A few weeks later, Mato and Yuu stepped out of the dormitory into the blistering heat of the Nevada summer.
"Jesus it's hot." Yuu exclaimed, shielding her eyes from the sun. "Can't believe you're wearing her boots in this!"
"I'm used to it." Mato shrugged.
They spotted two girls talking a short distance away, one of whom was sprinkling water from a bucket onto the stone pathway.
"What are you doing?" Mato asked curiously.
The girl holding the bucket looked around in surprise.
"I'm water sprinkling." She explained.
"Oh! Tsugumi, right?" Mato asked.
The girl nodded happily.
"Why are you chucking water around?" Mato asked curiously.
"Oh, it's just to cool things down a bit." Tsugumi smiled.
"Hey Anya!" Yuu smiled.
"Hello." The elegant blonde girl replied coldly.
"You know that won't work right?" Yuu said, turning to Tsugumi. "You're just increasing the humidity instead."
"I know it won't lower it by much, but it's also to set a scene." Tsugumi explained.
"What scene?" Yuu asked, attempting to cool herself down by flapping the bottom of her grey tank-top.
The girl with the bucket looked at them with unfocused eyes for a moment before continuing to sprinkle water.
"Setting a scene, setting a scene." She chanted.
"She do this often?" Yuu asked Anya.
"Occasionally." Anya replied, looking at her friend with a hint of concern.
"Please stop." Said a voice.
"Eternal Feather!" Cried Anya and Tsugumi together.
Mato and Yuu turned and saw a slightly taller girl wearing a smart blue dress and red glasses smiling at them.
"Are you feeling better?" Anya asked.
"We were supposed to welcome you back from the hospital." Tsugumi said in surprise.
"It's okay." Eternal Feather said smiling. "I'm all good! Though I can't remember what happened."
"You sure?" Mato asked quietly.
"Yeah!" Eternal Feather grinned.
She suddenly stopped and looked confused.
"Who are you? I don't think we've met." She said.
"She's the one who shot you." Anya spat.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember that." The taller girl said. "But Doctor Stein did say that somebody saved my life by shooting my blade away from my neck." She smiled. "So I guess I owe you my life, thank you."
Mato bowed.
"I'm Mato Kuroi." She said. "And this is Yuu Koutari, we're members of the N.O.T class."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Eternal Feather." The taller girl said. "I don't…" She started to say, before a scream cut her off.
"You've got a key in your back!" Anya and Tsugumi yelled, pointing at the girl.
"Nope, I'm out." Yuu said shaking her head. "I'm heading into town." She bowed at the newcomer.
"It was very nice to meet you Eternal Feather." The brunette said politely.
"Oh wow, your eyes!" Eternal Feather gasped as she looked at Mato. "It was nice to meet you too." She quickly added.
"I'll explain later." Yu grinned as she walked past, Mato following her.
"Where we going?" Mato asked, taking her top off and exposing her bikini.
"It's boiling hot, how does ice-cream sound?" Yuu suggested.
"Like the most heavenly thing imaginable." Mato declared, tucking her top into her belt.
"You'll get sunburnt." Yuu warned as they walked.
"It'll also take years before my hand is healed enough to use properly." Mato said, holding up her previously damaged palm towards Yuu and wiggling her fingers.
"Point taken." Yuu conceeded. "You seem to be taking it well."
"Ha!" Mato laughed. "Shit fucking terrifies me! The idea that one day I might stop being me?" She shuddered. "Even if it is Black Rock Shooter, I would rather be me."
I want you to stay you also. Rock stated.
"I know what you mean, I'm curious why it seems to be happening to you faster than me though." Yuu said.
"Ever the scientist." Mato smiled.
Yuu shrugged in response.
"If I had to guess." Mato thought aloud, looking at the sky. "It's probably because we're linked on a deeper level."
Yuu ignored the slight sting in her chest and allow Mato to continue.
"We had merged when she became Insane, inside of the Otherworld. That maybe why." Mato said.
"Yeah." Yuu said quietly.
"Hey don't give me that!" Mato frowned, gently placing her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You lived in the Otherworld, you swapped places with Strength. You were able to talk to her before any of us knew they even existed, you two have a connection I'll never know." She said proudly.
Yuu gave a small grin.
"Yeah, you're right. We both have our unique connections." She said with conviction.
"And they're as different as we and our Otherselves are." Mato smiled.
"Alright, so now we've established you're going to lose your mind first." Yuu smirked. "What ice-cream you getting?"
"Ouch." Mato said, clutching her chest in mock pain.
The pair laughed as they continued through the crowds of Death City.
When they came to the ice-cream parlour they looked at the line in despair, it stretched on down the street and around a corner.
"Fuck that." Mato muttered. "I'm not waiting that long."
"I'm with you on that." Yuu agreed. "How about Deathbucks? Master sells those iced coffees."
"Yeah, plus, we can see how it's doing." Mato said.
"I wonder if Liz and Patty are still there?" Yuu wondered as the pair walked past the long queue.
"Probably, they had months of community service still left." Mato said.
They sighed in relief at the cool air inside the cafe, finding themselves an empty table they sat and looked around.
"This place is busy today." Mato commented.
"Must be the heat, isn't there some kind of exam soon as well?" Yuu asked.
Mato's face dropped.
"Shiiiiit, I forgot about that." Mato groaned. "I haven't been studying."
"Doesn't Black Rock Shooter help you with that?" Yuu asked curiously.
"Nope, she considers it cheating." Mato muttered.
"She has a concept of cheating?" Yuu wondered.
"Kind of." The pigtailed girl said, face-planting the table. "She expects me to learn it myself because I'll remember it better, if she tells me the answer I'll forget it."
"Is she right?" Yuu asked, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Uh-huh." Mato nodded with her face on the table.
"Don't lick the table, you know the kinda people we get here." Said a familiar voice next to them.
"Liz!" Yuu grinned. "How you doin'"
"Meh." The tall waitress shrugged, flipping her long, dirty-blonde hair to the side. "Same as always. Strange seeing you two here as customers, thought you forgot about us when you joined the DWMA."
"Nah, just been busy, lot of shit to catch up on." Yuu explained.
Liz looked down at Mato.
"Is she okay?" She asked.
"Yeah." Yuu smiled patting Mato's head. "She's just realised there's an exam she hasn't studied for."
"You gonna help?" Liz asked.
Yuu scoffed.
"I did enough of that first time I was in school." She smirked. "Ain't doing that again."
"Nice." Liz nodded approvingly. "So what can I get you two?"
"Iced coffee please." Yuu said.
"Same, please." Mato said lifting her head off the table. "Hey Liz." She smiled.
"No worries." The waitress said, leaving the pair.
"Nice that some of that undirected anger has gone." Mato said.
"Yeah, means she can look out for Patty better." Yuu stated.
The pair chatted for a few minutes while waiting for their order, a younger teen with short bright blonde hair brought their drinks over on a tray. She threw them down without a care and glared at the two.
"Where have you two been?" She demanded.
"We've joined the DWMA." Mato said. "Been swamped with all the catching up we needed to do."
"So Miss high and mighty is too good to visit her friends?" The waitress said loudly, drawing the attention of the other patrons.
At the other end of the cafe, near the counter, Liz facepalmed and sighed.
"Maybe, Little Miss down and dirty, what's it to ya?" Mato said pushing her chair back and standing up. She drew herself up to the younger girl and stared into her eyes. "You wanting to start summat?"
"You know I am." The waitress declared, throwing her tray on the floor.
The tension in the cafe grew as the pair stared each other down, Yuu covered her mouth with a hand to hide her smile.
After a few seconds, the pair threw themselves at each other and hugged tightly.
"Good to see you Pats!" Mato laughed.
"You too, you've gotten good at that!" Patty chortled.
A collective sigh of relief came from the patrons as they turned back to their own business.
"You been good? Staying out of trouble?" Mato asked.
"Well…" Patty started to say.
"Alright." Mato laughed. "You been careful not to be caught?"
"Still here ain't I?" The blonde girl smirked.
"Atta girl." Mato grinned. "I trust nobody here's giving you any grief?"
"Nah, they know better by now." The waitress grinned evilly.
"Hey Patty!" Yuu said, spinning her chair to face the blonde. "You still making those origami animals?"
"Yeah! It's the only interesting thing to do here." Patty laughed.
"Other than punching customers." Mato added.
"I have never punched a customer, you did." The waitress retorted.
"Yeah well." Mato shrugged. "Old bastard deserved it for talking to you like that."
"I could've done it myself." The blonde said firmly.
"Hell yeah, you could've, beaten him to a pulp as well. But you're on community service, you would have been fucked." Mato told her. "Prison probably."
"Oi! Patty!" Liz shouted as she walked over to them. "We're getting busy, you gonna move your ass or not?"
"Yeah, whatever." Patty answered. "Come back soon 'kay?"
"Count on it." Yuu smiled.
Mato nodded in agreement.
"Alright!" The teen said happily as she wandered off.
"Don't think I've ever said it, but thanks." Liz said as she watched her sister leave. "Not many people treat us as normal after finding out who and what we are."
"Don't worry about it, we know what that's like." Mato said.
"Keep yourselves safe and let us know if you run into any trouble." Yuu added.
Liz gave them a small, sincere smile and got back to work.
Yuu looked at Mato strangely as she watched her friend sit down.
"What?" Mato asked, as she caught Yuu's eye.
"It always amuses me how you're almost like a different person around Patty." Yuu smiled.
"She reminds me of my little team, I guess it's just a habit I fall back into." Mato shrugged, mopping up her spilt drink with a napkin.
"So you're faking it?" Yuu asked.
"Nah, more like I allow myself to be over the top." Mato clarified. "Kinda how different people bring out different aspects of your personality."
"What do I bring out in you?" Yuu asked.
"You remind me of who I am and who I was." Mato said brightly. "You're my anchor."
"That's corny as hell." Yuu laughed. "You say that shit to your lover, not your friend."
"I would if I had one." Mato said dismissively. "But I don't, so you'll have to do."
"I'm not being your girlfriend." Yuu joked. "I'm nobody's last resort."
"You're nobody's first resort either." Mato smirked.
"You little tramp!" Yuu said in mock anger. "You're just butt-hurt that you couldn't get a guy because you didn't have a cleavage."
"Neither do you anymore." Mato said, deadpan.
"Fuck!" Yuu cried. "Walked into that one, didn't I?" She smiled.
"Yep." Mato giggled.
"Still got bigger tits than you though." Yuu muttered.
"Fuck you!" Mato laughed, throwing her wet napkin at her friend.
Later in the day, as the sun was setting, Mato and Yuu headed back to the dormitory. They paused as they heard grunting and the sounds of metal hitting wood. Slowly, they crept around the side of the building and discovered Tsugumi, one hand transformed into a weapon, hitting a wooden pole.
"What's she doing?" Yuu whispered.
"It looks like she's training." Mato replied.
She will never learn anything like that. Rock said.
It's not her fault, N.O.T isn't really for combat. Mato reminded her.
If she tries to fight, she will be slaughtered. Rock said bluntly.
You want to help her, don't you? Mato smiled.
"You might as well head up to the room." Mato said. "Black Rock Shooter wants to help her."
"Alright, go easy on her though okay?" Yuu said. "She's just a kid."
"Yeah, yeah." Mato said, waving her off. "I'll make sure she does."
She watched as Yuu left then turned and called out to Tsugumi.
"Hiya, Tsugumi." Mato waved.
The girl jumped in surprise, her leg transformed into a edgeless blade causing her to lose her balance and fall over.
Mato stood over Tsugumi with amusement and held out a hand.
"Would you like some help?" She asked.
"Really? You know how to fight?" Tsugumi asked, wide eyed.
"A little." Mato shrugged. "I've got some experience."
"Wow, that would be amazing!" The girl exclaimed.
"First though." Mato said. "I want to do a quick experiment, and I apologise if this stings a little."
"Errm, I'm not sure if I want to." Tsugumi said, worried.
"It's easy, I'm going to touch you as myself now and when you're in weapon form." Mato explained. "Then I'm going to do the same as my Otherself, all you need to do is tell me if it hurts at anypoint."
"O-okay." Tsugumi said uncertainly.
Mato held out a hand again and helped the girl up.
"That's one down." Mato smiled. "Weapon form now."
Tsugumi nodded nervously and transformed.
Mato caught the halberd in midair, without a noise from the weapon.
"Alright." Mato grinned. "Now again as a human, then I'll touch you as a weapon twice. Once with gloves and once without."
"Okay." Tsugumi said in a distorted but slightly more confident voice.
She turned human again as Mato swapped bodies with Black Rock Shooter.
"Woah." Tsugumi exclaimed.
Just a finger. Mato said.
Rock took off a glove and gently pressed a finger onto Tsugumi's bare arm.
No response.
Rock nodded and Tsugumi changed into her weapon form.
Carefully, Rock touched the halberd again. Once again there was no response, then as she brought a bare finger slowly towards the weapon, Tsugumi hissed in pain.
Rock quickly withdrew her hand and put her glove back on, she swapped back with Mato as Tsugumi also changed back.
"Ahhh, that hurt!" Tsugumi cried, rubbing her arm.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Mato said, rushing over to her.
"What was that?" The younger girl asked.
"Something I needed to find out in order to help you." Mato said, inspecting Tsugumi's arm. "Black Rock Shooter appears to disrupt the soul wavelengths of weapons if they don't have a meister, I needed to know how close she could get to you before it started to hurt."
"I-I understand." Tsugumi said hesitantly.
"I'll understand if you no longer want my help." Mato said sadly.
Tsugumi stayed silent for a long moment before clenching her fists and looking up at Mato with determination.
"No, I want to learn, I need to able to help my partners." She said firmly.
Mato's face split into a wide grin.
"That's more like it." She laughed. "Now I'm going to let Black Rock Shooter take control, when I do I want you to attack her to the best of your ability."
"But…" Tsugumi started to say.
"No buts." Mato said sharply. "You won't hurt her, just follow her directions."
"Alright." Tsugumi nodded with a serious expression.
Mato allowed Rock to take over, the Otherself nodded back and as Tsugumi transformed her arm into a blunt blade and charged at her.
Rock ducked a swing and poked the girl in the ribs, causing her to cry out in surprise. The Otherself blocked a wild swipe to her head with her forearm and responded by flicking Tsugumi's nose.
For an hour the pair sparred, Tsugumi slowly started to learn to defend herself against Rock's constant pokes and flicks. Eventually the girl stopped, drenched in sweat, and dropped to the floor panting.
"I… can't… do… any more." Tsugumi said breathlessly.
Rock looked down at her curiously, then patted her head.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Anya shouted, running towards them.
The two looked towards her and Rock helped Tsugumi to her feet.
"We're sparring." The black-haired girl said.
"Without a partner?" Anya asked suspiciously.
"I just wanted to get better, so I could be a better partner, like Soul and Maka." Tsugumi said, her voice still husky from her heavy breathing.
"Is there some sort of party I forgot about?" Another voice asked.
"No Meme." Anya said, adjusting her long blonde hair. "Tsugumi was just sparring with this girl."
"Why?" Meme asked.
"To get stronger." Tsugumi replied. "And this is Mato's Otherself, remember? The one she was telling us about."
"The one who beat up Akane and Clay after school?" Meme asked.
"It was a legitimate match, you remember it?" Tsugumi asked hopefully.
"No." Meme shook her head. "Somebody was talking about it today."
"Oh." Tsugumi said sadly.
"Well, I for one would like to see how good she is." Anya said, glaring at Rock. "Tsugumi, would you please turn into your halberd."
"O-okay." The teen said.
"And after there is something we need to discuss." Anya said as she gripped Tsugumi's weapon form.
"Hey!" Meme cried, running over to Anya. "Don't leave me out!"
"Meme, it would be unfair to…" Anya said.
She was cut off by Rock's hand over her mouth.
"You want us all to spar with you?" Tsugumi's distorted voice asked.
Rock nodded in reply, taking a few steps back.
"Very well." Anya said, spinning the halberd around herself.
The Otherself flexed her hands, waiting.
The blonde girl swung the weapon at Rock with blinding speed, the pale teen flipped over it as Meme ran forwards to thrust her elbow into Rock's side. The Otherself grabbed the well endowed teen, using her momentum to catapult her into a nearby bush. She sidestepped a thrust from Anya and spun towards her, rocketing her fist towards the delicate features of the girl's face.
She stopped centimetres away, then suddenly rolled out of the way as Meme charged from behind.
She watched with faint amusement as the pair collided with each other, falling to the floor in a heap. Rock walked over and picked up Tsugumi, then swapped bodies with Mato who was grinning madly.
"You guys are amazing!" Mato beamed.
"Yeah, they are." Tsugumi said sadly as she transformed back.
"What's wrong?" Mato asked as she watched Anya and Meme untangle themselves.
"They're both so good, and I'm not." Tsugumi muttered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm letting them down."
"You're a vital part of the chain that links you." Mato said, placing a hand on Tsugumi's shoulder.
"But I'm a weak link." The girl cried.
"So?" Mato said. "Keep trying, improve yourself. Your team will only get stronger as you do."
She spun Tsugumi to face her.
"It won't happen overnight, you have to keep working at it." Mato stated. "Prove to everyone how much you care about these two, prove it to them." She said.
"She's right." Anya said icily, allowing herself to be helped up by Meme. "I've been trained in Karate since I was little."
She looked over to Meme.
"Meme too, I guess."
"Probably, although I don't remember." The forgetful teen said.
"You all care about each other so much." Mato smiled. "I know a weapon is supposed to have one meister, as far as I'm aware though, that's not a rule."
"What are you saying?" Tsugumi asked.
"Even from this small encounter, I can see you three work well together, It would be a shame to end that." Mato shrugged.
"How would that even work!" Anya demanded.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Mato smiled. "Point is, do what works for you. Don't worry about anyone else.
"Now, I'm going to find Yuu before she eats everything in the building." She sighed. "Think about what I said, okay?"
She wandered off without waiting for a response.
"Hey." Yuu said, happily eating a bowl of noodles. "How'd it go?"
"She's useless." Mato sighed. "But she started to pick up a few things towards the end, I reckon she could be pretty competent soon enough."
"Just competent?" Yuu asked, sliding her bowl over to Mato.
"Yeah, I got the feeling she doesn't want to become E.A.T. She did say she was mainly here to control her weapon abilities, after all." Mato said as she started eating.
"So what was with all the training we saw?" Yuu wondered.
"She wants to be at the same level as Anya and Meme, those two have some serious skills for kids." Mato replied.
"Yeah?" Yuu said.
Mato nodded.
"Apparently Meme doesn't remember how she got them, which is pretty typical for her. But Anya said she had been taught Karate from a young age." Mato shrugged.
"I wonder about this world sometimes." Yuu said, stretching. "Feels like there's another war going on, only this time the special forces are kids."
"I've had enough of war." Mato stated. "Can't we ever go somewhere nice and normal?"
"You mean like home? With the witches and wizards right beneath our noses? Or with the Otherworld, and their constant killing?" Yuu said.
"Kinda makes me glad I'm only partly human now." Mato muttered bitterly.
"Half human, half Otherself." Yuu chuckled. "Doesn't exactly scream peaceful, does it?"
"I guess not, but I'm done." Mato said standing up. "I'll continue to help Tsugumi because I promised, but no more. I'm done fighting, I want my old life back."
"Ain't gonna happen Mato, it's nature to compete for survival. When a species reaches a certain point though and survival becomes less of an issue, there is still that need to compete. It's deep down, written into the weave of life itself." Yuu said sadly.
"The only way you'd get your wish would be to wipe out all life." She continued.
"You have no idea how tempting that sounds right now." Mato groaned.
"Yeah, you wouldn't do it though. I know you too well." Yuu grinned. "That would cause too much suffering for others, you couldn't stand it."
"I could always let her do it instead." Mato whispered.
No! Rock screamed.
Yuu sat looking at Mato with a horrified expression on her face, slowly, she regained her composure.
"I know you're tired and that was a joke, but that was too far." Yuu said coldly.
Mato rubbed her face.
"I know, I'm sorry. I think the heat is getting to me finally and it has been a busy day." She said. "I'm gonna go to the room, lie down and try to get some sleep."
Yuu watched as her friend left the kitchen.
Do we need to worry? Strength asked.
Yuu shook her head.
Not yet, but something is getting her down. She'd never joke about Insane like that. She replied.
It's hardly surprising, considering everything you guys have been through.
I guess she just feels it more, they're pretty closely connected. More than we are, she is turning faster than me. Yuu said.
Yuu, I need to tell you something. Strength said with a serious tone.
What is it?
It's what Saya once told me about the Otherselves.
Mato lay on top of her bed, stripped down to her underwear, staring at the ceiling.
What is wrong? Rock asked, concerned.
I don't know. Mato replied truthfully. I was fine earlier, and today's been great. Eternal Feather has finally been discharged, we saw Liz and Patty, and hopefully boosted Tsugumi's confidence in herself. I should be happy.
But you are not. Rock said, it wasn't a question.
No. Mato replied glumly.
You are… Rock said, pausing as she tried to think of the term humans used. Home sick.
Homesick? Mato thought. Possibly.
It has been many years, the currently peaceful nature of this world has given you time to think. Rock told her. I feel it.
But I want peaceful, I don't want to fight anymore.
What you want and what you need are two different things.
Mato groaned, she took out her pigtails and shook her head.
I'm too old for this shit.
Your mind does not care. Rock stated. You are going to be young for the rest of your life.
Or beyond, there's no saying we have a normal lifespan. Mato thought. Will you still want to be with me for that long?
I am you, there is nowhere else I would be.
That's not what I meant!
I love you, I will be with you for another thousand years. Rock said
"What if I become someone else? What if I live for so long I forget who I am?" Mato said aloud.
Deep down, you will always be you, you created me. I am the embodiment of your soul.
My soul? You've been listening in classes too much. Mato said, a tiny smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
It suffices for the analogy, I am you, you created me from who you are as a human, your core being. That will not change with time.
"Because change is a slow, ongoing process." Mato said, speaking to the ceiling. "The surface might change but the foundation remains."
Exactly.
"Gaahh, I'm an idiot!" Mato cried in frustration. "I'm homesick."
It will pass.
I'm sorry for joking about her, it was uncalled for. Mato thought sadly.
It was understandable from your mental state at the time.
Mato nodded solemnly, knowing that was the closest to Rock's acceptance she going to get. She closed her eyes and attempted to get some sleep, briefly wondering about Rock's choice of words before slumber claimed her.
Another thousand years.
