Yuyu
"Yayaka's reported her findings, now let's send you guys out!" Hidaka said. No hesitation. Moment Yayaka cut off contact, he spoke. "Now, come on, get moving!"
"But… Hidaka-san, shouldn't we wait for Yayaka—" Cocona tried to speak. Interrupted.
"Cocona, I understand your concern, but we need to test our equipment as soon as possible, now come on!" Hidaka herded us to Thomasson. Toto clambered to top compartment, along with Nyunyu. Cocona stayed outside for a while, as did I. Both uncertain about going. Would rather wait for Yayaka. Orders from Doctor Hidaka and Doctor Salt: Go to Pure Illusion. Am Hidaka's assistant. Should obey.
Moved into lower compartment of Thomasson. New arm clanged against inner walls. Startled. Can't quite feel new arm. Can feel something at base of remains of old arm, but no weight. Pulled back left sleeve of armour, revealing false arm. Touched it with real hand.
Cold, smooth metal. Tried to move fingers on it. Metal hand twitched. Functional at least, but will likely be unreliable. Possibly stronger in Pure Illusion? Looked down at amorphous necklace. Belonged to Yayaka. Kept me safe in other world with Papika and Cocona. Will keep me safe if armour doesn't…
But can't keep Toto and Nyunyu safe…
"Excuse me, Yuyu, but can you move over a little bit, please?" Cocona's voice. Shifted over to make room for Cocona-onee-chan. Both sat at opposite walls, facing each other. She smiled at me. "Thank you."
"Cocona-onee-chan. Yuyu," Toto spoke from above. Reached one hand down.
"Me too!" Nyunyu lowered one hand too. Assume Nyunyu and Toto holding each other's hands above too. Synchronisation. Need to be as connected as possible. Took Toto's hand in mine. Twin brother. Strongest connection. Cocona took Nyunyu's hand. Nyunyu made from amorphous influenced by Cocona. Bond should be sufficient. Reached her remaining hand for my new metal arm… Was hesitant to take. What if metal arm detaches? Is connection stable? Pulled Flip Flap armour sleeve back over metal arm. Cocona could potentially be lost if arm disconnects. Nyunyu may not be strong enough to hold Cocona.
"Are you still worried about Yayaka?" Cocona asked. Voice soft. Concerned. Tried to reassure. "She'll be fine, Yuyu. She's with Papika, and Papika will keep her safe."
Appreciate Cocona trying to help, but guess was wrong. Better bond with Yayaka than Cocona. Worked with Yayaka for years after all. But Cocona was family. Biological child of Mimi's.
Family…
'I might not know some of you very well, but you're my family and I love all of you!' Cocona's words. 'Love'… Mind got stuck on that word. Hand went to chest when heard it. Felt warm. Rare experience. Rare feeling. Looked at Yayaka. Yayaka didn't seem happy at those words. Hands were shaking. Body tense. Seemed… hurt. Cocona didn't look at her when saying we were loved.
…Admit, part of me was glad. Told Cocona the truth about Yayaka because I was scared.
Don't want Yayaka taken away from me.
((Yayaka is with Papika now. Papika only.)) Irritation. Papika loves Cocona. Cocona loves Papika. Yayaka not included in that. No need to worry.
"Yuyu?"
said name again. Jolted to attention. Looked at her outstretched hand, and slowly, took it with my metal one. Had to focus hard to hold it and retain grip.
Air in Thomasson changed. Could feel Toto focusing. Unsure about Nyunyu. Looked at Cocona. Her eyes were closed. Squeezed Nyunyu's hand gently. Watched her fingers close on my metal hand, too. Wanted to feel. Couldn't feel.
Felt alone.
But could see not alone.
Felt Toto's grip on my hand tighten, as if could sense my distress.
Not alone.
Closed my eyes. Not alone. With family. All Mimi's children. Wish to travel to Pure Illusion…
Felt a pull…
Pure Illusion. Landed flat to the ground. Sandy ground. Ochre and tan. I stood up. Sky pink. Shades of salmon and cherry blossom. Yellow scratches in sky too, like tiger stripes. Temperature was cold, despite warm colours. Wide open ocean below… Deep blue water. Became worried. Endless expanse of water, span of entire horizon. Don't want to drown. Felt uneasy. Took steps backwards, away from water, closer to land. Feet were cold.
Could hear battery pack on back kick in. Whirr to life. Padded body grew warm as electronic heating system began to work. Kept body warmer than usual temperature. A little uncomfortable. Feet and real hand still a little cold, but not as much. Appears successful for me so far. Can move. Feel like won't freeze. Good.
Looked to Toto and Nyunyu. Standing close together, Nyunyu was fine. Had a hand on Toto's arm. Toto was hunched over, hand to mask. Struggling breathing? Hope not.
"Yuyu… Nyunyu…" Toto's voice faint. A whisper. Turned back to him. His back rose and fell, slowly, not quickly. Is fine after all? Uncertain. Worried. My breathing became fast. Heart began to race. Remain calm. Could end up like Toto if not careful. Too late. Mild panic. Suits meant to protect us. Don't seem to be working. Anger at Hidaka. Said this would help! Not helping Toto! Yayaka was right…
"Toto, can you breathe?" Important question. Needs to be answered. Please answer. Heard a loud gasp from Toto.
"Breathing gear… functional…" Toto said, hand clenched to chest. He slowly stood up straight from hunching over. Seems okay. Relief. Toto raised his hand to left eye, and pressed a tooth on his skull mask, making a glass screen pop up. Streams of information appearing and disappearing. Tilted my head to the side, curious. Similar to old eyepiece, but not the same.
"Different visor. What happened?" Asked him.
"Old one exploded in Pure Illusion. Overloaded by Yayaka's transformation." He answered. Pause. Spoke again. "Approximately 10 hours of air remaining," he said. "No particular mission this time?"
Shook head. "Hidaka wanted armour tested. That's it." Said that, but remembered Hidaka wanting samples. Might take some as I go. Will help Yayaka. Hidaka will request less from her. Will help Hidaka. Wants to study them. Useful.
He nodded confirmation. His armour seemed to be okay. Allowing him to move and breathe. Didn't appear to be in pain. Wondered if I would have been in the same condition. Was about to remove necklace to test when-
"Where's Cocona-onee-chan?" Nyunyu asked.
Hand instantly dropped to side. Began to scan area for Cocona. Began to worry all over again. "Should have landed with us…" Looked down at left arm. Metal arm that was meant to be holding Cocona's hand. Tried to move new hand. Didn't react. Face pulled into snarl. New arm, but still defective… Must have loosened grip. My fault Cocona is gone. Should have waited for Yayaka to return… …May not have made difference. Annoyed.
"Need to find Cocona-onee-chan," Toto said. "Stay together. Don't split up. Suits may be functional, but could still fail."
"Will be faster to split up and search," Argued with him, loud. Unusual for me to do so, but angry. Wanted to take it out on something. "All have Hole devices. Can retreat if required."
"Nyunyu inexperienced. Should remain a team. No communications."
"Have communications." Moved good hand over arm. Lifted panel, revealing buttons and a speaker. Spoke into them to prove a point. "Communications functional." Heard voice echo from Toto's eyepiece.
"Also, unreliable" Toto countered. "Technology still experimental. We stay together."
Was staring a challenge at me. Thought about his words and points. If Nyunyu went with Toto as a pair, and Toto's armour failed, Nyunyu would have to retreat too, being unfamiliar with combat or Pure Illusion. Wouldn't want her to get lost. Didn't add remote communications to Nyunyu's armour. Gadgets included a flare, but no guarantee that could help. If Nyunyu paired with me and something happened to Toto, he may not make it back in time. Felt bad for suggesting to split up. Toto most vulnerable. Nyunyu inexperienced… And I only have one working arm. If all forced to retreat, no guarantee will be able to return to this world. Cocona would be alone. Abandoned.
His thoughts were rational. Made sense.
Nodded, agreeing to his idea. "…Sorry." Apologised for suggestion.
Toto nodded, accepting it. He seemed… stressed. Unsure why. Gestured with his hand for Nyunyu and me to follow.
Toto lead us away from the ocean. Fine with that. Nyunyu's metal ring detached from her armour, and she was riding it, hovering over the sand. Angular russet towers spiked upwards from the ground. Sand at their bases swirled in a bright red spiral. No doors or entrances to the towers to search. Could detect points on the towers to strike if destruction required. Loose brick here. Weak foundation there. Likely unrequired, but am bored and annoyed. Search for Cocona revealed nothing. No disturbances in the area to suggest Cocona was here.
Toto turned his head side to side before walking left. Nyunyu followed without question, humming. I also followed… But noticed some of the information on Toto's eyepiece was… unrelated to current mission. 'How to talk to girls' was title of one of them. If Yayaka saw, she would have teased him about Ruri-chan.
Yayaka… Sand was similar colour to her gold hair…
Hand ended up over heart. Could feel it beating quickly in chest. Scolded self. Not time to think about Yayaka.
But thinking of Yayaka brought up a point.
"Able to track Cocona?" I asked. Assume Flip Flap never removed Asclepius tracker in her from all that time ago. Should be able to find her that way.
Toto flinched. Possibly aware he'd been caught. His screen quickly flicked to display tracking information, lines of text only. No pictures or shapes. Odd. Kept blinking on and off. Toto's eyes narrowed.
"Cocona found… But incompatible technology. Asclepius tracker dislikes new parts."
"Arm made from old parts." Held it out to him, an offering. "Might resolve issue."
Toto approached metal arm. Tried to find way to connect the two. None available. Shook his head. Nyunyu had hovered over to us, wondering why we'd stopped and saw our problem.
"I can help!" She said. Was expecting her to pull out a cable to allow linking of devices. Instead, she pressed some buttons on her metal ring. A flat holographic blue screen floated over us, showing a rough map of the area. Spiral sand towers were marked, as were our coordinates…
And Cocona's.
"There!" Spotted her signal on the map. Faint, but just about visible. Yellow blinking light near the top of the map. Toto gazed at the map in wonder. Quickly pressed a tooth on his breathing mask. CLICK!
Suddenly, sparks.
Nyunyu hopped off her ring as it short circuited. Looked like she wanted to try and pat at it, as if to stop fire forming, but Toto held her back.
"It's broken!" She declared, tilting her head to the side.
Toto noticed Nyunyu was upset, but didn't verbally respond to her. Instead: "Took a picture of map before destruction. Can find Cocona."
Confused. "Couldn't read map and remember that way?" Asked him.
No answer. His behaviour in Pure Illusion is strange. Not seen him like this before. Not normally influenced by worlds, made from amorphous. Amorphous originates from Pure Illusion. Immune to effects… Something bothering Toto…
Wanted to ask, but Toto was moving. Leading us to where blip on map was.
Travelled for a while. Approximately two hours, according to Toto's eyepiece. Announced out loud how many hours of air remaining for him (eight). Sounded strange when speaking. Suddenly he stopped in center of red sand spiral. Looked down. Spun in circle. Looked down again.
"Signal came from here," he said.
"Underground?" I asked. He nodded.
"What if she's moved in that time?" Nyunyu asked. Question annoyed Toto. Saw him tense up at mention of possibility.
"Signal came from here." He repeated. Sounded adamant, as if stating that would make it true. If Cocona moved, will take longer to find. More time spent here, less remaining air for Toto. Began to understand why he seemed stressed.
Had another thought. "Cocona-onee-chan has a phone. Mobile communications."
Toto frowned. "Cocona-onee-chan's phone not modified like Yayaka's. No signal from here."
"What about tracking the phone itself?!" Nyunyu's suggestion. Both looked at her.
"Possible. Can try," Toto sounded relieved. I nodded. Opened panel on arm. Made from old parts. Connected to Yayaka's visor previously. May have stored Cocona's phone data on it.
Stopped. Realised: "Data could be accessed, but no way to display." Arm only has speakers. No screen.
Toto irritated at that. "Can't do anything!" He said, loud. Slammed fist on red sand spiral below…
…and swiftly sunk through. Action was almost instantaneous, but if slowed, would have looked like being pulled downwards. Sand dipping as it swallowed him. No time to try and grab solid surface.
"Toto!" "Toto-Onii-sama!" Both called his name. No response. Knelt down. Tried to dig.
Hand wrenched downwards. Felt sand scrape along face as dragged through. Felt panicked again. Drowning… Drowning in sand…
Experience over fast, thankfully. Hit solid ground. No sand. Shook head and wiped face. Looked around.
"Toto!" Saw him on the ground. Got up and went over to him. Breathing equipment damaged? Checked quickly. Still intact.
Relief.
"…too!" Heard Nyunyu as she fell through sand. Ran to try and catch her. Succeeded. Lowered her to ground and looked up at ceiling. Red spiral of sand, mimicking surface…
But looking below, saw shades of pink, and yellow stripes. Land and sky appeared to be swapped. Scanned horizon. Towers from sandy land stabbing downwards, like stalactites. Ground beneath feet felt solid. Contrast to soft squishy sand before.
"Toto! Yuyu! Nyunyu!" Cocona's voice. Looked around. Saw her running towards us, waving one arm. But… something behind her. Black. Human-sized. Unsure if structure or living person. Could be dangerous. Raised metal arm… Tried to. Couldn't. Annoyed… But prepared.
Didn't have rocket belt like Toto, but had weapon available. Drew a black rod from loop on belt and pressed button. Sharp blade shot out. Inspired by Yayaka's collapsible water bottle and fighting game at the arcade. Learnt some sword fighting. Practiced with Papika.
Hope knowledge is sufficient.
Toto and Nyunyu approached me. Must have seen it too. Toto's hand went to eyepiece, either to scan or set target for his rocket belt. Nyunyu had arms folded, hands over tools on forearms, ready to draw if required.
Gasp from Toto, "Impossible…"
Didn't look at him. Didn't speak. Kept eye on potential enemy.
Dark shape suddenly appeared closer. Moving. Movement suggests alive. Assume hostile. "Cocona-onee-chan!" Called a towards it, sword at side. Nyunyu followed, hands still over tools. Toto stayed behind, ready to shoot rockets. Dark shape came closer. Towards us. Fast, but not running. Humanoid in shape. Red eyes.
Cocona turned to look at it, after hearing warning.
Shadow tackled her, forcing Cocona to the ground.
And then… Shadow was gone.
Didn't drop weapon, kept sword raised. Reached Cocona and surrounded her. Took position next to others, back-to-back. Can attack and defend from any direction and protect Cocona.
"Toto, what was that?" Asked him. No response. Annoyed. Expressed surprise. Must know something. About to ask again, louder, when thought I heard something behind me. Spun around. Saw darkness floating around Cocona, like smoke. Faint whisps… But there. Suspicious. Heard a very faint voice ((taking Yayaka away from you)). Anger.
Pointed sword at her.
"Yuyu?" Cocona sounded scared. Wide eyes never left sword.
"Identify yourself!" Demanded. Noted weak points. Upper body hunching over slightly, torso better defended. Hands would be ready to grab upwards if required. Attack at legs would disable opponent… In theory. If real Cocona would do damage. If creature from Pure Illusion… hard to tell. Smoke was faint, but there. Corruption? Possession? Illness? Uncertain of reason.
Toto and Nyunyu faced her too, hearing me. Nyunyu still prepared to attack. Toto seemed to be scanning. Cocona didn't move. After short time…
"Scan shows Asclepius tracker in left elbow." Toto said, hand dropping from eyepiece. "Pure Illusion unlikely to mimic Asclepius technology. Is Cocona."
Nyunyu dropped her arms, tools still there. No weapons in hands. She trusts Toto. Can see why. Toto's speech logical. Voice of reason… But was still wary. Still held sword out, as a threat. Cocona's face never changed. Still scared…
Blinked, and faint dark smoke was gone. Felt… Odd. Began to wonder if originally there, or imagination. Mind felt clearer.
Trust Toto… Began to lower weapon. Cocona relaxed. Should apologise. Yayaka would.
"Sorry," said to her. "Wanted to be certain. Pure Illusion is dangerous."
"How did nyu get separated?" Nyunyu asked, arm raised in air.
"I'm… not sure," Cocona said. "I thought we were all holding onto each other well enough… I thought I could hear…" She paused. Face screwed up, as if trying to remember something. Momentary action, her face was normal a second later. Continued speaking as if never did that. "I just remember being here when I landed, away from all of you."
Tilted head to side. Felt suspicious again, hearing her story… But nothing I can do. Toto and Nyunyu showed no acknowledgement of Cocona's odd behaviour.
"Armour tested," Toto said. "Return to Flip Flap?" He sounded keen to ask that. Limited air remaining. Doesn't want to risk danger.
Cocona and Nyunyu agreed. Was suspicious, but no point holding others back here. Nodded.
All held hands and focused.
Felt a pull as Hole opened and we went back.
Yayaka
Papika wanted to get out of that world as soon as she could. Kinda couldn't blame her for that. Mimi sounded like she was on the verge of kicking us out anyway. She quickly said goodbye to Papika before we left, giving her a quick hug, and glared at me, over Papika's shoulder. I could almost hear her accusing me of letting that thing loose in Pure Illusion. She wouldn't be wrong in a way… but what the hell could I do to stop it?
When we stepped out into the sketchbook jungle again, Papika grabbed my hands without hesitation and began to focus, ready to go back to Flip Flap. Her hands were a little sweaty, and she seemed to be shaking where she stood. I felt guilty looking at her. My shadow escaped and attacked her… It's my fault she's like this right now.
"I'm sorry, Papika." I should have been there, then I could have at least fought it off and tried to keep you safe. I should have smashed that stupid damn mirror… Hell, I would have done, if it wasn't for Cocoro stopping me and telling me to move on from Cocona… I began to get mad at myself, for all the actions I could have taken, and didn't.
Papika didn't speak, but she squeezed my hands. I wasn't sure why, and my bond with her wasn't really telling me. It could have been a gesture of comfort or forgiveness, or it could have been a 'shut up and help me get back home already'.
Well, if it was that last one, she probably had a point. We should head back as soon as possible. We need to warn the others that... There's something on the loose out there.
My grip on Papika's hands tightened and I took a deep breath to try and calm down. Papika needs to go back home to safety now. We need to get back…
For a second I was worried we weren't powerful enough to make a Hole to get back, and I'd have to work out how the hell to use the million Hole devices in my weapon belt pocket, when I felt a sharp pull…
Burning to death in a red and grey wasteland. Searing ash, harsh heat. My skin was scorching… I worked a Hole device before. I saved myself from that hellish land…
But there was a shine at my feet… Red shards, buried amongst grey…
I was forced to kneel, too hurt to stand. My hand touched those shards…
It took a second for me to become aware of where I was. My memory of the first Pure Illusion I went to came back to me suddenly. I slapped my hand against the metal side of the Thomasson, catching the door, and managing to slide it open, before I realised I was back at Flip Flap.
I scrambled out of the metal cupboard, and stepped into the big room.
"There's something in Pure Illusion! You need to—" I cut off, when I Realised the room was empty beyond Hidaka. "Where are the others?"
"In Pure Illusion!" He announced, arms folded and smiling. "You came back with your report nice and quickly, so I sent Cocona and her amorphous siblings out to confirm their stuff worked as well as yours!"
My hands were tight fists at my side. If I was a dog, I would have been growling a threat, ready to leap at the—
Dog. Papika. I forgot all about being mad at she knew what I was thinking, I'm not sure she would have appreciated me thinking to check on her because I thought about dogs, which I've compared her to in the past, but still.I turned around and saw Papika huddled up in the upper compartment of the Thomasson.
A part of me really regretted looking at her. She seemed… haunted. Her eyes that were normally happy and welcoming, had a glassy stare to them, not really taking anything in. My heart dropped. This is my fault…
Wait, Hidaka said the others were in Pure Illusion too. If they got here by Thomasson…
I grabbed Papika's arm (Sorry Papika!) and yanked her out of the upper compartment… Just in time, as I saw Toto and Nyunyu appear in the upper half, and Cocona and Yuyu appear in the bottom half. I didn't know what would happen if Papika was still in there when everyone came back, maybe she'd be fine and just bump her head, or maybe they'd end up all spliced together, but I'd rather be on the safe side. I was about to ask them all if they were okay when before I could speak.
"Papika!" Cocona pretty much leapt out of the lower section of the Thomasson, and rushed over to the pink-haired girl. Papika's only reaction was to turn her head in Cocona's direction. Cocona saw the look on Papika's face and let out a quiet gasp, before pulling the pink-haired girl into her arms.
"Cocona…" Papika's voice was weak as she whimpered the blue-haired girl's name. Cocona's brown eyes were full of hurt and worry, seeing how disturbed Papika seemed. She kissed the pink-haired girl on the forehead, before holding her close.
That was normally the moment the voice in my head would have taunted me, about the fact Cocona seemed more concerned with Papika than with me, but I was met with silence. You know, I thought I would have been happy the day that stupid thing finally went away… Instead, the thought filled me with dread. The only reason it's not bothering me now is because it's in Pure Illusion now… It attacked Papika and fled… I know before, back when I was working for Asclepius and hated Papika for appearing in the first place, I probably would have been happy that something wanted to try and take her out of the equation, so I could have Cocona to myself…
And now it'd actually happened… Things have changed since then, and now, I considered Papika a dear friend of mine. Someone I've grown to love a lot… And my darker side almost killed her…
I thought my guilt was bad enough, for lying to Cocona for most of her life, and our friendship being built on it… Cocona didn't look at me when she said she loved everyone like family… and now I could understand why she didn't look at me… Why I probably wasn't included in that… Because of my own stupid selfish wishes, I'd almost gotten an innocent person killed…
Papika's innocent…
I left the room. I couldn't stay in there and face the people I'd hurt. I found the cupboard I'd changed into my Flip Flap armour in, and slumped to the ground, with my back to the door.
This is all my fault…
Yuyu
Noticed Yayaka leave the room. Wasn't sure why. Possibly hurt seeing Cocona and Papika together… Hand went over heart. Can understand hurt. Wanted to find Yayaka, to try and help. Turned to leave, when felt a hand touch my shoulder. Looked to see Toto.
"Needs time alone," he said. My mouth pulled in small line. Wanted to disregard and go help. Toto knows these things. More friends at school than me. Better with people. Didn't move. Wanted to, but didn't. Only looked in direction Yayaka went. Want to help. Can't help.
Cocona lifted Papika from the ground, carefully. "It's okay, Papika, you're safe now." Heard her as guided Papika from room. Toto and Nyunyu hadn't moved. Neither did Hidaka. Frowned at him. Sent to Pure Illusion when should have waited for Yayaka. Annoyed at that… But need to report back.
"Equipment compatible with Pure Illusion."—
"I lost my ring!" Nyunyu said suddenly. Her head tilted to side, sad.
"We can make you a new one," Hidaka said, easily. Turned to Toto. "You could breathe okay in there?"
Toto nodded. Hidaka turned to me, taking eyes off Toto. Noticed Toto look away. Seemed agitated again. Telling the truth? Couldn't be sure. No time to think. Hidaka requested information: "And your new arm. How was that for you?"
Looked down at limb in question. Tried to move. Fingers shuddered, before could manage a fist. "Technically functional, but needs work." Began to wonder if Toto in similar situation with breathing mask. Struggled to breathe at first… Seemed fine after… But doesn't mean he was fine.
Hidaka nodded, accepting answers. "Well, we'd better get to work then!"
Equipment adjustments commenced shortly after. Little I could do to participate, left arm was removed so could be worked on. Toto and Nyunyu watched eagerly as Hidaka worked. Both wearing Flip Flap armour. Toto had his eyepiece on his mask activated, likely trying to help detect problems that way… Or possibly reading about 'how to talk to girls' again. Unlikely, as he seemed focused on task.
Noticed Toto read a lot back at Asclepius. Likely studied regular human behaviour. Made sense. Best to blend in with regular students. Didn't interest me like it did him. I stuck to music, science and history books, but starting to think, should have studied too. Still time to learn.
Was called over so arm could be connected and tested. Mostly inactive, but participating in repairs. Felt more useful. Was asked to twitch fingers or move arm. Responded in most places. Didn't in others. Toto and Nyunyu helped detect faults and applied repairs. While sitting there, mind wandered. Yayaka left the room… Want to help. Tried to think of ideas. Yayaka has weapons again. Wires and explosives. Make her happy, but none require construction at the moment. Can't build anyway, no arm. Yayaka likes cream bread, likely can't leave Flip Flap while arm is being worked on…
"You painted this, Yuyu?" "You're… giving this to me?" Thought about Yayaka's reaction to painting. Called it incredible. Seemed to like it. Could draw for her. Nodded in reaction to thought. Toto looked from arm to me. Tilted his head to the side. Tell him? Felt unsure about that. He seemed to know I wanted something though.
"Yuyu, can arm be moved?" he asked. Nyunyu stopped work upon question. Hidaka took a while to react, likely wondering why he seemed to be taking charge. Was odd. Looked at metal arm, being worked on. Practically shouted in head to get large reaction. Fist clenched. Wiggled fingers in small wave. Was successful. Can carry out plan.
"Arm seems sufficient," said out loud. Stood up from chair and tried to move at elbow. Felt like it could disconnect from shoulder. Didn't say that. "Works."
"Are you sure it's fine?" Hidaka asked. Seemed concerned. Does he know?
Nodded at him. A lie. But wanted to carry out plan. Want to help Yayaka. Turned around and left the lab. Needed to find paper and drawing utensil… And then, find Yayaka. Opened up arm panel and pressed some buttons. Code for Yayaka's tracker. Might not help, but only idea.
Need to try.
Yayaka
I have no idea how long I spent hiding in that damn cupboard. Might have been ten minutes, but could easily have been a few hours. All I know was I was tired of feeling guilty and upset. I pulled the door open to leave and—
"Crapping hell!" I nearly leapt out of my skin. Yuyu was standing there. Did she know where I was hiding? "Yuyu, please don't sneak up on me like that!" I was just about to ask her what she wanted when Yuyu spoke again.
"Sorry," she said, looking at the ground.
The apology had me taken aback, and my mouth was half hanging open, partly from the fact I was about to say something, but mostly because she'd said 'sorry' to me, a word I don't think I've ever heard her say before. Stop being so surprised Yayaka. I recovered quickly though. "Don't worry about it."
"Are you better?" She asked.
I blinked, not sure what to make of the question. Did she notice how I looked before I left everyone else? She must have done, or she probably wouldn't have asked. Once again, before I could talk, she said something else.
"Can I help?"
If Yuyu's goal was to make me look as gormless as a fish, she was succeeding. I'd open my mouth to respond, only to close it again a second later.
"What's with all the questions?" I asked. Any fluster I felt made it to my voice as well, as I sorta barked the question at her. And then I felt bad again. I told Yuyu she's fine as she is, and here I am treating her like a freak. I shouldn't be doing this… "Sorry." I said quickly, putting a hand to my forehead, trying to ward off the headache I could feel building. "It's been a long day. It's probably best if I'm left alone for a while."
Yuyu's head twitched to the side for a second, before righting itself. Her mouth pinched together in a thin line for a second, before returning to normal. She nodded, and looked like she was about to leave, when she stopped. Turning back to me, she held out a folded piece of paper in her right hand. Her other hand, the robotic one, was at her chest. I took the paper from her, and was about to talk again, when she ran off down the corridor.
I was already unfolding the paper by the time she'd run off, and opening it revealed…
Myself.
It was a sketch, done entirely in pen. A portrait of me with my hair in twin braids at the side of my head, and a little confident smirk on my face. I felt my heart beat a little quicker, as I carefully ran a finger over the drawing.
Yuyu drew this for me…
As much as I wanted to call her back and try and talk to her, so I could at least thank her for the drawing, I stopped myself. I just told her I should probably be left alone… With how I've been feeling today, I didn't trust myself to talk or be around people at the moment. Hell, I wanted nothing more than to just go to get some rest and go to sleep… That might be an idea actually. It's been a long day, and the sooner its tomorrow, the sooner things can become better again…
And also the sooner my darker self can cause havoc in Pure Illusion again…
I walked back into the cupboard and shut the door. My hand was on the handle, gripping it tightly to the point of it likely leaving an imprint in my hand, holding it shut. It's my fault she's loose. It's my fault Papika got hurt…
I need to fix it. Next time I'm sent to Pure Illusion, I'm gonna stay there. I'm not gonna return to base until my shadow is dealt with...
Authors note: I feel my progress with my story has been... slow. I'm a little worried I might not finish it, or I might not be able to, due to scattered motivation (to the point of I wrote half of this chapter over a week or so, and the rest of it, literally half the chapter, in one day), and also the fact that because gaps between writing seem to be getting longer than I'd like them to be, that I had to read through my whole sequel fic again and make very quick/short recap notes to myself about what the hell has happened so far). I'd like to be able to finish this story, and I'll try to, to the best of my ability, for the maybe one person that isn't me, that wants this story to be finished. I know the Flip Flappers fandom is pretty small, so I don't know how many people will end up reading this story all the way through, but there's bound to be one, surely, so I'd like to be able to finish it, so I can at least give them a complete story. For anyone who gets this far, thanks for reading, and sticking with me, and I hope you're enjoying/have been enjoying the story.
