and I both know you got nothin there blondie."

Her gaze lowered, "So then, who are you? Why were you at Inugami Korone's home?'

"I knew you'd come to question me. You can't help yourself, traveler. History has to repeat itself."

His words caused something deep inside Watson to flicker, like when you suddenly remember a frightening scene from a nightmare the night before. It irked her, and she stood in place, watching the man in front of her.

"I'm done questioning. You're nobody."

Watson walked over to Botan. The detective was about to open the door so that they could leave.

"Oy, I knew you'd come - the shark knows us."

He slammed the table hard, causing them both to turn.

"You should be terrified of what's to come, traveler."

The term caused Watson to walk closer to the perp. "Why do you keep calling me that? What do you mean the shark knows? Knows what?" She gripped him, pulling him up by his collar, shaking him hard. "What do you mean knows 'us' and why do you keep calling me that?!"

"You heard me," he calmly stated, smiling, "Things aren't what they seem. You're not so smart, traveler."

He no longer looked like a simple punk and was staring intently at Watson. His eyes not leaving her eyes as he spoke.

"They'll right it all – and this will end. There are many of us and we will see this to the end."

"Many of us?" She asked, loosening her grip.

He laughed. He laughed loud and cackling. He wouldn't stop laughing, exposing his large, cavernous mouth of rotting teeth. He was bald and looking maniacal as he wouldn't stop laughing. The laughter was almost comically evil, as he wouldn't stop.

Watson slowly let him go, stepping back.

"You're going to lose it all traveler." He was still standing up after she'd pulled him up. "When the shark finally knows death. There is more than one speaker, and we are many. WE. ARE."

"What are you talking about?" Botan asked, curious, stepping beside Watson, because even she was being creeped out.

He wasn't paying attention, rather staring intently at Watson, until he began to sing what sounded like a shanty, his moves extremely animated as he sang:

"Alas you feel the pain,

A million deaths that cry

Brought by careless acts

To those unseen

She'll flounder to the sea

In a continuous round

Until the end

Of life and sound"

He grinned widely, and then it sounded as if he had bit down on something, and then his eyes fell back into his head, as his body fell back into the chair.

Before Botan could react, it became apparent he had bitten down on something, and his eyes closed, his head lolling forward and falling to the table, a frothy white substance falling from the corner of his mouth.

Botan was yelling for help outside the door.

Watson was stapled in place at what he had sung.

"Quick, he took something," Botan was yelling as others rushed into the room.

Watson watched, still in shock, standing back. They were speaking of him taking cyanide or some other tablet that had been in his teeth.

She stood back as they worked on trying to revive, but whatever he'd taken worked fast.

He'd committed suicide in front of them.

She could hear them talking and explaining, but the words he said kept playing through her thoughts.

Why was he calling her "traveler?" What did he mean the shark would know death? She thought he'd been there because of Korone, but maybe he was at her place because of Gura?

"I need to go." Watson had to leave, and looked down at her phone, ready to call Gura. She shot off a quick text asking if she was okay. There wasn't a reply yet, but she tucked her phone in her pocket.

Botan held to her shoulder. "You okay?"

"I'm good. I just need to go, after I wash my hands." She ran to the restroom, washing her hands frantically, trying to remove his smell and this feeling. She kept scrubbing her hands over and over, this feeling was so overwhelming.

Once she left, she was met by a worried looking Botan.

"I think maybe you should go to the hospital – you might be in shock."

"I'm good – I have to see Gura."

"Want me to drive you?" Botan continued looking over the investigator who frantically was searching the area with thoughts of what might be happening. Why did this seem familiar and frightening?

"Look, I'll drive you." Botan took her arm in her own. She guided her to her car, as Watson was having what looked like a bout of PTSD or shock. She sat her in the passenger side of the car and then walked around and got into the driver's side. "Maybe I should stop by the emergency room with you really quick."

"Please drive me to Inugami Korone's place?"

"Sure." Botan glanced over to the passenger, and then drove. "But you don't look so good."

"I'll be good once I see Gura."

"Ah… I thought you were into the tall, dark-haired girl." Botan tried to make light, but Watson wasn't responding. "I mean, don't get me wrong, the shark girl is extremely cute too and seems nice."

"What?" Watson finally woke from her trance. "Oh, no she's my friend."

"Yeah sure."

Watson had felt like this in the past. She'd had many panic attacks. This felt like one, but she had to snap out of it. She had to make sure Gura was safe. She should have stayed with her after what had happened. He stated there were many and "us" and there could be others.

She lifted her phone to call Gura. No one picked up.

It felt as if she was falling into a hole, the dirt gathering around, and she couldn't escape, as she was slowly being buried.

Botan was speaking, but she was still being buried, and nothing said could dig her out from this grave.

####################################################################

Ina made her way to the onsen at the back, wanting to relax in the hot springs alone, but that strange alien girl was there, and so she sat far on the other side of where she was sitting.

The inn owner was very kind, and she shared memories that she knew were real, but of little consequence because of little remembrance.

She only knew Enma was someone she could trust. She vowed her blade to her Queen, as she said, but again Ninomae Ina'nis could not recall. Something within, however, told her she could trust the woman and that made her feel at ease.

Across she saw the strange visitor from the Planet Tao Tao. She would look over, act as if she wasn't, and then slowly inch closer to where she was sitting. Each time she looked up she had moved slightly closer.

She wasn't very good at being inconspicuous. It made Ina giggle to herself, but the visitor had the loveliest hair that cascaded around her shoulders, and bright green eyes of an otherworldly nature.

Soon she was within touching distance and said, "May I touch your hair now?"

"No, of course not."

"Why not?"

"Because… I said so."

"If you say so… but," Nene smiled goofily, "I'm not just anyone."

"You're someone, yes."

"Yes, someone who wants to get to know you better."

Their eyes met and both giggled goofily.

"I like this world more and more." Nene turned to Ina, "don't you agree? This world is worth fighting for."

"You don't strike me as a fighter."

Nene chuckled deeply. "No, I'm a lover not a fighter. But I fight for what I love."

Both looked to one another and the goofy blonde seemed serious for that moment.

"Why did you come to this world?" Ina asked.

"I didn't. This world came to me."

Ina giggled again because she didn't make sense.

"On the planet I am from there is no time, but I found time curious. I thought, why not see what time is and then I was here in a present time because that is what happens when you visit time. And then it stops when you see lovely things."

Ina's eyes widened. This creature didn't make sense.

"You see," Nene realized her new friend didn't understand. "Time makes us not understand, but if you didn't have time you'd understand because then you wouldn't have that problem weighing down your thoughts. Time is a conundrum that bothers truth."

"I still don't get it."

Nene stretched out her hands so that small bubbles formed in a line.

She pointed to each bubble. "Time."

She then poked a bubble that popped. "Disruption." And then the bubbles began to dissipate and leave the line. "Disruption makes everything change, and you can't get it back once it's gone."

"Are you here to fix that disruption?"

"I have to return something," her eyes lifted as she tried to remember what she had to return and to whom, "but no, I'm on vacation."

Nene giggled and Ina followed along, but then Nene touched her hair, it felt soft and bouncy in her touch, and she smiled so largely, sighing over the feeling that rushed throughout.

Ina instantly bonked her at the back of the head with a tentacle, whapping her like a tennis ball into the water, so that it made a loud splash.

She lay face first in the hot spring, floating like a lily pad.

Ina's tentacles lifted her up and she walked out of the hot spring, dried off, and left for her room to get dressed. She wanted to enjoy a quiet dinner.

Nene lifted from the water smiling. "I touched her hair… and it felt nice."

She grinned, her one fang prominently at the edge of her lip, as she leaned up on the side of the hot spring. "I'm gonna marry that beautiful creature."

#######################################################################

Gura ran out from the bungalow, Korone following and giving her a lift.

The call was from that detective friend of Watson, Shishiro Botan, asking her to meet her at the hospital.

Something had happened at the police station, and Gura was so worried with a flurry of thoughts and feeling she shouldn't have left Watson alone, and should have gone with her to the station.

Korone, continued to look over at her passenger, hoping she'd be okay. She'd never seen Gura look worried and it bothered her, so that she felt like crying.

It's happening again, Gura whispered to herself. She didn't want to have to lose her again.

She ran into the hospital, met by Botan and she led them to the emergency area, beds with people lying down, and she passed them all to make it to the end bed where she could see Amelia Watson lying down, an IV in her arm, and staring out at the window.

Korone stayed back with Botan, as they allowed the shark girl to walk up to Amelia's bed alone.

Amelia Watson was staring out to the window, dazed. She didn't know how she ended up in this place but then she felt a hand gently touch her own hand and she turned to see Gura, a small tear at one eye.

"You okay?"

Gura wiped at her eye. "You're the one in the hospital."

It's as if she finally woke up to her surroundings.

"Your detective buddy told me you just shut down while she was driving you. She thought maybe I could help because you kept repeating my name."

"I did? …. Shut down?"

"Yeah, you had a panic attack, and then passed out, so she rushed you over here. You don't remember?"

Watson looked over the hospital area, and saw Botan next to Korone, and then back to Gura.

"I don't recall."

"What happened?"

"Something's going on and I don't get it. I don't get why the fingers and why he was saying what he was saying… and…."

Gura held her hand, "it will be okay."

"I need to know what's going on and it doesn't make sense. I feel like I'm having déjà vu, and I don't know why."

Gura rubbed her hand gently in her own. "I'm sorry." She hated seeing Amelia Watson seem so confused and lost.

"Why?'

"I just…" Gura choked back this feeling and began to cry "…I just feel it's my fault."

Amelia Watson held her hand over Gura's hand, feeling the warmth of the shark's hand in her own.

They looked to the other.

"It hurts," Gura said quietly, another tear escaping. "It hurts so much." She felt she would break in that instance, but Amelia lifted in the bed, still holding her hand.

"Don't… we can do this together and it will be okay."

Their eyes met, and time stood still.

"We just need to talk this over and figure out what's going on. Then we can face it… together."

Amelia Watson was woken instantly by her concern for the small shark girl.

She smiled gently and Gura and her held hands realizing something was drawing them to one another – something outside their own existence. It felt so warm when each gazed into the other's eyes.

"Together… if we do this together it will okay Gura."

And with that she felt that maybe it would finally be okay.

Botan pulled Korone back, "Let's go grab a coffee."

"Sure. You think we should leave them?"

"Oh yeah," Botan grinned, "I think they need some time alone." She knew Watson was bitten just as she had been bitten the moment, she met Lamy. "So, I've actually caught your show recently. I'm a fan."

Korone wagged her tail. "Cool. Want to come to my show on Holios?"

"Maybe… I am up for a vacation. My wife would love that – she's a big fan of OkaKoro."

"Bowowowowow, awesome!"

[END NOTE: Again, thanks for reading and all the adds to faves, and follows, and reviews.]