Author's Note: Hey y'all. This chapter is only about 1/3 as long as the first one, so sorry for that. I'm going through some pretty tough personal stuff right now. But, anyway. I'm tentatively planning on updates happening weekly, although that could change. Title of this chapter is taken from Rootless by MARINA. Also, Jeanne now has her Bayo 2 design, but Bayo still has her Bayo 1 design as of this chapter. It's not mentioned in this chapter, but it is relevant for symbolism reasons. I hope y'all enjoy! WARNINGS: Temporary character death, PTSD symptoms, violence.

Six months had passed after Luka and Jeanne decided to find Bayonetta. So far, there had been no sign of her wherever they looked, even after enlisting the help of the dark-haired witch's friends Rodin and Enzo. As time had passed, Jeanne had begun to gradually lose hope in finding her old friend.

However, today was different. Luka had finally found a clue. He was just arriving at the Gates of Hell that evening when he saw Jeanne sitting at the bar, the two men with her. The witch noticed him immediately.

"Luka, any luck today?"

"Surprisingly yes. There have been reports of increased angel activity in a city called Noatun. Maybe we should check there next."

"It can't hurt," she sighed.

Luka frowned, but said nothing.

"Enzo, you have a jet, don't you?" Rodin commented, breaking the brief silence.

The short man sighed. "I do. Let's head out."

Bayonetta had been laying low on purpose for the past six months. She had wanted no one, especially her old friends, to come across her. The plan was to simply live out the rest of her days in solitude, killing the occasional angel, until one day she was defeated and dragged to Inferno. A very good plan. This way I can't hurt anyone else.

The witch had been simply enjoying coffee at the local cafe that morning, when of course, angels had decided to attack her. As she pulled her guns out of her summon-void, she smirked. Killing angels was one of the only things that brought her joy these days.

After killing a few Affinities, she saw a Belief closing in on her. She quickly summoned one of her favorite demonic beasts, Gommorrah. The huge, dragon-like creature made quick work of the Belief, chewing him into bits, before roaring.

However, instead of going back to Inferno through a portal like he usually would, Gommorrah struggled, eventually breaking free of his binds. Bayonetta stared, as he charged toward her, unable to move, her heart racing as time seemed to slow down. Was this what it was like for Balder when I charged at him and killed him? Why didn't he fight me? WHY-?

"Cereza!" Came a voice from behind her, and suddenly she was pushed out of the way of the demon. She fell to the ground, and barely whipped around in time to see Gommorrah strike Jeanne with his claws.

She's dead though, isn't she? I saw her die. She can't be here. Why is she here? Bayonetta's mind seemed to be working at half-speed.

However, as soon as the demon's paw made contact with the silver-haired witch, her soul left her body, flung backwards onto the cobblestones below. Beneath her, a portal opened, and several black and red clawed hands began reaching up through it, trying to pull her down.

"Cereza! No...This isn't how things end!" Jeanne cried, as she struggled against the demonic hands trying to pull her down to Inferno. However, try as she might, it was not enough, and within seconds she was pulled down through the portal, and it quickly closed behind her.

"Jeanne!" Bayonetta screamed, as the other witch was taken away. She turned to Gommorrah, rage filling her. She began to fight, like she hadn't since killing Balder. Jeanne had been dead, then alive, then dead again. And it was all her fault.