This is not a chapter... it's more of a birthday one-shot for Mei that i honestly don't think can go anywhere else but in this story.
Sometime before Void and Thunder time traveled.
Thunder stared at the object before with a scowl on her face. She was currently trying to assess whether it was a danger or not. Considering the one who had placed it, she was sure it was the former. She carefully poked it with her floating mechanical arms to make sure it wasn't rigged to explode in her face.
"Will you cut that out?" A voice growled at her from the other side of the table. A young woman with golden eyes stared back at her with a frown. "If you aren't going to eat, then I'll take it back," She threatened.
"Excuse me for being wary." Thunder answered sarcastically. "Everyone knows the only thing worse than your temper is your cooking skills," She replied in a dry tone.
"I didn't even cook it. I ordered it from a bakery in France," The young woman responded as she removed a strand of white hair from her face.
"You still could have poisoned it," Thunder noted. "Why did you even get me a cake?" She questioned. As far as she knew the woman wanted nothing more than to fight her.
"I'm no coward. I won't resort to such cheap tactics to beat you Thunder." The woman responded. "As for why I got you a cake, is it not your birthday? I thought it was custom to get someone a cake." She answered.
"I specifically told the others I didn't want to celebrate and to not bother," Thunder growled. She wasn't feeling in the mood to celebrate, especially not with golden eyes floating around the area. She didn't need that reminder.
"And you expect me to respect your wishes," Void answered. "Haven't I made it clear enough that I think very lowly of you, or should I insult you more regularly to get the point across," Void huffed.
"I ought to smash this in your face right now," Thunder snapped.
"Oh no you don't," Void grumbled. "I had to wait five hours for that to be made. You're going to eat that birthday cake and you're going to like it," Void told her. "Besides… it's sponge cake…no one here likes it besides you," She noted.
"Huh," Thunder remarked as she turned to the cake. Using her sword, she carefully sliced a piece of it before taking a bite. Much to shock it truly was a sponge cake, and it tasted good. "How did you know that's my favorite?" She questioned.
She saw Void raise an eyebrow at her. Thunder almost facepalmed at the obvious answer, kicking herself for forgetting such an obvious fact. However, that did bring another question up in her mind. "Why?" She questioned.
"Huh?" Void glanced up.
"Why did you buy this?" Thunder questioned. Even if Void did it because someone forced her. There was no need to make sure it was her favorite, not that it was delicious. For all the Herrscher of the Void could have done, was grabbed some cheap chocolate cake from a grocery store, that was more icing than actual cake.
Void frowned before letting out a sigh. "Believe it or not, it didn't take much effort. An annoying part of me instinctively knew what it was that you would like," Void grumbled. "I hadn't even realized what I had done before it was too late,"
"Kiana," Thunder whispered to herself. Perhaps she really was still…
"Don't," Void stopped her. Many different phrases would have followed that word, but Void didn't have the energy to say them. Thunder likewise didn't need her to. Kiana wasn't there…. there was only Void.
"Still," Thunder noted. "It's impressive you remember such insignificant little details." She chuckled. "One would think the favorite cake flavor of someone who frequently attempts to kill you would be something you'd forget," Thunder laughed at the absurdity.
"In case you forgot, I kick your teeth in almost regularly." Void said proudly. "Why do you think that is? It's because I know almost everything about you, unfortunately. I know your dreams, your fears, what you like, dislike, various habits, and try as I may, I can't forget them." Void lamented. "Those memories are unfortunately burnt into me, far worse than a few others."
"I can't tell whether I should be offended or not," Thunder noted. It felt rather unsettling to hear a woman who frequently tries to impale her, has such knowledge.
"Please be offended." Void said. "If you are, I'd be happy to settle this in combat." She mentioned.
"Considering how eager you seem to be. I won't." Thunder answered. "As a matter of fact, it does seem kind of nice…to know that her memories torment you so much," she told her rival Herrscher. "Even better is to know that its memories of me,"
"I have half a mind to skewer your tongue for that comment," Void sneered.
"But I'm sure another half wants to do something else with my tongue," Thunder replied coyly.
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Void asked in confusion. "You do realize what you're saying and to who you're saying it to." Void wondered.
"Believe me, I know," Thunder answered darkly. "I'm making passes at my best friend's killer. It's not exactly something I can forget so easily,"
"Well, that's a relief," Void answered. "I was starting to get worried for a second." She noted.
"Worried that I would make a move on you," Thunder wondered. "You're not my type,"
"What? You're not into the white-haired all-powerful Herrscher queen kind," Void answered. "I thought you'd prefer that to the dumb tunas,"
"I'm not into remorseless killers," Thunder noted. "As for the tunas, the only ones I knew was a kind-hearted goofball, who'd always try to save and help others, instead of just themselves."
"Whatever," Void answered. The Herrscher of the Void then chuckled slightly. "I don't even know what I was worrying about anyway."
"You have admittedly made me curious," Thunder wondered. "Why are you even concerned that I forget? I figured it would have been easier for you if I forgot what you did,"
"I'd normally tell you to buzz off, but it's your birthday so I'll humor," Void answered.
"Gee, you're so thoughtful," Thunder replied sarcastically.
"I…enjoy your hatred." Void admitted. Thunder froze at the statement, staring at her 'fellow' Herrscher.
"Excuse me," Thunder muttered.
"You heard me," Void repeated. "I enjoy you hating me," Void answered. "I love it when you try to kill me. When you have that bloodlust in your eyes as try to tear me to pieces." Void noted wistfully.
"Are you a masochist?" Thunder questioned. Void was not exactly the sanest person she met. She was a sadist in battle, and her rage was something very few had matched when she got going. Yet this was a whole new low for her.
"Not in the slightest," Void answered. "I'd rather not be in pain thank you very much, otherwise I'd actually let you stab me,"
"Huh…and you loving me trying to kill you is not masochism." Thunder deadpanned.
"Oh, it's not that I like the pain. I just like the murderous intent behind it." Void noted. "The burning rage," She smiled warmly.
"Forgive me for asking a stupid question…but…uh…why exactly do you like that," Thunder asked in confusion.
"You don't love me, not in the slightest. You feel nothing for me." Void answered. "You're hatred for me, its something…Kiana doesn't have. It's proof you view me as my own person." Void explained.
"You don't know Sirin, nor do you see me as your friend. You just see me as Void, the monster that took away your best friend," Void smiled. "Your hate is…proof of my individuality." Void told her. "A verification to me that you see me as my own person,"
"Something is seriously wrong with you," Thunder deadpanned.
"I blame the trauma, the amnesia, the split personalities, and the multiple head injuries I suffered." Void added. "But yeah, my questionable sanity aside. So long as you don't stop hating and trying to kill me, I have nothing to worry about,"
"And if I stop?" Thunder asked. "If I stop…what then?"
"Probably depression," Void answered nonchalantly. Her lips then formed a sly smirk. "But that just leaves you in paradox, doesn't it?" Void noted. "If you decide to stop hating me because I'd be depressed…I'd know you still hate me, so I won't be depressed…."
"And what if I just stop hating you all together?" Thunder mused. "What if I stop caring?"
"Can you?" Void returned. "Can you ever stop after knowing what I did? Especially to the one person you loved more than anything else, the one who was most important to you? Can you really let go of that rage so easily when I'm still right here…breathing…wearing her face?" Void chimed.
"So that's how it is?" Thunder questioned. "You just want to keep going, like this, forever and forever."
"I sincerely doubt we can fight forever, but we can try," Void noted. "But even if we don't I just want to make sure that despite everything else. You don't forget the one you loved more than anything else…or the one you should hate."
"To think you'd make even her love such a twisted thing. You truly are a monster," Thunder answered.
"Probably," Void answered. "So, after hearing all that…do you…feel anything different?"
"I will still dislike you regardless of what you do," Thunder answered. "Even if you may have gotten one of the better-tasting birthday cakes. It means nothing to me."
"Good…cause now…I'm going to take out all my frustration for those annoying memories of your previous birthdays still lingering inside," Void shouted as she stood up. Thunder reacted first launching the cake into Void's face. "You little…" Void was cut off by a tingling sensation in her stomach. She looked down noticing the giant red blade impaled on her torso.
"It had way too much sugar," Thunder smirked before she flung Void out of the window in an arc of lightning before chasing after her. She was going to enjoy ripping her a new one. Especially after that insult to her memories with Kiana.